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CYCLOPAEDIA 


OP 


COfflERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


i 


;.r   »,; 


■c'*»:i.A»*Wi1i'CE 


^^.;^.^r.^.'■r  ^LA.-^^^^^       ' 


/. 


By  the 
AmxnrHX  HniiW  X»lf  ('o-XcwrAbrU. 


CYCLOPEDIA 


COMMERCIAL   AND   BUSI^-ESS 

ANECDOTES '^^..^ 

COMPRISING  •   .'»',»,,  I  I*    ''-,'1'',   ''''    *    '     • 

INTERESTING  REMINISCENCES  AND  FACTS, 

BEMABKABLB  TRAITS  AND  HUMORS, 

AND 

%i^iMt  ^mmy  ^t^\m%  ^xp^nw^^,  m&  mwiwm 


MERCHANTS,   TRADERS,    BANKERS,   MERCANTILE    CELEBRITIES,   MILLIONNAIEES, 
BARGAIN  MAKERS,   ETC.,  ETC. 

IN     ALL     AGES     AND     COUNTRIES. 

DESIGNED   TO  EXHIBIT,   BY 

NEARLY  THREE  THOUSAND  ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES  AND  INCIDENTS, 

THE 

PIQUANCIES    AND    PLEASANTRIES    OP    TRADE,    COMMERCE,    AND    GENERAL 

BUSINESS    PURSUITS. 


ASTOR, 

GIRARD, 

McDONOGH, 

BARING, 

ROTHSCHILD, 

BIDDLE, 

TOURO, 

LORILLARD, 

OUVRARD, 

LABOUCHERE, 

LONGWORTH, 

PERKINS, 

BATES, 

APPLETON, 

BAYARD, 

LEROY, 

BARKER, 

LAFITTE, 

STEWART, 

RUgSELL, 

LENOX, 

COOPER, 

SHAW, 

STEIGLITZ, 

HOWQUA, 

GRESHAM, 

LOWELL, 

BUSSEY, 

GOLDSCHMID, 

PEABODY, 

MORRIS, 

VANDERBILT, 

HOPE, 

NOLTE, 

RIGGS, 

JEEJEEBHOY, 

HOTTINGUER, 

BROOKS, 

GIDEON, 

GRINNET.L, 

GRACIE, 

RIDGWAY, 

SLATER, 

LEE, 

COUTTS, 

GRAY, 

FRANCIS, 

FUGGER, 

BELMONT, 

CHILD, 

DEXTER, 

TATTERSALL, 

MORRISON, 

HUDSON, 

WHITNEY, 

HOPPER, 

DE  MEDICI, 

LAWRENCE, 

STURGIS, 

COPE, 

ETC., 

ETC.,  ETC. 

Lon^  life  to  Commbece  I    What  lives  not  through  it  f    What  is  all  fresh  life,  all  movement,  in  reality,  but  trade,  exchange, 
gift  for  gift!— Bebmkb. 

Come,  Anecdote  I  with  all  thy  praoes  come. 


Relii 


the  ffrave— to  mirth  thy  rights  afford, 
the 


And  crown  the  sparkling  glass  and  hospitable  board.— Cooke. 
I  am  persuaded  that  every  time  a  man  smiles— but  much  more  so  when  he  laughs— it  adds  something  to  thia  fragment  of 
life.— Steene. 

A  dinner  oi fragments  is  often  said  to  be  the  best  dinner.—'*  Guesses  at  Teuth." 


By  ERAZAR   KIRKLAND.  -b**:^*^'*^ 


EMBELLISHED    WITH   PORTRAITS   AND   ILLUSTRATIVE   CUTS. 


^TT^ 


%\ 


NEW  YORK : 
B.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY,  443  &  445  BROADWAY. 

LONDON:     16    LITTLE    BRITAIN. 
1868. 


.  -•  c»'  -•.":: 


c  ...-•  c'*..  .::  .o:. '•'.•••  /       \ 


kil^J,y.P,(j^u.^,ca^ 


Enteeed,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1864,  by 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY, 

In  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


PREFACE. 

The  design  and  scope  of  this  work  will  be  found  as  clearly  indi- 
cated and  as  amply  set  forth  on  the  Title  page,  as  is  requisite  to  the 
most  complete  understanding  of  the  plan  which  it  involves  and  the 
character  of  the  matter  embodied  in  its  pages.  As  there  stated,  it  is  a 
collection,  original  and  selected,  of  the  choicest,  most  striking  and 
recherche  Anecdotes  relating  to  Business  Men  and  Commercial  Puk- 
suiTS,  from  the  earliest  trading  transactions  of  which  any  record  can  be 
found  down  to  the  present  time.  It  is  in  no  sense  intended  as  a  work 
of  biography,  history,  statistics,  or  collated  facts,  only  so  far  as  either 
of  these  has  been  found  associated,  anecdotically,  with  some  episode  of 
Business  Character  or  Dealing,  illustrative  of  the  latter  in  their  various 
aspects  of  the  gay,  the  ludicrous,  the  witty,  the  ingenious,  the  droll, 
the  original,  the  unique  —  laughter-provoking,  side-shaking,  wonder- 
exciting,  &c. ;  with  such  these  pages  abound. 

The  Anecdotes  here  given  necessarily  pertam  both  to  persons  and 
things — alike  to  the  Celebrities  of  traffic  in  all  ages  and  nations,  and  to 
the  multitudinous  Objects  which  give  to  traffic  its  name  and  import. 
Every  country,  as  well  as  people,  has  here  its  personal  representative — 
exhibiting,  in  all  their  kaleidoscopic  lights  aiid  shades,  the  idiosyncra- 
sies, customs,  and  animus  peculiar  to  it,  in  bargain  and  sale ;  every 
clime  its  happy  illustrations,  in  the  productions  native  to  it,  or  which 
enter  into  its  commercial  exchange  :  the  whole  forming,  as  it  were,  a 
sort  of  mental  Pantechnicon,  or  Bazaar,  where  are  to  be  seen  deline- 
ated, in  endless  variety,  and  as  pictures  hung  upon  a  wall,  the  curiosi- 
ties incident  to  the  genius  and  craft  of  the  Mart  ! 

Perhaps  no  volume  ever  issued  from  the  American  press  has  fur- 
nished, in  a  compendious  form,  so  fruitful  a  display  of  the  unique  and 
marvellous  in  human  nature,  on  its  commercial  side,  as  this.  Indeed,  it 
has  the  merit,  whatever  that  may  be,  of  being  the  first  work  of  the 
kind  which  has  ever  appeared,  in  this  or  any  other  coimtry,  devoted  to 
the  Humorous  phase  of  Trade  and  Traders.  Collections  of  anecdotes 
having  reference  to  art,  science,  literature,  morals,  the  drama,  etc., — 
some  of  them  possessing  high  merit,  and  attaining  a  wide  circulation — 


869012 


vi  PREFACE. 


have  at  different  times  been  sent  forth  for  public  favor  ;  but  not  one,  it 
is  believed,  of  all  these,  has  ever  touched,  or  but  very  slightly,  the  field 
of  pleasantries  and  piquancies  here  spread  out  to  view.  Our  volume, 
therefore,  being  thus  sui  generis,  offers  no  opportunity  of  winning  praise 
by  comparison,  or  of  suffering  from  disparagement  by  contrast  with  any 
other  work  of  its  kind.  But,  however  the  fact  might  be  Tn  this  respect, 
it  would  not  stand  in  the  way  of  an  honest  claim  in  behalf  of  the  work, 
of  being  as  perfect  in  its  character  as  the  sources  of  material  available 
to  that  end  would  permit.  No  time  has  been  spared,  no  means  and 
facilities  left  unimproved,  no  expense  or  labor  withheld,  to  render  these 
pages  tempting  to  every  lover  of  pithy,  pointed,  sparkling,  and  mirth- 
ful reading. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say,  that  the  anecdotes,  witticisms,  and  memo- 
rabilia, which  are  here  presented,  of  such  monarch  merchants  as  Astor, 
Rothschild,  Girard,  Baring,  Lafitte,  Jacob  Barker,  De  Medicis,  Lorillard, 
Howqua,  Bates,  Peabody,  Lawrence,  Hope,  Touro,  &c.,  &c.,  would 
form,  of  themselves  alone,  one  of  the  most  delectable  of  volumes.  But 
these  are  only  a  few  out  of  many  scores  of  mercantile  notabilities  who 
have  flourished  during  the  past,  or  are  yet  on  the  stage  of  action,  and 
of  whom  it  is  the  object  of  this  book  to  present  the  most  lively  and 
pleasing  incidents  illustrative  of  their  professional  character,  moods, 
and  dealings.  And  here  it  will  not  be  impertinent  briefly  to  observe, 
that,  as  every  undertaking  must  have  its  limits,  so  in  the  case  of  the 
present  work,  it  has  been  found  a  point  of  necessity  to  exercise  a  re- 
straining hand,  that  the  several  divisions  might  not  become  too  bulky 
or  diffuse.  Arising  from  this  consideration,  there  are  some  characters, 
more  or  less  noteworthy,  whose  names  are  not  here  to  be  met  with,  but 
to  which  we  would  gladly  have  given  place.  It  is  believed,  however, 
that  this  omission  rarely  involves  a  name  of  extensive  renown,  but 
applies  rather  to  those  whose  fame,  living  or  posthumous,  is  restricted 
to  particular  localities  or  circles ;  and,  as  almost  every  business  com- 
munity, large  or  small,  is  known  thus  to  have  its  "  representative  men," 
— those  of  strongly  marked  individuality  in  their  calling, — it  is  apparent 
that  no  task  could  be  more  impossible  than  to  attempt  to  give,  without 
discrimination,  the  current  reminiscences  of  such  a  multitude. 

In  the  prosecution  of  our  purpose,  every  important  catalogue,  both 
American  and  foreign,  has  been  carefully  consulted,  with  a  view  to 
examining  whatever  might  promise  aid  to  our  efforts  ;  and  not  a  single 
library  of  note,  in  our  largest  cities,  has  been  left  unexplored  for  mate- 
rial, in  the  way  of  biography,  travels,  adventure — fresh,  racy,  and  rele- 
vant— in  the  preparation  of  this  work.  Besides  these  invaluable  means, 
the  best  private  sources  within  the  circle  of  men  of  letters  have  been 
resorted  to,  and  the  suggestions  and  assistance  thus  personally  extended 
have  added  greatly  to  the  pleasantness  of  our  task,  as  well  as  to  the 
value  of  its  results. 


PREFACE.  yii 


But  the  perplexities  attending  a  nice  discernment  in  the  selection  of 
matter  for  this  volume  have  by  no  means  been  slight.  The  first  requi- 
site, of  course,  in  the  qualities  of  an  anecdote,  is  that  of  truth.  Where 
this  is  wanting,  the  narration,  however  agreeable  or  well  told,  falls  off 
at  once  ninety  per  cent,  in  its  interest  and  import.  It  becomes  a  mere 
fable,  and  should  be  thus  entitled.  The  number  of  so-called  "  anec- 
dotes "  coming  within  this  latter  class,  and  which  might  have  had  their 
nominal  appropriateness  in  these  pages,  is  very  large ;  they  have  been 
rejected  in  every  case  where  they  could  not  stand  a  fair  test  of  authen- 
ticity. Many  others,  of  the  genuine  cast,  have  been  abridged  or  con- 
densed ;  and  others  still  have  been  revised  or  rewritten,  so  as  more 
nearly  to  conform  to  fact  and  reason,  or  that  they  might  appear  in  a 
more  perspicuous  dress  to  the  reader.  There  is  yet  another  class — and 
one  which  forms  an  exception  to  the  observation  just  made  with  refer- 
ence to  credibility — namely,  the  bristling  fantasise  of  commercial  satire, 
burlesque,  &c.,  which  have  been  allowed  a  welcome  place  in  almost 
every  department.  These  explain  themselves,  and  may  be  said  to  con- 
stitute one  of  the  richest  and  most  attractive  features  of  the  work. 

It  is  believed  that  the  general  arrangement  and  classification  of  this 
volume  are  scarcely  susceptible  of  improvement.  They  are  such  as  to 
relieve  the  matter  of  all  stiffness,  formality,  and  tediousness,  while  they 
at  the  same  time  open  up,  at  the  reader's  will  or  fancy,  and  in  pleasing 
diversification,  all  the  various  spheres  and  phases  of  commerce,  business 
life,  and  its  individual  appertainments.  It  is  not  claimed,  however,  that 
there  are  no  instances  to  be  found,  where  portions  of  one  department 
might  not  as  appropriately — and  perhaps  more  so — have  had  a  place 
under  some  other  specialty.  The  difficulties  of  perfect  precision  in  this 
respect,  in  such  a  work,  are  obvious,  and  were  frequently  felt  in  the 
allotment  of  its  contents.  For  any  incongruities  that  may  thus  be 
manifest,  a  lenient  criticism  is  asked. 

Our  acknowledgments  are  due,  and  are  here  most  gratefully  ten- 
dered, to  those  librarians  in  our  principal  cities  w^ho  have  so  freely  and 
courteously  opened  the  treasures  of  their  alcoves  to  our  use ;  and  also 
to  the  many  editors,  authors,  and  merchants,  who  have  not  only  encour- 
aged us  by  their  warm  approval  of  our  work,  but  have  favored  us  with 
their  advice  and  friendly  offices,  and  with  the  happy  effusions  of  their 
pens,  with  which  to  enliven  our  volume. 

The  magnificent  collections  of  standard  periodical  literature,  now  to 
be  found  complete  in  almost  all  our  great  libraries,  and  embracing  full 
sets  of  the  Edinburgh,  Westminster,  Gentleman's,  Fraser's,  Blackwood's, 
Eclectic,  Harleian,  Jerrold's,  Dublin,  Punch,  Notes  and  Queries,  Cham- 
bers', Household  Words,  The  Leisure  Hour,  &c., — these,  in  addition  to 
our  American  publications  of  similar  character,  furnish  -a  vast  and 
bountiful  storehouse,  inviting  and  rewarding  the  research  of  the  scholar. 
All  these  have  been  made  readily  accessible  to  us;   and,  though  the 


YJii  PREFACE. 


labor  of  painstakingly  examining  their  contents  has  certainly  been  for- 
midable, it  has  yet  been  richly  remunerative  for  the  purposes  of  this 
volume. 

The  choice  sippings  of  Pxmch  will  be  relished  by  all  who  love  to 
drink  at  that  fountain  of  mirth,  satire,  and  facetiae ;  and  Mrs.  Parting- 
ton, that  brusque  old  wit — or  witch — will  be  found  to  grace,  by  her 
weird  presence,  the  same  exhilarating  category.  The  pages  of  the  now 
venerable,  but  always  sprightly  and  inimitable  Knickerbocker,  have 
been  drawn  upon  for  some  of  those  *'  saws  "  whose  teeth  always  have 
a  point ;  and  the  "  Drawer  "  of  Harper's,  that  charming  repository  of 
keen  blades  and  fancies,  has  been  approached  like  a  bundle  of  golden 
jack-straws,  from  which  we  might  extract,  here  and  there,  a  dainty 
waif,  without  taking  all.  From  the  files  of  Hunt's  and  Homans'  mag- 
azines, we  have  culled  not  a  few  of  the  admirable  morceaux  of  com- 
mercial biography  and  the  humors  of  mercantile  genius,  which  give  to 
those  serials  so  pecuhar  a  value  ;  and  the  same  observation  is  pertinent 
to  the  more  youthful  Continental,  especially  the  series  of  brilliant  per- 
sonal sketches  from  the  facile  pen  of  Mr.  Frothingham.  Of  the 
writings  of  Mr.  Richard  B.  Kimball  and  "Walter  Barrett,"  from 
which  we  have  taken  an  occasional  anecdote  or  vivacious  passage,  it 
may  truly  be  remarked  that  those  authors  have  succeeded  in  imparting 
the  delight  of  romance  to  the  counting-house  themes  which  they  have 
made  their  specialty ;  and  the  great  popular  favor  which  their  works 
have  received,  evinces  the  widespread  taste  for  the  pleasantries  of  com- 
mercial literature,  under  the  inspiration  of  a  genial  hand. 

Having  wrought,  to  the  best  of  our  ability,  in  the  field  from  which 
this  Cyclopedia  of  Anecdotes  has  been  garnered,  it  is  sent  forth  with 
the  consciousness  that,  whatever  defects  or  deficiencies  may  be  discover- 
able, it  has  at  least  been  the  aim  of  the  editor,  from  the  inception  of 
the  volume  to  its  completion,  to  spare  neither  time,  labor,  nor  cost,  in 
rendering  it  as  rich  and  perfect  of  its  kind  as  seemed  humanly  possible. 


INTEODUCTION. 


"  Every  class  of  readers  requires  a  book  adapted  to  t7sey."— D'IsrAeli. 


It  is  generally  admitted  by  those  qualified  to  speak  authoritatively  in  such 
matters,  that  the  term  Anecdote  may  be  used  to  designate  collections,  either 
of  the  recorded  acts  of  noted  individuals,  of  remarks  made  by  them,  or  of 
extracts  from  their  private  writings  as  well  as  their  published  works ;  or  gen- 
erally, of  particulars  respecting  them  and  their  calling — detached  incidents, 
narratives,  and  experiences ;  personal  tastes,  traits,  and  habits ;  eccentricities, 
witticisms,  &c.,  &c.  It  is  thus,  in  its  most  enlarged  and  comprehensive  sense, 
that  the  word  is  employed  in  this  volume,  and  applied  distinctively  to  those 
engaged  in  Business  Puksuits. 

That  the  ancients  were  given  to  the  wit  and  raillery  conveyed  through  anec- 
dotes, may  reasonably  be  supposed  from  the  fact  that  no  less  a  person  than 
Julius  Caesar  compiled  a  book  in  which  he  related  the  don-mots  of  Cicero  ;  and 
Quintilian  informs  us,  that  a  freedman  of  that  celebrated  wit  and  orator  com- 
posed three  books  of  a  work  entitled  De  Jocis  Ciceronis ;  and  Gellius  has 
filled  his  Noctes  Atticse  with  anecdotes  which  he  heard  from  those  distin- 
guished characters  whose  society  he  frequented  in  Rome.  Procopius  gave  the 
title  of  Anecdotes  to  a  book  he  published  against  Justinian  and  his  wife 
Theodora ;  and  other  similar  collections  of  incidents  in  the  lives  of  eminent 
men  have  been  published.  Muratori  gives  the  title,  Anecdota  Greca,  to  several 
writings  of  the  Greek  Fathers  found  in  the  libraries,  and  first  given  to  the 
world  by  him.  Martene  and  Durand  have  given  a  Thesaurus  Novus  Anecdoto- 
rum.  Becker,  Bachmann,  Heinbach,  and  others,  have  made  collections,  and 
called  them  Anecdota.  The  Orientalists,  more  than  others,  were  particularly 
fond  of  these  agreeable  collections;  and  the  fanciful  titles  with  which  they 
labelled  their  variegated  miscellanies,  sufficiently  attest  their  delight. 

The  first  eminent  person  of  modem  times,  whose  jests  and  opinions  have  in 
this  way  been  transmitted  to  posterity,  is  Poggio  Bracciolini,  who  was  secretary 
to  five  successive  popes.  He  and  his  friends  were  accustomed  to  assemble  in  a 
hall  to  discuss  the  news  and  scandal  of  the  day,  and  at  these  meetings  they 
communicated  to  each  other  entertaining  anecdotes.  The  pointed  jests  and 
humorous  stories  which  occurred  in  these  unrestrained  conversations  were 
collected  by  Poggio,  and  formed  the  chief  materials  of  his  Facetiae,  printed 
in  1470. 

One  of  the  most  curious  of  such  collections  is  considered  to  be  the  Wal- 


INTRODUCTIO^'. 


poliana,  founded  upon  the  life  and  sayings  of  Horace  Walpole,  who  was  distin- 
guished for  his  resources  of  anecdote,  wit,  and  telling  remark,  as  well  as  for  his 
epistolary  qualifications.  The  most  celebrated  of  the  French  collections  of 
anecdotes  is  the  Menagiana — the  best  known,  the  fullest,  and  most  valuable. 
Other  works  of  this  kind  that  may  here  be  named  are  the  Conversations  of 
Luther,  Boswell's  Life  of  Johnson,  Selden's,  Johnson's,  and  Cowper's  Table 
Talk,  the  Percy  and  Arvine  collections,  &c.,  &c. 

It  would  be  a  tedious  as  well  as  profitless  task,  however,  to  go  over  the 
dusty  past,  with  a  view  to  describing  the  character,  or  discussing  the  merits, 
of  the  various  works  of  this  kind  which  have  appeared  at  different  times  and 
in  different  countries.  It  will  suffice  our  immediate  purpose  to  say,  that,  among 
them  all,  no  volume  of  anecdotes,  wit,  and  amusement,  relating  to  the  votaries 
of  Trade  and  Commerce,  as  such,  is  numbered,  notwithstanding  the  universality 
of  those  occupations,  and  the  vast  numerical  preponderance  of  those  engaged 
in  them. 

The  present  volume,  then,  may  be  said  to  be  the  first  in  the  pleasuig  domain 
of  Commercial  Incident,  Novelty,  and  Humor.  And  if  it  be  true,  as  has  by 
some  one  been  remarked,  that  there  is  no  species  of  composition  so  delightful  as 
that  which  presents  us  with  personal  anecdotes  of  men  notable  in  their  peculiar 
calling — illustrating  the- genius  of  their  adaptation  to  and  success  in  such  call- 
ing, as  well  as  their  domestic  traits,  and  peculiarities  of  temper — then  a  claim 
for  no  small  credit  may  with  justice  be  put  forth  in  behalf  of  the  present  work, 
the  abundant  pages  of  which  are  stored  with  the  rarest,  the  best,  and  most 
striking  of  such  memorabilia.  They  will  be  found  to  be  a  "  salad  "  alike  for 
the  "  solitary  "  and  the  "  sociable  " — entertaining,  from  their  variety,  and  curi- 
ous, as  presenting  a  lively  image  of  those  whom  they  thus  portray,  in  their  most 
interesting  relations  and  doings.  If  men  reason  more  correctly  on  paper,  they 
usually  display  their  feelings  and  convictions  with  more  truth  in  that  unpre- 
meditated conversation,  and  in  those  natural  outgushings  of  wit,  which  they 
give  play  to  in  the  familiar  haunts  of  business,  and  under  the  free-and-easy 
influence  of  home  surroundings.  Few  are  so  cautious  or  artificial  that  they  do 
not  sometimes  drop  the  mask  in  the  society  of  their  friends,  and  express  just 
what  they  think  or  feel,  when  they  entertain  no  apprehensions  of  being  watched 
and  noted.  In  many  instances,  however,  anecdotes  are  to  be  regarded  rather  as 
affording  an  idea  of  the  casual  turn  of  thinking  and  acting,  of  those  whose 
conversations  they  detail,  or  whose  deeds  they  record,  than  as  authorities  for 
settled  opinions.  Thus,  a  spirit  of  contradiction,  a  wish  to  display  ingenuity, 
to  astonish,  or  merely  to  support  conversation,  may  often  lead  men  to  maintain 
ideas  in  colloquial  intercourse,  which  they  perhaps  never  seriously  held,  or  at 
least  would  be  ready  to  disclaim  on  mature  deliberation. 

It  being  the  nature  of  anecdotes  to  involve  or  exemplify  more  or  less  of  Wit, 
it  is  well  for  those  who  use  or  listen  to  them  to  bear  in  mind  that  such  an  ele- 
ment is  rarely  calculated  to  have  any  influence  on  reasoning,  other  than  to  dis- 
turb it.  To  determine,  however,  the  precise  character,  or  to  give  a  definite 
meaning,  to  the  term  wit,  is  indeed  difficult.  According  to  one,  both  fancy  and 
judgment  are  comprehended  under  that  name  ;  but  this  idea  is  far  from  being 
the  one  generally  adopted,  and  the  word  has  perhaps  passed  through  more  sig- 
nifications, than  any  other  in  the  English  language.  At  one  time,  it  used 
to  denote  a  superior  degree  of  understanding,  and  more  particularly  a  quick 
and  brilliant  reason;  but  it  came  subsequently  to  be  regarded  as  consisting 


INTRODUCTION.  xi 


in  lively  and  ingenious  combinations  of  thought ;  and  was  afterward  very 
neatly  described  to  be  such  an  assemblage  of  ideas  as  will  give  delight  and 
surprise ;  and  from  this  it  has  ultimately  come  to  be  regarded  as  ludicrou.^ 
surprise. 

But,  in  addition  to  the  pleasure  to  be  derived  from  anecdotes  on  account  of 
the  wit  which  may  characterize  them,  and  which  carries  with  the  recital  both 
relish  and  stimulus,  there  is  also  the  very  active  element  of  Curiosity,  in  the  con- 
stitution of  the  human  mind,  and  which  craves  and  welcomes  every  opportunity 
of  gratification.  This  feeling  of  curiosity  oftentimes  rises  to  eagerness  and 
enthusiasm.  There  is  an  anxiety  to  know  all  that  is  possible  to  be  learned  of 
those  who  have  occupied  a  prominent  position  in  their  sphere  of  life.  It  is 
not,  merely,  that  every  circumstance  derives  value  from  the  person  to  whom  it 
relates ;  but  an  apparently  insignificant  anecdote  often  throws  an  entirely  new 
light  on  the  character  of  a  man's  actions.  Great  deeds,  though  they  shed  a 
broad  and  lasting  lustre  round  the  reputation  of  those  who  have  achieved  them, 
yet  occupy  but  a  small  part  of  the  life  of  any  individual ;  and  mankind  are 
never  unwilling  to  penetrate  through  this  bright  halo  surrounding  one  or  more 
illustrious  deeds,  to  see  how  the  interior  or  remaining  intervals  are  filled  up  ;  in 
a  word,  to  look  into  the  every-day  details,  to  detect  incidental  foibles,  and  to 
ascertain  what  qualities  such  persons  have,  or  had,  in  common  with  the  great 
mass  of  men,  as  well  as  distinct  from  them. 

DTsraeli  very  philosophically  remarks,  that  "  every  class  of  readers  requires 
a  book  adapted  to  itself"  It  was  in  this  conviction  that  the  book  now  ofiered 
to  that  numerous  and  influential  portion  of  every  community — the  Business 
class — had  its  origin  ;  fortified  by  the  well-known  fact,  that  anecdote  fonns  an 
element  of  positive  force  and  profitable  efiect  in  the  transactions  of  the  count- 
ingroom  and  shop — as  much  so,  perhaps,  as  in  any  other  profession.  And  why 
should  it  not  be  so  ?  An  anecdote  in  point,  occurring  to  a  man  of  business, 
when  he  is  plying  the  arts  of  trade,  whether  as  buyer  or  seller,  will  naturally 
give  spur  to  his  thoughts,  and  perhaps  be  the  means  of  balancing  things  in  his 
favor,  when  all  other  expedients  and  every  other  recourse  would  have  proved 
unavailing.  This  is  a  principle  as  rational  as  truth  itself,  and  the  value  of 
which  will  be  found  most  amply  unfolded  in  the  contents  of  this  volume. 

That  all  pleasantries  ought  to  be  short,  has  long  since  passed  into  an  axiom. 
Due  regard  has  been  paid  to  this  sentiment,  in  the  preparation  of  these  pages. 
Nor  has  it  been  any  part  of  the  purpose  of  this  volume,  to  make  it  a  mere  lum- 
ber room  of  the  relics  and  dotage  of  far-back  ages — a  few  things  good  and  fresh 
mixed  up  with  many  stale  and  inferior  wares.  A  special  characteristic,  too,  of 
mercantile  or  business  men,  is  that  of  action — of  ready  doing,  rather  than  loqua- 
cious talking ;  a  quality  of  which  Kothschild,  of  the  Old  World,  and  Girard, 
of  the  New,  may  be  cited  as  memorable  examples.  Anecdotes  are  brief,  or 
should  be — all  over  in  a  short  time ;  and,  if  they  hit  the  mark,  the  object  is 
gained.  This  collection  treats  of  the  business  classes  on  a  similar  plan :  their 
acts,  sayings,  achievements,  fortunes,  customs ;  shop  talk  and  "  conversations 
commercial ; "  curious  annals  and  interesting  data  in  all  the  departments  of 
trade  ;  all  the  turnings  and  windings  of  mercantile  life  ;  apt  maxims,  ingenious 
or  philosophical  thoughts ;  testimonies  and  examples  of  virtues,  of  vices,  and 
of  abuses,  in  all  their  ramifications ;  types,  pictures,  and  images ;  signs,  shows, 
and  wonders ;  all  things,  in  short,  that  have  either  wit,  or  humor,  or  sparkling 
ideas  in  them,  or  a  more  original  or  novel  spirit  than  ordinary,  here  enter  as 


xii  INTRODUCTION. 


ingredients,  and  are  interwoven  in  pleasing  variety — a  distillation  of  whatever  j 
is  pointed  or  pungent — tlie  milledulcia  extracted  from  the  choicest  and  innu-  '] 
merable  sources.  .| 

The  opening  department  of  this  volume — that  which  presents  Business  ] 
Celebrities  in  their  more  distinctively  biographical  aspect — forms  one  of  the  i 
most  interesting  of  the  series.  It  is  the  vestibule,  or  porch,  as  it  were,  to  the  ; 
rest ;  and  the  endeavor  has  been  to  arrange  it  with  that  care  and  completeness  j 
which  should  distinguish  matter  of  such  a  character.  To  render  biography  i 
generally  attractive,  it  is  indispensable  that  its  basis  should  be  that  of  truth.  | 
Without  this,  it  necessarily  wants  the  great  superiority  of  the  narrative  of  real  ■ 
events  over  that  of  mere  fictitious  creations ;  viz.,  that  of  recording  what  has  ■ 
actually  occurred  in  real  life.  How  important  an  element  this  is  in  awakening  i 
the  sympathies,  may  be  seen  in  childreu,  who,  when  particularly  fascinated  by  j 
any  stoi-y  they  are  told,  almost  invariably  end  by  asking,  "  But  is  it  all  true  ?  "  j 
The  fact,  also,  that  biography  deals  with  personal  characters,  admits  of  its  , 
expansion  into  many  topics,  both  interesting  and  amusing.  As  the  delineation  < 
of  character  is  its  object,  and  the  events  of  individual  life  its  principal  subject,  i 
it  not  only  admits  of,  but  requires  a  thousand  incidents  and  descriptions,  which  ; 
are  essential  to  a  right  understanding  of  the  characters  portrayed.  Such  details  ; 
enable  the  reader  to  clothe  the  characters  in  which  he  is  interested  in  the  actual  j 
habiliments  in  which  they  were  arrayed ;  they  bring  before  one's  eyes  the  busi-  ] 
ness  occupations  and  resorts,  the  dwellings,  the  firesides,  the  traits  of  domestic  I 
association,  and  other  data,  which  go  to  make  up  the  warp  and  woof  of  life.         j 

Nor  is  it  less  instructive  than  pleasant,  to  be,  as  it  were,  introduced  thus  ] 
familiarly  to  the  companionship  of  men  who  have  been  or  are  distinguished  in  \ 
the  sphere  occupied  by  them.  If  they  be  men  of  sterling  and  intrepid  quali-  | 
ties,  it  is  a  privilege  to  be  made  acquainted  with  the  motives  of  their  actions,  to  j 
follow  them  from  their  starting  point,  to  mark  the  difficulties  and  opposition  ! 
they  encountered  in  their  struggle  for  advancement — the  energy  and  skill  by  \ 
which  they  were  overcome,  and  the  courage  that  animated  them  to  persevere  in  * 
their  efi'orts.  By  their  failures,  also,  warning  is  obtained  of  the  various  quick-  ! 
sands  and  dangers  that  beset  the  path  of  commercial  life.  i 

Thus  considered,  the  lives  of  noted  business  men  supply  abundant  and  \ 
striking  material  for  the  pen  of  the  writer.  It  is  true,  that  only  here  and  there  j 
does  such  a  life  present  itself  among  that  class — so  full  of  versatile  and  remark-  ; 
able  experience — as  to  aflford  substance  for  an  elaborate  and  formal  biography.  : 
Such  as  the  latter  have  sometimes  been  written,  exhibiting  a  most  frugal  pro-  | 
portion  of  kernel  to  shell— mere  rivulets  of  fact  in  meadows  of  verbiage,  and  i 
bringing  positive  discredit  both  upon  the  author  and  his  subject.  But,  not-  ,■ 
withstanding  this,  there  are  very  many  characters  which  afford,  respectively,  j 
some  trait,  habit,  or  individuality,  capable,  when  presented  in  a  lively  manner,  J 
of  furnishing  entertainment  and  profit  in  the  highest  degree ;  as  the  numberless  | 
specimens  here  spread  out  before  the  reader  will  attest. 

It  may  safely  be  asserted,  that  no  character  of  fiction,  made  ever  so  dazzling  \ 
by  the  imagery  of  the  novelist,  presents  to  the  mind  such  marvels  as  may  be  J 
found  in  the  solid  realities  of  experience  pertaining  to  an  Astor,  a  Rothschild,  i 
a  Lawrence,  a  McDonough,  a  De  Medicis,  a  Girard,  and  their  compeers,  the  ] 
chronicles  of  whose  great  and  unfaltering  career  loom  up  so  conspicuously  in  ; 
these  pages.  Isor  is  the  mind  less  startled  at  the  history  of  the  magnificent  sue-  J 
cess  of  a  Morris,  a  Law,  a  Lafitte,  a  Goldschmid,  a  Fordyce,  a  Hudson,  and  j 


INTRODUCTION.  xiii 


others,  and  their  subsequent  downfall  and  ruin.  Not  only  are  such  narratives 
adapted  to  intellectually  impress — to  captivate,  to  excite,  to  confound,  to  arouse 
to  wonderment,  to  amuse — but  they  may  be  made  subservient  to  positive  profit ; 
in  business  parlance,  they  may  "  be  made  to  pay  ! "  An  aquaintance  with  the 
ways  and  means  which  have  characterized  the  career  of  successful  business  men 
— their  apt  sayings,  or  more  apt  silence  ;  their  penetration  of  human  character) 
and  art  of  imperceptibly  influencing  its  sensibilities  and  moods- to  their  own  ends ; 
their  genial  sallies  and  happy  repartees ;  their  shrewd  plans,  skilful  combina- 
tions, ingenious  finesse,  and  general  modus  operandi  of  "  turning  a  trade  ;"  such 
an  acquaintance  cannot  but  be  a  capital  desideratum  to  all  who  move  in  a  kin- 
dred path. 

The  plan  which  has  been  adopted  of  dividing  the  contents  of  this  work 
into  different  sections,  each  devoted  to  a  particular  specialty,  is  one  which  will 
enable  the  reader  to  strike  easily  at  every  salient  point  in  the  anecdotical  field 
of  commerce  and  commercial  character  thus  spread  before  him.  Of  the  bear- 
ings of  the  first  department,  we  have  already  spoken ;  the  others  admit,  sev- 
erally, of  similar  explanatory  detail  with  respect  to  their  prescribed  object  and 
the  illustrations  afforded  by  their  contents.  But,  not  to  attempt  to  specifically 
portray  or  analyze  the  features  of  each  department  by  itself,  into  which  this 
volume  is  divided — the  fascinating  data  which  open  up  in  the  memorials  cf 
world-renowned  merchants,  bankers,  and  millionnaires — the  arts  and  humors  of 
money  dealing — the  captivating  examples  of  success  based  on  the  practice  of 
the  more  rigid  qualities — the  low  craft  and  bold  criminalities  both  of  ancient 
and  modern  traffic — the  whims  and  ingenuities  of  business  phraseology — the 
unique  thoughts  and  things  pertaining  to  commercial  transit — the  curious  phe- 
nomena of  trade  and  merchandise  in  their  legal  bearings — the  exhibition  of  the 
private  or  domestic  side  of  mercantile  characters — the  novelties  and  erratic  expe- 
dients characteristic  of  bargain  makers  in  different  countries — the  vagaries 
and  hazards  of  insurance — the  incidents  of  clerk  life,  shop  experience,  &c.,  to- 
gether with  the  variegated  jottings  of  trade  and  its  votaries,  as  related  to  "  the 
rest  of  mankind  ; " — without  attempting  to  depict  the  results,  or  point  out  the 
peculiar  entertainment  presented  by  each  one  of  these,  separately,  it  may  be 
remarked,  in  conclusion,  that  perhaps  the  portion  of  this  volume  which  ex- 
hibits the  phenomena  of  commercial  dealings  in  their  most  extraordinary  de- 
velopments, is  comprised  in  the  recital  of  the  manias,  bubbles,  panics,  and 
delusions,  which  have  from  time  to  time  swept  the  business  world  like  a  tor- 
nado, carrying  before  it  the  verdant  like  chaff",  and  ultimately  the  most  sagacious 
and  wary. 

Now  that  those  delusions  are  past,  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  mercantile 
men  could  be  led  to  entertain  such  visionary  expectations,  and  to  pay  immense 
premiums  in  distant  and  hazardous  undertakings,  of  which  they  knew  little  or 
nothing.  A  blind  ardor  seemed  to  take  possession  of  men's  minds ;  every 
rumor  of  a  new  project  was  taken  at  once  as  the  presage  of  sudden  and  inex- 
haustible wealth.  People  supposed  they  were  forthwith  to  lay  their  hands  on 
treasure  that  waited  simply  their  bidding.  The  rise,  in  many  cases,  exceeded 
cent,  per  cent.  Many  who  were  most  eager  in  pursuit  of  shares,  intended  only 
to  hold  them  for  a  few  hours,  days,  or  weeks,  and  then  profit  from  the  advance 
which  they  anticipated  would  take  place,  by  selling  them  to  others  more  credu- 
lous or  bold  than  themselves.  The  confidence  of  one  set  of  speculators  con- 
firmed that  of  others.    Meanwhile,  the  indiscriminating  rapacity  of  the  public 


Xiv  IXTRODUCTIOX. 


was  fed  by  every  conceivable  art.  Madness  ruled  the  hour.  The  poor  and  the 
rich  rushed  wildly  to  invest  their  all ;  and  even  mendicants  rolled  proudly,  for 
a  while,  in  fictitious  wealth  !  But,  as  in  all  such  cases  since  the  world  was,  the 
shadows  of  doubt  began,  in  time,  ominously  to  cast  themselves  athwart  this 
bright  picture,  and  soon  deepened  into  the  dark  and  lurid  clouds  of  stern  real- 
ity. People  turned  ashy  pale.  Consternation  took  the  place  of  confidence,  and 
Panic  spread  out  her  spectral  wings.  Thus,  one  by  one  these  airy  bubbles  ex- 
ploded, leaving  the  wail  of  desolation,  of  gaunt  despair,  and  of  ghastly  suicide, 
in  their  fatal  train.  The  pen  of  the  romancer,  in  its  most  unrestrained  flights, 
would  fail  to  equal,  in  startling  wonders,  the  chronicles  of  commercial  tragedy 
which  have  their  appropriate  department  in  this  volume. 


0  ONTENTS. 


PART  I. 

ANECDOTES  AND   REMARKABLE  REMINISCENCES    OF  THE  EARLY  CA- 
REER OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES  IN  ALL  AGES  AND  COUNTRIES,. 

AsTOR,  Rothschild,  Odvrard,  Bates,  Barker,  Touro,  McDonogh,  Howqua,  Gold- 
SCHMID,  Hope,  Hottinguer,  Coutts,  Morrison,  De  Medicis,  Girard,  Biddle, 
Labocchere,  Lafitte,  Appleton,  Cooper,  Gresham,  Peabody,  Nolte,  Gray, 
Vanderbilt,  Beatty,  Lawrence,  Lowell,  Whitney,  Gideon,  Baring,  Morris, 
LoRiLLARD,  Steiglitz,  Perkins,  Jeejeebhoy,  Brooks,  Longworth,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 


FAOB 

Appleton,  Nathan,  merchant,  of  Boston..  32 

Appleton,  Samuel,  merchant,  of  Boston..  48 

Appleton,  William,  merchant,  of  Boston  33 
Astor,  John  Jacob,   merchant,   of   New 

York 47 

Astor,  William  B.,  millionnaire,  of  New 

York 39 

Barings  (The),  bankers,  of  London 27 

Barker,  Jacob,  merchant,  of  New  Orleans  43 
Barnum,  P.  T., "  the  Prince  of  Showmen," 

of  New  York 29 

Bates,  Joshua,  of  the  house  of  Barings, 

London 21 

Beatty,  James,  merchant,  of  Baltimore. . .  23 
Biddle,  Nicholas,  financier,  of  Philadel- 
phia    26 

Brooks,  Peter  C,  millionnaire,  of  Boston  49 
Bruck,    M.,    Austria's    great  merchant 

banker 7 

Bussey,  Benjamin,  merchant,  of  Boston..  15 
Callaghan,   Daniel,  the  Irish  mercantile 

celebrity 9 

Child,  Francis,  founder  of  English  bank- 
ing houses 14 

Coeur,  Jacques,  French  merchant  in  the 

Middle  Ages 87 

Cooper,  Peter,  merchant,  of  New  York...  IG 
Cope,  Thomas  P.,  merchant,  of  Philadel- 
phia   53 

Corning,  Erastus,  merchant,  of  New  York  51 

Coutts,  English  banker 3 

B 


Dadabhoy  Jeejeebhoy,  Parsee  banker  and 

merchant 41 

De  Buirette,  the  illustrious  German  mer- 
chant      28 

"  Denison,  Old  Mr  ,"  of  St.  Mary  Axe. ...    46 
Dexter,    Lord    Timothy,   eccentric  mer- 
chant, of  Newburyport 20 

Fish,  Preserved,  merchant,  of  New  York    10 

Forbes,  William,  Scotch  banker 6 

Fordyce,  Alexander,  the  Shark  of  the  Ex- 
change      44 

Fugger,  Johannes,  and  the  great  commer- 
cial family  of  Fuggcrs 15 

Garrison,  C.  K.,  merchant,  of  San  Fran- 
cisco       40 

Gideon,  Sampson,  the  rival  of  Rothschild  18 
Girard,   Stephen,  merchant  and  banker, 

of  Philadelphia 29 

Goldschmid,  Abraham  and  Benjamin,  old 

English  bankers 38 

Goodhue,  Jonathan,  merchant,  of  New 

York 50 

Gracie,  Archibald,  merchant,  of  New  York  52 
"  Gray,  Old  Billy,"  merchant,  of  Boston . .  35 
Gresham,  Thomas,  royal  merchant  and 

financier,  of  London. 26 

Haase,  Henry  Engelbert,  banker,  of  Bre- 
men         9 

Herodotus,  a  merchant 41 

Hogg,  William,  Pennsylvania  millionnaire  41 
Hope,  Henry,  banker,  of  Amsterdam ... .     13 


XVI 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Howqua,  senior  Hong  merchant 2 

Jeejeebhoy,  Jamsetjee,  great  Parsee  mer- 
chant   19 

Khan,  the  celebrated  Persian  merchant. .  IS 
Labouchere,   P.  C,   the  youthful  prince 

merchant 2 

Lafitte,  Jacques,  French  banker 8 

Lawrence,  Abbott,  merchant,  of  Boston. .  42 

Lawrence,  Amos,  merchant,  of  Boston. . .  11 
Lawrence,   Cornelius  W.,  merchant,    of 

New  York 12 

Leavitt,  David,  merchant,  of  New  York. .  11 

Lenox,  James,  merchant,  of  New  York..  11 

Little,  Jacob,  "  of  Wall  Street " 22 

Lloyd,  Jones,  banker,  of  Loudon 8 

Longworth,    Nicholas,    millionnaire,    of 

Cincinnati 45 

Lopez,  Judah  M.,  speculator  in  annuities  38 

Lorillard,  the  New  York  tobacconist 46 

Lowell,  Francis  C,  merchant,  of  Boston  14 
McDonogh,  John,  millionnaire,  of  New 

Orleans 17 

Medicis,   Lorenzo    de,   "the  magnificent 

merchant,"   of  Florence 12 

Morgan,  Edwin  D.,  merchant,    of  New 

York 31 

Morris,  Robert,  financier,  of  Philadelphia  1 

Morrison,  James,  "  of  Twenty  Millions  "  21 


PAGE 

Nolte,  Vincent,  the  wandering  merchant  19 
"  Old    Billy  Gray,"    merchant,   of   Bos- 
ton    35 

Ouvrard,  G.  J.,  "the  Napoleon  of  finance"  52 
Overend,  John,   pioneer  bill  broker,   of 

London 46 

Peabody,  George,  merchant  and  banker, 

of  London 16 

Perit,  Pelatiah,  merchant,  of  New  York. .  37 

Perkins,  Thomas  H.,  merchant,  of  Boston  50 

Ricardo,  David,  English  financier 33 

Ridgway,  Jacob,  merchant,  of  Philadel- 
phia  37,  54 

Rothschilds  (The),  wealthiest  bankers  in 

the  world 23 

Solomon,  the  merchant  sovereign 7 

"Spencer,  Rich,"  merchant  and  banker, 

of  London 35 

Steiglitz,  richest  of  Russian  merchants..  7 
Stewart,  Alexander  T.,  merchant,  of  New 

York 30 

Sturgis,  William,  merchant,  of  Boston..  473 

Tattersall,  the  London  auctioneer 4 

Touro,  Judah,  merchant,  of  New  Orleans  34 
Whitney,   Stephen,  merchant,    of    New 

York 14 

Wood,    James,   the    Gloucester  million- 
naire   3 


PAET    II. 

ANECDOTES  AND  INCIDENTS  OF  BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONET 

RELATIONS. 

Banks,  Bankers,  Brokers,  Specie,  Notes,  Loans,  Exchange,  Drafts,  Checks,  Public 
Securities,  and  Currency  in  all  its  Forms  and  Phases  ;  -with  Jottings  op  the 
Most  Celebrated  Millionnaires  and  Money  Dealers — their  Business  Modes  and 
Characteristics,  Maxims,  Colloqiues,  Wit,  Eccentricities  and  Finesse. 


PAGE 

"Accommodation"  offered  at  the  Bank. .  119 
Addison's  Opinion  of  the  Royal  Exchange 

and  its  Frequenters 112 

Albert  Gallatin   declining  Mr.  Baring's 

Offer  of  a  Fortune 115 

An  Excited  Specie  Hunter 97 

Another  Bank  Project 72 

Application  for  a  Discount,  by  Astor. . . .  102 

Astor's  "  Secret  Pain  " 88 

Atchafalaya  Currency  by  the  Cord 75 

Avoiding  Specie  Suspension 74 

Bank  Parlor  in  the  Winter 74 

Bank  Teller's  "  Varieties '[ 92 

Bankers  of  the  Old  School 76 


PAGE 

Bankers  Snubbing  Napoleon 87 

Banking  Habits  of  Girard 66 

Banks  Failing 84 

Banks  of  Ease 108 

Barnard,  the  Proud  Broker 114 

Bewitching  a  Bank  Teller 114 

"Borrow  Money!  Borrow  Money!" 90 

Bound  not  to  Break 86 

Brief  Explanation  of  Banking 83 

Burning  a  Banker's  Notes 76 

Business    Aspect    and    Conduct    of  the 

Richest  Banker  in  the  World 71 

California  Gold,  Seventy  Years  Ago 73 

Capital  of  European  Bankers 81 


CONTENTS. 


xvu 


PAGE 

Cashier  Inviting  a  Run  upon  his  Bank. . .  77 

Coin  used  by  Judas 100 

Colloquies  inside  the  Bank 106 

Conducting  Business  on  the  Paris  Bourse  95 

"  Confidence"  in  Hard  Times 62 

Couutiug-House  Dinners 61) 

Croesus,  vast  Wealth  of 91 

Curious  Reason  for  Borrowing  Money. . .  74 

Detecting  Bad  Bills....' 96 

Determining  the  Genuineness  of  a  Check  96 

Disadvantage  of  being  a  Bank  Director. .  107 

Discounting  an  Hibernian's  Note Ill 

Disinterested  Brokers 68 

Drawing  the  Specie 59 

Dudley  North's  Opposition  to  Brokerage  81 

Endorser's  Qualification 110 

Establishment  of  the  Bank  of  England- 
Curious  Facts 85 

Final  Argument  at  a  Bank  Counter 80 

Financial   Physic 82 

First  Jewish  Bill  of  Exchange 80 

First  Run  upon  Bankers 116 

Florentine  Brokers  and  Money  Loaners..  94 

Four  Money-making  Rules  of  Rothschild  115 

Franklin's  M ultitude  of  Capitalists 98 

Gallatin,  Albert,  declining  Mr.   Baring's 

Olfer  of  a  Fortune 115 

George  Peabody's  Colossal  Fortune 72 

Girard's  great  Government  Loan 100 

Glances  behind  the  Bank  Counter 61 

Goldschmid    and    Baring's    Unfortunate 

Contract — Suicide  of  the  Former 61 

Governor  of  the  Bank  of  England  taken  by 

Surprise 113 

Greatest  Lending  House  in  Europe 105 

Gresham's  Scheme  of  Exchanges 115 

History  of  the  Old  Red  Cent 101 

Immense  Consignment  of  Gold  to  a  New 

York  House 119 

Intruding  into  the  Bullion  Room 99 

Irish  Banker  Redeeming  his  Notes 93 

Irishman  at  the  Bank 108 

Jacob  Barker's  Forty  Kegs  of  Specie ....  79 

Jacob  Little  and  the  Missing  Bank  Bill. .  83 

Jacob  Lorillard's  Note  of  Accommodation  110 

Jewish  Money  Lenders Ill 

Jewish  Perseverance  and  Shrewdness...  88 

Juvenile  Contempt  of  the  Bank 108 

Lafitte  in  a  Tight  Place. 65 

Largest  Dealer  in  Commercial  Paper  in 

the  United  States 90 

Largest  Private  Check  ever  Drawn 105 

Learning  the  Currency  in  a  Small  Way. .  66 

Leather  Money 80 

Lives  of  Bank  Notes 73 

Logic  of  Specie  Payments 68 

London  Bankers  and  Banking  Houses ....  78 

Lorillard  paying  a  Bequest  in  Bank  Stock  105 

Losing  a  Bank  Customer 110 


PAGE 

Loss  of  Bank  Notes 64 

Lost    Bank    Note    of    Thirty    Thousand 

Pounds 103 

M.  Rothschild  on  the  Secret  of  his  Success  101 

Manifolding  Bank  Notes 98 

Merchants'  Notes  as  Currency 103 

Modes  of  conducting  Operations,  by  Roths- 
child      92 

Model  English  Banker 90 

Modern  Bank  Directors'  Parlor 96 

Money-changers  in  China 76 

Money  Street  of  New  York 112 

More  Cunning  than  Rothschild Ill 

Mr.  Biddle's  Wit 87 

Neapolitan    Canibiamoneta    or     Money-   • 

changer. .  - 104 

New  York  Bankers  and  Western  Court- 
houses      83 

Nicholas  Biddle  and  the  Mississippi  Loan    61 

Note  Buyers 109 

Novel  Securities  for  Loans 70 

Obtaining  Security  to  be  a  Broker 78 

Oldest  Bill  of  Exchange  in  the  World....  106 

Origin  of  Paper  Money 101 

Ouvrard,  the  Banker,  and  Napoleon 65 

Pawning  Money  in  Ireland 70 

Paying  Notes  in  Specie 79 

Peculiar  Management    of  the    Bank    of 

Amsterdam 102 

Peep  at  the  Treasure  in   Threadneedle 

Street 91 

Peeresses  conducting  Banking  Operations    89 

Pennsylvania  Bonds 120 

Picayunes  and  Coppers 113 

Proud  Broker  Barnard,  The 114 

Punch's  Money  Vagaries 66 

Pursuit  of  Specie  under  Difficulties 63 

Queen  Anne  saving  the  Government  Bank 

from  Pillage 116 

Raising  Money  on  Manuscript 93 

Rendering  Bank  Notes  Serviceable 116 

Renewing  a  Note 98 

Ricardo's  Three  Golden  Rules 101 

Roman  Money  Lenders 68 

Rothschild  trying  to  Raise  a  Small  Loan  100 

Royal  Runners  and  Brokers 107 

Running  a  Bank 99 

Russian  Money  Brokers 109 

Scenes  after  Discount  Day 104 

Securing  Trustworthy  Bank  Officers,  and 

the  Safety  of  Capital 69 

Security  for  a  Discount 79 

Sir  Robert  Peel's  Opinion  of  his  Son  as  a 

Financier , 89 

Spanish  Reals  versus  Spanish  Bonds 84 

Specie  in  the  Brokers'  Windows 64 

Strongest  Bank  in  the  World 82 

Supposititious  Will  of  the  Bank  of  Eng- 
land Directors 117 


XVIU 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Terrible  Revenge  on  a  Bank,  by  Roths- 
child   95 

The  Great  Bankers  of  the  World  together 

in  Rothschild's  Parlor .»  60 

"  The  Lady's  Broker  " 77 

The  United  Job  and  Lazarus  Bank 81 

Throwing  out  Jacob  Barker's  Notes 84 


PAGE 

Timely  Hard-money  Loan 67 

Unexpected  Balance  at  Coutts's  Bank 106 

Vast  Wealth  of  Croesus , 91 

Vaults  of  the  Bank  of  France 62 

Voltaire's  Dealings  in  Government  Stocks  111 
Weight  of  Miss  Burdett  Coutts's  Fortune  87 
Yankee  Hoarding  Specie 72 


PART    IIIo 


ANECDOTES    AND 


ILLUSTRATIONS     OF    TEE    SUCCESSFUL    BUSINESS 
QUALITIES. 


Integrity,  Enterprise,  Energy,  Perseverance,  Courage,  Shrewdness,  Punctilious- 
ness, Prudence,  Ambition,  Gratitude,  Benevolence,  Generosity,  Economy  ;  with 
Pencillings  op  Striking  Business  Adventures,  Vicissitudes,  Exploits  and 
Achievements,  both  Serious  and  Comical. 


PAGE 

A  Good  Beginning— Old  Moses  Roths- 
child   184 

A.  T.  Stewart's  Success 145 

Aged  Merchant  saved  from  Robbery  by 

the  Weather 176 

Agreement  for  a  Loan 142 

American  Merchants  of  the  Olden  Time — 

Joseph  Peabody 174 

"An  Error  in  Shipping  the  Goods" 170 

Aptness  and  Nicety  in  Business  Hlustrated  170 
Arab  Honesty  in  Business  Transactions. .  140 

Astor's  Early  Prediction 144 

Aztec  Merchants 181 

Benevolence  of  Goldschniid,  the  Old  Jew 

Broker 126 

Benevolence  of  Shai-king-qua,  the  Chinese 

Merchant 172 

Bone  and  Offal  Millionnaire 161 

Boston  Merchant's  opinion  of  Business 

Men's  Honesty 157 

Boyhood  Struggles  of  a  Merchant,  Gideon 

Lee 125 

Bruised  but  not  Crushed :   the  Messrs. 

Brown  of  Liverpool 167 

Business  Habits  of  A,  T.  Stewart 165 

Business  versus  Disease 141 

Celebrated  Question  in  Commerce  put  by 

Cicero 140 

Chinese  Merchant's  Gratitude 169 

Commencing  in  the  Sub-cellar 135 

Commencing  with  Three  Tobacco  Boxes 

—Jacob  Barker 179 

Commercial  Fortune  of  a  Peer 173 

Confidence  in  Mercantile  Success 144 


PAGE 

Controversy  among  Wine  Dealers 137 

Cope's,  Thomas  P.,  Integrity  155 

Correct  Appreciation  of  Mercantile  Cha- 
racter, by  Mr.  Astor 186 

Day  and  Martin,  the  Millionnaires  of  High 

Holborn 147 

Earliest  American  Whaleship  in  England  181 

English  Merchant  and  Spanish  Beggar. .  176 
Enterprise    of    Yankees    and    Russians 

'Cutely  Hlustrated 161 

Erastus  B.  Bigelow's  Boyhood  Bargain. . .  144 
European  and  American  Modes  of  doing 

Business 171 

Everything  by  turns :  Girard's  Example. .  136 

Expectations  against  Results 138 

Explaining  his  Business 181 

Extension  and  Profits  of  Mr.  Astor's  Fur 

Business 186 

Father  Taylor  and  the  Banker's  Exhorta- 
tion   169 

First  Greek  Adventure  to  America 153 

First  Penny  gained  by  a  Millionnaire ....  126 

Five  Years  of  Privation  and  a  Fortune...  161 

Foot's,  Lundy  "  Blackguard  Snuff"" 135 

Fortune  of  a  Commercial  Peer 173 

Fortunes  at  a  Single  Blow 130 

French  Mercantile  Independence 127 

General  Jackson's  Interview  with  Samuel 

Slater 1^5 

Generosity  of  Chickering  the  Piano-Forte 

Maker 159 

Getting  the  Hang  of  Mercantile  Transac- 
tions   138 

Gideon  Lee  carrying  the  Lapstone r>  171 


CONTENTS. 


XIX 


PAGE 

Girard  trying  to  raise  Five  Dollars 142 

Good  Word  for  Girard 176 

Goodhue,    Jouatban,    Noble    Mercantile 

Trait  of. 162 

Great  Deeds  of  European  Merchants 134 

Gresham's  Fortunate  Letter 174 

Haifa  Million  Profit  by  One  of  Girard's 

Operations '^-^^ 

Handful  of  Wool  and  a  Bank  of  Money. . .  164 

Hiding  the  Dollar  with  a  Dime 158 

Hinges  upon  which  Trade  swings 138 

Honorable   Distinction   attained    by   Mr. 

Perit IBS 

Hope  and  Co.,  Peremptory  Refusal  of,  to 

do  Business  with  Girard 134 

Hudson,  George,  Tale  at  a  Dinner  Party.  142 

Indians'  Mode  of  Judging  a  Trader 132 

Jacob  Barker's  Success  when  a  Youth....  147 
James  G.  King's  Treatment  of  Resent- 
ments      162 

John  Jacob  Aster's   **  Highway  to  For- 
tune " 171 

Johnson's  Prejudice  against  Merchants..  165 

Labouchere  and  Vincent  Notte 151 

Ladder  of  Commercial  Success 157 

Late  at  a  Dinner  Party :  George  Hudson  142 
Lawrence,  Abbott,  not  disposed  to  Lie. .  164 

Lee  and  his  Travelling  Companion 125 

Lendinga  Helping  Hand:  A.  Lawrence..  141 
Liberality  of  Yakooleff",  the  Russian  Mer- 
chant   127 

Little  too  Candid 137 

Locking-up  Foreign  Merchants  in  Eng- 
land    128 

Making  Conditions :  King  James  and  the 

Corn  Merchants 123 

McDonogh's  Greatest  Victory 162 

Mercantile  Character  Comparatively  Esti- 
mated   131 

Mercantile  Defalcation  Made  Good  after 

Sixty  Years 158 

Merchant  Patrons  of  Literature ISO 

Merchants  and  Legislators 133 

Merchants  getting  to  be  Gentlemen 133 

Merchants  of  the  Golden  Fleece 128 

Minding  One's  Own  Business 171 

Mohammedan  Mercantile  Morality 135 

Mohammedan's  reason  for  Not  Storing 

Coods 131 

Money  Enojigh  to  Break  on 131 

Money  gettinsr  Tact  of  Jews 173 

Monsieur  Smith  :  Girard's  Man 154 

Mr.  Everell  and  the  Hindoo  Merchant.. . .  180 

Mr.  Grinnell's  Liberality 183 

Murdered  Merchant  Watched  by  his  Dog  176 
Mutations  of  a  Merchant's  Life ;  the  New 

Orleans  Sock-Seller. . 129 

Mysterious  Benefactor — Incident    of  the 
South  Sea  Bubble 158 


PAGE 

Napoleon  and  Byron  on  Trading 131 

Noble  Mercantile  Trait  of  Jonathan  Good- 
hue    162 

Not  Ashamed  of  Work — Astor  s  Diligence  133 
Not  disposed  to  Lie  :  Abbott  Lawrence..   164 

Old  Fashioned  Shopkeepers 128 

Opulent  New  York  Merchants 133 

Pati'iotic  Merchants  of  the  Revolution . . .  127 
Patriotism  and  Prowess  of  French  Mer- 
chants  150 

Peculiar  Feature  in  Rothschild's  Business 

Character 173 

Peremptory  Refusal  of  Hope  and  Co.  to 

do  Business  with  Girard 134 

Perkins's,  Thomas  U.,  Deliberate  Habits.  150 

Perseverance  badly  rewarded  185 

Persevering  Traders 170 

Philadelphia  Young  Merchant,  who  was 

not  afraid  of  Girard  158 

Polly  Kenton's  Lard  Speculation 164 

Portuguese    Pilgrim    in   the   Streets   of 
Venice  proclaiming   its  Commercial 

Doom 175 

Present  Prosperity  of  the  Rothschilds. . .  180 
Private  Mercantile  finances  and    Royal 

Fleets 174 

Privateering  Exploit  of  a  Salem  Merchant  149 
Quaker  Merchant's  Idea  of  Privateering. .  132 
Queen  Juno's  Opinion  of  Merchants .... . .  125 

Recovering  a  Wasted  Fortune 130 

Redeeming  Lost  Time  163 

Remarkable  Case  of  Conscience  in  a  Busi- 
ness Man 182 

Restitution  by  a  Shopkeeper 163 

Retiring    from     Business — Engaging    to 

Blow  the  Bellows 141 

Reverses  of  Mercantile  Fortune 168 

Reynolds,  the  Charitable  Quaker  Merchant  127 

Roman  Idea  of  Merchants 154 

Romance  of  Trade — "  Blackajuard  Snuff'*  135 

Roscoe,  William,  the  Poet  Banker 169 

Rothschild  and  Astor  compared 151 

Sabbath  Experimces  of  a  Shipmaster 139 

Scene  in  a  Merchant's  Counting  Room  after 

the  Peace  of  T^lo.. 153 

Search  for  a  New  Route  to  China 186 

Second  Thought  on  a  Trade 155 

Secrecy  in    Business  Transactions  prac- 
tised by  Rothschild 156 

Shaking  One's  Business  Credit 123 

Sharing  in  a  Good  Operation 156 

Shopkeepers  and  Warriors 175 

Six  Days  for  Business  nnd  One  for  Rest..  157 

Sole  Qualification  of  a  Bill  Broker 173 

Sources  of  Wealth  of  the  Medici  Family 

of  Merchants 182 

Spanish  Mercantile  Dealings 163 

Stewart's,  A.  T.   Success 162 

"Stick  to  Your  Last" 137 


XX 


CONTEXTS. 


PAGE 

Strong    Point    in    Mercantile    Success: 

Girard's  Silence 153 

Tempting  Business  Paragraph 161 

The  Banker's  Seven-Shilling  Piece 177 

Thorburn's  Flowery  Path  to  Fortune....  166 
Thomas  H.  Perkins's  Deliberate  Habits..  150 

Thomas  P.  Cope's  Integrity 155 

Three  Merchant  Voyages  and  their  Re- 
sults   155 

Too  Close  application  to  Business 141 

Touro's  Great  Gift  to  a  Beggar 159 

Tudor,  the  Original  Ice  Merchant 153 


PAGE 

Usurious    Interest  on  Money :    Peter  C. 

Brooks's  Rule 172 

Value  of  a  Good  Credit 132 

"Walter  Barrett's"  Cotton  Mission 148 

"Washington  as  a  Business  Man 179 

Wealthy  Men  of  Cincinnati 168 

Whale  Fishery  Enterprise  of  Americans  160 
What  John  McDonogh  said  to  a  Lawyer.  146 

Who  were  the  First  Whalemen  ? 129 

William  Roscoe,  the  Poet  Banker 169 

Yankee  Shrewdness  Handsomely    Illus- 
trated   124 


PAET   lY. 

ANECDOTES  OF  TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 

The  Rarest  Instances  of  Ingenious  Business  Fraud,  Forgery,  Counterfeiting,  and 
Smuggling  ;  Usury,  Artifice,  Tricks,  and  Malpractice  ;  with  Examples,  Ex- 
traordinary AND  Amusing,  op  Avarice,  Covetousness,  Parsimony,  Extortion, 
Pride,  Rudeness,  Violence  and  Extrayagance  of  Business  Men. 


PAGE 

"A  Little  More'- 198 

A  Rustic  bargaining  for  a  Hat 262 

Accomplished  Canine  Shoplifter 200 

Artful  Dodge 206 

Attempt  to  overthrow  Rothschild's  Power 

in  the  Money  Market 250 

Attention  to  Trivial  Things  by  Girard. . .  243 
Avarice  of  Osterwald,  the  French  Banker  244 

Bad  Bank  Bill 277 

Bad  Business 223 

Bank  Teller  Filing  his  Gold  Coin 2C0 

Bargaining  for  a  Jar 234 

Bargains  in  Cochin-China 219 

Bit  of  Yankee  Financiering  in  Wall  Street  266 

Blinders  for  Stockholders 216 

Bubble  Prospectuses 281 

Burns  and  the  Drowning  Merchant 272 

Business  Haggling  in  Scotland 194 

Business  Suckers 212 

Buying  Cheap 211 

Buying  Wine  by  Sample 231 

Characteristic    Smuggling    Ingenuity  of 

Parisians 226 

Cheating  the  Oculist 212 

City  Merchant  securing  a  Customer 241 

Coal  Dealer's  Prediction  Fulfilled — Per- 
haps  265 

Colloquy  between  a  Storekeeper  and  his 

Customer 243 

Commercial  Croakers 248 

Commercial  Milk 223 


PAQB 

Connection  between  Small  Bank  Notes 

and  Crime 214 

Consequence    of    a    Simple    Mercantile 

Speculation 241 

Cool  Assurance  of  a  Doomed  Financier..  249 

"  Cornering  "  among  Brokers 247 

Croesus  and  his  Avaricious  Guest 221 

Custom  House  Swearing 249 

Customs  of  the  Store  in  Church 253 

Dangers  of  Legitimate  Business  Transac- 
tions    224 

Deaconing  Both  Ends  of  the  Barrel 206 

Deadhead  Customer — a  Clincher 195 

Deserved  Reward  of  Blasphemy 265 

Determined  not  to  be  Overreached 200 

Determining  the  Character  of  an  Article 

by  its  Age 196 

Discounting  a  Legacy 237 

Disposing  of  an  Old  Stock 233 

Doing  Things  on  Shares 271 

"Doing "and  "Shaving"  Customers...  271 

"  Done  for  "  Twice 238 

Dry  Goods  Drummer  "Sold" 204 

Dummies,  or  Counterfeit  Show  Windows  269 

Duplicity  of  French  Speculators 227 

Duplicity  practised  by  Furnese,  the  King's 

Banker 210 

Dutchman  illustrating  a  Mercantile  Prin- 
ciple    195 

East  India  Company  and  the  Missing  Wit- 
ness  *...  225 


CONTENTS. 


XXI 


PAGE 

Economical  Hardware  Merchant 242 

Espionage  Practised  by  Girard 297 

Estimate  of  his  own  Life  by  a  Miser 244 

Exchanging    a    Cheese    for    a  Pinch  of 

Snuff 261 

Expedient  of  a  Russian  Miser 272 

Extravagant  Business  Rhetoric 252 

Fate  of  a  Clerical  Dealer  in  "  Fancies  ". .  233 

Fauntleroy,  the  Executed  Banker 255 

Filibustering  among  Parisian  Jewellers. . .  203 

Financiering  in  Alabama 192 

First  Forged  Note  on  a  Bank 255 

Fortune-making  in  Havana 212 

French  Nicety  in  Trade  Frauds 233 

French  Usurers  and  Pigeons 275 

Friend  Hopper  and  the  Due  Bill 266 

Game  of  the  Money  Packages 209 

"  Genuine  "  Wines 196 

Government  Contractors  in  Russia 259 

Grocers'  Raisin  Boxes  and  Nibbling  Cus- 
tomers   206 

Half  Hour's    Experience    with   London 

Brokers 207 

Hanging  a  Broker  One  Hundred  Years 

Ago 240 

Hard  Philosophy  of  an   Annuity-Monger  274 

Hardening  Tendency  of  Business 224 

"  He's  a  Country  Merchant— Stick  Him  !"  230 
High-heeled  Boots  with  Watches  in  Them  232 

His  Ruling  Passion 209 

Hoarding  and  Amusing — Noted  Instances  253 

Imitating  Signatures 276 

Ingenious  Plot  against  a  Banker 260 

Ingenious  Swindling  of  Pawnbrokers.. . .  199 

Italian  Knavery  in  Picture  Selling 279 

Italian  Picture  Dealer  Trapping  an  Expe- 
rienced Connoisseur 193 

Jack's  Bargain  for  Rope 199 

Jacob  Barker  on  "Shrewdness"  in  Stock 

Dealing 214 

James  Bolland's  Financial  Career 193 

Jemmy  Taylor,  the  Miser  Broker,  and  the 

Earl  of  Northumberland 200 

Jew  Losing  a  Bargain 243 

Jewish  Money  Makers  in  the  Holy  City..  253 

Jewish  Opinion  of  Rothschild 243 

Keen  Ruse  by  a  Yankee  Peddler 263 

Kentucky  Hams  and  Yankee  Nutmegs. . .  217 
King  Charles  in  the  Pawners'  Clutches  .  210 
Knavery  of  British  and  Chinese  Traders 

compared 246 

Knowing  his  Customer 236 

Latest  "  Sell "  of  the  Day 218 

Lodging  a  Banker  in  the  Gutter 267 

Looking  Glass  for  Wall  Street 239 

Louis  the  Fifteenth's  Opinion  of  his  Own 

Paper 240 

M.  Beautte  and  the  Official  Smuggler.,.  237 
Making  a  Good  Job  of  It 275 


PAGE 

Making  Change  at  Railroad  Refreshment 

Stands 278 

"Merchant  of  Venice" — Shylock's  Com- 
mercial Character  Vindicated 222 

Messrs.  Moan  and  Groan  of  Cypress  Row  220 
Mode  of  Protecting  the  Money  Drawer. . .  238 

Morocco  Pocketbook  Men 225 

Mr.  Jones's  Experience  with  Peter  Funk  213 
Muller,  the  Rich  Merchant  of  Nuremberg: 

Fictitious  Theft 259 

Mysteries  of  Tea  Smuggling 229 

"  Newcsloth  " 272 

"  No  Great  Judge  of  de  Hemp  " 201 

Old  Guy  putting  out  the  Light ;  or,  Mil- 
lionnaires  rating  each  others'  Fru- 
gality   236 

Old-School  Money  Jobbers 274 

OldVinter's  Bank  Bills 219 

One  Cent  with  Girard 273 

One  of  the  Operations  in  'Change  Alley. .  208 

One  Price,  but  not  the  Same  Article 204 

"P.  D." , 222 

Parisian  Female  Smugglers 271 

Philanthropy  and  Forty  per  Cent 232 

Plan  to  Ruin  the  Ancient  Firm  of  Child 

and  Co.  by  the  Bank  of  England 280 

Prayers  Requested  for  a  New  Business 

Undertaking 230 

Prejudice  against  Yankee  Clock  Peddlers, 

and  how  it  was  Overcome 277 

Presents  to  Bank  Officers :  Curious  Cases  254 

Price  of  Extortion  and  Revenge 235 

Purloining    Speculator    in    the    French 

Funds 245 

Quaker  Banker  and  the  Stolen  Doubloons  240 
Quaker  Shipowner  Economizing  the  Time 

of  his  Men 198 

Raising  his  Customer 245 

Raising  the  Price  of  Bread 201 

Resolving  to  be  Rich 273 

Restitution  of  Bank  N  otes 257 

Results  of  a  Career  of  Overreaching 263 

Risks  of  the  Currency  278 

Rothschild  and  Lucas :  Stratagem  to  Learn 

the  Former's  Secrets 191 

Royal   Prize  for    Raising    Money — Raid 

upon  the  Bankers 198 

Saving    the    Pieces  —  Girard    and    his 

Brother 222 

Selling  a  Bad  Article 277 

Selling  Salt  by  a  Chalk  Line 191 

Settling  a  Question  of  Taste  and  Trade. . .   272 

Sharing  in  Rothschild's  Fortune 252 

Sharp  at  a  Trade— Sharper  in  Getting  Out 

of  It 264 

Skinflint  Philosophy 245 

Slavers  Raising  a  Capital 248 

Smuggled  Needles,  and  the  American 
Eagle 269 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Smuggler's  Honor 226 

Smuggling  by  the  Chinese 271 

Smuggling  on  a  Lace  Merchant's  Dog. . .  231 

Snug  Place  for  Bank  Notes 270 

Spaniard  and  Chinaman  at  a  Trade 231 

Spanish  Contraband  Trade 229 

Stephen  Whitney's  Charities 244 

Stock  Exchange  Conspiracy 214 

Stock  "  Washing  " 247 

Taking  Him  at  his  Word 267 

Talleyrand  and  the  Stockjobber 211 

Terrible  Career  of  Sadleir,  the  Speculator  227 
Terrible  Sequel  to  Parsimony :  M.  Fescue's 

Case 250 

The  Bank  Detectives  Foiled 264 

The  Prince  Regent's  Wine  and  the  Confi- 
dential Dealer 268 

Three  Millionnaires  Quarrelling  about  One 

Farthing. 235 

Throwing  Sawdust  in  the  Eyes  of  Custom 
House  Officers 270 


PAGE 

"  To  what  Base  Uses  have  we  Come  at 

Last !" 280 

Tobacco  in  Loaves 249 

Tompkins's  Horse  Trade 218 

Tough  Experience  of  a  Business  Drummer  257 

Tradesmen's  Ticketing  System 242 

Trading  in  Imaginary  Candlesticks 263 

Tragical  Result  of  Losing  Bank  Notes ....  224 

Transactions  in  W^orsteds 219 

Trick  for  the  "  Spashy  " 209 

Trickery  in  the  Clothing  Trade 202 

Turtles  and  Gold  Snuflf  Boxes 248 

Two  Playing  at  the  Same  Game 228 

Unparalleled  Parsimony  and  Benevolence 

of  a  Millionnaire 242 

Virginia  Usurer  Foiled 217 

Wanting  to  Pay  the  Cash 262 

Weighing  Short 279 

What  it  means  to  be  "  Selling  Off" 197 

Window  **  Gazers"  Employed  by  London 
Shopkeepers 203 


PAKT   Y. 

ANJECDOTES  OF  FAMOUS  COMMERCIAL  EESOBTS  AND  LOCALITIES. 

The  Exchange,  Custom  House,  Boards  op  Trade,  Markets,  etc. — their  Axnals, 
Usages,  Peculiarities  ;  with  Personal  Miscellanies,  Aphorisms,  Oddities, 
Whims  and  Caprices  of  their  Habitues. 


PAGE 

Amusing    Perplexities    at   the    Custom 

House 298 

Animated  Scenes  at  the  French  Exchange  293 

Attacks  on  the  Stock  Exchange 289 

Business  in  London  at  Four  o' Clock 295 

'Change  Alley  as  a  Business  Resort 297 

Custom  House  Official    dealing   with  a 

Princess 285 

Custom  Houses  and  Star  Chambers 289 

Derivation    of    the    Commercial    Term 

"  Bourse  " 294 

Drinking  the  Health  of  Custom  House 

Officers 287 

Duty  on  Pictures 298 

First  East  India  House 299 

Free  Trade 293 

Hall  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Exchange 300 

High  'Change  Hours 298 

Lloyd's  Establishment,  London 206 

Ludicrous  Custom  House  Examinations. . .  294 


PAGR 

Manchester  Cotton  Merchants 292 

Manners  at  the  English  Stock  Exchange  288 
Men  of  Letters  frequenting  the  Share  Mart  301 
Merchants  and  Business  Resorts  in  Mos- 
cow    295 

One  Thousand  Million  Pounds'  Business 
Annually    at    the   London    Clearing 

House 297 

Origin  of  Boards  of  Trade 289 

Paying  Government  Fishing  Bounties. . .  286 

Photograph  of  Wall  Street 286 

Quotations  of  the  New  Exchange 290 

Railway  Clearing  House 296 

Reduction    of  Custom    House    Duties — 

"  Death  to  the  Beet  Root." 294 

Rencontre  between  Rothschild  and  Rose, 

the  Broker,  on  'Change 285 

Romance  and  Trade 299 

Scenes  in  a  Turkish  Custom  House. . . . . .  291 

The  Origin  of  the  Clearing  House r. .  294 


CONTENTS. 


xxm 


PAET    VI. 

ANECDOTES  OF  C0MMEBCI4L  ART  AND   PHBASEOLOGY, 

Advertisements,  Signboards,  Trademarks,  Tokens,  Envelopes,  Labels,  Inscriptions, 
Mottoes  and  Terms — Quaint,  Curious,  Grotesque,  Ingenious  and  Laughable. 


PAGE 

Adepts  in  Commercial  PuflBng 305 

Alliteration  in  Advertising 335 

An  untried  Method 309 

Ancient  Pictorial  Signboards 317 

Arms  and  Seal  of  the  Bank  of  Ireland. ...  814 

Baking  and  Banking 820 

Boston    Merchants'    Business    Marks  or 

Tokens 307 

Broadway  Signs 337 

Business  Puffing   Two    Hundred   Years 

Ago * 329 

Business  Signboards  in  Different  Nations  332 

Buying  a  Claim 336 

Cabalistic  Sign  for  an  Ale  House 317 

Carmeline  the  Dentist's  Sign 316 

Charging  for  Advertisements 331 

Chinese  Trade  Puffing 310 

Class  Advertisements  in  City  Papers 321 

Classical  Shop  Language 310 

Commercial  Envelopes,  Wrappers,  Labels, 

&c 311 

"  Cotton  is  Quiet  " 318 

Criticism  of  a  Hatter's  Sign 316 

Dean  Swift  and  the  Barber's  Sign 306 

Dialects  of  different  Trades 322 

"  Ditto  " 328 

Earliest  Printed  Advertisements 307 

English  Business  Mottoes 308 

Evasions  of  Trade  Marks 313 

First  Advertisement  in  America 322 

First  Trade  Advertisement 315 

"Five  Per  Cent." 830 

"  For  Her  Majesty  " 312 

Free  Shave  and  a  Drink 334 

French  Ideas  of  Advertising 834 

Fresh  Gems  from  English   Advertising 

Columns 309 

Fresh  Sea  Water 314 

Full-size  Headings  to  Advertisements. . . .  338 
Getting  Rid  of  his  Neighbor's  Customers  337 
Harlow's  Sign  Painting  Extraordinary...  333 
Hide  Dealer's  Sign— Rare  Bit  of  Philos- 
ophy  325 

Historical  and  Poetical  Signs 330 

Inscriptions  on  Trade  Coins 307 

Irish  Advertisement 316 

Irish  Pun  on  a  Sign 305 

C 


PAGB 

Jemmy  Wright's  Modesty 331 

Joke  upon  a  Boston  Sign 318 

Killbury    and    Maimsvvorth     Railway's 

Advertisement 306 

Latin  on  Business  Signs 326 

Literature  and  Groceries 312 

Meaning  of  "  Fund  "  and  "  Stock  " 328 

Merchants'  Religious  Formulae  or  Phrases  828 

Mottoes  in  Ancient  Times 308 

Natural  Advertising 321 

New  York  Business  Tokens 807 

Odd  Comminglings 324 

Out  of  Style 321 

Pathos  and  Puffing  Extraordinary 335 

Pat's  Definition  of  Railroad  "  Stock  " 337 

Pawnbrokers'  Three  Balls 325 

Paying  at  "  Maturity  " 327 

Phenomena  Extraordinary 819 

Pleasant  History  of  a  Familiar  Word. . . .  317 
"  Punch  "  on  Commercial  Phraseology  . .  322 
Quack  Advertisement  Two  Centuries  Ago  319 

Questionable  Sign  for  a  Clothier 820 

Responding  to  an  Advertisement 829 

Rush's  Celebrated  Figure  Heads 839 

Scotch  Tobacconist's  Motto 308 

Shop   and  Business  Signs:  Ancient  Ex- 
amples   314 

Shopkeepers'  Nomenclature  of  Goods 326 

Signboard  Punctuation 312 

Silk  Dyer's  Poetical  Sign 838 

Stock  Terms  in  the  Sick  Room 319 

Streets  and  Shop  Signs  in  Canton 317 

Striking  a  Bargain 830 

«'  Take  down  that  Old  Sign  " 881 

The  Napoleon  of  Advertising 882 

«•  Tight  Times  " 315 

Titles  of  Business  Firms 314 

Trade  Placards  and  Shop  Bills 823 

Transactions  in  the  Cab  Market 830 

Unexampled    Enterprise — the     Chinese 

Wall  for  Advertisements 315 

"  Universal  Stores  " 835 

"  Up  to  Snuff" 305 

Very  expressive S24 

Very  Racy 837 

Where  "  Tariff"  came  from 828 

"  Words  have  their  Meaning  " 334 


XXIV 


CONTENTS. 


PART   VII. 

ANECDOTES  AND  THINGS  MEMORABLE  CONCERNING  BUSINESS  TRANSIT 
AND   COMMUNICATION. 

Shipping,    Steamboats,     Railways,    Expresses,     Coaches,    Omnibuses,    etc.— their 
Owners,  Officers,  Patrons,  jls<i>  Attaches. 


PAGE 

ADeep  Design. 868 

Amending  the  Charter 884 

American  Shipuology 356 

An  Interesting  Consignment 370 

Arrival  of  the  Steamer 353 

Ask  any  Committee  Man 847 

Assuming  the  Responsibility 373 

Captain  Macalester  and  his   Fast   Ship 

"  Fanny  " 887 

Change  of  "  Packet  Day  " 385 

Church  and  State  'VS.  Railways 851 

Commercial  Importance  of  the  Cat 346 

"  Considering  "  a  Ship  Builder 344 

Curious  Division  of  Ships  into  Ounces. . .  350 

Decoration  of  Railroad  Depots 368 

Disinterested  Railroad  Contractor 376 

Dismissing  a  Shipmaster 346 

Drinking  Success  to  the  First  Railway  . .  385 

English  Hares  by  Express 350 

Female  Shipmaster  from  Cape  Horn  to 

San  Francisco 860 

First  Railroad  in  Europe  or  America 353 

First  Ship  at  St.  Petersburg 371 

First  Vessel  in  the  World 850 

Floating  Railways 345 

Forwarding  by  Telegraph 858 

From  Honolulu  to  Kaui 382 

George  Hudson,  the  Railway  King 378 

Good  Land  for  Railroad : 375 

Great  North  Pole  Railway 373 

Guarding  the  Track 367 

Imaginative  Expressmen— An   Artificial 

Corpse 344 

Jumel  the  Merchant,  and  the  Carman 358 

Lady  Ship  master 863 

Largest  Ship  Owner  in  England ,  355 

Laughable  Opposition  to  Steam  Trains.. .  862 

Literature  of  the  Cabin  855 

Lloyd's  Nautical  Book 851 

Locomotion  and  Amalgamation 864 

Lucky  and  Unlucky  Names  of  Ships,  and 

Sailing  Days 364 

Luxuries  in  the  Car 359 

Mode  of  Getting  Money  Transmitted 354 

Mr.  Griggs'  Mode  of  Overcoming  Obstacles  380 
Names  of  Vessels  and  Trade  of  New  York 

in  1680 350 


PAGE 

New  Rules  for  Railways 364 

New  York  to  Boston  in  Four  Days 375 

"  No  Swearing  among  the  Crew  " 855 

Not  Posted  in  Geography 883 

Oldest  Vessel  in  America 349 

Origin  of  the  Express  Business — Harn- 

den's  First  Trip 856 

Palmerston  and  the  Station  Master 886 

Paying  off  Jack 855 

"  Pleasure  Excursions  " 877 

Probable  Origin  of  Schooners 360 

Proposed  Line  from  England  to  China...  372 

Protective  Costume  for  Travellers 374 

Prussian  Ship  Navigated  by  a  Lady 360 

Punch's  Own  Railway 369 

Purchase  of  Jacob  Barker's  Ship  "  United 
States,"  by  the  Emperor  Nicholas. . .  343 

Rail  Car  Privileges 353 

Railroad  Damages— the  Tables  Turned..  365 

Railway  Politeness,  Scale  of 376 

Rare  Passenger  in  an  Omnibus 371 

Rather  Dry 375 

Rather  Ominous 348 

Reading  the  Annual  Report 347 

Rigid  Obedience  of  Shipmasters  Exacted 

by  Girard 376 

Risks  and  Accidents  Assured  Against. . .  345 

Rival  Steamboat  Lines 352 

Rothschild's  Omnibus  Fare 873 

Royal  Schemers  in  Railways 861 

Scale  of  Railway  Politeness 376 

Scene  in  an  Express  Office 359 

Selling  a  Brig :  the  Ruling  Passion 357 

"  Soaking  "  the  Old  Coach 884 

Southern  Accommodation  Trains 381 

Squelching  a  Director's  Impertinence....  37l 
Stage  Coach  Experience  of  Two  Merchants  869 
Stephenson,  the  Pioneer  in  Railroad  Con- 
struction   S80 

Strange  Terminus  to  a  Railroad 384 

Superseding  Steam 345 

Telegraph  vs.  Express 351 

Telegraph  Capers 367 

Telegraphing  against  Time 366 

The  First  Steamboat  Passage  Money^ever 

Paid 377 

The  Ladder  of  Gold ,.  349 


CONTENTS. 


XXV 


PAGE 

Thomas  Gray,  the  Originator  of  Railways  354 

Thompson's  Travels  in  California 381 

Universal  Salvage  Company .'.  346 

Unparalleled  Railway  Damages 347 

Unsociable  Travelling  Companion 3(38 

Up  Trains  and  Down  Trains 348 


PAGE 

Usefulness  of  Steamboats  in  Reducing  the 

Population 356 

Waghorn's  Great  Scheme 374 

Working  a  Hand  Car 383 

Yankee  Calculation  of  Railroad  Speed. . .  365 
"  Your  Ticket,  Sir." 381 


PART   VIII. 

ANECDOTES    OF    COMMERCE     AND     TRAFFIC    IN  TEEIB    LEGAL    AND 

JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 

Partnership,  Bankruptcy,  Debtor  and  Creditor,  Bonds  and  Mortgages,  Dunning, 
Peculiar  Cases  op  Mercantile  Litigation;  Pleasantries  and  Perplexities, 
Lights  and  Shades. 


PAGE 

A  Bankrupt  on  his  Legs  Again 401 

Addison's  Loan  of  Five  Hundred  Pounds 

to  Stanyan 428 

Advantage  of  being  a  Large  Debtor 399 

Advantage  of  Prison  Life  to  a   French 

Debtor 410 

Afraid  of  the  Sheriff's  Hat 451 

Aid  in  the  Nick  of  Time :  Jacob  Barker 

and  John  Wells 436 

An  Lisolvent  Tradesman  in  the  Clutches 

of  Old  Audley 406 

An  Unsettled  Commercial  Question 405 

Artifice  to  Escape  Bankruptcy 453 

Audubon,  John  J.,  and  John  J.  Astor....  454 

Backing  up  his  Recommendation 438 

"  Bankrupt " 407 

Bankruptcy  and  Barbarism  in  Court 396 

Bankruptcy  of  a  Dealer  in  "Women's 

Blacks" 425 

Bankrupts  in  Batavia 397 

Benefit  of  a  Doubt 419 

Bonfire  of  a  Debtor's  Papers 424 

Borrowers  and  Lenders — a  Melange 435 

Borrowing  Money,  or  Doing  Business  on 

Credit:  Peter  C.  Brooks's  Idea 416 

Borrowing  of  Rich  Relatives 428 

Breach  of  the  Bond 445 

Brooks,  Peter  C,  the  Boston  Millionnaire, 

in   Court 404 

Business,    Bankruptcy    and    Literature: 

John  Pierpont  and  John  Neal 443 

Business  Value  of  a  Name 416 

Buying  a  Pianoforte  Establishment , 450 

Cabinet  of  Debtors'  Autographs 452 

Celebrated  Law  Suits  among  Rival  Crafts  433 
Certificates  of  Solvency 456 


PAGE 

Changes  in  Mercantile  Standing 442 

Collecting  a  Draft 431 

Colloquy  in  a  Dry  Goods'  Jobbing  Store  416 

Comfort  for  Scotch  Debtors 403 

Commercial  Justice  in  Morocco 413 

Confidence  in  a  Debtor's  Promise 455 

Convenient  Substitute  for  Money 407 

Cool  Operation 425 

"  Credit " 449 

Crinkles  in  the  Credit  System 454 

Curious  Financiering 394 

Curious  Suit  against  a  Bank  Agent 418 

Day  and  Martin — New  and  Old 448 

Dealing  with  a  Bankrupt  in  Hamburg — 

"  Execution  "  on  the  Bourse 397 

Death  of  an  Old  Business  Favorite 450 

Debt,  and  the  Contribution  Box 426 

Debtors'  Complaint  in  Court 423 

Debts  of  Honor 401 

Debts  Owing  and  Balances  Due 391 

Deciding  a  Case  in  Botany  before  a  Dutch 

Magistrate 457 

"Died  of  a  Street  Debt!" 417 

Dishonest  Grocer  Punished  by  his  Son. . .  412 
Disreputable  for  a  Broker  to  be  Honest 

toward  his  Creditors 410 

Drawing  an  Inference 401 

"Dun" 407 

Dunning  as  a  Profession 393 

Dump's  Distressing  Failure 424 

Easy  Creditors 411 

English  Booksellers  and  American  Cus- 
tomers :  Daniel  Appleton 454 

English  Stockbrokers'  Blackboard 420 

Erskine  Sifting  an  Auctioneer's  Character  421 
Example  of  Spanish  Mercantile  Credit,, .  423 


XXVI 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Failure  of  the  Governor  of  the  Bank  of 

England 459 

Failures  in  Business 426 

Forgiving  a  Debt  and  Giving  a  Wife....  398 
Fortunate    Debtor :    AVashington    as    a 

Creditor 429 

Found  Goods 430 

French  Mode  of  Paying  Bills 399 

Friuli,  the  Florentine  Merchant,  and  his 

Lost  Purse 451 

Frodsham's  Watch  Cheat 430 

Gave  his  Note 430 

General  Jackson's    Indorsement    among 

Boston  Capitalists 427 

German  Delicacy  in  Paying  and  Receiving 

Money 414 

German  Financial  Operation 437 

Getting  an  Injunction  Dissolved 432 

Giving  Credit  "To-morrow" 430 

Grandest  Instance  of  Debt 427 

Grant  Thorburn's  Bankruptcy 438 

Granting  an  Extension 445 

Great  Failures  in  Hamburg,  in  1799....  408 

Happy  End  to  a  Debt 391 

Hard  Old  Creditor 411 

Helping  Girard  to  Collect  a  Debt 453 

Honest  Quaker  Bankrupt 452 

Hotel  Keeper's  Advice  to  his  Son 405 

Hypothecating  One's  Person  for  a  Loan. .  442 

"  Immediate  Relief" 421 

Imperial  Affection  for  a  Banker 444 

Important  to  Dunners  and  Debtors 412 

Indian's  Idea  of  Imprisonment  for  Debt. .  429 

Is  it  Lawful  to  Dun  a  Debtor  ? 415 

James  G.  King,  the  Banker,  and  Lord 
Ashburton  :  Cause  of  Merchants  Fail- 
ing   453 

Jewish  Traders,  and  Straw  Bail 444 

Jobbing  in  Debtors'  Shop  Leases 452 

Jury  Deliberations  on  a  Railroad  Case. . .  455 
Kentucky  Banker  who  Kept  Resuming. . .  408 
Kindness  to  Debtors:  Chickering,  Pea- 
body,  Lorillard 443 

King,  James  G.,  and  Lord  Ashburton 453 

Lafayette's  Loan  to  Mathew  Carey 459 

Lawsuits  of  Girard 438 

Legal  Damages  and  Interest  in  Africa. . . .  439 

Legal  Eccentricities  of  Commerce 427 

Longworth's  Celebrated  Fee. 396 

Lord    Mansfield's    Mercantile    Cases    in 

Court 418 

Losses  Among  Russian  Merchants 420 

Louis  the  Sixteenth  and  the    Saddler's 

Bill 426 

Lucrative  Deed  of  Trust 393 

Merchantlike 423 

Merchant's  Wit  on  the  Stand 421 

Narrow  Escape  from  Bankruptcy 430 

Nice  Snare  for  a  French  Creditor 395 


PAGK 

Nine  Days  in  the  Life  of  a  Merchant 422 

No  Trust  for  Merchants  in  Small  Clothes  429 

No  Use  for  Pistols 449 

"  Not  Down  on  the  Bill " 422 

Notes  with  and  without  Security 433 

Novel  Trade  Case  before  a  Prussian  Magis- 
trate   419 

Obtaining  a  Certificate  of  Bankruptcy .. .  44T 

Old  Scores  Wiped  Out 414 

On  the  Forgiven  List 440 

One  of  the  Causes  of  Bankruptcy 419 

Ouvrard's  Profitable  Imprisonment 392 

*'  Parsons  on  Promissory  Notes  " 40O 

Pay,  or  Charge 445 

Paying  "  a  Balance  " 392 

Paying  an  Old  Debt 400 

Pecuniary  Anxiety  of  the  Greatest  Mer- 
chant in  the  World 439 

Peddler  Mulcting  a  Sheriff 413 

Peter  C.  Brooks,  the  Boston  Millionnaire, 

in  Court 404 

Philanthropic  Debtor 444 

Politeness  in  Dunning 415 

Presenting  a  Frivolous  Bill  to  Girard. . . .  411 
Profitable    and    Unprofitable   Bankrupt- 
cy   f 423 

Quaker  Merchant's  Thousand-Dollar  Fee 

to  Mr.  Webster 409 

Quaker's  Reply  to  Fordyce,  the  Bankrupt 

Banker 427 

Rare  Magnanimity  of  a  French  Creditor  434 

Reply  to  a  Dunning  Epistle 417' 

Response  to  a  Tax  Commissioner's  Dun. .  414 

Rough  Treatment  of  Insolvents 444 

Royal  Promissory  Note 406 

Salting.an  Invoice 409 

Saving  the  Credit  of  a  City :  Theodore 

Payne 450 

Selling  One's  Body  to  a  Creditor :  Marshal 

Radetzky 420 

"Settling"  an  Account 437 

Sharp  Hit  at  Repudiation 446 

Sheridan's  Treatment  of  a  Creditor 448 

Shopkeepers  going  to  Law 395 

Singular  Suit  against  Mr.  Appleton,  of 

Boston 395 

Small  Debts 405 

Soliloquy  of  a  Debtor. 410 

"Something  or  Nothing,  and  that  v^ry 

Quick!" 418 

Sprot,    the    Banker,  and   the    Patrician 

Debtor 415 

Staying  his  Own  Debt 455 

Stealing  Goods  at  the  Retail  Price 456 

Stratagem  to  Collect  a  Debt 394 

Subduing  a  Creditor's  Fury 407 

Subscriptions    for    the    Government    by 

Philadelphia  Merchants 459 

Suit  against  a  Railroad  Company 457 


CONTENTS. 


XXVU 


PAGE 

Swan,   the   Millionnaire,  Voluntarily    in 
Prison  over  Twenty  Years  for  Debt,,  392 

Tailors'  Bills 405 

Talleyrand's  Promise  to  Pay 432 

Taxing  Bills  and  Receipts 432 

Tender  in  Payment 4U0 

The  "  Model  Debtor  "  Described 402 

Thorburn's,  Grant,  Bankruptcy 438 

"  Tick  " '. .  401 

Trading  for  Ready  Money 416 

Treatment  of  Chinese  Bankrupts 446 

Treatment  of  Insolvents  by  the  Bank  of 
England 434 


PAGE 

Two  Aspects  of  Trade ' 416 

Unexpected  Judgment  against  Bank  Di- 
rectors   457 

"Washington  Irving's  Commercial  Bank- 
ruptcy    444 

Western  Method  of  Collecting  a  Debt. . . .  397 

*'  What  is  Sauce  for  the  Goose  is,"  &c 449 

What  the  word  "  Pay  "  Signifies 407 

Wine  Merchant  at  his  Debtor's  Table 451 

Wiping  out  an  Old  Score 453 

Won't  Look  at  Him 448 

"Wouldn't    Steal     Indiana    Money    at 
Par" 452 


PAET    IX. 

ANECDOTES  OF  MERCHANTS,  TBADERS,  BANKERS  AND  MILLIONN AIRES ^ 
IN  THEIR  DOMESTIC  RELATIONS. 


Personal  Appearance,  Manners,  Conversation,  Tastes,  Social  Traits  and  IIabits, 
Peculiar  Experiences  ;  Genial  Jests,  Sallies,  and  Jocularities  ;  Last  Hours, 
Wills,  etc. 


A  Banker's  Love  of  Birds — Girard's  Little 

Songsters 510 

A  Millionnaire  on  Giving  Away  Money: 

Peter  C.  Brooks 489 

Amos  Lawrence's  Opinion  of  Marriage. . .  484 
An  Old  Merchant's  Style  and  Equipage. .  486 

Anselm  Rothschild's  Will 472 

Aster's  Appearance  and  Manner 465 

Banker  vs  Musician 505 

Baring,  Francis,  at  the  Virginia  Inn 467 

Baring's  Daughter  and  M.  Labouchere. . .  463 
Barker  Jacob,  under  Medical  Treatment.  482 
Baron  Rothschild  Defending  Himself  with 

a  Big  Ledger 466 

Bleeding  a  Banker  by  the  Job 479 

Boston  Merchant's  Reason  for  not  Marry- 
ing   470 

Business  and  Beauty 511 

Business  and  Something  Else 486 

Colston,  the  Benevolent  Millionnaire  Mer- 
chant   499 

Commercial  Advantage  of  a  Blind  Eye. . .  505 
Cope,  the  Quaker  Merchant,  mistaken  for 

a  Major-General 473 

Costly  Banquet  by  a  Merchant  to  Charles 

the  Fifth 504 

Coutts,   the  Great  Banker,   Choosing    a 

Partner 464 

Deathbed  Surroundings  of  the  New  Or- 
leans Croesus 492 


PAGE 

De  Medici,  "  the  Magnificent  Merchant," 

when  a  Child 466 

Disinterested  Feat  of  a  Merchant,  and  its 

Reward 508 

Disposing  of  One's  Surplus  Income 494 

Doctrine  of  Benevolence  held  by  Girard. .  499 
Domestic  Advantage  of  Commercial  Decay  517 

Domestic  Trouble  of  Rothschild 463 

Down  on  the  Doctors 518 

Dress  and  Personal  Peculiarities  of  Long- 
worth  477 

Ebenezer,  Francis,  and  the  Student's  Table  485 

Edinburgh  Merchant  Finding  a  Purse 497 

English    Merchant's  Wife    Priced    by  a 

Mandarin 507 

Executorship  of  Mr.  Astor's  Will 518 

Experience  of  a  Levantine  Merchant 474 

Extravagance  of  French  Bankers  in  Pri- 
vate Life 478 

Female  Members  of  the  Rothschild  Family  516 

Francis  Baring  at  the  Virginia  Inn 467 

Freaks  of  Wealthy  Merchants 513 

Friend  Coate's  Management  of  Girard. ..  483 

Garden  of  a  French  Stock  Broker 508 

Gastronomic  Feats  of  a  Merchant 472 

German  Merchant  of  One  Hundred  Houses  475 
Gideon,  the  Jew  Broker,  Catechising  his 

Child 511 

Gideon  Lee  and  his  Library 480 

Girard  and  the  Beggar 489 


XXVlll 


CONTENTS. 


Girard's  Reception  of  Mr.  Baring 474 

Girard's  Treatment  of  "  Splendid  Church  " 

Projects 494 

Girard's  Will — the  Item  about  Ministers  515 

Glut  in  the  Market 471 

Going  to  get  Acquainted  with  his  Family  474 
Goldschmid's  Comforting  Sort  of  Hoax. ,  506 
Grand  Scheme  Disclosed  in  McDonogh's 

Will 506 

Groceries  and  Literature 511 

Halifax,  the  English  Banker's  Opinion  of 
"  Lending    to    the    Lord ;"    with    a 

Personal  Application 516 

Hancock,  the  Patriot  Merchant 483 

Home  Luxuries  of  Ancient  Merchants ....  507 

Hospitality  of  Stephen  Girard 502 

Household  Magnificence  of  Partinqua,  the 

Great  Chinese  Merchant .   498 

Household  Peculiarities  of  Girard 510 

Incidents  of  William  Bingham's  Domestic 

Life 519 

Italian  Banker's  Bargain  for  a  Fish 477 

Jewish  Banker's  Free  Table 481 

John  J.  Astor's  Board  and  Clothes 483 

John  McDonogh's  Personal  Appearance..  491 

Judah  Touro  and  Dr.  Clapp 490 

Last  Days  of  Business  and  Financial  Cele- 
brities   495 

Lawrence's,  Amos,  Opinion  of  Marriage..  484 

Looks  and  Manners  of  Rothschild 492 

Lorillard  and  the  Load  of  Wood 499 

Louis  d'Ors  and  Ruxors;  or,  BanT^ers  and 

Barbers 479 

M.  Rothschild  at  Home 503 

Magnificent  Residence  of  Rothschild  in 

Paris 479 

Making  a  Will— Samuel  Appleton 471 

Mansion  of  Morris,  the  Philadelphia  Fi- 
nancier    488 

Marriage  Suit  by  Colston,  the  Millionnaire  480 
Matrimonial  and  Financial  "Bonds"  in 

John  Law's  Time 517 

"  Merely  a  Family  Dinner" 468 

Mr.  Girard  and  the  Baptist  Clergyman...  489 

Mr.  Vanderbilt's  Holiday 503 

New  Orleans  Broker  Renouncing  a  For- 
tune   4S4 

Nicholas  Longworth*s  Bread 514 

"Old  Ben  Russell" 488 

Old-school    Merchant's    Offering    to    his 
Country :    John    Langdon,    of   New 

Hampshire 512 

One  Among  Ten  Thousand 487 

Out  of  Fashion 515 

Palace  of  Lafitte,  the  French  Banker 467 

Parlor  Talk  between  James  Rothschild, 

the  Banker,  and  the  Poet  Heine 504 

Personal  Appearance  of  Stephen  Girard. .  464 

Philanthropic  Courage  of  Girard 512 

Pleasant  Parlor  Voyages 481 


PAGE 

Polly  Kenton  and  Girard's  Doctc  rs 476 

Practical  Eloquence  of  a  Boston  Merchant  512 

Rekindling  of  the  Old  Spaik 497 

Religious  Bearing  of  Judaism  on  Stock 

Operations:  the  Perieres 515 

Religious  Opinions  of  Girard 490 

Reminiscences  of  Mr.  Astor's  Library  Be- 
quest    516 

Retiring  from  Business — "Melting  Day"  515 

Returning  a  Favor 500 

Robert  Barclay  becoming  a  Banker  in- 
stead of  a  Courtier 502 

Rothschild's  Purchase  of  a  Painting 481 

Samuel  Appleton's  Disposition  of  his  In- 
come   489 

Samuel  Slater  on  Extravagance  in  Living  513 
Scene    at  a  Banker's  Dejeuner:   Robert 

•    Morris  and  his  Father 469 

Settling  a  Knotty  Account— Quaker  Philo- 
sophy    500 

Seventy- five  Thousand  Dollars   at    One 

Draught 484 

Signora  Almonastre  and  John  McDonogh  493 
Sir  Thomas  F.   Buxton's  Conversations 

with  Rothschild 501 

Slightly  Personal 466 

Sportive  Death  of  the  French  Banker,  M. 

Dange 514 

Stephen  Girard's  Treatment  of  "  Splendid 

Church  "  Projects 494 

Stock  Broker  and  his  Family  in  the  Studio 

of  Hoppner 475 

Sturgis,  William,  in  the  Legislature 473 

Suspected   Religious  Fidelity  of   Roths- 
child :  Remarkable  Scene 490 

Taking  Care  of  his  Umbrella 492 

Tavern  Waiter  and  his  Banker 487 

That  Little  Child  in  the  Counting  Room. .  514 
The    Merchant    and    his    Distinguished 

Valet,  John  Philpot  Curran 476 

The  Merchant  Family  of  Medici,  Reaurgum  498 
"The  Stone  that  was  Rejected : "  Judah 

Touro's  Benefactions 482 

Thirty  Thousand  Dollars'  Worth  of  Sleep 

by  a  Boston  Merchant 470 

Thomas  Gresham's  Curious  Armorial  or 

Crest 508 

Too  Much  Money 478~ 

Under  Medical  Treatment — Jacob  Barker 

as  a  Patient 482 

Unfortunate    Polly    Lum,    the   Wife    of 

Girard 469 

Unparalleled  Will  of  Thelluson,  the  Lon- 
don Banker 485 

W.  B.  Astor  and  his  Clerical  Classmate. .  471 
Wealthy  Men  Imagining  Themselves  Poor  492 
Wedding  Gift  of  Rothschild  to  his  Niece  509 
Why  Guy,  the  Millionnaire,  never  Married  501 
Will  ofGuyot,  the  French  Millionnaire..  472 
William  Sturgis  in  the  Legislature 473 


CONTENTS. 


XXIX 


PAET    X. 

ANECDOTES  OF  CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 

Auctions,  Fancy  Stocks,  Share  Companies,  Lotteries,  and  Quixotic  Speculations; 
WITH  Sketches  op  Wonderful  Commercial  Delusions,  Financial  Manias,  Bub- 
bles, Panics — their  Causes,  Abettors,  Incidents,  Victims,  and  Results. 


page 

A  Trade,  and  a  Wager  Won 555 

Allaying  a  Panic 537 

Atkinson  the  Eccentric  Speculator 542 

Auction  Sale  of  Old  Furniture,  &c.,  Extra- 
ordinary    570 

Auctioneering  in  England  and  America. .  537 

Bacon  by  the  Shilling's  Worth 560 

Bargain  Hunters    at    Pawnbrokers    and 

Auctions....   567 

Bank  Notes  at  Ten  Cents  a  Yard 531 

Bidding  on  Girard's  Old  Chaise 536 

Bold  but  Calamitous  Speculation  of  John 

Guest 580 

Burlesque  on  Modern  Business  Utopias..  528 

Buying  his  own  Goods  at  Auction 530 

"  Candle  "  Auctions 552 

Caricature  of  Commercial  Speculations. . .  551 
Character  displayed  in  Auction  Dealings  557 
Chronicles  of  "  the  Black  Day  "  in  London  541 

Cigars  at  Public  Sale 577 

"  Crack  Horses  "  at  Auction 572 

"  Down  with  Your  Dust !  " 525 

Dutch  Tulip-Mania  of  the   Seventeenth 

Century 567 

Dutchman's  Gold  in  a  Safe  Place  at  Last  551 
Earliest    American    Sale    of  Books,   by 

Catalogue,  at  Auction 652 

Early  Stock  Jobbing  and  Lotteries 558 

English  Railway  Mania  of  1845 562 

Fancy  Hen  Fever 564 

Female  Strategy  to  obtain  Bubble  Stock.  527 

Financial  Use  of  Saints 528 

First  Book  Auction  in  England 531 

Foundation    of  the  Friendship  between 

Coates  and  Girard 582 

Furor  for  Chartered  Companies 541 

Getting-up  a  Money  Panic 566 

Globe  Permits 670 

"  Going— Going— Gone  !  " 539 

Gold-making  and  Silver-mining  Compa- 
nies   664 

Good  Speculation  Lost  in  Chicago  Lands  550 
Grand  United  Gold  and  Diamond  Dust 

Company 660 

"Great  Spec"  on  the  Tapis .624 

Hogarth's   Plan  of  Selling  Pictures    by 
Auction 531 


FAOB 

Jack,  and  the  Dutch  Tulip  Speculator. . .  623 

Jacob  Keen,  of  Wall  Street 665 

John  Law's  Notorious  Bubble 655 

Jonathan  Hunt's  Land  Speculations 534 

Keen  Auction  Dodge  by  Rembrandt 557 

Last  Resort  for  Petroleum  Companies. . .  576 
Last  Word  at  an  Auction  :   a  Lady  in  the 

Case 535 

Lessons  of  an  Auctioneer's  Hammer. ....  561 
Lord  Castlereagh  and  the  Ruined  Broker  568 

Lotteries  Vindicated  by  Scripture 666 

Lottery  Vagaries  in  the  Sixteenth  Cen- 
tury    559 

Marking  a  Lottery  Ticket 633 

Memorable  Auction  Sale  in  New  Orleans  656 

Merino-Sheep  Bubble 568 

Missing  a  Good  Chance 581 

Mock- Auction  "  Capitalists," 650 

Mr.  Barker's  Auction  Watch,  and  What 

it  Brought  Him 643 

Mr.  Hume's  Anxiety  to  avoid  a  Pecuniary 

Loss * 533 

New  York  Pawnbroker's  Customer 626 

Old  Digby  at  an  Auction  Sale 548 

Old  Martin,  the  Scotch  Auctioneer,  among 

the  Languages 571 

One  of  the  Sufferers 663 

Origin  of  Auctions 660 

Our  American  Land  Fever 646 

"  Our  Lady  of  Hope  " 634 

Panic  Blunders — Wrong  Certificate  at  the 

Bank 524 

Parisian  Auctions  :  How  Conducted 657 

Paterson  and  his  Darien  Expedition 647 

Perils  of  Stock  Gambling :  William  Abbott  537 

Peruvian  Loan  Infatuation 546 

Pleasantries  of  Keese,  the  Book  Auctioneer  572 

Proposed  Ice  Speculation 564 

Quite  Professional 667 

Reasons  given  by  Thomas  H.  Perkins  for 
Declining  a  proposed  Coffee  Specula- 
tion    578 

Red  Herrings  and  Dutch  Onions 678 

Rival  Blacking  Companies 563 

Rise  and  Reminiscences  of  the  Trade  Sales  579 

Satire  on  Speculation 646 

Scenes  at  a  Turkish  Auction 648 


XXX 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Scraps  of  Auction  Wit 574 

Selling  a  Bjiug  Horse  under  the  Hammer  588 

Selling  the  Gem  of  the  Collection 554 

Share  Sellers  and  Rope  Dancers 577 

South  Sea  Schemers 545 

Speculative  Frenzy  of  the  French  in  John 

Law's  Time 524 

Stock- Jobbing  Bubbles — Commercial  Lu- 
nacy    545 

Stray  Leaf  from  a  Speculator's  History..  553 
Syrian    Auctioneers — Harage !    Harage  ! 

Harage ! 554 

"  Tattersall's  " 534 

The  Wateiioo  of  Auction  Battles 525 


PAGB 

Tonti's  Money  Raising  Projects 558 

Trade  between  Flywheel  and  Singecat...  549 

Universal  Bed  and  Bolster  Mart 570 

Very  Hopeful  Investment 540 

Virtue  of  One-Pound  Notes  in  Stopping  a 

Bank  Run 565 

Virtuous  and  Touching  Appeal  of  an  Auc- 
tioneer   532 

Wager  between  a  Stockbroker  and  a  Cap- 
italist   536 

Warranty  of  Perfect  Soundness 562 

Weathering  the  Storm  of  1828. 573 

Winking  and  Bidding  at  Auctions 552 

Winners  and  Losers  in  Grant's  Bubble. . .  534 


PAET   XI 


ANUCDOTES  OF  CURIOUS  TRADES  AND  OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 
Novel  Business  Transactions;  Buying,  Selling,  Bartering  and  Shopkeeping,  Chae- 

ACTERISTIC    OF   DIFFERENT    COUNTRIES;   BLUSES,    JeUX  D'EsPRITS,    AND  DROLLERIES. 


PAGE 

Adam  and  Eve  Leading  on  in  Trade COl 

American  Customer  at  a  Turkish  Bazaar  598 

Bad  Operation  in  Leather 586 

Bargaining    by    Pantomime — Trade    in 

Camels 603 

Barnum  Buying  the  American  Museum 

with  Brass 689 

Batavian  Trade  in  Birds'  Nests 627 

Before  and  Behind  the  Counter 585 

Boy  Traders  in  Moscow 590 

Chartier,  the  Leech  Merchant 592 

Chatham  Street  Clo'  Dealers . . . , 618 

"  Cheap  "  and  "  Dear  " 596 

Chiffonniers,  or  "  Rag  Merchants,"  of  Paris  589 

Chinese  Shopkeepers 619 

Coleridge  and  the  "  Ogh  Clo'  "  Man 590 

Commercial  Dignity  at  the  Apple  Stand  619 

Commercial  Value  of  Insects 593 

Day  &  Martin's  Precursors 591 

Dealing  in  "  Orrd  Things  " 601 

Eastern  Trade  in  Ostrich  and  Bird-of-Par- 

adise  Feathers 588 

Egyptian  Mummy  Trade 592 

English  Idol  Manufacturers 587 

Exportation  of  Scotch  Periwinkles 602 

Fancy  Stoves  and  Imaginative  Customers  626 

Florentine  Flower  Girls 626 

Flutesw  Pistols 618 

•*  Four-and-twenty  Self-sealing  Envelopes, 

Fo-oo-ur  Cents  " 608 

French  Toads  an  Article  of  Commerce. . .  600 


PAGE 

Funny  Commercial  Transaction  All  Round  604 
Genoese  Merchants  and  French  Peddlers  610 

"  Glass-pteen  !" 619 

Goods  for  a  *'  Private  Venture  " 615 

Great  "  Shaving"  Operation  in  a  Banker's 

Office 612 

Grindstones  by  the  Fraction 625 

Grocers  and  Bank  Presidents 624 

Human  Hair  as  an  Article  of  Merchandise  620 

Italian  Marriage  Brokers 591 

Itinerant  Traders  in  Rio  Janeiro 615 

Jew  Traders  in  Holywell  Street 611 

Jolly  Sign  Painters:  Rich  Professional 

Tragedy 605 

Logan,  the  Fan  Painter 605 

Losing  a  Good  Customer 621 

Making  the  Best  of  a  Bad  Article 624 

Matrimonial  Export 599 

Men  Manteau  Makers 611 

Mengin,  the  French  Pencil  Seller 5S6 

Mercantile    Agency    Managerpent    Illus- 
trated  608 

"  Mighty  Monarch,  Let  Me  send  a  Shop !"  623 

Mike  Schnapps,  the  Fiddle  Dealer 600 

National  Characteristics  of  Money  Getters 
— French,  Irish,  Scotch,  German....  595 

Native  Traders  in  Guinea 622 

New  Material  for  Sausage  Stuffing;  the 

'.'Sauciesse  d'Or" 612 

Nothing  Like  Sarsaparilla 612 

Nothing  Lost  in  a  Good  Market 617 


CONTENTS. 


XXXI 


PAGE 

Odd  Purchase  at  a  Grocer's 617 

Old  Women's  Trades  in  London 593 

One  of  the  Branches  of  the  Tea  Trade. . .  623 

Orthography  behind  the  Counter 626 

Paris  •'  Gratteurs  " 607 

Parrot  and  Monkey  Market 616 

Patent  Medicine  Makers— Morrison,  Bran- 

dreth,  Tovvnsend,  &c 609 

Paying  by  the  Clock  instead  of  the  Thing  598 
Peculiarities  of  the  Northwest  Fur  Trad- 
ers   599 

Poor  Kind  of  Ice 593 

Portuguese  Diamond  Merchant's  Bargain 

with  Philip  the  Second 587 

Praying  and  Trading  Simultaneously. . . .  621 

Puzzling  an  Apothecary 624 

Queer  Bartering  in  Northern  Africa 601 

Kealizing  a  Profit 598 

Eemarkable  Customs  of  Oriental  Shop- 
keepers   597 

Kichardson,  the  Eccentric  Showman 620 

Russian  Shop  Customs 606 


PAGE 

Saint  Shops 607 

Scale  of  Prices  for  London  Civilities 597 

Settling  a  Question  of  Trade 603 

Shipments  of  Butcher  Birds 696 

Shop  Architecture,  Old  and  New 616 

Shopkeepers  of  Bagdat 610 

Snow  Trade  of  Sicily 599 

Song-Bird  Shops  in  New  York 623 

St.  Petersburg  Trade  in  Frozen  Articles.  622 

Street  Merchants 594 

Tea  Shops  in  China 602 

The  Miller  and  his  Portrait 605 

Tong-Chow  Traders  in  Dogs  and  Cats 618 

Traffic  in  Beautiful  Circassian  Girls 588 

Traits  of  the  Shop  in  Havana.' 586 

Trials  of  Egg  Merchants 617 

Turkilb  Fez     bops ;  Stationers,  Tailors, 

and  Jewellers 602 

Viper  Merchants 588 

Vocation  Peculiar  to  China;    Gossip  at 

Fifty  Cents  per  Hour 607 

Wigs  by  the  Cargo 597 


PAET   XII. 

ANECDOTES  AND  CEBONICLES  OF  mSEBANCE. 

Its  Pioneers,  Varieties,  Curious  Rates,  Terms,  Subjects;  Humors,  Fancies,  and 
Excesses;  Notable  Cases  op  Loss  and  Adjustment;  Caricatures,  Puns,  Rail- 
lery, ETC. 


PAGE 

Adjusting  an  Insurance  Loss 648 

Angerstein,    the    Great  English  Under- 
writer   632 

Apt  Illustration  of  a  Principle 638 

Assessments  in  Old  Times 645 

Companies  for  Insuring  Female  Chastity, 

Children's  Fortunes,  «&c 633 

Curious  Inconsistencies  in  Insuring  Life  643 
Daniel  Webster's  Insurance  Anecdote...  646 

Examining  an  Applicant 643 

Exciting  Life  of  an  Underwriter 641 

German  Idea  of  the  Thing 649 

High  Compliment  to  W.  R.  Jones  as  an 

Underwriter 662 

Insurance  for  Husbands 635 

Insuring  Dr.  Lieb's  Life 631 

Introduction  of  Marine  Insurance 632 

Jacob  Barker's  Insurance  Case — Redivivus  636 
Juvenile  Evidence  in  an  Insurance  Case  652 

Leaving  a  Case  Out 642 

B 


PAGE 

Life  Insurance  Obituary  Announcements.  644 
Life  and  Death  Brokers  and  their  "Humble 

Servant " 637 

Lively  Operations 650 

Marriage  and  Baptism  Insurance 644 

Oddities  of  a  Former  Period 638 

One  of  the  Companies 634 

Origin  of  Fire  Insurance  Companies 640 

Pitt,  the  Insolvent  Premier,  Insured  by 

his  Coacbmakers 637 

Playing  a  Bold  Game 649 

Policies  and  Tragedies 642 

"  Poor  Tim  Rooney  " 643 

Porcelain  Jars  and  Low  Premiums 631 

Protective    Tariffs    and   the    "Genesee 

Mutual " 653 

Romance  and  Reality  of  Insurance 635 

Taking  his  Own  Risk 651 

Terrible  Mode  of  Rendering  an  Insurance 

Policy  Void 638 


XXXll 


CONTENTS. 


The  TJnited-Glass-and-Crockery  Insurance 

Company 635 

Traffickers  in  Insurance  Bun  Mad— As- 


tounding Policies  on  the  Chevalier 

d'Eon's  Sex ! 645 

j  Underwriters  and  Napoleon's  Life 637 


PAET    XIII. 


ANECD  0  TE8  OF  B  USIJVESS  EMPL  0  TES. 
Cashiers,  Clerks,  Salesmen,  etc.  ;  Bookkeeping,  Accounts,  Prices  and  Yalijes,  Cor- 
respondence, Shop  Talk— Trials  and  Miseries,  Blunders,  FacetiuE,  Waifs  and 
Strays. 


PAGE 

Advantage  of  Skilful  Bookkeeping 695 

Amos  Lawrence  when  a  Clerk. , 661 

Apprehended  Embezzlements 676 

Bank  Clerks  and  their  "  Friends  " 684 

Ben  Lippincott,  Girard's  Clerk 689 

Best  Part  of  a  Grocer's  Business 694 

Betty  Starkey  and  Coutts's  Clerk 694 

Bookkeeping  in  Former  Times 685 

Brief  Biographical  Sketch  of  a  Banker's 

Clerk 662 

Broadway  Clerks— Japonicas  and  Sweet- 
hearts    658 

Bubble  Bank  Bookkeeping  Taught  in  Six 

Lessons 665 

Caledonian  Adroitness 659 

Charles  Latnb,  as  a  Clerk 691 

Charming  Customer  in  a  Bank :  Perils  of 

a  Cashier 680 

Chickering  and  his  Employes,  on  "  Blue  " 

Day 681 

Commercial  "  Drummers,"  or  Travelling 

Clerks 678 

Correcting  an  Erroneous  Entry 698 

Cost  of  a  Nap  on  the  Ledger 687 

Countryman  and  Clerk 668 

Dexterity  of  Specie  Clerks 677 

"  Done  Brown  " 697 

English  Bank  Clerk's  Finesse 658 

Fancy  Costume  among  the  Ledgers 662 

Filling  a  Grocer's  Order 677 

First  Set  of  Double-Entry  Books  Opened 

in  Boston 663 

Fitz  Greene  Halleck's  Clerkship  with  Ja- 
cob Barker 657 

French  Female  Plot  against  a  Clerk 682 

George  Simpson's  High  Reputation  as  a 

Cashier 700 

Getting  Rich  by  Bookkeeping 672 

Good  Supply  in  Prospect 667 

Hitting  the  Nail  on  the  Head 677 


How  a  Drygoods  Clerk  Lost  His  Place. . .  670 
Humors  of  Partnership  in  Reference  to 

Names 695 

Identifying  a  Clerk 696 

Improving  a  Banker's  Broth 676 

In  Business  for  Themselves 697 

In  Pursuit  of  an  Agreeable  Business 661 

Introducing  a  New  System  of  Accounts. .  698 

Irving  and  the  English  Salesman 697 

Jacob  Barker's  Clerks  at  Dinner 663 

Keeping  Accounts  in  Guinea 686 

Keeping  Score  by  Double  Entry 679 

Lady's  Portrait  of  a  Drygoods  Clerk 690 

Lafitte's  Wasteful  Clerk 681 

Language  and  Business  Letters  of  Roths- 
child     669 

London  Trade  Report 675 

Misfortune  Tending  to  Liberality 684 

Moustaches  in  the  Bank 667 

Nice  Lesson  for  Retail  Salesmen 665 

Obtaining    a   Clerkship    in    a   Banking 

House 687 

Oiling  the  Joints  of  Business 671 

<*  Old  Salles,"  the  Silk  Buyer,  and  Mr. 

Bayard's  Clerks 693 

One  of  his  "  Little  Specs," 668 

«*  One  Thing  Needful"  in  a  Clerk 664 

Overpaying  a  Clerk 664 

Pen  Portrait  by  an  Old  Master 659 

Perplexities  of  Mercantile  Correspondence  698 

Philadelphia  Clerk  and  his  Bible 670 

Pictorial  Bookkeeping 671 

Placing  the  Pen  behind  the  Ear 686 

Playing  Even 666 

Precision  in  Keeping  Accounts 657 

Quaker  Investigation  of  Accounts 692 

Railway  Clerks — a  Burlesque 666 

Ready  for  a  Trade 696 

Reason  for  Trusting  a  Clerk 683 

Reforming  instead  of  Destroying 672 


CONTENTS. 


XXXlll 


PAGE 

Refusal  to  become  Girard's  Clerk :  Telling 

Him  the  Reason  Why 683 

Remarkable  Discernment   of  Mercantile 

Character 692 

Remarkable  Sacrifice  for  Principle 658 

Reward  of  Business  Fidelity 691 

Reward  of  Promptness  in  a  Merchant's 

Clerk 671 

Rich  Enough  to  Retire :  Abraham  New- 
land,  Cashier  of  the  Bank  of  England  700 

Rich  Reward  of  Integrity 667 

Ruin  Produced  by  Bad  Reckoning 677 

Sample  Clerk  Wanted  in  a  Drug  Store...  689 

Saying  of  an  Old  Merchant 609 

Scissors  1)8.  Shears 687 

Serious  Bargain  for  a  Clerkship 682 

Shipping  Goods  by  Ticket 698 


PAGE 

Shocking  Ignorance  of  City  Clerks  Illus- 
trated    684 

Simple  Entries  and  Calculations — Jacob 

Barker's  Method 660 

Singular  Mode  of  Keeping  Accounts  in  a 

Pair  of  Boots 692 

Squaring  Accounts  among  the  Celestials  669 
That  Bottle  of  Wine  among  "  Old  Fuller's" 

Cleiks 694 

The  Prose  of  Shopkeeping  set  to  Poetry  687 

Too  Conscientious  an  Accountant 683 

Trying  his  Hand  at  the  Accounts 699 

Two  Clerks  in  a  Quarrel 674 

Unexpected  Promotion 696 

Waste  Book  and  Ledger — their  Meaning  686 

What  is  a  "  Flemish  "  Account  ? 662 

Wife  of  a  Merchant's  Clerk 688 


PAET  xiy. 

ANECDOTES    OF  SOME    OF    THE    OCCUPATIOm   AUXILIARY    TO    COM- 
MERCE AND  MERCHANDISE, 

Editors,  Publishers,  Booksellers,  the  Manual  of  Industrial  Trades,  etc.  ;  with 
Unique  Incidents  of  Bargain  and  Sale,  Ludicrous  Adventures,  Haps  and  Mis- 
haps— Business  Freaks,  Genius,  Aptitude,  Novelty  and  Renown,  Etc.,  Etc. 


PAGE 

«A  Roland  for  an  Oliver" 714 

A  Tailor  for  Many  Years 734 

Affidavit  by  an  Apothecary 742 

Almanac  Making:  Fortunate  Wit 711 

America's  First  Printed  Book 723 

An  Emperor  Blowing  a  Blacksmith's  Bel- 
lows    743 

Answering  a  Tailor's  Dun 714 

Apt  Speech  by  a  Carpenter 737 

Archaeological  Tailor's  Measures 713 

Attempt  to  Print  a  Perfect  Book 747 

Austen,  the  Famous  Metal  Founder 748 

Balance  of  Trade ;  or,  Beauties  of  Compe- 
tition     719 

Barbers'  Chairs 730 

Ben  Russell,  the  Printer :  Exciting  Scene  737 

Benjamin  Franklin  as  a  Bookseller 727 

Billingsgate  Market  Dealers 723 

Bookmaking  a  Trade 736 

Books  and  Music 755 

Books  and  Newspapers  in  China 705 

Breaking  and  Waxing  the  "  Thread  " . . . .  753 

Breeches  without  a  Body 755 

Business  Mistakes  of  Publishers 729 

Butchers'  Blue  Blouse  or  Frock 712 

Buying  a  Saddle , 734 


PAGE 

Buying  Shoes  and  Sermons 751 

Byron's  Genoese  Tailor 714 

Canine  Newsdealer. 715 

Chinese  Barbers 730 

Classification  of  N  ewspaper  Readers 724 

Commercial  Value   of  Dramatic  Litera- 
ture  715 

Compliment  to  Wharfingers 742 

"  Concerned  in  Trade" , .^709 

Copy  of  a  Painter's  Bill .*  707 

Country  Bankers 735 

Derivation  of  Names  of  Trades 711 

Dignity  Conferred  by  the  Blacking  Busi- 
ness    755 

Dowse,  the  "Literary  Leather  Dresser"  751 
Dr.  Johnson  in  the  Capacity  of  a  Reporter  726 

Dry  den  Describing  his  Publisher 749 

Earliest  Newspaper  in  the  English  Lan- 
guage    750 

Editors  in  a  Hard  Fix 741 

Eminent  Shoemakers 752 

English  Almanacs — First  Issue 739 

English  Perruquiers  before  the  King 708 

Errors  of  the  Press 744 

Explaining  the  Philosophy  of  Trade 756 

"  Extras,"  &c 724 


XXXI V 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Facetiae  for  Shoemakers 750 

First  Newspaper  in  America 721 

First  Newspaper  in  the  World 749 

Forfeits  in  a  Barber's  Shop 730 

Franklin  and  the  London  Printer 717 

Freaks    of  the    Hairdressing    Trade    in 

France 718 

German  Book  Fairs 738 

Greatest  Reportorial  Feat 745 

Hatter's  Present  to  a  Judge 742 

Hitting  his  Trade 712 

"Honor  and  Fame  from  no    Condition 

Rise" 712 

"  Hopping  "  from  Obscurity 742 

Humors  of  a  Reporter 740 

Button's  Success  as  a  Bookseller 735 

Incorrect  Editions  of  the  Bible 732 

Iron  Merchant  and  the  Blacksmith 711 

Johnson  and  his  Dictionary 726 

Johnson  and  the  Butcher 707 

Juvenile  Bookseller's  Wit 711 

Knight's,  Charles,  Reminiscences  of  the 

Book  Trade 753 

Lawyers  and  Barbers 725 

Learning  the  Saddler's  Trade 720 

Lee,  the  Learned  Carpenter,  in  England..  736 

«  Letting  Out "  Clothes 713 

Lord  Eardley's  "Gentleman"  Applicant  757 
Ludwick,  the  Baker-General,  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War 759 

Millionnaire  Butcher  of  London 724 

Miners'  Commandments 748 

Modern  Newspaper  Oflfice 744 

Moses  as  an  Engraver 731 

Mr.  Gales  Reporting  Mr.  Webster 722 

Musicseller's  Customers 705 

Napoleon's  Opinion  of  a  Journalist 708 

Need  of  Reference  for  a  Tailor 717 

Newspaper  Publisher  Described 715 

Nothing  like  Leather 717 

Obtaining  a  Copyright 726 

Old  English  Ticker 743 

OldAt  Daily  Newspaper 721 

One  of  the  largest  Book  Establishments  in 

the  World 753 

"Our  Editor"Sixty  Years  Ago 709 

Partridge's  Almanac  making 718 

Patriotic  Hatter 720 

Paying  a  Newspaper  Bill 732 

Paying  the  Diver 756 

Payment  for  News 713 

Peculiar  Custom  of  a  Tailor 713 

Penny  Newspapers  in  America 708 

Perils    of  Reporting    the  Parliamentary 

Debates 725 

Placard  Printing  in  Vienna 717 


PA6B 

Price  of  Akenside's  "  Pleasures  of  the 

Imagination  " 727 

Printed  Books;   or,   the   Devil  and  Dr. 

Faustus 732 

Printers  and  Editors  at  Midnight 720 

Prize  Won  by  Stephenson  for  his  Famous 

Locomotive 758 

Proby,  the  Reporter 716 

Professional  Use  of  Books 749 

Profitable  Book  Job 747 

Profits  ofa  Stall 724 

Property  in  Books 739 

Publisher's  Generosity  to  an  Author 729 

Pun  on  a  Cooper 742 

Pushing  Business 730 

Quaker  Hatter  and  his  Journeyman 710 

Queer  Phases  of  the  Butcher  Trade 707 

Rare  Editorial  Philosophy 741 

Rather  a  Puzzling  Occupation 739 

Reason  why  Pitt's  Great  Speech  was  not 

Reported 745 

Report  of  a  Lord's  Speech 71G 

Reporting  from  Memory 741 

Rising  in  the  World 7lG 

Rival  Publishers 727 

Rivalry  in  Business  Beneficial 710 

Roman  Saint  Making  Shoes 751 

Sale  of  Noted  Works  and  Plays 719 

Samuel  Wheeler,  the  Iron    Smith,  and 

General  Washington 759 

Scotch  Cabinetmaker's  Appi'entice 723 

"Shall  I  Cut?" 714 

Shipbuilding  in  Ancient  Times 743 

Shoemaker  Benefiting  the  World 712 

Shoes  and  Shoemakers — Facetiae 746 

Shooting  a  Bookseller 747 

Showing  Up  Tailors 722 

Sir  Robert  Peel's  Factory  Operative 727 

Son  of  an  Eminent  Turkey  Merchant....  749 

"  Spanish  " 734 

Sticking  to  the  Contract 737 

Tailor  Turned  Prophet 733 

The  First  Color  Shop 706 

The  Learned  Blacksmith 731 

Theatrical  Debut  of  a  Barber 708 

Tonson,  the  Literary  Trader 706 

Too  Awkward  to  be  a  Watchmaker 743 

Trades  and  Genealogies 760 

Trading  in  News 733 

Ungrateful  Publisher 722 

Verbatim  Reporters 745 

Wholesale  Joke  upon  Shoemakers 738 

Willing  to  Swallow  the  Joke 756 

Wimprecht,  the  Blind  Bookseller 706 

Wit  of  a  Gravestone  Maker 781 

Would  not  Stoop 757 


^xxxv 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PORTEAITS   ON   STEEL. 


GEORGE  PEABODY. 
SAMUEL  SLATER. 
ABBOTT  LAWRENCE. 
ALBERT   GALLATIN. 
JOHN  JACOB  ASTOR. 
T.  DOWSE. 

CORNELIUS  W.  LAWRENCE. 
STEPHEN  GIRARD. 
ROBERT  FULTON. 
NATHANIEL  BOWDITCH. 
ROBERT  MORRIS. 
ERASTUS  CORNING. 
PHILIP ,  HONE. 
HENRY  GRINNELL. 
WILLIAM  APPLETON. 
DAVID  LEAVITT. 
R.  G.   SHAW. 
JOHN  GRIGG. 
CORNELIUS  VANDERBILT. 

THOMAS 


ROBERT  L.  STEVENS. 
WALTER  R.  JONES. 
FITZ   GREENE  HALLECK. 
CHARLES  LAMB. 
NATHAN  MEYER  ROTHSCHILD. 
WASHINGTON  IRVING. 
PETER  COOPER. 
W.  F.  HARNDEN. 
T.  W.  PERKINS. 
NICHOLAS  BIDDLE. 
JAMES  G.  KING. 
JACOB  BARKER. 
PETER  C.  BROOKS. 
THOMAS  P.  COPE. 
JEEJEEBIIOY  DADABHOY. 
LORENZO  DE  MEDICL 
WILLIAM  B.  ASTOR. 
NICHOLAS  LONGWORTH. 
J.  CHICKERING. 
TILESTON. 


XXXVi  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


WOOD   ENGRAVmGS. 


PAQB 

MODERN  BANK  DIRECTORS'  PARLOR,         ...  .  .      97 

NEAPOLITAN  MONEY  CHANGER,  ...  .  .  104 

MUTATIONS    OF    A    MERCHANT'S    LIFE.      THE    NEW    ORLEANS    SOCK 

SELLER,         .  ,  ,*,  ^  ^  ^  ^  229 

GRESHAM'S  FORTUNATE  LETTER,  ....          .174 

PETER  FUNK, .213 

INTERIOR  YIEW  OF  THE  LONDON  STOCK  EXCHANGE,  .  .  288 

SCENE  IN  AN  ORIENTAL  CUSTOM  HOUSE,    .  .  .  .  .    291 

HIDE  DEALER'S  SIGN,  .  ,  ....  325 

PAYING  ROBERT  FULTON  THE  FIRST  PASSAGE  MONEY,  .  .377 

BONFIRE  OF  A  DEBTOR'S  PAPERS, 424 

AFRAID  OF  THE  SHERIFF'S  HAT, 451 

THAT  LITTLE  CHILD  IN  THE  COUNTING  HOUSE,         .  .  .614 

BURLESQUE  ON  MODERN  BUSINESS  UTOPIAS,        .  ,  .  .629 

TATTERSALL'S  RENOWNED  AUCTION  MART,       ....  634 

GOING— GOING— GONE  ! 639 

SYRIAN  AUCTION  AND  AUCTIONEERS, 654 

CHRISTIE'S  CELEBRATED  AUCTION  ROOM,    ....  661 

STREET  MERCHANTS, 69^ 

COMMERCIAL  DIGNITY  AT  THE  APPLE  STAND,     .  .  .  .619 

EXAMINING  AN  APPLICANT, 644 

IMPROVING  A  BANKER'S  BROTH, 676 

THAT  BOTTLE  OF  WINE  AMONG  "OLD  FULLER'S"  CLERKS,  .  694 

BILLINGSGATE  MARKET  DEALERS, '^23 

WHOLESALE  JOKE  UPON  SHOEMAKERS, '738 

PROFESSIONAL  USE  OF  BOOKS, Y49 


PART  FIRST. 


A.NEGDOTES  AND    BeMAEKABLE  BeMINISGENCES  OF   TEE 

Early  Career   of  Business  Celebrities  in  all 
Ages  and  Countries. 


/ 


PAET   FIEST. 

Anecdotes  and  Eemarkable  Eeminiscences  of  the  Early  Career  of 
Business  Celebrities  in  all  Ages  and  Countries. 

ASTOR,  ROTHSCHILD,  OUVRARD,  BATES,  BARKER,  TOTJRO,  MCdONOGH,  HOWQUA,  GOLDSCHMID, 
HOPE,  HOTTINGUER,  COUTTS,  MORRISON,  DE  MEDICIS,  GIRARD,  BIDDLE,  LABOUCIIERE,  LA- 
EITTE,  APPLETON,  COOPER,  GRESHAM,  PEABODY,  NOLTE,  GRAY,  BRUCK,  BEATTY,  STEWART, 
LAWRENCE,  LOWELL,  WHITNEY,  GIDEON,  DEXTER,  BARING,  MORRIS,  LORILLARD,  STEIGLITZ, 
PERKINS,    LONGWORTH,    ETC.,    ETC.,    ETC. 


That  captivating  art  which  consists  in  the  delineation  of  individual  traits  and  achieve- 
ments.—Edin.  Rfa-ibw. 

The  man  who  has  not  anything  to  hoast  of  but  hia  illustrious  ancestors,  is  like  a  potato— the 
only  good  belonging  to  him  is  under  the  ground. — Sir  T.  Overbxtrt. 

Let  not  those  blush  who  have,  but  those  who  have  not,  a  lawful  calling. — Tattler. 
Still  let  the  mind  be  bent,  still  plotting  where, 
And  when,  and  how,  the  business  may  be  done.— Herbert. 


Robert  Morris,  the  Financier,  of  Phil- 
adelphia. 

This  eminent  financier  was  born  in 
Liverpool,  Eng.,  in  1734,  Of  his  fam- 
ily, very  little  is  known,  except  that  his 
father  was  a  respectable  English  mer- 
chant, and  for  a  long  time  held  the 
agency  of  a  very  considerable  tobacco 
house  in  that  place.  The  nature  and 
extent  of  his  concerns  required  his 
frequent  visits  to  this  country  ;  and  it 
was  in  one  of  these  trips  that  his  son 
Robert,  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  became 
the  companion  of  his  voyage,  and  re- 
ceived an  introduction  to  the  scene  of 
his  future  greatness.  His  father,  by  a 
melancholy  accident,  lost  his  life  about 
two  years  after  he  had  established  him- 
self in  this  country  as  a  merchant. 
Soon  after  this  sad  event,  Robert  was 
received  into  the  counting  house  of 
Charles  Willing,  at  that  time  the  most 
distinguished  merchant  in  Philadel- 
phia, to  whom  lie  appears  to  have 
been  indentured ;  and,  after  remaining 


in  this  subordinate  station  the  usual 
term  of  years,  he  was  established  in 
business  by  his  patron,  in  conjunction 
with  his  son,  Thomas  Willing. 

Embarked  in  an  extensive  and  profit- 
able West  India  business,  Mr.  Morris 
made  several  voyages  as  supercargo  in 
the  ships  belonging  to  the  company,  in 
one  of  which  he  was  unfortunately  cap- 
tured by  the  French,  and,  during  a 
close  imprisonment  for  some  time,  suf- 
fered cruelty  of  treatment  not  justified 
by  the  laws  of  war,  nor  the  usages  of 
civilized  nations.  In  this  state  of  dis- 
tress, without  a  shilling,  by  exercising 
his  ingenuity,  and  repairing  the  watch 
of  a  Frenchman,  he  raised  the  means 
of  his  own  liberation,  and  enabled  him- 
self to  return  to  Philadelphia  and  re- 
sume his  mercantile  life. 

Under  his  active  superintendence, 
the  house  of  Willing  and  Morris  rapidly 
rose  to  the  summit  of  commercial  repu- 
tation. Their  foreign  freightage  em- 
ployed an  incredible  number  of  ships ; 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


while  the  able  management  of  their 
finances  at  home,  procured  them  the 
confidence  and  credit  of  the  world.  At 
the ,  age  of  thirty  six,  he  married  the 
'  ^Vghter  Ox  Colonel  "White  ;  she  was 
t^e,  s?^t^r. '  o^ ;  the  venerable  Bishop 
■Waite.; '  A-t  the  close  of  1775,  he  was 
sent  to  Congress,  and,  after  rendering 
important  services  during  the  war,  he 
was,  in  1781,  unanimously  elected,  by 
Congress,  superintendent  of  national 
finance. 

He  still  continued  his  commercial 
business,  having  formed  a  connection 
with  the  Messrs.  Hazlehurst.  In  1786 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Con- 
vention which  framed  the  Federal  Con- 
stitution, and  in  1788  was  appointed 
United  States  senator.  His  public 
duties,  however,  caused  that  inattention 
to  his  private  affairs,  which  finally  re- 
sulted in  those  great  embarrassments  of 
mind  and  circumstances  which  weighed 
upon  his  declining  years.  In  his  old 
age,  Mr.  Morris  embarked  in  vast  land 
speculations,  which  proved  fatal  to  his 
fortune.  The  man  to  whose  financial 
operations  our  country  has  been  said  to 
owe  as  much  as  to  the  negotiations  of 
Franklin,  or  even  the  arm  of  Washing- 
ton, passed  the  latter  years  of  his  life  in 
prison,  confined  for  debt.  He  died  on 
the  8th  ,of  May,  1806,  in  the  seventy- 
third  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Morris  was  of  large  frame,  with 
a  fine,  open,  bland  countenance,  and 
simple  manners ;  for  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury, until  the  period  of  his  imprison- 
ment, his  house  was  a  scene  of  the  most 
liberal  hospitality. 


P.  C.  Labouchere,  the  Youthful  Prince 
Merchant. 
In  his  youth,  Laboucheke  com- 
menced his  commercial  training  in 
Nantes,  but  subsequently  engaged  to 
become  a  clerk,  for  a  period  of  three 
years,  to  take  charge  of  the  commercial 
correspondence  of  Hope  &  Co.,  the 
world-renowned  bankers  of  Amster- 
dam.    Shortly  before  the  close  of  this 


term  young  Labouchere  gave  his  prin- 
cipal a  hint  that  a  moderate  increase 
of  salary  was  desirable.  An  answer 
was  promised  for  the  next  morning. 
When  he  went  at  the  appointed  time 
to  receive  the  anticipated  reply,  old  Mr. 
Hope  laid  before  him  for  his  signature, 
a  contract  already  drawn  up,  in  which 
he  named  him  as  his  partner,  with  a 
suitable  share  in  the  profits,  and  in- 
trusted him  with  the  signature  of  that 
vast  and  princely  house.  Labouchere 
was  at  that  time  only  twenty-two  years 
of  age,  yet  ere  long  assumed  the  emi- 
nent position  of  head  of  the  firm — one 
of  the  fii'st  in  the  world,  and  studied 
the  manners  of  a  French  courtier  pre- 
vious to  the  Revolution  ;  these  manners 
he  soon  made  so  thoroughly  his  own, 
that  they  seemed  to  be  a  part  of  his 
own  nature.  He  made  a  point  of  dis- 
tinguishing himself  in  everything  he 
undertook  by  a  certain  perfection,  and 
carried  this  feeling  so  far,  that,  on  ac- 
count of  the  untractable  lack  of  elasti- 
city in  his  body,  and  a  want  of  ear  for 
music,  which  nature  had  denied  him, 
he  for  eighteen  years  deemed  it  neces- 
sary to  take  dancing  lessons,  because 
he  saw  that  others  surpassed  him  in  that 
graceful  accomplishment.  He  married 
a  daughter  of  the  Barings :  his  whole 
career,  both  public  and  private,  was 
one  of  almost  unexampled  brilliancy. 


Howqua,  the  senior  Hong  Merchant. 
This  immensely  wealthy  and  power- 
ful Chinese  merchant,  whose  mercantile 
fame  was  so  extensive  in  both  hemi- 
spheres as  long  as  he  lived,  was  de- 
scended from  a  respectable  Fo-kien 
family,  long  resident  in  the  principal 
black-tea  district,  and  his  grandfather 
was  one  of  the  Amoy  Hong,  who,  with 
the  progenitors  of  the  Canton  Hong 
merchants,  Poon-ke-qua,  Chunc-qua, 
and  Minqua,  were  ordered  by  the 
emperor  to  remove  to  Canton,  when  all 
intercourse  was  forbidden  with  the 
English  and  Dutch  at  the  port  of 
Amoy. 


EARLY  CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


HowQUA  had  attained  liis  seventy- 
fifth  year  when  he  died,  at  Canton.  For 
a  long  time  he  had  been  in  a  feeble  state 
of  health,  with  extremely  attenuated 
frame,  but  with  an  unimpaired  intel- 
lectual vigor  up  to  his  last  illness.  His 
fortune  was  variously  estimated,  ])ut  his 
investments  in  the  British  and  foreign 
funds  were  very  great,  and  it  was  the 
belief  of  those  who  were  most  person- 
ally intimate  with  him,  that  his  wealth 
did  not  fall  short  of  twenty-five  million 
dollars.  With  a  very  small  exception, 
all  his  riches  were  the  result  of  his  own 
industry  and  enterprise.  The  war  with 
the  English  involved  him  in  a  loss  of 
two  million  dollars,  and  his  proportion 
of  the  Canton  ransom  was  eight  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars. 

One  of  the  peculiar  characteristics 
of  How  qua  was  an  inveterate  aversion 
to  new  customs  and  modern  fashions, — 
clinging  with  the  most  conservative 
tenacity  to  the  old,  corrupt  system,  by 
which  his  vast  wealth  was  mainly  ac- 
cumulated. He  was  the  organ  of  com- 
munication between  the  government 
and  the  foreign  merchants,  possessed 
great  power  and  influence  among  his 
countrymen,  was  a  large  landed  pro- 
prietor, and  had  founded  and  endowed 
a  temple  to  Buddha,  in  the  suburbs  of 
Canton. 

It  seems  almost  incredible,  but  it  is 
not  the  less  true,  that,  to  the  last,  he 
directed  his  vast  and  complicated  trade, 
which  almost  encircled  the  globe,  alone. 
His  knowledge,  and  even  familiarity 
with  mercantile  details  connected  with 
the  trade  of  foreign  ports,  was  truly 
astonishing.  Sound  judgment,  true 
prudence,  wary  circumspection,  and  a 
wise  economy,  were  distinguishing 
traits  of  his  mercantile  character.  By 
Englishmen,  Howqua  was  not  liked. 
His  predilections  were  American — and 
justly  so,  seeing  that  he  was  indebted, 
in  an  early  stage  of  his  career,  to  an 
American  citizen,  for  information  he 
sought  in  vain  from  the  English, 


James  Wood,  the  Gloucester  Million- 
naire. 

James  Wood,  the  celebrated  shop- 
keeping  millionnaire  and  sole  proprie- 
tor of  the  Old  Gloucester  (Eng.)  Bank, 
— the  oldest  private  bank,  with  the 
exception  of  Childs',  in  England — 
amassed  a  property  of  five  million  of 
dollars.  From  the  earliest  period  in 
his  business  career  to  the  day  of  his 
death,  he  kept  a  shop  such  as  comes 
within  the  description  of  a  chandler's 
shop,  in  which  he  sold  almost  every- 
thing, from  a  mousetrap  to  a  carriage ; 
not  that  his  premises  were  large  enough 
to  contain  all  the  various  stores  in 
which  he  dwelt,  nor  indeed  was  it  re- 
quisite that  they  should — for  his  wealth 
was  sufficiently  known  to  all  the  large 
manufacturers  and  traders,  so  that  they 
were  at  all  times  ready  to  supply  him 
with  goods  to  any  amount.  At  one  end 
of  this  motley  shop,  the  business  of  the 
'Old  Gloucester  Bank,'  as  it  was  fa- 
miliarly called,  was  transacted;  and 
the  whole  establishment  was  managed 
by  himself  and  two  clerks  or  assistants. 
He  was  very  penurious,  and  never  mar- 
ried, entertained  no  company,  visited  no 
one,  spent  his  whole  time  in  his  bank 
or  shop,  and  his  Sundays  in  a  long 
walk  in  the  country.  His  will  involved 
much  litigation,  and,  as  a  consequence, 
proved  a  prolific  source  of  employment 
to  the  gentlemen  of  the  greenbag. 


Coutts,  the  Engrlish  Banker. 
The  father  of  Mr.  Coutts,  the  founder 
of  the  celebrated  English  banking  house 
which  bears  his  name,  was  a  merchant 
of  some  eminence  in  the  city  of  Edin- 
burgh. He  had  four  sons ;  the  two 
youngest,  James  and  Thomas,  were 
brought  up  in  their  father's  office. 
James,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  w^ent 
to  London,  and  settled  in  St.  Mary  Axe, 
as  a  Scotch  merchant,  and  subsequently 
started  as  a  banker  on  the  same  spot, 
and  it  is  believed  in  the  same  house 
where  the  business  of  the  bank  is  now 
carried    on.      Some    few   years   after, 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Thomas  joined  his  brother  as  a  partner 
in  the  establishment,  under  the  firm  of 
*  James  and  Thomas  Coutts,  Bankers.' 
On  the  death  of  James,  Thomas  was 
left  sole  proprietor  of  the  bank.  Mr. 
Coutts,  the  founder  of  this  eminent 
house,  was  plain  in  his  person,  sedate 
in  his  deportment,  punctual  to  an 
extreme  nicety  in  the  discharge  of  all 
the  duties  of  his  immense  and  success- 
ful business,  frugal  and  sparing  in  his 
personal  expenditure,  singularly  calm 
and  clear  in  his  judgment,  careful  of 
his  health — and  still  more  of  his  repu- 
tation. To  these  traits  the  great  pros- 
perity and  wealth  to  which  Mr.  Coutts 
attained  are  due. 

It  is  related,  as  an  illustration  of  Mr. 
Coutts'  character,  that  one  day,  while 
sitting  at  dinner  with  a  company  of 
bankers  whom  he  had  invited  to  his 
hospitable  board,  he  was  informed  by 
one  of  his  guests,  that  a  certain  noble- 
man had  applied  to  his  house  for  a  loan 
of  thirty  thousand  pounds,  and  had  been 
refused.  Mr.  Coutts  took  no  particular 
notice  of  this  at  the  time,  but  the  moment 
his  guests  had  retired,  which  was  about 
ten  o'clock,  he  started  off  to  the  house 
of  his  lordship,  and  inquiring  for  the 
steward  told  him  his  business,  adding, 
"  Tell  Ms  lordship,  that  if  he  calls  on 
me  in  the  morning,  he  may  have  what 
he  requires."  On  the  following  morn- 
ing, the  nobleman  went  to  the  bank. 
Mr.  Coutts  received  him  with  great 
politeness,  and  taking  thirty  one-thous- 
and pound  notes  from  a  drawer,  pre- 
sented them  to  his  lordship,  who  was 
most  agreeably  surprised,  and  asked, 
"What  security  am  I  to  give  you?" 
"I  shall  be  satisfied  with  your  lord- 
ship's note  of  hand,"  was  the  reply. 
This  was  instantly  given.  The  noble- 
man then  said,  "  I  find  I  shall  only 
require,  for  the  present,  ten  thousand 
pounds  of  the  money ;  I  therefore 
return  you  twenty  thousand  pounds, 
with  which  you  will  be  pleased  to  open 
an  account  in  my  name," 

This  handsome  act  of  Mr.  Coutts  was 


not  lost  upon  his  lordship,  who,  in 
addition  to  paying  in,  within  a  few 
months,  two  hundred  thousand  pounds 
to  his  account,  being  the  amount  of 
the  sale  of  an  estate,  recommended 
several  of  the  nobility  to  patronize  Mr. 
Coutts ;  and  further,  his  lordship  related 
the  interesting  circumstance  to  King 
George  the  Third,  who  also  patronized 
him  by  keeping  a  large  amount  of 
money  in  Mr.  Coutts'  bank.  The  king, 
however,  afterward  closed  his  account 
with  Mr.  Coutts,  it  having  come  to  his 
knowledge  that  the  latter  advanced  the 
sum  of  one  hundred  thousand  pounds 
toward  Sir  Francis  Burdett's  election 
to  parliament.  In  place  of  IVIr.  Coutts, 
the  king  opened  an  account  with  a 
banker  at  Windsor,  but  this  banker,  to 
the  great  mortification  of  the  king, 
subsequently  failed,  considerably  in  his 
majesty's  debt. 


Tattersall,  the  Auctioneer,  London. 

The  present  noted  auctioneer  in  Lon- 
don, known  as  Tattersall,  is  a  son  of 
the  founder  of  the  great  establishment, 
who  died  while  enjoying  the  sumjituous 
surroundings  in  w^hich  his  princely  for- 
tune enabled  him  to  indulge. 

Nobody  who  sees  Mr.  Tattersall  pre- 
siding in  his  rostrum  during  the  sale 
of  horses,  can  resist  the  conviction  that 
Nature  intended  him  for  an  auctioneer 
of  those  noble  animals.  In  the  rostrum, 
he  is  obviously  in  his  proper  business 
sphere.  He  enters  on  his  vocation 
with  heart  and  soul,  each  succeeding 
day.  He  has  no  idea  of  happiness  be- 
yond the  auction  yard.  The  very  sight 
of  the  hammer,  or  rather  of  himself 
wielding  the  hammer,  is  to  him  an  en- 
joyment of  the  first  magnitude.  His 
own  voice,  when  expatiating  in  praise 
of  any  horse  that  "  is  to  be  sold,"  has 
inexpressible  charms  to  his  ear.  There 
is  not  a  sound  in  the  world  that  he  will 
acknowledge  to  be  half  so  musical  to 
him, — except  it  be  the  sound  of  some 
voice  w^hose  proprietor  is  making    a 


EARLY   CAREER  OF  EUSIXESS   CELEBRITIES. 


"  handsome  bidding"  for  the  animal  in 
the  market. 

Mr.  Tattersall,  though  a  man  of  few 
words    compared    with    the    voluble 
school  of  auctioneers  in  general,  is  a 
very  adroit  and  successful  knight  of 
the  hammer.     He  is  dexterous  in  dis- 
covering who  among  all  that  surround 
him  are  the  parties  really  intending  to 
buy,  and    to  them  in  succession    he 
addresses    himself.      His    very    look, 
unaccompanied  by  a  single  word,  has, 
in  innumerable  cases,  appealed  so  forci- 
bly to  some  bystander,  as  to  draw  out 
"another  guinea  for  the  horse,"  even 
when  the  person  had  fully  resolved  in 
his  own  mind  not  to  advance,  on  any 
earthly    consideration,    a    single    six- 
pence more.     He  holds  in  contempt 
all    bombastical    diction,   as  in    poor 
taste,  a  waste  of  time,  and  a  positive 
insult  to  the  persons  assembled.     Be- 
sides, he  is  convinced  that  by  his  own 
plain  and  homely,  but  expressive  style, 
he  "  fetches  "  a  far  better  price  for  his 
"  fine  animals,"  than  he  would  by  the 
most  high-sounding  clap-trap  sentences 
that  could  be  strung  together.      He 
usually  contents  himself  with  mention- 
ing the  pedigree  of  the  horse,  praising 
him  as  one  of  the  finest  ever  known ; 
affecting  to  be  quite  shocked  at  the 
idea  of  selling  him  at  the  price  offered ; 
assuring  the  company  that  it  would  be 
positively  giving  him  away,  which  of 
course  neither  he  nor  the  proprietor 
can  afford  to  do ;  and  regretting  that 
he  cannot  bid  himself.     When  an  extra 
quality  of  horse  is  "  up,"  Mr.  Tattersall's 
art  of  winning  upon  the  good  graces 
of    the    company    is    inimitable ;    an 
example  of  which  is  furnished  among 
the  Auction  anecdotes  in  this  volume. 
By  all  his  acquaintance,  Mr.  Tatter- 
sall has  the  reputation  of  being  an  ex- 
cellent-hearted   man,   and   is  a  great 
favorite,  personally,  with  all  who  visit 
his  premises,  or  have  occasion  to  do 
business  with  him.    He  is  a  dark-com- 
plexioned man,  with  a  rather  full  face, 
and  wears  a  reserved  expression.    He 


is  slightly  under  medium  size,  of  some- 
what stout  build,  and  very  lame.  The 
number  of  horses  he  sometimes  sells  in 
one  day  is  one  hundred  to  one  hundred 
and  eighty. 


Jacques  Lafitte,  the  French.  Banker. 

Important  results  often  follow  from 
the  most  trifling  incidents.  A  remark- 
able instance  of  this  kind  is  that  afforded 
in  the  history  of  Lafitte,  one  of  the  most 
memorable  among  the  names  of  French 
bankers,  and  which  was  the  foundation 
of  the  colossal  fortune  he  afterward 
accumulated,  and  of  the  scarcely  less 
than  imperial  position  which  he  at  one 
time  held  in  the  councils  of  the  realm. 

When  he  came  to  Paris,  in  1798,  the 
extent  of  his  ambition  was  to  find  a 
situation  in  a  banking  house ;  and  to 
attain  this  object,  he  called  on  M. 
Perregeaux,  the  rich  Swiss  banker,  to 
whom  he  had  a  letter  of  introduction. 
This  gentleman  had  just  taken  posses- 
sion of  the  hotel  of  Mademoiselle 
Gurmard,  w^hich  had  been  put  up  in  a 
lottery  by  that  lady,  and  won  by  the 
fortunate  banker.  It  was  to  this  most 
charming  habitation,  which  has  since 
been  demolished,  that  M.  Lafitte  paid 
his  first  visit  in  Paris,  and,  as  it  were, 
took  his  first  step  in  the  brilliant  Paris- 
ian world.  The  young  provincial — 
poor  and  modest,  timid  and  anxious — 
entered  by  that  gateway  which  had 
witnessed  so  many  convivialities  in  the 
last  century. 

He  was  introduced  into  the  boudoir 
of  the  danseuse,  which  had  become  the 
cabinet  of  the  banker,  and  there  modest- 
ly stated  the  object  of  his  visit.  "  It  is 
impossible  for  me  to  admit  you  into  my 
establishment,  at  least  for  the  present," 
replied  the  banker ;  "  all  my  offices 
have  their  full  complement.  If  I 
require  any  one  at  a  future  time,  I 
will  see  what  can  be  done;  but,  in 
the  mean  time,  I  advise  you  to  seek 
elsewhere,  for  I  do  not  expect  a  vacancy 
for  a  long  while." 
With  a  disappointed  heart,  the  young 


6 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


aspirant  for  employment  left  the  office  ; 
and  while,  with  a  dejected  air,  he  traver- 
sed the  stately  courtyard,  he  stooped  to 
pick  up  a  pin  which  lay  in  his  path,  and 
which  he  carefully  stuck  in  the  lappel 
of  his  coat.  Little  did  he  think  that 
this  trivial  action  was  to  decide  his 
future  fate  and  open  up  so  famous  a 
destiny  to  him ;  but  so  it  was.  From 
the  windows  of  his  cabinet,  M.  Perre- 
geaux  had  observed  the  movement  of 
the  young  man.  The  Swiss  banker 
was  one  of  those  keen  observers  and 
quick  interpreters  of  human  actions, 
who  estimate  the  value  of  circum- 
stances apparently  triiSing  in  them- 
selves, and  which  would  pass  unnoticed 
by  the  majority  of  mankind.  He  was 
delighted  with  the  conduct  of  the 
young  stranger.  In  this  simple  action, 
he  saw  the  revelations  of  a  character. 
It  was  a  guarantee  of  a  love  of  order 
and  economy,  a  certain  pledge  of  the 
qualities  in  especial  which  should  be 
possessed  by  a  good  financier.  A  young 
man  who  would  thus  painstakingly 
pick  up  a  pin,  could  not  fail  to  make 
a  good  clerk,  merit  the  confidence  of 
his  employer,  and  reach  a  high  degree 
of  prosperity.  In  the  evening  of  the 
same  day,  M.  Lafitte  received  the  follow- 
ing note  from  M.  Perregeaux  : — 

"  A  place  is  made  for  you  in  my  office, 
which  you  may  take  possession  of  to- 
morrow morning." 

The  anticipations  of  the  banker  were 
not  disappointed.  The  young  Lafitte 
possessed  every  desirable  quality,  and 
even  more  than  was  at  first  expected. 
From  a  simple  clerk,  he  soon  rose  to  be 
cashier,  then  partner,  then  head  of  the 
first  banking  house  in  Paris ;  and  after- 
wards, in  rapid  succession,  a  Deputy, 
and  President  of  the  Council  of  Minis- 
ters— the  highest  point  to  which  a 
citizen  could  aspire.  Earely  have  riches 
been  placed  in  better  hands — rarely  has 
banker  or  prince  made  a  more  noble  use 
of  them.  In  1836,  M.  Lafitte  founded 
the  joint-stock  bank  which  goes  by  his 
name,  and  of  which  he  was  the  head 


and  principal  partner.  His  fortunes 
changed  materially,  for  the  worse,  after 
the  Revolution.  He  died  in  May,  1844, 
and  was  buried  with  great  magnificence 
in  the  cemetery  of  Pere  la  Chaise.  He 
left  one  daughter,  who  married  the 
pi-ince  of  Moskowa,  the  son  of  Marshal 
Ney. 


William  Forlies,  Scotcli  Banker. 

The  private  banking  house  once  uni- 
versally known  in  Scotland  under  the 
lead  of  SiK  William  Forbes,  had  a 
somewhat  peculiar  genealogy,  reaching 
far  back  into  the  last  century,  and  even 
faintly  gleaming  through  the  obscurities 
of  the  one  before  it,  when  mercantile 
efforts  and  speculations  were  taking 
their  birth  amidst  the  embers  of  scarcely 
extinct  civil  wars  and  all  kinds  of  pri- 
vate barbarisms.  The  genealogy  is 
traced  to  the  fiiTQ  of  John  Coutts  & 
Co.,  of  Edinburgh,  in  1742,  and  the 
concern  appears  to  be  the  main  stock 
from  which  branched  off  the  eminent 
London  banking  firms  of  Coutts  &  Co. 
and  Herries  &  Co.  It  was  the  first 
banking  house  in  Edinburgh. 

Born  in  1734,  and  fatherless  when 
four  years  of  age,  Sir  William  had  but 
little  other  means  of  help  than  the 
usual  Scotch  thrift.  He  rose,  however, 
to  be  the  head  of  the  house  which  he 
had  entered  as  an  apprentice,  without 
a  capital,  at  fifteen ;  recovered  the  lost 
fortunes  of  his  family,  aided  materially 
in  establishing  those  of  his  country 
on  a  solid  basis,  and  even  became 
the.  sole  preserver  of  much  of  her 
literary  history  which  must  otherwise 
have  perished. 

Originally  confined  to  commercial 
dealing  and  general  business  traffic, 
the  sole  transactions  of  the  house  finally 
came  to  be  those  of  banking.  It  sub- 
sequently yielded,  once  or  twice,  to  the 
temptation  of  mercantile  or  merchan- 
dize speculation,  but  suffered  from  it, 
and  ever  afterv^ard  refused  to  engage, 
directly  or  indirectly,  in  anything  but 
banking.    ^Ir.  Forbes  died,  in  1806,  at 


EARLY   CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


the  age  of  sixty-seven,  and  to  his  vir- 
tues Scott  has  paid  a  merited  tribute 
in  the  dedication  of  one  of  the  cantos 
of  Marmion. 


M.  Steiglitz,  Bicliest  of  Russian  Mer- 
chants. 

Y/hat  the  name  of  Rothschild  is  in 
other  countries,  and  that  of  Astor  in 
America,  the  name  of  Steiglitz  is  in 
Russia,  and  has  been  for  half  a  century. 
It  would  doubtless  still  continue  to 
hold  this  pre-eminence,  but  for  the 
voluntary  retirement  of  the  proprietor, 
two  or  three  years  since,  with  a  fortune 
computed,  by  Russian  authorities,  at 
scores  of  millions  of  dollars, — acquired 
by  his  connection  with  all  the  great 
financial  concerns  of  the  empire,  and 
the  numerous  and  extensive  manufac- 
tories, sugar  refineries,  etc.,  which  he 
carried  on. 

M.  Steiglitz,  senior,  arrived  in  Russia 
about  the  commencement  of  the  present 
century  ;  he  came  from  Hamburgh,  and 
was  a  Jew  by  birth,  but  subsequently 
abandoned  that  faith  and  identified 
himself  with  Christianity.  Immediately 
after  his  arrival  in  Russia  he  entered 
into  business,  and  founded  the  great 
commercial  and  banking  house  which 
he  bequeathed  to  his  son,  with  the  title 
of  Baron,  and  a  prodigious  fortune. 
M.  Steiglitz,  junior,  subsequently  man- 
aged the  house,  and  with  such  ability 
and  success  as  to  be  able  to  retire  with 
an  estate  valued  at  little  short  o^  fifty 
millions  of  dollars.  This  vast  fortune 
consists  in  capital  deposited  in  the  im- 
perial banks,  in  shares  in  the  best  Rus- 
sian companies,  and  in  landed  estates, 
both  in  the  south  of  Russia,  in  Livonia, 
and  in  Germany.  He  has  the  rank  of 
Councillor  of  State,  and  is  decorated 
with  the  grand  cordon  of  the  Order  of 
St.  Stanislaus.  He  married  a  Mdlle. 
Muller,  belonging  to  a  highly  respect- 
able, though  not  wealthy  family,  and 
has  no  children. 


Solomon,  the  Merchant  Sovereign. 

King  Solomon  was  at  once  monarch 
and  merchant ;  and  it  may  easily  be 
inferred,  that  no  j^rivate  merchant 
could  safely  compete  with  a  prince 
so  regal,  who  had  assumed  the  mer- 
cantile character.  By  his  intimate 
commercial  union  with  the  Tyrians,  he 
was  put  into  the  most  favorable  of  all 
positions  for  disposing  of  his  goods. 
That  energetic  nation,  possessing  so 
small  a  strip  of  territory,  had  much 
need  of  various  raw  produce  for  their 
own  wants.  Another  large  demand 
was  made  by  them  for  the  raw  materials 
of  manufactures,  and  for  articles  which 
they  could  with  advantage  sell  again ; 
and  as  they  were  able,  in  turn,  to  sell 
so  many  acceptable  luxmies  to  the  court 
of  Solomon,  a  most  active  exchange 
soon  commenced.  The  carrying  trade, 
which  was  shared  between  Solomon  and 
the  Tyrians,  was  probably  the  most 
lucrative  part  of  the  southern  and  east- 
ern commerce.  From  Egypt,  Solomon 
imported  not  only  linen  yarn,  but  even 
horses  and  chariots,  which  were  sold 
again  to  ihe  princes  of  Syria  and  of  the 
Hittites  ;  the  light,  strong,  and  elegant 
structure  of  the  chariots  rendering  them 
very  salable.  Wine  being  abundant  in 
Palestine,  and  wholly  wanting  in  Egypt, 
was,  no  doubt,  a  principal  means  of  re- 
payment. That  Solomon's  trading  cor- 
respondence also  extended  to  Babylon, 
may  be  fairly  inferred.  He  is  said  to 
have  realized  from  a  single  voyage  four 
hundred  and  fifty  talents  of  gold,  that 
is,  upwards  of  one  Tiundred  and  twenty 
millions  of  dollars  !  Tlie  business  trans- 
actions of  Solomon,  it  thus  appears, 
were  enormously  large  and  lucrative; 
yet  it  does  not  appear  that  any  fault 
was  found  with  him  on  that  account — 
particularly  by  his  own  subjects. 


M.  Bruck,  Austria's  Great  Merchant 
Sanker. 
Some  considerable  number  of  years 
back,  when  the  Greeks  were  in  arms  to 


8 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


assert  their  independence,  a  young  man 
with  a  staff  in  his  hand  and  a  travelling 
knapsack  on  his  back,  presented  him- 
self at  the  office  of  a  Greek  merchant  at 
Trieste,  to  whom  he  had  a  letter  of 
introduction.  Filled  with  youthful 
enthusiasm  for  the  once  glorious  name 
of  Greece,  he  was  on  his  way  to  the 
Morea  with  the  intention  of  joining  the 
Greek  insurgents. 

The  merchant,  pleased  with  the 
youth's  appearance,  and  perhaps  influ- 
enced by  the  letter  of  introduction, 
thought  it  a  pity  that  so  much  intelli- 
gence should  be  employed  in  warlike 
rather  than  in  peaceful  pursuits,  and  en- 
deavored to  dissuade  him  from  his  pur- 
pose. To  give  his  argument  its  desired 
effect,  he  offered  the  adventurer  a  clerk- 
ship in  his  office.  The  offer  was  imme- 
diately accepted.  The  young  man's  n  ame 
was  Bruck.  He  doubtless  devoted  him- 
self with  much  zeal  to  the  interests  of 
his  patron,  for  in  a  few  years  he  became 
the  head-clerk  and  manager  of  his  busi- 
ness. A  courtship  shortly  afterwards 
took  place  between  him  and  the  mer- 
chant's daughter,  which  ended  in  mar- 
riage with  her  and  a  partnership  in 
business  with  her  father. 

This  man  became  one  of  the  ruling 
spirits  in  European  commerce  and 
finance,  the  extent  of  his  business 
operations  comporting  with  the  high 
repute  of  the  house  with  which  he  was 
identified.  M.  Bruck  devoted  himself 
to  the  formation  of  the  Austrian  Navi- 
gation Company;  and  he  it  was  who 
established  that  well  known  commer- 
cial institution,  the  Austrian  Lloyd's — 
for  which  he  was  indebted  for  a  name 
to  the  mercantile  phraseology  of  Eng- 
land,— and  which  he  founded  on  prin- 
ciples similar  to  those  by  which  the 
English  Lloyd's  is  conducted.  It  is 
also  due  to  his  energy  that  railroads 
have  been  introduced  and  extended  in 
Austria.  And  in  addition  to  all  this, 
his  great  financial  and  business  talents 
caused  him  to  be  appointed  Mnister 
of  Finance  of  the  Empire, — ^like  La- 


bouchere  in  England,  and  Lafitte  in 
France. 


Jones  Lloyd,  London  Banker. 
The  firm  of  Jones  Llotd  &  Co., 
consisting  of  two  partners — father  and 
son — has  long  held  rank  in  London 
with  those  of  the  Coutts,  Glyns,  Deni- 
sons.  Smiths,  Barclays,  Paynes,  Wil- 
lisses,  and  others,  for  immense  extent 
of  business  and  honorable  dealing.  Tlie 
father  has  been  mentioned  as  the  only 
great  banker  in  London  who  has  made 
a  fortune  by  banking,  without  having 
been  bred  to  it.  Banking  sought  him. 
He  preserves,  it  is  said,  to  this  day,  in 
his  bedroom,  a  little  table  which  used 
to  stand  many  years  ago  in  his  shop  at 
Manchester,  and  upon  which,  as  people 
used  to  bring  their  money  to  him,  his 
first  accounts  were  kept.  His  wealth 
has  been  estimated  at  ten  to  twelve 
million  dollars  in  ready  money,  the 
whole  amount  being  kept  floating  in 
convertible  securities  for  immediate 
use.  Mr.  Lewis  Lloyd,  according  to 
his  own  account,  began  business  in 
1792,  at  Manchester,  where  having 
spent  a  year,  he  removed  to  London, 
where  he  concluded  to  remain,  with  a 
partnership  in  the  Manchester  firm. 
According  to  report,  he  was  originally 
a  Unitarian  clergyman,  but  soon  became 
tired  of  that  vocation — finding  it,  as  he 
is  said  to  have  sometimes  confessed  after 
dinner,  "  much  more  profitable  and 
agreeable  to  spend  his  time  in  turning 
over  bank  notes,  than  in  turning  up  the 
whites  of  his  eyes."  Mr.  Lloyd  seems 
to  have  been  somewhat  partial  to  this 
style  of  remark.  Thus,  when  Frys  and 
Chapman,  the  Quaker  bankers,  failed, 
a  member  of  the  society  took  his  ac- 
count to  Mr.  Lloyd :  "  We  think  you 
are  right,  friend,"  said  the  senior  part- 
ner ;  "  it  is  wiser  to  put  thy  money 
with  a  rich  sinner  than  a  poor  saint." 


James  Lenox,  Merchant,  of  New  York. 

The  name  of  Lenox  appears  among 

some  of  the  early  Scotch  emigrants, 


EARLY   CAREER   OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


9 


such  as  the  Irvings,  Masons,  Douglasses, 
Grahams,  &c.  Robert  Lenox  became 
a  distinguished  New  York  merchant. 
His  profits  were  wisely  invested  in 
land,  and  this  became  very  valuable. 
His  only  son,  James,  inherited  the 
larger  portion  of  this  estate,  whose 
increasing  value  made  him  a  million- 
naire. 

In  his  benefactions,  Mr.  Lenox  is  said 
to  exercise  close  discrimination,  and  in 
this  way  has  for  years  refused  personal 
applications.  This  measure,  indeed, 
was  necessary,  in  order  to  escape  a 
perpetual  siege,  which  would  soon  have 
driven  any  man  to  distraction.  He 
has  been  in  the  habit  of  considering 
written  applications,  and  of  selecting 
such  as  seemed  worthy  of  his  patron- 
age. Mr.  Lenox  annually  disburses,  it 
is  stated,  an  enormous  sum  in  a  most 
useful  as  well  as  most  quiet  manner. 
Indeed,  his  mansion  has  been  described 
as  one  of  the  benevolent  institntions  of 
the  day — its  occupant  being,  to  all 
intents  and  purposes,  but  an  actuary, 
driven  by  perpetual  duties  and  working 
with  assiduity  to  fulfil  an  important 
trust.  He  is  a  thoroughly  practical  man, 
posted  on  all  the  details  of  business, 
and,  inheriting  the  peculiar  abilities 
and  energy  of  his  father,  puts  them  to 
the  best  of  use. 

Mr.  Lenox  is  a  man  of  fine  taste,  and 
finds  recreation  in  gathering  rare  books, 
of  which  he  has  a  valuable  collection, 
and  he  possesses,  in  addition,  a  splendid 
gallery  of  pictures,  among  these  being 
two  of  Turner's  landscapes. 


Daniel  Callagrhan,  the  Irish  Mercantile 
Celebrity. 
One  of  the  ablest  and  most  accom- 
plished merchants  that  Ireland  ever 
produced  was  Daniel  Callaghan,  the 
elder, — shooting  ahead  of  all  the  mer- 
chants in  Ireland,  by  his  native  abili- 
ties, his  shrewdness,  enterprise,  and 
tact.  He  set  up,  when  but  a  stripling, 
in  the  butter  trade,  but  was  refused 
credit  for  the  small  amount  of  £400  at 


Tonson  &  Warren's  bank,  as  his  first  ex- 
perience. He,  however,  finally  obtained 
the  aid  he  was  in  need  of,  and  from 
that  time  pursued  his  "business  with 
great  success.  A  great  London  mer- 
chant took  the  whole  provision  contract 
at  that  time,  and  the  Cork  merchants 
combined  to  engross  the  market.  This 
was  the  moment  chosen  by  Callaghan 
to  reap  the  reward  of  the  study  he  had 
bestowed,  so  inquiringly  and  systemati- 
cally, upon  the  business  of  his  choice. 
Alarmed  at  their  position,  one  of  the 
Londoners  came  over,  and  was  still 
more  dismayed  when  he  reached  Cork. 
Young  Callaghan  introduced  himself, 
and,  what  was  then  thought  a  most 
presuming  thing  on  his  part,  he  gave 
a  dinner  to  the  Londoner,  to  which, 
however,  he  had  some  difiiculty  in 
getting  guests.  He  soon  showed  the 
London  firm  the  game  it  should  play, 
and  expounded  all  the  resources  in 
their  power,  to  their  enlightenment.  A 
share  of  the  contract  was  immediately 
given  him,  and,  before  the  year  expired, 
the  same  firm  handed  Callaghan  £10,- 
000,  on  his  own  word,  after  having 
hesitated,  only  nine  months  before,  to 
take  his  bond  with  security  for  a  few 
hundreds.  There  have  been  a  few  Irish 
merchants  who  have  realized  greater 
fortunes  than  Mr.  C,  who,  at  his  cul- 
minating point,  was  rated  at  con- 
siderably above  a  million ;  but  it  was 
the  splendid  style  in  which  he  trans- 
acted his  aff'airs,  his  off'-hand  deal- 
ing, his  liberality  and  contempt  for 
peddling,  and  his  complete  mercan- 
tile accomplishments,  that  placed  him 
at  the  head  of  the  Irish  commercial 
world. 


Henry  Engelbert  Haase,  Banker,  of 
Bremen. 

Among  those  who  have  reached  and 
passed  through  the  "  golden  gate  "  of 
commercial  success,  is  Henry  Engel- 
BERT  Haase,  of  Bremen,  widely  known 
at  home  and  abroad,  but  whose  career 
terminated  so  disastrously.    By  trade 


10 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


lie  amassed  a  large  property,  and  was 
one  of  tlie  most  Ligbly  respected  busi- 
ness men  in  Bremen — ^holding  several 
public  offices,  was  trustee  of  various 
funds,  administrator  of  many  estates, 
and  guardian  of  a  large  number  of  or- 
phan children.  In  fact,  he  abounded  in 
both  jDublic  and  private  charities,  and  he 
was  always  the  one  above  all  others  to 
w^hom  his  friends  intrusted  their  obli- 
gations when  they  were  absent  from 
the  city.  A  certain  coxcombry — for 
instance,  he  wore  jewels  and  lace, 
which  w^as  not  usual,  and  took  every 
measure  to  conceal  his  age — was  for- 
given him,  on  account  of  the  high 
esteem  which  ht3  universally  enjoyed.^ 
No  one  ever  ventured  in  the  slightest 
degree  to  ridicule  Alderman  Haase — in 
the  opinion  of  eveiy  one,  he  stood 
higher  than  any  other  man  in  Bremen. 
He  was  remarkably  hospitable ;  enter- 
taining every  week  a  distinguished 
company,  and  a  degree  of  luxury  was 
exhibited  at  his  dinners,  excusable  only 
in  a  rich  man  vn.thout  childi'en.  In  his 
annual  statement  of  the  different  trust 
funds  he  had  in  charge,  he  warmly 
solicited  the  inspection  of  the  books, 
and  often  pretended  that  the  value  of 
the  property  had  increased  by  advan- 
tageous purchase  and  sale  of  stocks, 
and  frequently  offered  to  show  the 
overseers  the  certificates  in  various 
closets  and  oaken  chests;  but  it  was 
naturally  deemed  a  gross  imputation 
on  such  a  wealthy  trustee  and  sternly 
particular  accountant,  as  well  as  a 
downright  waste  of  time,  to  accept  the 
offer.  But  at  last,  in  one  of  the  ways 
peculiar  in  such  cases,  an  explosion 
took  place,  and  his  defalcations,  squan- 
dered in  luxury  and  "  charity,"  were 
found  to  be  immense.  His  house  fell, 
and  "  great  was  the  fall  of  it." 


Preserved  Fish,  Merchant,  of  New 
York. 

No  name  was  better  known  in  the 

mercantile  community  of  New  York 

than  this,  during  the  advanced  life- 


time of  its  owner.  Mr.  Fish  was  born 
in  Rhode  Island,  July  3,  1766,  of 
parents  in  obscure  circumstances.  He 
was  at  an  early  age  apprenticed  to  the 
j  blacksmith  business,  but  becoming  dis- 
satisfied with  his  employment  and  em- 
I)loyers,  he  ran  away,  and  shipped  as  a 
cabin  boy  in  a  whaling  vessel.  In  this 
trade  he  made  several  voyages,  grad- 
ually rising  until  he  became  master  of 
a  small  w^haling  craft,  and  finally  by 
his  economy  and  industry  accumula- 
ting a  little  cai)ital. 

In  1810,  he  quit  his  seafaring  life 
and  settled  in  New  York,  forming  a 
business  co]Dartnership  with  his  cousin, 
Mr.  Joseph  Grinnell,  under  the  style  of 
Fish  &  Grinnell,  and  which  lasted  until 
1825,  w^hen  Mr.  Fish  went  to  Europe 
and  established  a  house  in  Liverpool, 
under  the  name  of  Fish,  Cairns  & 
Crary.  He  soon  after  returned  to  New 
York,  forming  a  copartnership  with 
Mr.  Saul  Alley  and  Joseph  Lawrence, 
under  the  style  of  Fish,  Alley  &  Law- 
rence, but  which  only  continued  for 
two  or  three  years.  As  j^resident  of 
the  Tradesmen's  bank,  to  which  posi- 
tion he  was  elected  in  1829,  his  manage- 
ment was  vei-y  successful,  as  the  high 
dividends  and  large  contingent  fund 
of  that  institution,  under  his  adminis- 
tration, show. 

Mr.  Fish  was  remarkable  for  great 
energy  and  decision  of  character,  pur- 
suing with  ardor  anything  he  under- 
took, and,  like  most  men  of  this  char- 
acter, he  was  rather  opinionative,  and 
always  firm  in  maintaining  his  own 
notions — ^possessing  but  little  of  the 
suaviter  in  modo,  that  oily  process  of 
operating  which  distinguishes  the  more 
polished  man.  Perhaps  this  trait  which 
characterized  Mr.  Fish  may  be  said  to 
have  been  illustrated  in  the  remark 
made  by  a  certain  eminent  man,  that 
"  whenever  I  issue  an  order  to  a  servant, 
I  say  if  you  please,  and  if  he  clmi^t  please. 
I  male  Mm  please^''  Still,  in  busi- 
ness qualifications,  Mr.  Fish  Bad  few 
superiors,  and  enjoyed  the   universal 


EARLY   CAREER  OF  BUSINESS   CELEBRITIES. 


11 


confidence  of  the  mercantile  commu- 
nity. 

It  may  be  said  of  him,  that  he  was 
temperate  in  his  habits,  moderate  in 
his  desires,  and  neither  parsimonious 
nor  prodigal  in  his  expenses  ;  while  his 
industry,  economy  and  good  judgment, 
enabled  him  to  realize  a  fortune  from 
which  he  derived  an  abundant  income. 
He  was  three  times  married,  but  left  no 
children.  The  story  that  he  was  picked 
up  at  sea,  on  a  plank  or  in  an  open 
boat,  and  in  that  way  acquired  the 
name  Preserved^  was  unfounded  in 
truth;  but  its  peculiarity  probably 
added  notoriety  to  a  character  already 
distinguished  for  consistency,  a  discrim- 
inating judgment  and  stern  integrity. 

The  name  of  David  Leavitt  may  also 
be  here  cited  as  that  of  one  who  exhibits 
in  his  habits  of  industry  and  his  busmess 
judgment,  as  well  as  financial  success, 
a  parallel  case  with  that  of  Mr.  Fish. 
And  to  these  distinguishing  qualities 
as  a  business  m.an,  Mr.  Leavitt  unites 
the  personal  bearing  of  a  bland  and 
high-toned  gentleman  of  the  old  school. 
Few  names  stand  out  brighter  on  the 
roll  of  illustrious  American  merchants, 
— attaining  to  wealth  and  distinction  by 
every  honorable  means  perseveringly  ap- 
plied,— than  that  of  David  Leavitt. 


Amos  Lawrence,  Merchant,  Boston. 
According  to  the  usual  custom  in 
Kew  England,  the  first  experience  of 
Amos  Lawrence,  in  the  sphere  of  busi- 
ness, was  that  of  shop  boy,  and  subse- 
quently that  of  clerk.  The  firm  by  whom 
he  was  thus  employed  having,  in  course 
of  time,  become  insolvent,  Mr.  L.  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  commencing  business 
on  his  own  account,  and  accordingly 
rented  a  shop  on  Cornhill,  Boston.  He 
was  then,  he  says,  in  the  matter  of 
property.  Hot  worth  a  dollar.  His 
father  was  comfortably  off  as  a  farmer, 
somewhat  in  debt,  with  perhaps  four 
thousand  dollars.  His  brother  Luther 
was  in  the  practice  of  law,  getting  for- 
ward, but  not  worth  two  thousand  dol- 


lars ;  William  had  nothing  ;  AblDott,  a 
lad  just  fifteen  years  old,  at  school ;  and 
Samuel  was  a  child  of  only  seven  years. 
Some  four  months  before,  Mr.  Law- 
rence's father  mortgaged  his  farm  for  the 
sum  of  one  thousand  dollars,  and  placed 
the  proceeds  in  the  hands  of  Amos,  for 
his  use  in  business.  Although  the  latter 
was  deeply  affected  by  this  act,  which 
had  been  effected  without  consultation 
with  any  human  being,  he  did  not  the 
less  deeply  regret  it.  He  had  no  desire 
for  aid  that  might  cause  others  to  suffer 
through  their  affording  it.  His  own 
ideas  on  this  point  will  be  interesting  : 
"  My  honored  father  brought  to  me  one 
thousand  dollars,  and  asked  me  to  give 
him  my  note  for  it.  I  told  him  he  did 
wrong  to  place  himself  in  a  situation  to 
be  made  unhappy,  if  I  lost  the  money. 
He  told  me  he  guessed  I  would'' nt  Jose  it, 
and  I  gave  him  my  note.  The  first 
thing  I  did  was  to  take  four  per  cent, 
premium  on  my  Boston  bills — the  dif- 
ference then  between  passable  and  Bos- 
ton money — and  send  a  thousand  dol- 
lars in  bills  of  the  Hillsborough  Bank 
to  Amherst,  N.  H.,  by  my  father,  to  my 
brother  Luther,  to  carry  to  the  bank 
and  get  specie,  principally  in  silver 
change,  for  the  bills,  and  he  returned 
it  to  me  in  a  few  days.  In  the  mean 
time,  or  shortly  after,  the  bank  had  been 
sued,  the  bills  discredited,  and,  in  the 
end,  prove.d  nearly  worthless.  I  deter- 
mined not  to  use  the  money  except  in 
the  safest  way,  and  therefore  loaned  it 
to  the  Messrs.  Parkman,  in  whom  I  had 
entire  confidence.  After  I  had  been  in 
business,  and  had  made  more  than  a 
thousand  dollars,  I  felt  that  I  could 
repay  the  money,  come  what  would  of 
it— being  insured  against  fire,  and 
trusting  no  one  for  goods.  I  used  it  in 
my  business,  but  took  care  to  pay  off 
the  mortgage  as  soon  as  it  would  be 
received." 

Mr.  Lawrence  cleared  fifteen  hundred 
dollars  the  first  year,  and  four  thousand 
the  second.  Excessive  credit  he  re- 
garded as  the  rock  upon  which  so  many 


12 


COMMERCIAL   AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


business  men  are  broken.  He  there- 
fore, at  the  commencement  of  his  own 
business,  adopted  the  plan  of  keeping 
an  accurate  account  of  merchandise 
bought  and  sold  each  day,  with  the 
profit,  as  far  as  practicable.  This  plan 
he  pursued  for  a  number  of  years  ;  and 
he  never  found  his  merchandise  fall 
short  in  taking  an  account  of  stock, 
which  he  did  as  often  at  least  as  once 
in  each  year.  He  was  thus  enabled  to 
form  an  opinion  of  his  actual  state  as  a 
business  man.  He  adopted  also  the 
rule  always  to  have  property,  after  the 
second  year's  business,  to  represent 
forty  per  cent,  at  least  more  than  he 
owed — that  is,  never  to  be  in  debt  more 
than  two  and  one-half  times  his  capital, 
a  plan  which  saved  him  from  ever  get- 
ting embarrassed.  The  splendid  for- 
tune which  Amos  Lawrence  amassed, 
during  his  business  career,  was  thus 
founded  in  the  most  careful  and  up- 
right regulations,  and  to  these  he  rigidly 
adhered.  He  used  his  vast  wealth  for  the 
best  good  of  his  fellow  creatures  ;  and 
his  style  of  living,  though  elegant,  as 
became  one  occupying  so  high  a  posi- 
tion, was  marked  by  no  extravagance. 
What  his  distinguished  namesake,  Cor- 
nelius W.  Lawrence,  has  so  long  been 
in  the  commercial  circles  of  the  Empire 
State, — or  its  metropolis, — Amos  Law- 
rence was  in  New  England  and  its 
thriving  capital.  The  history  of  both 
of  these  men  is  luminous  with  those 
traits  and  characteristics  which  lie  at 
the  foundation  of  prosperous  commerce 
and  individual  renown. 


Lorenzo  de  Medicis,  "the  Magiaificent 
Merchant." 

The  Medici  family  is  universally 
acknowledged  to  be  the  most  splendid 
instance  of  commercial  greatness  which 
the  world  affords.  The  true  source  of 
the  wealth  and  renown  of  the  Medici 
was  their  superior  talents,  and  the 
application  of  those  talents  to  mercan- 
tile enterprise. 

Cosmo  de  Medici  and  his  grandson. 


"  the  Magnificent  Lorenzo,"  were  prac- 
tised and  operative  merchants,  who  by 
combining  personal  enterprise  with  the 
most  exalted  patriotism,  and  a  love  of 
trade  with  a  devotion  to  science  and 
literature,  raised  the  city  of  Florence  to 
an  unexampled  height  of  glory,  and 
made  themselves  the  first  citizens  of  the 
world. 

The  high  character  of  Lorenzo,  as  a 
statesman  and  man  of  letters,  was  the 
means  of  obtaining  from  other  countries 
privileges  and  advantages  which  ren- 
dered Florence  the  envy  of  the  civilized 
world.  The  glory  of  the  republic 
appeared  at  a  distance  to  be  concentred 
in  himself  He  seems  to  have  arrived 
at  proficiency  in  everything  he  under- 
took, and  his  individual  success  was 
made  subservient  to  his  country's 
good,  his  private  gains  being  freely 
devoted  to  the  defense  of  the  state  and 
the  preservation  of  its  honor. 

Under  the  auspices  of  this  family  of 
merchants,  literature,  science,  and  the 
arts,  flourished  side  by  side  with  com- 
merce. The  Medicean  Library,  founded 
by  Cosmo,  and  supported  by  his  grand- 
son, still  exists  in  Florence,  presenting 
the  noblest  of  the  many  monuments  of 
their  glory,  the  most  authentic  deposi- 
tory of  their  magnificent  fame. 

Historians,  poets,  and  philosoiDhers, 
have  combined  to  swell  the  notes  of 
praise  in  honor  of  the  merchant  to 
whom  posterity  has  awarded  the  title 
of  "  Magnificent."  Thus,  Voltaire  says  : 
"  What  a  curious  sight  it  is  to  see  the 
same  person  with  one  hand  sell  the 
commodities  of  the  Levant,  and  with 
the  other  support  the  burden  of  a  state, 
maintaining  factors  and  receiving  am- 
bassadors, making  war  and  peace,  op- 
posing the  pope,  and  giving  his  ad- 
vice and  mediation  to  the  princes  of 
his  time,  cultivating  and  encouraging 
learning,  exhibiting  shows  to  the  peo- 
ple, and  giving  an  asylum  to  the  learned 
Greeks  that  fled  from  Constantinople  ! 
Such  was  Lorenzo  de  Medicis;  and 
when  to  these  particular  distinctions, 


EARLY  CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


13 


the  glorious  names  of  the  father  of  his 
country  and  the  mediator  of  Italy  are 
appended,  who  seems  more  entitled  to 
the  notice  and  admiration  of  posterity 
than  this  illustrious  citizen  of  Flor- 
ence ? "  This  eulogy  is  as  beautifully 
as  it  is  wisely  and  truthfully  penned. 

The  death  of  this  great  man,  whose 
splendid  career  terminated  at  the  early 
age  of  forty-four  years,  called  forth  from 
his  townsman  and  contemporary,  the 
wise  but  profligate  Machiavelli,  the  fol- 
lowing encomium :  "No  man  ever 
died  in  Florence,  or  in  the  whole  extent 
of  Italy,  with  a  higher  reputation,  or 
more  lamented  by  his  country.  Not 
"only  his  fellow  citizens,  but  all  the 
princes  of  Italy,  were  so  sensibly  affect- 
ed by  his  death,  that  there  was  not  one 
of  them  who  did  not  send  ambassadors 
to  Florence,  to  testify  their  grief,  and 
to  condole  with  the  republic  on  so  great 
a  loss."  The  busts  and  portraits  of  this 
illustrious  merchant  adorn  almost  every 
art-collection  and  gallery  in  the  capitals 

of  Europe. 

— » — 

Henry  Hope,  tlie  Amsterdam  Banker. 

The  great  Amsterdam  banking  house 
of  Hope  &  Co.,  was  established  in  the- 
seventeenth  century  by  Henry  Hope, 
a  Scottish  gentleman,  a  descendant  of 
John  de  Hope,  who  came  in  1537  from 
France  to  Scotland,  in  the  train  of 
Madeleine,  queen  of  James  V. 

Mr.  Hope  was  one  of  the  most  exalted 
of  his  class.  It  was  he  who  opened  the 
way  for  the  autocratic  power  of  Eussia, 
under  the  empress  Catharine  II.,  to  the 
confidence  of  the  then  wealthiest  cap- 
italists in  Europe,  the  Dutch,  and  there- 
by laid  the  foundation  of  Russian  credit. 
Always  treated  by  the  empress  with 
great  distinction,  he  was  honored  with 
the  gift  from  her  own  hand,  of  her 
portrait,  the  full  size  of  life.  This  pic- 
ture occupied  the  place  of  honor  in  the 
superb  gallery  of  paintings,  fitted  up 
by  Mr.  Hope  in  his  palace  "  t'Huys  ten 
Bosch,"  now  a  royal  pleasure-place, 
which  he  had  built  in  the  domain  of 


Harlem.  Upon  his  emigration  to  Eng- 
land, he  took  this  splendid  gallery, 
entirely  composed  of  cabinet  i^ieces, 
with  him,  having  it  at  his  residence 
in  Cavendish  Square. 

To  the  tone  of  a  refined  gentleman 
and  man  of  the  world,  he  united  a  cer- 
tain amiable  affability,  which  w^on 
upon  all  who  were  numbered  among 
his  associates.  The  trouble  of  his  heart, 
however,  was  the  notorious  relations  of 
his  niece.  Madam  Williams  Hope, 
with  a  Dutch  officer  of  dragoons,  by  the 
name  of  Dopff.  The  larger  part  of 
Hope's  fortune,  which  he  had  bequeath- 
ed to  Henry,  the  eldest  son  of  this  niece, 
and  who  died  unmarried,  passed,  at 
the  decease  of  the  latter,  to  Adrian,  the 
second  son,  who  left  no  male  heirs,  but 
from  whom  it  descended  to  Francis,  the 
third  son,  born  several  years  afterward, 
— this  third  inheritor  being  the  rich  and 
well  known  Mr.  Hope,  of  Paris,  the  last 
member  of  that  branch  of  the  whole 
family. 

One  of  the  leading  members  of 
this  vast  establishment,  in  the  early 
part  of  the  present  century,  was  Mr. 
Henry  Hope,  who  was  born  in  this 
country,  being  the  son  of  a  Scotch  loy- 
alist who  had  settled  in  Boston,  Mass. 
This  Henry  Hope  lived  some  time  in 
the  town  of  Quincy,  Mass.,  and  was  a 
poor  youth  when  he  emigrated  from 
that  place  to  England,  at  the  close  of 
the  last  century.  Mr.  John  Williams, 
an  Englishman,  who  married  his  niece, 
and  who  assumed  the  name  of  John 
Williams  Hope,  and  afterward  that  of 
John  Hope,  was  the  manager  of  the 
establishment.  Among  the  silent  part- 
ners of  the  house  were  Adrian  Hope, 
Henry  Philip  Hope,  and  Thomas  Hope, 
the  author  of  "  Anastasius."  The  oldest 
active  member  of  the  firm  was  Mr.  Peter 
Caesar  Labouchere,  the  interesting  cir- 
cumstances relating  to  whom,  in  his 
elevation  to  this  high  position,  are 
narrated  on  another  page  of  this  work. 

The  governments  with  whom  this 
house    entertain    the    most     intimate 


14 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


financial  relations,  are  those  of  Hol- 
land, Russia,  and  Spain.  The  Hope 
certificates,  as  the  stocks  are  called, 
which  the  Russian  government  has 
given  to  the  Dutch  bankers,  in  ac- 
knowledgment of  its  debt,  amount  to 
about  twenty-five  millions  of  dollars. 
Although  much  less  powerful  in  its 
monetary  sway  than  the  Rothschilds, 
the  Hopes  hold  in  some  respects  a  posi- 
tion superior  to  the  Jewish  bankers.  Sir 
Archibald  Hope,  and  the  Earl  of  Hope- 
toun  (John  Alexander  Hope),  are  the 
present  representatives  of  the  English 
and  elder  branch  of  the  Hope  family. 
Some  of  the  great  financial  transac- 
tions of  this  eminent  house,  as  given 
in  other  parts  of  this  volume,  will  be 
found  to  possess  scarcely  less  interest 
than  a  romance. 


Francis  Child,  the  Founder  of  English 
Banking  Houses. 

The  celebrity  of  the  first  London 
banking  house  belongs,  by  common 
consent,  to  Mr.  Francis  Child.  This 
gentleman,  who  was  the  father  of  his 
profession,  and  possessed  a  large  pro- 
perty, began  business  shortly  after  the 
Restoration.  He  was,  originally,  ap- 
prenticed to  William  Wheeler,  pawn- 
broker and  banker,  whose  shop  was 
on  the  site  of  the  present  world- 
renowned  banking  house.  The  foun- 
dation of  his  importance  arose  from 
the  good  old  fashion  of  marrying  his 
master's  daughter,  and  through  this  he 
succeeded  to  his  estate  and  business. 
The  latter  he  subsequently  confined 
entirely  to  the  banking  department. 
The  principles  on  which  he  founded 
it,  and  the  remarkable  clauses  in  his 
will,  by  which  he  regulated  its  future 
conduct,  show  him  to  have  been  a 
man  of  the  highest  business  character. 
It  has  maintained  to  the  present  day, 
amid  all  the  chances  and  changes  of 
banking,  the  same  position  and  the 
same  respectability  which  he  beqjaeath- 
ed  to  it. 


Stephen  Whitney,  Merchant,  of  New 
York. 

Stephen  Whitney  was  so  long  an 
habitue  of  Wall  street.  Front  street,  and 
Coenties  slip,  that  even  now  (says  a 
writer  in  the  "  Continental  Magazine  ") 
we  almost  momentarily  expect  to  meet 
him.  His  office  was  held  for  years  in 
the  second  story  of  a  warehouse  in 
Front  street,  a  spot  in  whose  vicinity 
he  had  passed  nearly  threescore  years. 
Thither  he  had  come,  in  his  boyhood, 
a  poor,  friendless,  New  Jersey  lad,  had 
found  friends  and  employment,  had  at 
last  got  to  be  a  grocer,  and  had 
gradually  accumulated  a  large  capital 
by  the  closest  economy.  At  this  time, 
the  war  of  1812  broke  out,  and  cotton 
became  very  low,  in  consequence  of  the 
difficulty  of  shipping  it  to  England. 
Mr.  Whitney  had  at  that  time  a  vast 
amount  of  outstanding  accounts  in  the 
Southern  States,  and  his  debtors  were 
glad  to  pay  him  in  this  depreciated 
article.  We  have  been  informed  that 
Jackson's  cotton  defenses  of  New 
Orleans  were  of  his  property.  As 
neutral  ships  were  iDcrmitted  to  sail 
between  the  belligerent  ports,  Mr. 
Whitney  exported  large  quantities  of 
cotton  to  England,  and  held  the  balance 
of  his  stock  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
when  it  advanced  enormously.  This 
advance,  together  with  the  proceeds  of 
his  exports,  at  once  made  him  a  mil- 
lionnaire,  and  the  capital  thus  acquired 
never  lost  a  chance  of  increase.  Giving 
up  the  details  of  trade,  Mr.  Whitney 
bought  large  quantities  of  real  estate, 
on  which  he  erected  warehouses  and 
obtained  a  princely  rental. 


Francis  Ca"bot  Lowell,  Merchant,  of 
Boston. 

This  distinguished  merchant  was  a 
native  of  Newburyport,  Mass.,  where 
he  was  born  in  1775,  and  died  in  Bos- 
ton in  1817.  In  1810,  Mr.  Lowell 
visited  England,  on  account  of  the  state 
of  his  health  ;  and  on  his  return  home, 
shortly  after  the  commencement  of  the 


EARLY   CAREER   OF  BUSINESS   CELEBRITIES. 


15 


war  of  1812,  lie  became  so  strongly- 
con  vinced  of  the  practicability  of  intro- 
ducing tlie  cotton  manufacture  into  the 
United  States,  that  he  proposed  to  his 
kinsman,  Patrick  T,  Jackson,  to  make 
the  experiment  on  an  ample  scale. 

The  result  of  his  project  was  the 
establishment  of  manufactures  at  Wal- 
tham,  and  the  foundation  of  the  city 
of  Lowell,  which  Avas  named  after 
himself.  He  visited  Washington  in 
1816,  and  his  personal  influence  with 
Mr.  Lowndes,  Mr.  Calhoun,  and  other 
leading  members  of  Congress,  contri- 
buted largely  to  the  introduction  into 
the  tariff  act  of  that  year  of  the  protec- 
tive clause  which  gave  such  an  impetus 
to  the  cotton  manufacture  in  the  United 
States. 


Johannes  Fug-ger,  and  the  Great  Com- 
mercial Family  of  Fuggers. 

The  origin  of  the  proverb  "  as  rich 
as  a  Fugger  "  is  in  the  name  of  a  Ger- 
man fixmily  of  immensely  wealthy  mer- 
chants. Its  founder  was  Johannes 
FuGGEK,  a  weaver  of  Graben,  near 
Augsburg,  who  lived  in  the  first  half 
of  the  fourteenth  century,  and  acquired 
a  large  property  in  lands  by  commerce 
in  cloths.  His  son,  of  the  same  name, 
continued  the  occupation  of  weaver,  to 
which  he  also  added  that  of  cloth  mer- 
chant. Andreas,  eldest  son  of  the  latter, 
lived  about  1400,  and  was  widely  known 
as  "  Fugger  the  Rich.''''  The  nephews  of 
the  last,  Ulrich,  Georg,  and  Jakob,  born 
about  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century, 
covered  the  Baltic  with  their  commerce, 
which  extended  also  to  Hungary,  Italy, 
and  even  to  India,  and  were  able  to 
influence  the  affairs  of  the  empire  by 
lending  money  to  the  princes,  and  were 
in  course  of  time  created  nobles.  After 
attaining  to  high  political  dignities, 
they  continued  their  commerce,  built  in 
the  Tyrol  the  splendid  castle  of  Fug- 
gerau,  greatly  embellished  the  city  of 
Augsburg,  and  found  a  new  source  of 
wealth  by  working  the  mines  of  laathal, 
Falkenstein,  and  Schwartz.     The  only 


heirs  of  these  three  brothers  were  two 
sons  of  Ulrich,  Raimund  and  Anton. 
The  latter  raised  the  family  to  its  high- 
est degree  of  j)rosperity  and  power. 
The  emperor  Charles  V.  resorted  to 
them  both  when  pressed  for  money, 
yielded  to  them  the  privilege  of  coining, 
and  made  them  counts  and  princes  of 
the  empire,  and  was  lodged  in  the 
splendid  mansion  of  Anton  when  he 
attended  the  diet  of  Augsburg.  So 
wealthy  were  they,  through  the  success 
attending  their  commercial  enterprise, 
that  "  as  rich  as  a  Fugger  "  became  a 
proverb.  The  most  important  branches 
of  this  family  at  present  are  the  princely 
houses  of  Kirchberg  and  Babenhausen. 


Benjamin  Bussey,  Merchant,  of  Boston. 

Benjamin  Bussey  was  for  a  long 
period  known  as  one  of  the  old  school 
merchants  of  Boston — only  a  few  of 
whom  now  remain  as  representatives 
of  that  highly  honored  and  most 
worthy  class. 

He  was  in  the  early  part  of  his  life 
engaged  in  the  occupation  of  a  silver- 
smith, and  on  going  into  business  on 
his  own  account  he  had  only  a  very 
small  amount  of  paper  money,  which 
his  father  gave  him,  accompanied  with 
the  characteristic  advice  of  that  day,  to 
be  always  diligent, — to  spend  less  than 
he  earned, — and  never  to  deceive  or  dis- 
appoint any  one.  From  his  grandfather 
he  also  obtained  the  additional  sum, 
at  this  time,  of  fifty  dollars  in  silver 
money.  Having  purchased  the  neces- 
sary tools,  he  had  only  ten  dollars  left 
as  his  whole  capital,  and  owed  fifty 
dollars  borrowed  money.  But  he  pos- 
sessed an  iron  constitution,  principles 
of  strict  integrity,  and  a  spirit  of  per- 
severance which  nothing  could  subdue 
or  tire.  In  one  year  he  made  himself 
acquainted  with  all  the  details  of  a 
silversmith's  art ;  he  had  by  his  good 
business  management  acquired  some 
capital,  and  his  success  had  been  equal 
to  his  expectations.    Ajiicles  of  gold 


16 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


and  silver  wrought  by  his  own  hand — 
and  well  wrought,  too, — may  still  be 
met  with  in  and  near  Boston.  In  two 
years  he  purchased  the  real  estate  on 
which  was  his  store.  He  subsequently 
engaged  in  trade,  in  Dedham,  and 
afterward  in  Boston,  soon  reaching  a 
high  position  as  a  merchant.  His 
business  rapidly  increased,  he  became 
deeply  concerned  in  commerce,  dealt 
largely  with  England,  France,  and 
Holland,  owned  several  large  vessels, 
and  was  engaged  in  heavy  and  distant 
mercantile  adventures— though  aU  of 
them  were  legitimate  business  transac- 
tions, for  he  never  speculated.  He 
seldom  gave  or  took  credit.  The 
immense  fortune  which  he  left  ulti- 
mately goes,  by  his  will,  to  Harvard 
University. 

— ♦ 

Peter  Cooper,  Merchant,  of  New  York. 
It  is  an  interesting  fact,  that  the  first 
idea  of  Peter  Cooper's  great  Univer- 
sity of  Science,  or  "  Institute,"  arose  in 
his  mind  when  he  was  young  and  thirst- 
ing for  knowledge,  which  at  that  time 
he  could  not  buy  in  New  York,  even 
with  the  money  which  he  earned  in  his 
trade.  One  day,  a  friend  told  him  of  a 
visit  he  had  lately  made  to  Paris,  where 
he  had  been  able  to  learn  whatever  he 
wished,  without  money  and  without 
price,  at  the  University  endowed  by 
the  first  Napoleon.  Peter  Cooper,  with 
all  the  ardor  of  his  aspiring  mind, 
wished  that  there  was  such  an  opportu- 
nity in  America,  and  this  idea  he  said 
never  left  him  afterward.  When  he 
began  to  be  very  successful,  this  idea 
began  to  take  shape,  till  at  last  it 
has  built  that  monumental  palace  of 
Science  for  "  whosoever  will " — the  Coo- 
per Institute,  involving  the  munificent 
individual  appropriation  of  six  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  and  which  bids  fair 
to  rival,  at  some  future  day,  the  most 
magnificent  universities  of  Euroj^e. 
The  successful  glue-maker  has  always 
in  a  measure  "  stuck  to  his  glue,"  and 
now  not  merely  sits  in  the  palace  due 


to  his  opulence  and  high  position  as  a 
merchant,  but  is  besides  an  intellectual 
noble  of  the  first  class. 


George  Peabody,  American  Merchant 
and  Banker,  of  London. 

George  Peabody  was  born  in  Dan- 
vers,  Mass.,  Feb.  18,  1795,  of  parents 
in  humble  circumstances,  though  in- 
dustrious and  respectable.  His  father, 
however,  died  when  George  was  in  his 
teens,  and,  from  the  first,  he  was  aware 
that  in  the  battle  of  life  before  him  he  ' 
must  depend  on  himself  alone.  Fortu- 
nately for  himself  and  many  others,  he 
very  early  found  that  he  could  thus 
depend  on  his  unaided  efibrts.  Incidents 
strongly  displaying  ambition,  energy, 
and  perseverance,  marked  the  whole 
course  of  his  youth.  The  hard  earnings 
of  his  boyhood  were  cheerfully  devoted 
to  the  comfort  of  his  mother,  his  broth- 
ers, and  sisters;  and  he  subsequently 
charged  himself  with  their  entire  sup- 
port, and  cheerfully  practised  eveiy 
self-denial  that  he  might  serve  them. 
It  is  always  safe  to  say,  that  the  son 
and  brother  who  has  shown  himself 
true  to  the  claims  of  kindred,  will  be 
found  wanting  in  none  of  the  relations 
of  life;  and  George  Peabody  is  an 
eminent  illustration  of  the  truth  of 
this  saying. 

At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  became 
clerk  for  a  grocer,  and  remained  with 
him  about  three  years.  Afterward,  he 
went  with  an  uncle  to  Georgetown,  and 
in  course  of  time  he  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  Mr.  Riggs,  the  capitalist,  with 
whom  he  finally  went  into  business — 
Riggs  furnishing  the  money  and  Pea- 
body the  brains.  The  house  was  re- 
moved to  Baltimore,  and  prospered  so 
well  that  branches  were  established  in 
New  York  and  Philadelphia.  In  1837 
he  went  to  England  to  buy  goods,  and 
formed  many  acquaintances  with  its 
leading  merchants  and  politicians.  He 
now  took  up  his  permanent  residence 
in  England,  and  severed  his  connection 
with  Peabody,  Riggs  &  Co.,  in  1839. 


EARLY  CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


17 


He  rendered  important  service  in  pre- 
venting tlie  complete  prostration  of 
American  securities,  and  particularly 
those  of  Maryland,  in  London,  in  1837, 
but  refused  all  compensation  for  what 
he  did.  While  he  has  lived  in  Eng- 
land, his  establishment  has  been  a  head- 
quarters for  Americans,  whom  he  has 
always  welcomed  with  a  generous  hos- 
pitality. The  princely  gift  of  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  was 
made  a  short  time  ago  to  the  destitute 
of  London,  but  was  not  the  first  in- 
stance of  his  public  spirited  generosity. 
In  1852,  he  sent  a  toast  to  a  semi-cen- 
tennial festival  at  his  native  town, 
Danvers,  which  was  to  be  opened 
at  the  table.  It  was:  "Education,  a 
debt  to  future  generations;"  and  to 
pay  his  share  of  that  debt,  he  inclosed 
twenty  thousand  dollars,  to  be  ex- 
pended in  establishing  an  institute, 
library  and  lyceum  for  the  town.  The 
sum  has  since  been  increased  to  sixty 
thousand,  with  ten  thousand  dollars 
additional  for  a  branch  library  at  No. 
Danvers.  Mr.  Peabody  subscribed  ten 
thousand  dollars  toward  the  first  Grin- 
nell  expedition  to  the  Arctic  sent  in 
search  of  Franklin.  In  1856,  he  gave 
three  hundred  thousand  dollars,  with 
a  pledge  to  make  it  five  hundred 
thousand,  for  the  establishment  of  an 
institute  in  Baltimore,  to  be  devoted 
to  science,  literature  and  art.  A  record 
of  colossal  munificence  is  that  of  George 
Peabody. 


John  McDonogrh,  Millionnaire,  of  New- 
Orleans. 

John  McDoisroGH  was  born  in  Balti- 
more, Md.,  in  1779.  The  only  incidents 
of  his  youth  that  are  known  are,  that 
he  was  a  clerk  in  a  mercantile  store  in 
an  inland  town  of  Maryland ;  that  he 
was  noted  then  for  eccentricities,  and 
for  an  excess  of  imagination,  which  led 
to  the  apprehension  that  he  was  not 
entirely  of  sound  mind.  Still,  his 
energy  and  intelligence  secured  him 
2 


employment  and  the  confidence  of  his 
employers. 

About  the  year  1800  he  was  sent  out 
to  New  Orleans  by  a  house  in  Balti- 
more, with  a  letter  of  credit  and  con- 
siderable resources.  He  then  engaged 
largely  in  business,  but  soon  renounced 
his  position  as  agent,  and  starting  on 
his  own  account,  became  a  leading  and 
prosperous  merchant.  In  a  few  years 
he  accumulated  a  large  fortune,  say  at 
least  three  hundred  thousand  clollars. 
He  was  one  of  the  nabobs  of  the  city, 
and  his  style  of  living,  and  his  habits, 
conformed  to  his  position  and  resources. 
His  mansion  was  one  of  the  most  showy 
and  luxurious  in  the  city.  He  kept  his 
carriages  and  horses,  his  cellar  of  costly 
wines,  and  entertained  on  a  scale  of 
great  extravagance  and  sumptuousness. 
He  was,  in  fact,  the  centre  of  fashion, 
frivolity,  sociability,  and  even  of  the 
fashi  onable  dissipations  of  the  day.  His 
person,  which  even  in  extreme  old  age 
was  remarkable  for  dignity,  erectness, 
and  courtliness,  was  at  this  period  con- 
spicuous for  all  the  graces  of  manhood. 
Owing  to  some  peculiar  experiences  of 
a  private  nature — an  account  of  which 
will  be  found  in  our  Anecdotes  of 
Merchants  in  theib  Domestic  Rela- 
tions,— Mr.  McDonogh  eventually  be- 
came secluded  and  morose,  though 
prosecuting  his  acquisition  of  property 
with  augmented  vigor,  his  peculiar 
passion  being  that  of  accumulating 
countless  acres  of  waste  and  suburban 
land.  All  his  views  regarded  the  dis- 
tant future.  The  present  value  and  pro- 
ductiveness of  land  were  but  little  re- 
garded by  him.  His  only  recreation  and 
pleasure  were  in  estimating  the  value 
of  his  swamp  and  waste  land  fifty,  a 
hundred,  and  even  a  thousand  years  to 
come.  This  passion  at  last  gained  such 
an  ascendency  over  him,  that  he  seemed 
to  court  and  luxuriate  in  waste  and 
desolation.  He  would  buy  cultivated 
places,  and  let  them  go  to  ruin.  He 
would  build  on  his  lots  in  the  city 
miserable  shanties  and  rookeries,  which 


18 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


would  absolutely  taint  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  thus  enable  him  to  buy  out 
his  neighbors  at  low  rates. 

He  could  not  be  induced,  by  any 
offer  or  consideration,  to  alienate  any 
of  the  property  he  had  once  acquired. 
Abstemious  to  a  fault,  and  withholding 
himself  from  all  the  enjoyments  and 
associations  of  the  world,  he  devoted 
his  time  to  the  care  of  his  large  estate, 
to  the  suits  in  which  such  acquisitions 
constfintly  involved  him,  working  for 
seventeen  hours  out  of  the  twenty-four, 
the  greater  part  of  which  labor  con- 
sisted in  writing  the  necessary  docu- 
ments relating  to  his  titles,  and  in 
corresponding  with  his  lawyers  and 
his  overseers.  For  the  fifty  years  of 
his  residence  in  New  Orleans,  he  never 
left  the  State,  and  rarely,  if  ever,  passed 
beyond  the  limits  of  the  corporation. 
He  was  not  a  usurer,  a  money  lender, 
nor  a  speculator.  He  acquired  by 
legitimate  purchase,  by  entries  on  public 
lands.  He  dealt  altogether  in  land. 
Stocks,  merchandise,  and  other  per- 
sonal securities,  were  eschewed  by  him. 
The  wonder  is,  how,  with  a  compara- 
tively small  revenue,  his  property  not 
being  productive,  and  his  favorite 
policy  being  to  render  his  lands  wild 
and  unsuited  for  cultivation,  he  was 
able  to  go  on  every  year  expanding  the 
area  of  his  vast  possessions.    » 


Sampson  Gideon,  the  Rival  of  Roths- 
child. 

Sampson  Gideon,  the  great  Jew 
banker,  as  he  was  commonly  called — 
and  the  rival  and  enemy  of  Rothschild 
— was  the  financial  support  of  the  illus- 
trious Sir  Robert  Walpole,  the  oracle 
and  leader  in  all  monetary  matters,  and 
his  name  was  as  familiar  in  the  last 
century  as  those  of  Goldschmid  and 
Rothschild.  A  shrewd,  sarcastic  man, 
possessing  a  rich  vein  of  humor,  the 
anecdotes  and  reminiscences  preserved 
of  him  are,  unhappily,  few  and  far  be- 
tween. "  Never  grant  a  life  annuity  to 
an  old  woman,"  he  would  say ;  "  they 


wither,  but  they  never  die."  And  if 
the  proposed  annuitant  coughed  with 
a  violent  asthmatic  cough  on  apiDroach- 
ing  the  room  door,  Gideon  would  call 
out,  "  Aye,  aye,  you  may  cough,  but  it 
shan't  save  you  six  months'  purchase  ! " 

In  one  of  his  dealings  with  Mr.  Snow, 
the  banker — immortalized  by  Dean 
Swift— the  latter  lent  Gideon  £20,000. 
Shortly  afterward,  the  "forty-five" 
broke  out ;  the  success  of  the  Pretender 
seemed  certain  ;  and  Mr.  Snow,  alarmed 
for  his  cherished  property,  addressed  a 
piteous  epistle  to  the  Jew.  A  run  upon 
his  office,  a  stoppage,  and  a  bankrupt- 
cy, were  the  least  phenomena  the  bank- 
er's imagination  pictured;  and  the 
whole  concluded  with  an  earnest  re- 
quest for  his  money.  Gideon  went  to 
the  bank,  procured  twenty  notes,  sent 
for  a  vial  of  hartshorn,  rolled  the  vial 
in  the  notes,  and  thus  grotesquely 
IMj*.  Snow  received  the  money  he  had 
lent. 

The  greatest  hit  Gideon  ever  made 
was  when  the  rebel  army  aj^proached 
London ;  when  the  king  was  trem- 
bling;  when  the  prime  minister  was 
undetermined,  and  stocks  were  sold  at 
any  price.  Unhesitatingly  he  went  to 
Jonathan's,  bought  all  in  the  market, 
advanced  every  guinea  he  possessed, 
pledged  his  name  and  rej)utation  for 
more,  and  held  as  much  as  the  remainder 
of  the  members  held  together.  When 
the  Pretender  retreated  and  stocks  rose, 
the  Jew  experienced  the  advantage  of 
his  foresight,  in  immense  gains. 


Khan,  the  Great  Persian  Merchant. 
When  Georgia  was  invaded  by  Mo- 
hammed, the  founder  of  the  present  Per- 
sian dynasty,  the  only  one  of  the  Khoras- 
sanian  chiefs  who  was  not  obliged  to 
give  hostages  of  fidelity  was  Isaac 
Khan,  chief  of  Turbet-e-Hyderee,  a 
man  of  low  birth,  who,  by  the  pursuits 
of  commerce,  had  been  able,  like  the 
Medici  family  in  Italy,  to  obtain  a 
territory    of   two    hundred    miles    in 


EARLY   CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


19 


length,  and  to  raise  himself  from  being 
oyerseer  of  a  caravansary,  to  the  rank 
of  an  independent  sovereign  and  the 
most  eminent  merchant  and  trader  in 
the  wl^ole  realm.  His  revenue  was 
reckoned  at  one  million  dollars,  two 
hundred  thousand  of  which  was  realized 
from  the  merchandise  in  which  he 
traded,  and  the  rest  from  his  land 
property,  etc.,  which  he  had  come  in 
possession  of  by  means  of  his  vast  and 
successful  mercantile  transactions.  He 
had  six  thousand  troops  in  his  pay,  but 
chiefly  trusted  to  his  policy  for  the 
maintenance  of  his  power;  nor  did 
ever  prince  more  securely  reign  in  the 
hearts  of  his  subjects,  and  of  the  mer- 
chants whom  he  had  attracted  to  his 
,  new  emporium.  To  these,  as  well  as  to 
pilgrims  and  beggars  of  every  country 
and  religion,  his  hall  was  always  open  ; 
and  it  was  his  principal  relaxation 
from  the  fatigues  of  public  affairs  and 
commercial  traffic,  to  dine  in  company 
with  the  motley  multitude, — conversing 
on  equal  terms  with  all,  acquiring  an 
accurate  knowledge  of  everything 
which  concerned  the  welfare  of  the 
people,  and  admired  by  his  guests  for 
his  affability. 


Jamsetjee  Jeejeebhoy,  the  Great  Parsee 
Merchant. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  East 
India  merchants,  a  native  of  the  Par- 
see  race  and  faith,  and  ranking  with 
the  highest  and  the  most  enlightened 
among  Europeans  of  the  same  business 
calling,  was  Jamsetjee  Jeejeebhoy. 
He  was  born  at  Bombay  in  1783,  and 
his  father  was  so  poor  that  he  followed 
the  profession  of  a  "  bottly-wallah,"  that 
is,  a  bottle-fellow,  buying  and  selling 
old  bottles.  At  the  age  of  nineteen, 
Jamsetjee  entered  into  partnership  with 
his  father-in-law,  Framjee  Nusserwan- 
jee,  and  in  the  following  years  made 
several  successful  voyages,  to  China. 

Possessing  those  qualities  most  desir- 
able in  a  merchant,  integrity,  judg- 
ment,   and    enterprise,    he    gradually 


extended  his  dealings  to  other  coun- 
tries, and  drew  in  a  rich  harvest  of 
gains.  His  ships,  built  by  the  excellent 
Parsee  shipwrights  of  Bombay,  traded 
with  all  parts  of  the  East,  and  now  and 
then  sailed  even  round  the  Cape.  Year 
after  year  he  prospered,  and  when  he 
had  been  twenty  years  in  business,  he 
had  acquired  a  large  and  still  increas- 
ing fortune.  He  did  not,  however,  in 
winning  his  fortune,  forget  or  mistake 
how  to  spend  it. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  years,  Jeejeeb- 
hoy's  benefactions  amounted  to  some 
$300,000.  The  East  India  Government 
made  a  report  of  his  enlightened  munifi- 
cence to  the  Home  Government,  and  the 
latter  conferred  upon  him  the  rare  and 
distinguished  honor  of  knighthood. 
It  was  the  first  instance,  indeed,  of  any 
royal  title  being  bestowed  by  the  Eng- 
lish government  upon  a  native  of  India. 
The  ceremony  of  presentation  took 
place  at  the  Governor's  House.  The 
circumstance  was  one  not  only  highly 
gratifying  to  Sir  Jamsetjee  Jeejeebhoy 
himself,  but  to  the  native  community 
in  general,  who  are  accustomed  to 
attach  an  extravagant  value  to  any 
such  marks  of  honor.  It  was  conse- 
quently determined  by  some  of  the 
most  influential  natives  to  offer  him  a 
testimonial  at  once  of  their  respect  for 
his  character,  and  their  gratification  at 
the  distinction  he  had  obtained.  A 
sum  of  fifteen  thousand  rupees  was 
consequently  raised,  and  invested — 
not  in  a  silver  service,  a  bust,  or  a 
statue,  but — in  a  fund,  the  interest  of 
which  should  be  devoted  to  procuring 
translations  of  popular  and  important 
works  from  other  languages  into  Guze- 
ratte,  the  language  chiefly  in  use  among 
the  Parsees. 


Vincent  Nolte,    the   Wandering:  Mer- 
chant. 

YiNCENT  Nolte  has  been  termed 
"  the  wandering  merchant."  He  was 
born  at  Leghorn,  in  Italy,  and  lived, 
successively,    in    Leghorn,    Hamburg, 


20 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Trieste,  Venice,  Nantes,  Paris,  Amster- 
dam, London,  Philadelphia,  and  New 
Orleans.  He  began  his  life  as  a  clerk 
in  the  house  of  Otto  Frank  &  Co.,  at 
Leghorn,  in  1795  ;  while  drawing  cari- 
catures, the  theatres,  dress,  and  flirta- 
tion, formed  his  real  occupation.  His 
tailor's  bill,  at  the  end  of  a  year,  pre- 
sented the  not  inconsiderable  sum  total 
of  twelve  coats  of  all  colors,  and  twenty- 
two  pairs  of  hose  and  pantaloons,  which 
were  just  then  coming  into  fashion, — 
rather  fast  life  for  a  youth  of  sixteen. 
He  saw  Bonaparte  at  Leghorn,  in  1796  ; 
saw  Wellington  and  the  allies  at  Paris, 
in  1815  ;  fought  under  Jackson,  at  New 
Orleans,  in  1814,  and  was  with  Lafay- 
ette, in  Paris,  during  the  revolution 
of  1830.  How  many  times  he  crossed 
the  Atlantic  it  would  be  difficult  to 
say. 

Mr.  Nolte  was  termed  "  the  giant  of 
cotton  speculation  "  at  New  Orleans ; 
he  was  also  a  contractor  for  supplying 
the  French  army  with  muskets;  the 
mercantile  agent  in  Cuba  and  the 
United  States  of  the  house  of  Hope  & 
Co.,  of  Amsterdam ;  and  agent  of  the 
Barings  ;  an  operator  in  stocks ;  a  trans- 
lator of  manuscripts  at  Venice ;  a  Tresor 
de  Numismatique  et  de  Glyptique;  a 
writer  on  finance ;  and  an  editor.  He 
stood  in  business  and  social  relations 
with  most  of  the  great  men  of  "  high 
finance  "  of  the  last  century — with  the 
Barings,  Labouch&re,  Hottinguer,  La- 
fitte,  Ouvrard,  etc. 


"  liord  Timothy  Dexter,"  the  Eccentric 
Merchant,  of  Newburyport,  Mass. 

According  to  his  own  account,  Tim- 
othy Dexter  was  bom  in  Maiden, 
Mass.,  Jan.  22,  1747.  After  having 
served  as  an  apprentice  to  a  leather 
dresser,  he  commenced  business  in 
Newburyport,  where  he  also  married  a 
widow,  who  owned  a  house  and  a  small 
piece  of  land,  part  of  which,  soon  after 
the  nuptials,  was  converted  by  him  into 
a  shop  and  tanyard  for  his  own  use. 

By  application  to  his  business,  his 


property  increased,  and  the  jDurchase 
of  a  large  tract  of  land  near  Penobscot, 
together  with  an  interest  which  he 
bought  in  the  Ohio  Company's  pur- 
chase, eventually  afforded  him  so  much 
profit  as  to  induce  him  to  buy  up  pub- 
lic securities  at  forty  cents  for  the  pound, 
which  securities  soon  after  became  worth 
twenty  shillings  on  the  pound.  By 
these  and  other  fortunate  business  trans- 
actions,^ he  prospered  so  greatly,  that 
property  now  was  no  longer  the  sole 
object  of  his  pursuit ;  he  exchanged 
this  god  of  idolatry  for  that  of  popular- 
ity. He  was  charitable  to  the  poor, 
gave  liberal  donations  to  religious  so- 
cieties, and  handsomely  rewarded  those 
who  wrote  in  his  praise.  His  lordship 
— a  self-conferred  title — about  this  time, 
acquired  his  peculiar  taste  for  style  and 
splendor,  set  up  an  elegant  equipage, 
and,  at  great  cost,  adorned  the  front  of 
his  mansion  with  numerous  figures  of  il- 
lustrious personages. 

Some  of  his  lordship's  speculations 
in  trade  have  become  quite  as  celebrat- 
ed for  their  oddity  as  those  of  Roths- 
child for  their  unscrupulous  cunning. 
He  once  anxiously  inquired  of  some 
merchants,  whom  he  knew,  how  he 
should  dispose  of  a  few  hundred  dol- 
lars. Wishing  to  hoax  him,  they  an- 
swered, "  Why,  buy  a  cargo  of  warm- 
ing pans,  and  send  them  to  the  West 
Indies,  to  be  sure."  Not  suspecting 
the  trick,  he  at  once  bought  all  the 
warming  pans  he  could  find,  and  sent 
them  to  a  climate  where — there  was 
every  reason  to  suppose — ice  would  be 
far  more  acceptable.  But  "  Providence 
sometimes  shows  his  contempt  of 
wealth,  by  giving  it  to  fools."  The 
warming  pans  met  with  a  ready  sale — 
the  tops  being  used  for  strainers,  and 
the  lower  parts  for  dippers,  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  molasses. 

With  the  proceeds  of  his  cargo  of 
warming  pans.  Dexter  built  a  fine  ves- 
sel ;  and  being  informed  by  the  carpen- 
ter that  wales  were  wanting,  he  called 
on  an  acquaintance,   and    said,   "My 


EARLY   CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


21 


head  workman  sends  me  word  that  he 
wants  '  wales '  for  the  vessel.  What 
does  he  mean  ? "  "  Why,  whalebones, 
to  be  sure,"  answered  the  man,  who,  like 
everybody  else,  was  tempted  to  im- 
prove the  opportunity  of  imposing 
upon  Dexter's  stupidity.  Whalebones 
were  accordingly  bought ;  but,  finding 
that  Boston  could  not  furnish  enough, 
he  emptied  New  York  and  Philadel- 
phia. The  ship-carpenters,  of  course, 
had  a  hearty  laugh  at  his  expense  ;  but, 
by  a  singular  turn  of  fortune,  this  blun- 
der was  also  the  means  of  increasing 
his  wealth.  It  soon  after  became  fash- 
ionable for  ladies  to  wear  stays  com- 
pletely lined  with  whalebone ;  and  as 
none  was  to  be  found  in  the  country,  on 
account  of  his  having  thus  so  complete- 
ly swept  the  market,  it  brought  a  gold- 
en price.  Thus  his  coffers  were  a  sec- 
ond time  filled  by  his  odd  transactions. 


Joshua  Bates,  of  the  House  of  Baring: 
&  Co. 

An  honored  member  of  the  great  firm 
of  Baring  Brothers  &  Co.,  London,  is 
Joshua  Bates.  Mr.  Bates  is  a  native 
of  Weymouth,  Mass.,  where  he  was 
born  in  1788,  being  the  only  son  of 
Col.  Joshua  Bates,  of  that  place.  He 
received  his  early  education  under 
Rev.  Jacob  Norton,  and  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  entered  the  counting-room  of 
William  R.  Gray,  of  Boston,  an  accom- 
plished man  of  business. 

Young  Bates  showed  a  remarkable 
aptitude  for  commercial  knowledge  and 
a  commercial  career,  on  which  account 
he  was  intrusted  with  the  extensive 
business  concerns  not  only  of  his  first 
employer,  but  of  the  latter's  father  also, 
the  elder  Mr.  Gray,  for  a  long  time  the 
leading  merchant  in  New  England  and 
exceeded  by  but  a  few  in  the  world,  in 
respect  to  extent  of  shipping. 

The  war  with  England  proving  disas- 
trous to  mercantile  pursuits,  Mr.  Bates 
was  despatched  to  Europe,  to  look  after 
Mr.  Gray's  extensive  maritime  interests 
in  that  quarter.  This,  of  course,  brought 


him  into  relations  with  ^zme  of  the 
leading  commercial  and  banking  houses 
of  Europe,  especially  of  the  Hopes  and 
the  Barings,  who  were  greatly  im- 
pressed with  his  remarkable  talent  and 
judgment  in  respect  to  whatever  con- 
cerned the  commerce  of  the  world.  In 
the  year  1826,  through  the  influence  of 
Messrs.  Baring  Brothers  &  Co.,  he 
formed  a  house  in  London,  in  connec- 
tion with  Mr.  John  Baring,  son  of  Sir 
Francis  Baring,  under  the  firm  of  Bates 
&  Baring.  On  the  death  of  the  late 
Mr.  Holland,  these  gentlemen  were 
both  made  partners  in  the  house  of 
Baring  Brothers  &  Co.,  and  of  which 
Mr.  Bates  has  ever  since  been  an  active 
and  efficient  member,  giving  to  it  much 
of  that  commanding  influence  which  it 
enjoys  both  in  Europe  and  America. 
Mr.  Bates  has  long  been  noted  for  his 
large-hearted  charities  on  both  sides 
of  the  Atlantic.  His  most  munificent 
donations  to  the  Boston  Public  Library 
are  well  known;  but  his  benevolence 
has  by  no  means  been  confined  to  that 
object  alone. 

Mr.  Bates  was  married,  in  1813,  to 
Lucretia  Augusta,  of  the  Boston  branch 
of  the  Sturgis  family,  by  whom  he  has 
only  one  surviving  child,  Madame  Van 
de  Wyer,  wife  of  the  eminent  states- 
man who  has  more  than  once  been 
called  to  administer  the  government 
of  Belgium,  and  more  recently  officia- 
ting as  its  diplomatic  representative 
at  the  court  of  St.  James. 


James  Morrison,  "  of  twenty  millions.'* 

James  Morrison,  who  well  deserved 
the  title  given  him  of  a  "  modern  Croe- 
sus," was  until  his  death  one  of  the 
extremely  rich  men  of  London.  In 
mental  character,  and  with  boundless 
wealth  entirely  self-acquired,  this  great 
millionnaire  was  certainly  remarkable 
as  a  man  and  a  merchant  He  was  of 
common  parents,  originally  of  Scotch 
descent.  Early  transplanted  to  the 
English  metropolis,  at  the  end  of  the 


22 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


last  century,  the  country  boy  first  set 
foot  in  London  unaided,  in  search  of 
his  fortunes.  After  the  close  of  the 
great  Continental  wars,  and  the  conse- 
quent rapid  extension  of  population  and 
wealth,  Mr.  Morrison  was  one  of  the 
first  English  traders  who  reversed  his 
system  of  management,  by  an  entire 
departure  from  the  old  plan  of  exact- 
ing the  highest  prices.  His  new  prin- 
ciple was  the  substitution  of  the 
lowest  remunerative  scale  of  profit  and 
a  more  rapid  circulation  of  capital ;  the 
success  of  this  experiment  was  soon 
seen  in  his  enormously  augmented 
trade.  "  Small  profits  and  quick  re- 
turns "  was  his  motto,  and  he  therefore 
became  widely  known  as  the  "  Cheap 
Merchant."  From  his  earliest  settle- 
ment in  London,  he  was  associated 
with  the  liberal  party  in  politics, — 
even  in  the  worst  of  times, — nor  did 
his  later  gains  of  immense  wealth  ever 
vary  his  political  principles.  As  a 
member  of  Parliament,  he  devoted 
himself  to  questions  and  measures  re- 
lating to  trade,  foreign  commerce,  the 
currency,  and  railways.  His  accumula- 
tions amounted  to  the  prodigious  sum 
of  twenty  millions  of  dollars. 

Mr.  Morrison  retired  from  active 
business  several  years  since,  but  with- 
out withdrawing  his  capital  from  the 
mercantile  house ;  and  though  man- 
aging his  vast  funds  himself  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death  (which  recently  oc- 
curred) with  all  the  sagacity  of  earlier 
days,  he  became  haunted  with  the  idea 
that  he  should  come  to  want.  He 
finally  commenced  doing  day  labor  on 
a  farm  held  by  one  of  his  tenants,  for 
which  labor  he  was  regularly  paid 
twelve  shillings  a  week,  and  this  he 
continued  up  to  the  time  of  his  last  ill- 
ness. For  eighteen  months  before  his 
death  he  was  an  habitual  applicant  for 
relief  to  the  parish,  assembling  twice 
a  week  with  the  town  pauj)ers,  and 
receiving  with  each  one  of  them  his 
two  shillings  and  a  quartern  loaf.  His 
friends  indulged  him  in  these  fancies, 


on  the  ground  that  it  was  the  best 
choice  of  two  evils.  And  yet  he  made 
a  most  judicious  will,  and  his  invest- 
ments up  to  the  last  were  characterized 
by  great  good  sense. 

The  probate  duty  on  Mr.  Morrison's 
will  exceeded  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  Among  his  possessions  was 
his  seat  at  Basildon  Park,  which  cost 
over  six  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and 
the  furniture  four  hunded  and  fifty 
thousand.  The  mansion  on  this  estate 
was  left  to  his  widow,  with  an  annuity 
of  fifty  thousand  dollars  yearly.  The 
estate  itself  was  left  to  his  son  Charles, 
as  well  as  the  Islay  estate  in  Scotland, 
which  latter  cost  about  two  and  a-half 
millions  of  dollars.  This  is  let  to 
numerous  tenants,  and  from  its  extent 
and  vastness  may  be  termed  a  princi- 
pality. His  son  Charles  was  likewise 
bequeathed  the  round  sum  of  |5,000,000 
under  the  will.  Besides  being  possessed 
of  Fonthill  Abbey,  Hone  Park,  Sussex, 
and  his  town  palace  in  Harley  street, 
Mr.  Monison  had  shares  amomiting  to 
four  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  the 
Victoria  Docks,  and  large  acquisitions 
in  the  United  States. 


Jacob  Little,  "  of  Wall  Street." 

The  name  of  Jacob  Little  has  l,ong 
been  so  largely  and  universally  asso- 
ciated with  the  financial  operations  of 
which  Wall  street,  New  York,  is  the 
especial  theatre,  that  that  locale  may 
with  more  appropriateness  perhaps  than 
any  other  be  connected  with  his  name 
and  reminiscences. 

Mr.  Little  was  bom  in  Newburyport, 
Mass.,  and,  when  twenty  years  of  age,  he 
went  to  New  York  to  seek  his  fortune 
and  give  play  to  the  business  faculties 
and  ajDtitude  with  which  nature  had 
endowed  him.  His  means  were  small, 
but  his  intelligence  was  quick  and 
made  readily  available  to  his  circum- 
stances and  purposes.  He  became,  in 
a  short  time,  a  clerk  in  the  employment 
of  Jacob  Barker,  and,  under  such  tui- 


EARLY  CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


23 


tion  and  example,  it  must  indeed  have 
been  his  own  fault,  if  he  did  not  find 
himself,  at  the  close  of  his  five  years' 
service,  prepared  to  follow  sojne  calling 
with  shrewdness  and  success.  His  ca- 
reer shows  that  the  opportunities  thus 
enjoyed  were  not  lost  upon  him.  On 
leaving  Mr.  Barker,  IVIr.  Little  com- 
menced the  business  of  exchange  and 
specie  broker,  on  his  own  account,  and 
in  this  sphere  left  nothing  undone  that 
could  contribute  to  an  energetic  and 
successful  pursuit  of  his  business,  and 
to  securing  the  confidence  of  those  who 
intrusted  to  him  their  orders  and  funds. 
His  activity,  decision,  and  good  judg- 
ment, gave  him  a  high  place  in  mone- 
tary circles,  wealth  and  favor  rolled  in 
upon  him,  and  though  he  has  more 
than  once  had  to  yield  to  the  revulsions 
in  the  stock  and  money  market,  he  has 
shown  the  rare  quality  of  being  as 
faithful  to  his  creditors  as  to  himself. 

Mr.  Little  has  been  humorously 
written  of  as  equally  the  hero  and  the 
dupe  of  the  American  stock  exchange 
— the  heir  of  Ouvrard — the  confidant 
of  bank  presidents — the  untiring  pro- 
jector of  time  bargains — and  every  now 
and  then  he  becomes  so  jaded  and  out 
of  breath,  that  he  himself  cannot  be 
"called  to  time."  He  has  for  some 
forty  years  thrown  an  air  of  enchant- 
ment about  speculation;  has  devised 
more  pitfiills  for  the  credulous,  as  well 
as  for  the  cautious,  than  any  man  of 
his  time — repeatedly  losing  or  impair- 
ing his  financial  power,  and  as  often 
regaining  it.  He  was  made  to  wrestle 
with  fortune,  and  to  fall  with  a  laugh- 
ing face.  Hundreds  of  satellites  revolve 
about  him,  set  when  he  sets,  and  rise 
when  he  rises.  If  fate  should  compel 
him  to  a  period  of  inaction,  his  condi- 
tion would  be  most  miserable. 


The  Rothschilds,  "Wealthiest  Bankers 
in  the  "World. 

The  house  of  Rothschild  is  the  im- 
personation of  that  money  power  which 
governs  the  world.    For  nearly  half  a 


century  their  influence  has  been  con- 
tinually on  the  increase ;  and  to  them, 
more  than  to  any  monarch  or  minister 
of  state,  however  potential,  Europe  is 
indebted  for  the  preservation  of  peace 
between  the  great  powers.  To  give 
even  an  outline  of  the  immense  and 
successful  operations  which  have  placed 
a  German  Jew,  his  sons,  and  grandsons, 
at  the  head  of  the  moneyed  interests 
of  the  world,  it  would  be  necessary  to 
embrace  the  history  of  European  finance 
since  the  year  1813. 

Meyer  Anselm  Rothschild  was  the 
founder  of  this  house,  about  the  year 
1740;  he  was  a  money-changer  and 
exchange  broker,  a  man  of  fair  char- 
acter, and  in  easy  circumstances.  After 
the  battle  of  Jena,  October,  1806,  Napo- 
leon decreed  the  forfeiture  of  their 
states  by  the  sovereigns  of  Brunswick 
and  of  Hesse-Cassel,  and  a  French  army 
was  put  in  march  to  enforce  the  decree. 
Too  feeble  to  resist,  the  landgrave 
prepared  for  flight.  But  in  the  vaults 
of  his  palace  he  had  twelve  million  flo- 
rins—about $5,000,000— in  silver.  To 
save  this  great  and  bulky  amount  ftf 
money  from  the  hands  of  the  French 
was  a  matter  of  extreme  difficulty,  as 
it  could  not  be  carried  away,  and  the 
landgrave  had  so  little  confidence  in 
his  subjects  that  he  could  not  bring 
himself  to  confide  his  case  to  their 
keeping,  especially  as  the  French  would 
inflict  severe  punishment  on  him  or 
them  who  might  undertake  the  trust. 
In  his  utmost  need,  the  landgrave  be- 
thought himself  of  Meyer  Anselm 
Rothschild,  sent  for  him  to  Cassel, 
and  entreated  him  to  take  charge  of 
the  money ;  and  by  way  of  compensa- 
tion for  the  dangers  to  which  Mr. 
Rothschild  exposed  himself,  the  land- 
grave offered  him  the  free  use  of  the 
entire  sum,  without  interest.  On  these 
terms,  Mr.  Rothschild  undertook  the 
trust,  and  by  the  assistance  of  some 
friends,  Jewish  bankers  at  Cassel,  the 
money  was  so  carefully  stowed  away, 
that  when  the  French,  after  a  hurried 


24 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


marcli,  arrived  in  the  city,  they  found 
the  old  landgrave  gone,  and  his  treasure 
vanished. 

At  the  time  this  large  sum  of  money 
was  placed  in  M.  A.  Rothschild's  hands, 
he  had  five  sons,  of  whom  three,  An- 
selm,  Nathan,  and  Solomon,  had  arrived 
at  man's  estate.  These  he  associated 
with  himself.  By  their  skilful  manage- 
ment, the  large  sum  of  ready  money  at 
their  disposal  increased  and  multiplied 
with  astonishing  rapidity.  The  fall  of 
Napoleon  enabled  the  old  landgrave  to 
return  to  Cassel,  and  he  gave  the  Roths- 
childs notice  that  he  should  withdraw 
the  money  he  had  confided  to  them ; 
but  before  the  notice  expired,  Napo- 
leon's return  from  the  isle  of  Elba  so 
greatly  alarmed  the  landgrave  that  he 
urged  the  Rothschilds  to  keep  the 
money  at  the  low  rate  of  two  per  cent, 
per  annum,  which  they  did  until  his 
death,  in  1823,  when  the  Rothschilds 
refused  to  keep  it  any  longer. 

At  the  period  of  Meyer  Anselm  Roths- 
child's death,  which  occurred  so  unex- 
pectedly, he  saw  his  five  sons  placed 
respectively  at  the  head  of  five  immense 
establishments — at  Frankfort,  London, 
Paris,  Vienna,  and  Naples,  all  united  in 
a  copartnership  which  is  universally 
allowed  to  be  the  most  wealthy  and 
extensive  the  world  has  ever  seen. 
And,  whatever  exceptions  may  be  made 
to  the  manner  in  which  the  business  of 
these  houses  has  been  conducted,  in 
some  operations  which  have  marked 
their  career,  it  must  be  admitted  that 
rarely  does  a  family  furnish  so  many 
members  who  are  competent,  individu- 
ally, to  be  intrasted  with  such  vast 
financial  concerns. 

Although  Mr.  Rothschild  was  com- 
monly termed  a  merchant,  his  most  im- 
portant transactions  were  in  connection 
with  stocks,  loans,  etc.  It  was  here  that 
his  great  decision,  his  skilful  combina- 
tions, and  his  unequalled  energy,  made 
him  remarkable.  At  a  time  when  the 
funds  were  constantly  varying,  the  temp- 
tation was  too  great  for  a  capitalist  likfe 


Mr.  Rothschild  to  withstand.  His  ope- 
rations were  soon  noticed  ;  and  when 
the  money  market  was  left  without  an 
acknowledged  head,  by  the  deaths  of 
Sir  Francis  Baring  and  Abraham  Gold- 
schmid — for  the  afiairs  of  the  latter 
were  wound  up,  and  the  successors  of 
the  former  did  not  then  aim  at  the 
autocracy  of  the  money  market, — the 
name  of  Nathan  Meyer  Rothschild  was 
in  the  mouths  of  all  financial  dealers 
as  a  prodigy  of  success.  Cautiously, 
however,  did  the  great  banker  proceed, 
until  he  had  made  a  fortune  as  great  as 
his  future  reputation.  He  revived  all 
the  arts  of  an  older  period.  He  em- 
ployed bankers  to  depress  or  raise  the 
market  for  his  benefit,  and  is  said  to 
have  purchased  in  one  day  to  the  ex- 
tent of  four  million  pounds.  His  trans- 
actions soon  pervaded  the  entire  globe. 
The  old  and  the  new  world  alike  bore 
witness  to  his  skill ;  and  with  the  prof- 
its on  a  single  loan  he  purchased  an 
estate  which  cost  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  dollars.  Minor  capital- 
ists, like  parasitical  plants,  clung  to 
him,  and  were  always  ready  to  advance 
their  money  in  speculations  at  his  bid- 
ding. Nothing  seemed  too  gigantic  for 
his  grasp — nothing  too  minute  for  his 
notice.  His  mind  was  as  capable  of 
contracting  a  loan  for  tens  of  millions, 
as  of  calculating  the  lowest  possible 
amount  on  which  a  clerk  could  exist. 
Like  too  many  great  merchants  and 
bankers,  whose  profits  are  counted  by 
thousands  and  millions,  he  paid  his 
assistants  the  smallest  amount  for 
which  he  could  j)rocure  them. 

Rothschild  in  London  knew  the 
result  of  the  battle  of  Waterloo  eight 
hours  before  the  British  Government, 
and  the  value  of  this  knowledge  was 
no  less  than  one  million  dollars,  gained 
in  one  forenoon.  No  bad  loan  was  ever 
taken  in  hand  by  the  Rothschilds  ;  no 
good  loan  ever  fell  into  other  hands. 
Any  financial  operation  on  which  they 
frowned,  was  sure  to  fail.  And  so 
conscious  were  they  of  their  influence, 


EARLY   CAREER  OF  BUSINESS   CELEBRITIES. 


25 


that  after  the  July  revolution  in  1830, 
Anselm  Rothschild,  of  Frankfort,  de- 
clared,— and  the  declaration  was  made 
to  sound  in  imperial  ears, — "  The  house 
of  Austria  desires  war,  but  the  house 
of  Rothschild  requires  peace." 

In  addition  to  their  five  principal 
establishments,  they  have  agencies  of 
their  own  in  several  of  the  large  cities, 
both  of  the  old  and  the  new  world. 
As  dealers  in  money  and  bills,  they 
may  be  said  to  have  no  rivals,  and 
as  the  magnitude  of  their  opera- 
tions enables  them  to  regulate  the 
course  of  exchange  throughout  the 
world,  their  profits  are  great,  while 
their  risks  are  comparatively  small  by 
the  perfect  manner  in  which  their  busi- 
ness is  managed.  Indeed,  the  only 
Tieavy  loss  they  may  be  said  to  have 
experienced  as  yet — that  is,  heavy  for 
them^ — was  through  the  February  revo- 
lution of  1848,  when  it  is  said  that, 
owing  to  the  sudden  depreciation  of 
all  funded  and  railroad  property 
throughout  Europe,  their  losses  from 
March  till  December  of  that  year 
reached  the  enormous  figure  of  $40,- 
000,000.  But  great  as  their  losses  were, 
they  did  not  affect  the  credit  of  the 
Rothschilds,  and  do  not  appear  in  any 
degree  to  have  impaired  their  means. 
The  members  of  the  firm  are  numerous, 
as  the  third  generation  has  been  re- 
ceived into  the  copartnership,  and,  as 
the  cousins  mostly  intermarry,  their 
immense  wealth  will,  for  a  length  of 
time,  remain  in  comparatively  few 
hands.  The  affairs  of  this  firm  in  the 
United  States  have  for  a  long  time 
been  under  the  direction  of  August 
Belmont,  of  New  York,  by  whom  they 
have  been  managed  with  distinguished 
success. 


G.  J.  Ouvrard,  the  "  Napoleon  of  Fi- 
nance." 
M.  Gabkiel  Julien  Ouvraed's 
name  has  been  associated  with  the 
most  gigantic  financial  operations,  in 
Europe,  during  tlie  last  half  century, 


and  numberless  interesting  incidents 
have  marked  the  chequered  career  of 
him  who  has  been  most  appropriately 
designated  the  "  Napoleon  of  Finance ; " 
and  when  the  vastness  and  novelty  of 
his  plans,  the  extraordinary  quickness 
of  his  perception,  the  fertility  of  his 
resources,  his  masterly  combinations, 
and  the  vigor  and  perseverance  with 
which  he  wove  out  the  brilliant  but 
eminently  practical  conceptions  of  his 
genius,  are  considered,  the  epithet  thus 
given  him  seems  most  happy. 

That  he  has  claims  to  universal 
celebrity  as  a  financier,  it  is  sufficient 
to  say  that  he  figured  prominently  in 
the  great  events  of  the  French  Repub- 
lic— ^the  Consulate — the  Empire — the 
Restoration — and  the  Revolution  of 
1830;  that,  after  having  witnessed 
the  horrors  of  the  Reign  of  Terror,  and 
aided  in  the  downfall  of  Robespierre, 
he  became  the  Banker  of  the  Bepiiblic^ 
with  power  to  issue  a  paper  currency 
of  his  own,  admissible  as  a  legal  tender 
in  payment  of  the  taxes  of  the  state — 
the  associate  of  Barras,  Cambac^rSs,  and 
Talleyrand — a  worshipper  at  the  feet 
of  "  Notre  Dame  de  Bon  Secours  " — the 
votary  of  "  Notre  Dame  des  Yictoires  " 
— the  creditor  of  Bernadotte — the  con- 
fidential agent  of  Charles  IV.  of  Spain 
— the  honored  guest  of  Pozzo  di  Borgo, 
Mettemich,  and  Louis  XVIII. — the  inti- 
mate friend  of  Chateaubriand— the 
Commissary-General  of  Napoleon  at 
the  Passage  of  the  St.  Bernard,  the 
Camp  of  Boulogne,  and  on  the  decisive 
field  of  Waterloo— and  the  host  of 
Wellington  at  Paris ! 

By  a  special  contract  with  Charles 
IV.  of  Spain,  M.  Ouvrard  became  the 
business  partner  of  his  Majesty  in  the 
exclusive  commerce  of  the  Spanish  pos- 
sessions in  the  new  world  during  the 
war  with  Great  Britain.  It  was  in 
reference  to  this  contract,  and  while 
crumpling  the  document  in  his  hand, 
that  Napoleon  observed  to  M.  Ouvrard, 
in  presence  of  the  council  of  ministers, 
"  You  have  lowered  royalty  to  the  level 


26 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


of  commerce."  Whereupon  M.  Ouv- 
rard,  to  the  surprise  of  all  present, 
replied,  in  a  firm  but  respectful  tone, 
"  Sire,  commerce  is  the  life-blood  of 
states;  sovereigns  cannot  do  without 
commerce,  but  it  can  very  well  do 
without  sovereigns." 

M.  Ouvrard  lived  to  a  very  advanced 
age,  using  moderately  the  bounties  and 
luxuries  of  affluence  mth  which  he  was 
sun-ounded.  The  philosophical  equani- 
mity of  his  mind,  and  the  iron  frame 
in  which  it  was  cast,  served  him  in  all 
his  varied  experiences.  His  elegance 
of  maimer,  dignified  serenity  of  coun- 
tenance, and  the  graceful  charm  of  his 
advanced  years,  rendered  his  presence 
both  illustrious  and  attractive.  He 
was  naturally  indulgent,  kind-hearted, 
condescending,  and,  like  all  thorough 
men  of  the  world,  inclined  to  treat  with 
lenity  the  inexperience  and  errors  of 
his  fellows,  and  especially  of  his  juniors. 
His  memory  was  wonderfully  retentive  ; 
and  his  conversation,  founded  on  a 
vast  experience  of  men  and  things, 
was  rich  in  information  and  sparkling 
with  wit,  and  without  any  afiectation. 
Some  of  his  transactions,  however,  cast 
a  cloud  upon  the  integrity  of  his  busi- 
ness dealings — at  least  during  one  por- 
tion of  his  remarkable  career. 


Thomas  Gresham,  the  Boyal  Hierchant 
and  Financier. 

Sir  Thomas  Gresham's  name  stands 
out  prominently  in  England's  mercan- 
tile annals,  as  the  founder  of  the  Royal 
Exchange,  and  as  a  distinguished  finan- 
cier. His  father  had  amassed  great 
wealth  and  attained  great  eminence  as 
a  merchant  and  bill  broker  in  the  reign 
of  Henry  YIH.,  and  he  resolved  to  train 
his  son  to  succeed  him  in  the  business 
so  successfully  pursued  by  himself. 
After  a  thorough  collegiate  education, 
young  Gresham  was  apprenticed  to.  his 
uncle,  a  knight,  and  a  distinguished 
member  of  the  "  Merchants'  Company." 
Under  Edward  VI.,  Gresham  was  em- 
ployed on  the    same    services  as  his 


father  had  performed  for  that  king's 
father,  and  in  the  course  of  Edward's 
short  reign,  he  made  no  fewer  than 
forty  voyages  to  Antwerp,  on  the  royal 
business.  By  his  financial  skill  and 
foresight,  he  rendered  great  service  to 
the  revenues  of  the  English  crown, 
which  he  rescued  from  the  extortions 
of  Dutch  and  Jewish  capitalists,  and 
introduced  with  great  effect  the  prac- 
tice of  raising  money  from  native  money 
lenders,  in  preference  to  foreigners,  who 
exacted  a  ruinous  rate  of  interest. 
Mary  and  Elizabeth  continued  him  in 
his  employment,  and  the  latter  knight- 
ed him  in  1559.  He  had  now  accumu- 
lated an  immense  fortune  and  built 
himself  a  palatial  dwelling — which, 
after  his  wife's  death,  was  used  as 
Gresham  College,  and  the  site  of  which 
is  now  occupied  by  the  excise  office. 
He  lived  there  in  great  state,  and,  by 
command  of  Elizabeth,  he  often  enter- 
tained the  ambassadors  and  visitors  of 
rank  that  thronged  her  court.  To 
these  circumstances  Gresham  owed  his 
familiar  title  of  the  "  Boyal  Merchant 
and  Financier^ 


Nicholas  Biddle,  the  Financier,  of 
Philadelphia. 

The  eminent  financier,  Nicholas 
Biddle,  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
Jan.  8,  1786,  and  died  there  Feb.  27, 
1844.  On  graduating  at  Princeton  col- 
lege, he  studied  for  the  legal  profes- 
sion, but  being  too  young  for  admis- 
sion to  the  bar,  he  accepted  the  post 
of  secretary  to  Gen.  Armstrong,  Minis- 
ter to  France,  and  afterward  filled  the 
same  position  under  Mr.  Monroe,  Minis- 
ter to  England.  He  afterward  travelled 
much  in  Europe,  and  in  1807  returned 
to  Philadelphia,  and  commenced  his 
career  as  a  lawyer.  He  edited  the 
"Portfolio,"  compiled  a  Commercial 
Digest,  and  prepared  the  popular 
narrative  of  Lewis  and  Clark's  Explora- 
tion. He  was  at  different  times  a 
representative  and  senator  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania   legislature,    where    he    ably 


EARLY   CAREER   OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


27 


supported  various  educational  meas- 
ures. He  was  a  candidate  for  Congress 
in  1817,  but  was  defeated  by  the  Fed- 
eral party.  In  1819,  President  Monroe 
appointed  him  a  government  director 
of  the  United  States  Bank,  and  in  1833 
he  became  its  president.  This  bank 
continued  until  the  expiration  of  its 
charter,  in  1836,  when  Congress  re- 
newed the  charter,  but  President  Jack- 
son vetoed  it.  The  Pennsylvania  legis- 
lature then  created  a  State  Bank, 
giving  to  it  the  name  of  the  United 
States  Bank.  Mr.  Biddle,  then  at  his 
zenith  as  a  financier,  was  urged  to 
accept  the  presidency  of  this  institu- 
tion, which  he  finally  though  reluc- 
tantly did,  serving  until  1836,  when  he 
resigned  on  account  of  ill  health.  Two 
years  afterward,  the  bank,  after  many 
struggles,  ceased  payment,  and  became 
insolvent.  Whether  this  was  the  result 
of  measures  pursued  during  the  admin- 
istration of  Mr.  Biddle,  or  after  it,  or 
of  general  causes  affecting  the  condi- 
tion of  the  whole  country,  were  points 
of  vehement  controversy  still  fresh  in 
the  minds  of  business  men.  Mr.  Biddle, 
besides  his  career  as  a  financier,  was  a 
writer  of  considerable  ability,  an 
agriculturist,  and  quite  an  adept  in  the 
fine  arts.  He  was  president  of  the 
trustees  of  Girard  College,  and  deter- 
mined the  plan  of  the  building  in 
accordance  with  his  fine  classic  taste ; 
also  the  beautiful  structure,  the  United 
States  custom-house. 


The  Barings,  Merchants  and  Bankers, 
of  London. 
Various  origins  are  attributed  to  the 
members  of  the  house  and  family  of 
Baring.  It  has  been  stated,  and  is  gen- 
erally believed  to  be  the  most  authen- 
tic account  concerning  them,  that  they 
were  originally  German  weavers  who 
came  over  to  London  ;  and,  being  suc- 
cessful in  business,  were,  through  the 
interest  of  William  Bingham,  of  Phila- 
delphia, appointed  agents  to  the  Amer- 
ican  government.     During  the  loyal- 


ty loan  in  1797,  the  head  of  the  house 
made  one  hundred  thousand  pounds 
for  three  consecutive  days  ;  and  in  1806, 
somebody  sarcastically  said,  "  Sir  Fran- 
cis Baring  is  extending  his  purchases 
so  largely  in  Hampshire,  that  he  soon 
expects  to  be  able  to  inclose  the  coun- 
try with  his  own  park  paling."  Near- 
ly sixty  years  ago,  this  gentleman,  the 
first  algebraist  of  the  day,  retired  from 
business  with  a  regal  fortune,  and  died 
shortly  after  his  retirement.  But  the 
great  commercial  house  which  he  had 
raised  to  so  proud  a  position  was  con- 
tinued by  his  sons,  and  may  be  con- 
sidered the  most  important  mercantile 
establishment  in  the  British  empire; 
and  as  an  instance  of  the  fortune  and 
capacity  of  its  members,  it  may  be 
mentioned  that  the  late  Lord  Ash- 
burton,  when  bearing,  as  Sir  Robert 
Peel  exj)ressed  it,  "  the  honored  name 
of  Alexander  Baring,"  realized  £170,- 
000  in  two  years  by  his  combinations 
in  French  rentes. 

Peter  Baring  seems  to  have  been  one 
of  the  remotest  ancestors  of  the  Barings. 
He  lived  in  the  years  from  1660  to  1670 
at  Groningen,  in  the  Dutch  province  of 
Overyssel.  One  of  his  ancestors,  under 
the  name  of  Francis  Baring,  was  pastor 
of  the  Lutheran  church  at  Bremen,  and 
in  that  capacity  was  called  to  London, 
where,  among  others,  he  had  a  son 
named  John.  The  latter,  well  ac- 
quainted with  cloth-making,  settled  at 
I^arkbeer,  in  Devonshire,  and  there  put 
up  an  establishment  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  that  article.  He  had  five  chil- 
dren— four  sons,  John,  Thomas,  Fran- 
cis, Charles,  and  a  daughter  called 
Elizabeth.  Two  of  those  sons,  John 
and  Francis,  established  themselves, 
under  the  firm  of  John  and  Francis 
Baring,  at  London,  originally  with  a 
view  of  facilitating  their  father's  trade, 
in  disposing  of  his  goods,  and  so  as  to 
be  in  a  position  to  import  the  raw 
material  to  be  required,  such  as  wool, 
dye  stuffs,  &c.,  directly  from  abroad. 
Thus  was  established  the  house  which, 


28 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


after  the  withdrawal  of  the  elder  broth- 
er, John,  who  retired  to  Exeter, — grad- 
ually under  the  firm-name  of  Francis 
Baring  &  Co.,  and  eventually  under 
that  of  Baring  Brothers  &  Co.,  rose  to 
world-wide  eminence  in  commerce. 


Isaac  De  Buirette,  tlie  Illustrious 
German  Merchant. 

The  German  mercantile  house  of  De 
BuiEETTE  was,  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, as  also  in  the  beginning  of  the 
eighteenth,  one  of  the  most  extensive 
and  renowned  on  the  continent  of 
Europe.  Its  name,  its  influence,  ex- 
tended over  the  whole  commercial 
world,  and  its  credit  was  unlimited. 
In  his  time,  Isaac  De  Buirette  was  con- 
sidered the  most  accomplished  mer- 
chant in  all  Germany.  Under  the  firm 
of  Blumai-t  &  De  Buirette,  he  carried 
on  the  most  important  exchange  busi- 
ness, and  entered  largely  into  great 
commercial  undertakings  and  bold 
speculations.  A  second  house  was  in 
the  course  of  time  established  at  Vienna, 
which  acquired  in  a  short  period  a 
great  reputation,  and  was  the  most  cele- 
brated ware-emporium  of  that  famed 
commercial  metropolis.  The  king  of 
Prussia  made  him  Ms  financial  coun- 
sellor. His  learning  was  ripe  and 
varied.  His  correspondence  was  im- 
mense— extending  to  all  places  of  trade 
in  his  part  of  the  world,  and  also  be- 
yond, in  all  of  which  his  high  reputa- 
tion was  a  proverb,  and  an  unlimited 
confidence  and  credit  in  the  mercantile 
world  were  his  reward.  The  firm,  in 
its  later  stages,  and  after  the  decease 
of  Daniel  De  Buirette,  consisted  of  his 
three  sons,  and  existed  for  many  years. 
It  was  a  house  w^hose  fame  will  never 
be  blotted  out  in  the  annals  of  German 
commerce. 


James  Beatty,  Merchant,  of  Baltimore. 
The  name  of  Jaaies  Beatty  will  long 
be  known  in  the  mercantile  annals  of 
Baltimore,  as  that  of  an  unblemished 
merchant,  who  reaped  the  rewards  of 


his  good  judgment  and  uprightness. 
An  anecdote  which  he  himself  used  to 
relate  will  be  appropriate  here  as  illus- 
trating the  secret  of  his  success :  At 
the  time  of  the  approach  of  the  British 
forces  toward  Baltimore,  the  United 
States  navy  agent,  Mr.  Beatty,  was 
placed  in  a  somewhat  unpleasant  situa- 
tion by  repeated  threats  from  the  sol- 
diers in  the  regular  army,  that  unless 
they  received,  within  a  stated  period, 
all  the  wages  due  them,  they  had 
determined  to  revolt.  The  amount  of 
funds  in  his  hands  was  far  short  of 
what  was  required,  and  the  banks  of 
the  city  were  called  upon  to  aid  in 
making  it  up ;  but  after  this  request 
had  been  complied  with,  there  was  still 
not  enough  to  satisfy  the  demand.  At 
this  juncture,  Mr.  Beatty  happening 
one  day  to  meet  Mr.  James  Wilson,  the 
latter  gentleman  made  inquiry  as  to 
how  matters  stood  with  him  in  relation 
to  the  raising  of  the  funds.  Mr.  Beatty 
related  the  circumstances,  upon  which 
Mr.  Wilson  requested  him  to  step  to  his 
counting-room,  and  he  would  give  him 
a  check  for  the  sum  yet  wanting,  which 
was  over  $50,000.  Mr.  Beatty  went  to 
the  bank,  and  the  check  was  duly 
cashed — the  soldiers  returning  to  duty 
— the  battle  of  North  Point  was  fought 
shortly  aftei*ward — the  war  was  closed 
— and  Government  again  became  ena- 
bled to  discharge  all  its  minor  debts 
in  that  section.  Mr.  Beatty  made  out 
a  statement  of  the  indebtedness  of  the 
Government  to  Mr.  Wilson  for  his  appro- 
val. "  Mr.  Beatty,"  said  the  patriotic 
merchant,  "  you  have  allowed  me  in- 
terest on  the  sum  loaned ;  sir,  I  want 
no  interest — the  money  was  lying  idle, 
and  it  was  just  as  well  that  Government 
should  have  the  use  of  it."  It  was 
doubtless  Mr.  Beatty's  method  to  put 
himself  in  contact  with  men  of  this 
stamp,  and  his  own  probity  and  judg- 
ment secured  their  confidence  as  well 
as  cooperation. 


EARLY  CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


29 


P.  T.  Barnum,  the  "  Prince  of  Show- 
men." 

Though  only  in  his  youth,  and  then 
but  for  a  brief  period  and  in  a  subordi- 
nate capacity,  engaged  in  mercantile 
trade,  the  career  of  Mr.  Barnum,  dating 
from  his  humble  beginning,  affords  one 
of  the  most  notable  instances  of  business 
enterprise,  perseverance,  originality, 
tact  and  success.  Indeed,  the  history 
of  the  American  business  world  during 
the  last  quarter  of  a  century  would  fail 
of  one  of  its  most  piquant  pages,  with- 
out some  reminiscences  of  the  "  Great 
Showman."  He  started  in  his  business 
career  without  a  cent,  and  was  compelled 
to  carry  on  the  struggle  alone.  He  com- 
menced life  as  a  clerk  in  a  country  store, 
and  married  at  the  age  of  nineteen.  He 
published  a  newspaper  several  years  in 
his  native  town,  where  he  was  fined 
and  imprisoned  for  publishing  his 
opinions  too  freely.  Afterward  he  tried 
mercantile  business  on  his  own  account, 
in  both  Connecticut  and  New  York, 
with  indifferent  success.  In  1835  he 
became  engaged  in  a  strolling  exhibi- 
tion ;  afterward  in  a  circus,  &c. ;  and 
in  1842,  bought  the  American  Museum 
in  New  York.  This  establishment 
began  to  thrive  immensely  under  his 
management.  In  1843  he  picked  up 
"Gen."  Tom  Thumb;  exhibited  him 
in  his  museum  a  year,  then  took  him 
to  Europe,  where  he  remained  three 
years,  appearing  before  all  the  prin- 
cipal courts  and  monarchs  of  the  old 
world,  and  returned  with  a  fortune  to 
his  native  country.  In  1850,  he  en- 
gaged Jenny  Lind,  and  with  her  made 
the  most  triumphant  and  successful 
musical  tour  ever  known,  clearing,  it  is 
said,  some  half  a  million  dollars  in  nine 
months,  after  paying  that  lady  over 
three  hundred  thousand  dollars. 


Stephen  Girard,  Merchant  and  Banker, 

of  Philadelphia. 

Stephen  Girard  was  bom  in  the 

environs  of  Bordeaux,  May  24,  1750. 

Little  or  nothing  is  known  respecting 


the  condition  of  his  parents.  He  is 
supposed  to  have  left  his  native  coun- 
try at  the  age  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  in 
the  capacity  of  cabin  boy  in  a  vessel 
bound  for  the  West  Indies.  He  soon 
after  came  to  New  York,  as  cabin  boy 
and  apprentice  in  the  employment  of 
Captain  J.  Randall.  "While  with  the 
latter,  his  deportment  was  distinguished 
by  such  fidelity,  industry  and  temper- 
ance, that  he  won  the  attachment  and 
confidence  of  his  master,  who  generally 
bestowed  on  him  the  appellation  of 
"  my  Stephen  ;  "  and  when  he  gave  up 
business,  he  promoted  Girard  from  the 
situation  of  mate  to  the  command  of  a 
small  vessel,  in  which  he  made  several 
voyages  to  New  Orleans,  always  apply- 
ing himself  with  great  soberness  and 
diligence  to  the  accomplishment  of  his 
ends. 

Girard  was  self-taught,  and  the  world 
was  his  school.  His  intuitive  quick- 
ness of  conception  and  his  powers  of 
combination  were  such  as  would  cause 
a  very  little  instruction  to  go  a  great 
way.  It  was  a  favorite  theme  with 
him,  when  he  afterward  grew  rich,  to 
relate  that  he  commenced  life  with  a 
sixpence,  and  to  insist  that  the  best 
capital  a  man  can  have  is  his  personal 
industry. 

The  "Water-Witch,  or,  at  least,  the 
captain  of  the  Water- Witch,  was  al- 
ways fortunate,  and  he  soon  became 
part  owner.  Such  was  his  confidence 
in  his  *'  lucky  star,"  as  almost  to 
amount  to  superstition.  He  first  vis- 
ited Philadelphia  in  1769.  He  soon 
established  himself  in  business,  and 
was  reputed  a  thriving  man.  In  part- 
nership with  Isaac  Hazelhurst,  he  pur- 
chased two  brigs,  in  1771,  to  trade  to 
St.  Domingo.  Of  one  of  them  he  took 
command  himself.  Both  were  captured 
and  sent  to  Jamaica.  For  once  his 
"lucky  star"  forsook  him.  All  pro- 
fessions and  all  occupations,  which 
afforded  a  just  reward  for  labor,  were 
alike  honorable  in  his  estimation.  He 
was  never  too  proud  to  work,  even 


30 


COMMERCIAL  AND.  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


when  lie  was  tlie  ricliest  inillionnaire 
in  the  land.  During  the  revolutionary 
war,  he  bottled  and  sold  cider  and 
claret.  In  1780,  he  was  engaged  in 
trade  to  St.  Domingo  and  New  Orleans. 
In  1790,  on  the  dissolution  of  a  partner- 
ship which  had  some  time  existed  be- 
tween himself  and  his  brother,  John 
Girard,  he  was  found  by  their  mutual 
umpire  to  be  worth  thirty  thousand 
dollars. 

At  the  time  of  the  insurrection  of  the 
blacks  in  St.  Domingo,  he  had  a  brig 
and  schooner  in  port,  in  which  many 
of  the  inhabitants  deposited  their  most 
valuable  goods,  but  were  prevented  by 
a  violent  death  from  returning  to  claim 
them.  It  is,  however,  not  supposed 
that  he  received  in  this  manner  more 
than  fifty  thousand  dollars.  In  the 
time  of  the  fever,  in  1793,  when  con- 
sternation had  seized  the  whole  popula- 
tion of  the  city,  Girard,  then  an  opulent 
merchant,  offered  his  services  as  a  nurse 
in  the  hospital ;  his  offers  were  accept- 
ed, and,  in  the  performance  of  the  most 
loathsome  duties,  he  walked  unharmed 
in  the  midst  of  the  pestilence.  He  used 
to  say  to  his  Mends,  "  When  you  are 
sick,  or  anything  ails  you,  do  not  go  to 
the  doctor,  but  come  to  me.  I  will 
cure  you." 

The  terms  of  a  bargain  were  to  him 
a  law,  which  he  never  violated;  but 
in  his  breast  there  was  no  chancery 
jurisdiction  for  the  decision  of  causes 
in  equity.  The  misfortunes  of  a  bank- 
rupt, in  his  view,  were  follies,  which 
excited  no  commiseration. 

Having  been  successful  in  his  com- 
mercial speculations,  and  by  that  means 
made  immense  additions  to  Ms  proper- 
ty, in  1811,  in  expectation  of  a  renewal 
of  the  charter  of  the  old  Bank  of  the 
United  States,  he  purchased  a  large 
amount  of  the  stock  of  that  institution. 
The  charter  was  not  renewed,  and  the 
banking  house  coming  into  his  hands 
by  purchase,  at  a  reduced  price,  the 
Bank  of  the  United  States  became 
Stephen  Girard's  Bank.     It  was  emi- 


nently convenient  to  the  public  at  the 
time  it  was  established,  and  during  the 
war  was  particularly  useful  to  the 
government,  supplying,  in  fact,  the 
want  of  a  national  institution,  at  a^ 
time  when  it  was  especially  needed. 
On  the  establishment  of  the  last  nation- 
al bank,  Mr.  Girard,  just  at  the  close 
of  the  subscription,  took  the  balance 
of  the  stock,  namely,  three  million  and 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

Mr.  Girard  did  much  to  ornament 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  his  ambi- 
tion during  his  long  and  untiring  busi- 
ness career,  seems  to  have  been  to  die 
the  richest  man  in  the  country  and  be 
remembered  as  the  patron  of  learning 
and  the  benefactor  of  the  poor.  He 
died  December  26,  1881,  in  the  eighty- 
second  year  of  his  age,  the  Girard 
College  and  the  city  of  Philadelphia 
being  his  principal  devisees. 


Alexander  T.  Stewart,  Merchant,  of 
'  New  York. 

In  his  early  years,  Mr.  Stewart 
was  engaged  in  teaching,  but  soon 
changed  his  employment  for  a  small 
mercantile  business.  He  commenced 
with  but  a  limited  capital,  and  opened 
a  store  on  Broadway,  in  1827.  This 
little  concern,  in  which  he  then  was 
salesman,  buyer,  financier,  and  sole 
manager,  has  gradually  increased  in 
importance,  until  it  has  become  the 
present  splendid  establishment,  whose 
name  and  fame  are  heard  every^^here. 

The  marble  block  which  the  firm 
now  occupies  was  built  nearly  twenty 
years  ago.  It  had  been  the  site  of  an 
old-fashioned  hotel  called  the  "  Wash- 
ington," which  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
Mr.  Stewart  bought  the  plot  at  auction 
for  seventy  thousand  dollars, — a  small 
sum  in  comparison  with  its  present 
value.  To  this  was  subsequently  added 
adjacent  lots  in  Broadway,  Reade,  and 
Chambers  streets,  and  the  present  mag- 
nificent pile  was  reared.  This  estab- 
lishment, large  as  it  is,  proved  too 
small  for  the  increasing  business ;  hence 


EARLY  CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


31 


another  mercantile  palace  has  been 
erected  by  Mr.  Stewart,  in  Broadway 
and  Tenth  street.  This  is  intended 
for  the  retail  trade,  and  is,  no  doubt, 
the  most  splendid  structure  of  the  kind 
in  the  world.  The  down-town  store  is 
devoted  to  the  wholesale  trade.  The 
firm  of  A.  T.  Stewart  &  Co.  consists  of 
Mr.  Stewart  and  two  partners,  one  of 
whom,  Mr.  Fox,  resides  in  Manchester, 
and  the  other,  Mr.  Warton,  in  Paris. 
These  gentlemen,  together  with  agents 
in  the  principal  cities  of  Europe,  are 
constantly  engaged  in  furnishing  the 
house  with  supplies  of  goods.  The 
amount  of  annual  sales  is  estimated 
at  from  ten  to  twenty  millions.  In  the 
retail  department,  the  proceeds  of  which 
are  included  in  this  estimate,  the  daily 
sales  vary,  according  to  the  weather 
and  the  season,  from  three  thousand  to 
twelve  thousand  dollars. 

Mr,  Stewart  has  attained  his  present 
position  by  patient  toil  and  forty  years 
of  close  application  to  business.  His 
remarkably  fine  taste  in  the  selection 
of  dress  articles,  by  means  of  which  he 
was  always  able  to  have  superior  goods, 
probably  led  to  his  first  success.  He 
has  everything  reduced  to  a  perfect  sys- 
tem. Each  branch  of  his  trade  is  under  a 
special  manager,  who  is  selected  with  a 
view  to  his  qualifications  for  that  de- 
partment. The  numerous  failures  which 
take  place  among  the  business  men  of 
New  York  give  him  his  choice  among 
them  for  his  managers,  so  that  he  is 
always  able  to  find  the  kind  of  men  he 
needs  and  whom  he  can  trust.  He  is 
an  accurate  judge  of  character,  posses- 
sing a  penetration  which  enables  him 
to  read  men  at  a  glance ;  so  that  it  is 
rarely,  if  ever,  that  he  is  deceived.  He 
sits  close  in  his  office,  is  seldom  seen  in 
the  salesrooms^  or  among  his  clerks,  yet 
seems  to  know  everything  that  is  going 
on  throughout  the  establishment.  Mr. 
Stewart  is  a  native  of  Ireland. 


Edwin  D.  Morgan,  Merchant,  of  New 
York. 

Mr.  Morgan  is  widely  known  both 
as  a  successful  merchant  and  able  states- 
man. His  father,  Jasper  Morgan,  an 
old  and  highly  respected  citizen  of 
Connecticut,  formerly  lived  in  Berk- 
shire county,  Mass.,  and  there  it  was 
that  his  son  Edwin  was  born,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1811.  He  received  a  fair  educa- 
tion before  he  was  seventeen,  without 
going  to  college,  and  at  about  that  age 
commenced  his  mercantile  experience 
in  a  store  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  at  a  salary 
of  sixty  dollars  for  the  first,  seventy-five 
for  the  second,  and  one  hundred  for  the 
third  year's  service.  A  trip  to  the  great 
city  was  not  then  made  with  the  facility 
that  it  is  now;  but  as  he  had  served 
for  two  or  three  years  in  the  store,  and 
acquired  the  confidence  of  his  em- 
ployer, he  was  permitted  to  go  to  New 
York,  and,  to  combine  business  with 
pleasure,  was  intrusted  to  make  sundry 
purchases  of  tea,  sugar,  etc.,  and  also 
corn,  which  was  then  becoming  an  ar- 
ticle of  import,  instead  of  export.  The 
visit  was  made,  and  Edwin  returned 
in  due  time,  by  the  old  stage  route. 
After  being  greeted  and  welcomed, 
his  employer  inquired  as  to  the  corn. 
The  price  was  very  satisfactory ;  but 
his  employer  doubted  if  the  article 
would  be  of  good  quality  at  so  low  a 
rate.  Edwin  immediately  drew  a 
handful,  first  from  one  pocket  and 
then  from  another,  as  samples,  and  the 
old  gentleman  expressed  his  approba- 
tion. It  had  been  usual  for  the  dealers 
to  purchase  two  or  three  hundred 
bushels  at  a  time,  and  he  then  inquired 
of  Edwin  as  to  the  quantity,  but  was 
nonplussed  by  the  answer  that  he  had 
bought  two  cargoes,  and  that  the  ves- 
sels were  probably  in  the  river. 

"  Why,  Edwin,"  said  the  astonished 
old  gentleman,  "  what  are  we  to  do  with 
two  cargoes  of  corn  ?  Where  can  we 
put  it  ?     Where  can  we  dispose  of  it  ?" 

"  Oh  ! "  replied  Edwin,  "  I  have  dis- 
posed of  all  that  you  don't  want,  at  an 


32 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


advance  ;  I  have  sliown  the  samples  to 
Messrs.  A.  &  B.,  who  vdsh.  three  hun- 
dred bushels  ;  C.  &  Co.,  three  hundred, 
&c.,  &c.  I  could  have  disposed  of  three 
cargoes,  if  I  had  had  them.  I  stopped 
into  the  stores  as  I  came  along,  and 
made  sales." 

This  was  a  new  phase,  and  out  of  the 
old  routine ;  but  the  gains  and  results 
were  not  to  be  questioned.  The  fol- 
lowing morning,  Edwin  was  at  the 
store,  as  always,  in  season,  and  had 
taken  the  broom  to  sweep  out  the 
counting  room,  when  his  employer 
entered. 

"  I  think,"  said  he,  "  you  had  better 
put  aside  the  broom ;  we  will  find 
some  one  else  to  do  the  sweeping.  "  A 
man  who  can  go  to  New  York,  and  on 
his  own  responsibility  purchase  two 
cargoes  and  make  sales  of  them  with- 
out counselling  with  his  principal,  can 
be  otherwise  more  advantageously  em- 
ployed. It  is  best  that  he  should  be- 
come a  partner  in  the  firm  for  which  he 
is  doing  so  much," — and  he  did,  though 
not  yet  of  age. 

When  he  had  just  attained  to  his  ma- 
jority, Mr.  Morgan  was  elected  to  the 
city  council  of  Hartford  ;  and  at  twenty- 
two  he  married  Miss  Waterman,  of  that 
city,  by  whom  he  has  but  one  surviving 
child — a  son.  He  removed  to  the  city 
of  New  York  in  1836,  establishing  him- 
self as  a  wholesale  grocer,  upon  a  small 
capital  of  four  thousand  dollars,  but 
which  his  business  qualities  afterward 
greatly  enlarged,  and  his  fortune  in- 
creased, until  now  the  house  of  Edwin 
D.  Morgan  &  Co.  is  one  of  the  richest 
of  the  metropolis.  In  1849,  Mr.  Mor- 
gan was  elected  a  member  of  the  then 
Board  of  Assistant  Aldermen  ;  in  1852, 
a  member  of  the  State  Senate  ;  in  1858, 
to  the  high  position  of  Governor  of  the 
State ;  and  he  now  fills  the  honored 
post  of  United  States  Senator.  Such  a 
career  of  combined  mercantile  success 
and  politioal  honors  is  rare  indeed. 


Nathan  Appleton,  Mercliant,  of  Boston. 

Mr.  Appleton  was  born  in  New  Ips- 
wich, N.  H.,  in  1779,  and  was  the 
seventh  son  of  Isaac  Appleton.  At  fif- 
teen years  of  age  he  was  examined  and 
admitted  into  Dartmouth  College.  It 
was  decided,  however,  that  he  should 
proceed  no  further  in  his  collegiate 
studies.  His  brother  Samuel,  who  had 
been  in  trade  in  New  Ipswich,  and 
was  about  to  remove  to  Boston,  j)ro- 
posed  that  he  should  accompany  him. 
This  was  accepted,  and,  as  he  after- 
ward said,  "  It  was  determined  that  I 
should  become  a  merchant  rather  than 
a  scholar."  His  brother  commenced 
business  in  a  small  shop  on  Cornhill, 
Boston  ;  it  consisted  mostly  in  purchas- 
ing goods  at  auction  and  selling  them 
again  to  country  dealers  for  cash  and 
short  credit,  at  a  small  profit.  In  1799, 
his  brother  made  a  short  visit  to  Eu- 
rope, and  left  his  business  in  the  charge 
of  Nathan.  On  the  return  of  the  for- 
mer, he  removed  to  a  warehouse  in 
State  street,  and  proposed  to  the  latter, 
who  had  become  of  age,  to  be  a  partner. 
This  was  accepted,  and  Nathan  now 
had  at  hand  opportunities  for  enlarging 
his  observation  and  experience.  He 
was  sent  out  to  England  to  purchase 
goods.  Europe  was  in  a  state  of  war. 
The  news  of  peace  reached  him,  how- 
ever, on  landing,  and  changed  the 
whole  current  and  condition  of  trade. 
He  postponed  his  purchases  and  trav- 
elled on  the  Continent;  shortly  after- 
ward returning  to  America  and  resum- 
ing his  mercantile  career.  In  1806  he 
married  Maria  Theresa  Gold,  eldest 
daughter  of  Thomas  Gold,  of  Pittsfield, 
and  for  the  health  of  his  wife  soon 
crossed  the  ocean  again.  In  Edinburgh 
he  met  Mr.  Francis  C.  Lowell,  at  the 
moment  the  latter  was  first  conceiving 
the  policy  to  which  the  cotton  manu- 
facture of  New  England  owes  its  origin ; 
with  him  he  held  an  earnest  and  en- 
couraging consultation  in  r^aM  to  it. 
As  capital  accumulated  in  his  hands, 


EARLY  CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


33 


he  took  an  active  part  in  connection 
with  Mr.  Lowell,  Patrick  T.  Jackson, 
Paul  Moody,  and  others,  in  establishing 
the  cotton  factory  at  Waltham,  Mass. 
He  says:  "When  the  first  loom  was 
ready  for  trial,  many  little  matters 
were  to  be  adjusted  or  overcome  before 
it  would  work  perfectly.  Mr.  Lowell 
said  to  me  that  he  did  not  wish  me  to 
see  it  until  it  was  complete,  of  which 
he  would  give  me  notice.  At  length 
the  time  arrived,  and  he  invited  me  to 
go  out  with  him  to  see  the  loom  oper- 
ate. I  well  recollect  the  state  of  satis- 
faction and  admiration  with  which  we 
sat  by  the  hour  watching  the  beautiful 
movement  of  this  new  and  wonderful 
machine,  destined,  as  it  evidently  was, 
to  change  the  character  of  all  textile 
industry."  Mr.  Appleton  was  also  one 
of  the  chief  associates  in  the  company 
which  made  the  first  purchases  for  a 
like  purpose  in  Lowell.  On  different 
occasions  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Massachusetts  legislature,  and  in 
1830  was  chosen  a  member  of  Congress. 
In  1843  he  was  again  sent,  to  fill  the 
vacancy  occasioned  by  the  resignation 
of  Robert  C.  Winthrop.  In  this  sphere, 
his  mind  naturally  turned  to  the  finan- 
cial and  commercial  view  of  questions. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  American 
Academy  of  Science  and  Arts,  and  of 
the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 
Mr.  Appleton  died  in  Boston,  July  14, 
1861,  and  left  a  very  large  fortune. 

The  name  of  William  Appleton  is 
justly  entitled  to  a  place  in  the  records 
of  this  eminent  commercial  family. 
Few  names,  indeed,  shine  out  with 
such  conspicuous  and  unsullied  lustre 
in  the  annals  of  American  mercantile 
fame  as  this.  For  their  enterprise,  in- 
tegrity, benevolence,  and  public  spirit, 
they  have  never  been  surpassed  by  any 
of  the  "  solid  men  of  Boston,"  whose 
character  reflects  such  honor  upon 
American  commerce,  at  home  and 
abroad. 


David  Ricardo,  Eng-lish.  Financier. 

David  Ricabdo,  celebrated  alike  as  a 
merchant,  banker,  and  financial  writer, 
was  bom  in  London,  of  a  Jewish  family, 
in  1773.  His  father,  a  native  of  Hol- 
land, was  for  several  years  a  prominent 
banker  in  London,  and,  designing  his 
son  for  the  same  occupation,  he  sent 
him  to  Holland,  where  he  might  obtain 
the  best  commercial  education.  Soon 
after  his  return  to  England,  he  was 
taken  into  his  father's  oflice  as  a  clerk, 
and,  when  of  age,  he  was  associated 
with  him  in  business.  He  subsequently 
formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  a 
lady  of  the  Christian  faith,  which  union 
was  displeasing  to  his  father,  by  reason 
of  the  latter's  religious  scruples, — the 
elder  Mr.  Ricardo  having  been  born  of 
Jewish  parents,  and  continuing  in  that 
faith  until  his  death.  This  breach 
between  the  father  and  the  son, — 
which,  however,  was  afterwards  en- 
tirely healed, — necessarily  caused  the 
dissolution  of  their  business  copartner- 
ship. 

But  the  character  of  the  son,  for 
industry,  talent,  and  fair  dealing,  early 
secured  to  him  the  confidence  of  busi- 
ness men  as  well  as  that  of  the  commu- 
nity, and  he  thus  accumulated  a  mag- 
nificent fortune.  He  amassed  his  im- 
mense wealth  by  a  scrupulous  attention 
to  what  he  called  his  own  three  golden 
rules,  and  the  observance  of  which  he 
used  to  press  on  his  private  business 
friends.  These  were  :  "  I^ever  refuse  an 
option  icTien  you  can  get  it,'''' — "  Cut  short 
your  losses,^'' — "  Let  your  profits  run  on^ 
By  cutting  short  one's  losses,  Mr.  Ri- 
cardo meant,  that  when  a  broker  had 
made  a  purchase  of  stock,  and  prices 
were  falling,  he  ought  to  re-sell  imme- 
diately. And  by  letting  one's  profits 
run  on,  he  meant,  that  when  a  broker 
possessed  stock,  and  prices  were  rising, 
he  ought  not  to  sell  until  prices  had 
reached  their  highest,  and  were  begin- 
ning to  fall. 

Besides    being  an  eminent  banker, 


34 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Mr.  Ricardo  was  a  most  profuse  writer 
on  finance  and  currency,  and  his  works 
on  these  subjects  gained  for  him  a  high 
repute.  He  was  also  of  quite  a  specu- 
lative turn  of  mind — and  in  some  res- 
pects strangely  so — on  religious  themes. 
He  is  stated  to  have  adopted  the  Uni- 
tarian system  of  belief,  though  usually 
attending  the  established  or  Episcopal 
church.  On  the  other  hand,  he  is  said 
to  have  suggested,  as  an  "improve- 
ment," a  sort  of  intermediate  faith  be- 
tween Judaism  and  Christianity ;  hold- 
ing that  Jesus  Christ  was  a  worthy  man 
and  an  excellent  teacher,  whose  pre- 
cepts should  therefore  be  regarded  with 
great  respect, — but  that  "he  assumed 
too  much  in  his  claim  to  be  the  son  of 
God,  and  therefore  that  the  blame  of  his 
unhappy  catastrophe  was  to  be  divided 
between  his  enemies  and  himself." 
The  number  of  adherents  to  Mr.  Eicar- 
do's  faith  were  very  few,  and  his  wri- 
tings on  this  subject  were  far  less  bril- 
liant in  their  results  than  those  which 
constituted  the  staple  of  his  counting- 
house  ledgers. 


Judah  Touro,  Merchant,  of  New  Or- 
leans. 

A  well  written  life  of  this  remarkable 
man  would  make  a  volume  of  peculiar 
interest,  especially  to  the  mercantile 
class,  of  which  he  was  long  so  honor- 
able as  well  as  successful  a  member. 
At  fii'st,  he  opened  a  small  shop  on  St. 
Louis  street,  near  the  levee,  where  he 
began  a  brisk  and  profitable  trade  in 
soap,  candles,  codfish,  and  other  exports 
of  Kew  England,  making  prompt  re- 
turns to  his  friends  in  Boston.  His 
fidelity,  integrity,  and  good  manage- 
ment, soon  secured  him  a  large  New 
England  trade,  every  vessel  from  that 
section  bringing  him  large  consign- 
ments, and  many  ships  being  placed  at 
his  disposal,  as  agent,  to  obtain  cargoes 
and  collect  freight.  His  business  was 
prosperous,  his  funds  accumulated.  He 
invested  his  surplus  means  very  judi- 
ciously in  ships  and  in  real  estate,  which 


rapidly  advanced  in  value.  His  career, 
guided  by  certain  principles  to  which 
he  steadfastly  adhered,  was  one  of 
honest,  methodical  labor,  and  stern 
fidelity  to  the  legitimate  practices  of 
trade,  never  embarking  in  any  hazard- 
ous ventures  or  speculations,  never 
turning  aside  from  his  chosen  sphere 
of  business,  and  adhering  rigidly  to 
the  cash  system. 

Mr.  Touro  was  as  methodical  and  reg- 
ular as  a  clock.  His  neighbors  were  in 
the  habit  of  judging- of  the  time  of  day 
by  his  movements.  In  his  business  he 
rarely  employed  more  than  one  clerk, 
and  even  this  one  was  generally  a  lad. 
It  was  his  custom  to  open  his  store 
himself  at  sunrise  and  close  it  at 
sunset.  He  attended  to  all  his  afiairs 
himself,  and  had  them  so  well  arranged 
that  there  was  no  possibility  of  any 
misunderstanding.  He  engaged  in  no 
lawsuits,  though  he  lived  in  one  of  the 
most  litigious  communities  in  the 
world.  He  could  not  bear  a  disputa- 
tious, nor  even  a  very  earnest,  discus- 
sion. On  one  occasion  his  friend,  Dr. 
Clapp,  became  involved  in  a  very  warm 
discussion  on  a  theological  question 
with  some  clergymen  of  the  city.  Mr. 
Touro  was  greatly  annoyed  at  the  war- 
fare of  words  and  logic  thus  carried  on, 
and  begged  Dr.  Clapp  to  desist  from  a 
controversy  which  was  so  unpleasant 
to  him. 

Mr.  Touro's  hard  experience  of  the 
discomforts  attending  voyages  by  sea, 
though  it  determined  him  to  remain  on 
land  for  the  remainder  of  his  life,  could 
not  eradicate  from  him  that  natural 
passion  of  a  New  Englander-^as  he 
was — to  own  ships.  He  had  conse- 
quently invested  largely  of  his  means 
in  this  business,  and  ovmed  some  of 
the  largest  and  best  built  ships  that 
came  into  the  port  of  New  Orleans.  It 
was  rather  an  amusing  peculiarity  of 
his,  that  though  he  took  great  pleasure 
and  pride  in  walking  along  the  wharves 
and  surveying  the  gi'and  and  symme- 
trical proportions  of  his  noble  ships,  he 


EARLY   CAREER  OF  BUSINESS   CELEBRITIES. 


35 


could  never  be  persuaded  to  go  aboard 
and  examine  and  admire  tlieir  interior. 
Mr.  Touro's  career  was  perhaps  not  so 
eventful  as  tliat  of  liis  townsmen  John 
McDonogh  and  Jacob  Barker,  and  yet, 
as  an  upright,  enterj)rising,  and  success- 
ful merchant,  there  are  few  whose 
names  can  be  placed  in  advance  of 
his. 


"  Old  Billy  Gray,"  Merchant,  of  Bos- 
ton. 

Among  the  successful  and  honorable 
merchants  of  America,  few  have  stood 
higher  than  William  Gray — "  Old 
Billy  Gray,"  as  he  came  to  be  univer- 
sally called.  He  was  born  in  Lynn, 
Mass.,  in  1751,  and  when  quite  a  small 
boy  was  apprenticed  to  a  merchant  in 
Salem.  He  finished  his  commercial 
education  with  Richard  Derby,  of  that 
port ;  and  such  was  his  character  for 
enterprise  and  strict  integrity  during 
his  apprenticeship,  that  when,  soon  after 
its  close,  he  commenced  business  for 
himself,  he  had  the  entire  confidence 
and  good  will  of  the  whole  community. 
Prosperity  waited  upon  him  in  all  his 
transactions,  and  in  less  than  twenty- 
five  years  after  he  commenced  business, 
he  was  taxed  as  the  wealthiest  man  in 
Salem,  notwithstanding  some  of  the 
largest  fortunes  in  the  United  States 
belonged  to  that  town.  His  enterprise 
and  industry  were  wonderful ;  and  at 
one  time  he  had  more  than  sixty  sail 
of  square-rigged  vessels  on  the  ocean. 
For  more  than  fifty  years,  he  arose  at 
dawn,  and  was  ready  for  the  business 
of  the  day  before  others  had  finished 
their  last  nap.  Although  he  had  mil- 
lions of  dollars  afloat  on  the  sea  of 
business,  he  was  careful  of  small  expen- 
ditures—those leaks  which  endanger 
the  ship— and  his  whole  life  was  a 
lesson  of  prudent  economy,  without 
penuriousness. 

During  the  embargo,  Mr.  Gray  took 
sides  with  Jefferson,  notwithstanding 
New  England  was  all  in  a  blaze  against 
the  president,  and  it  was  an  injury  to 


the  amount  of  tens  of  thousands  of 
dollars  to  the  great  merchant's  busi- 
ness. In  the  midst  of  the  commercial 
distress,  he  removed  to  Boston,  and 
having  pleased  the  people  while  a 
State  senator,  he  was  chosen  lieutenant- 
governor  of  the  commonwealth.  He 
freely  used  his  immense  riches  for  the 
wants  of  Government,  and  it  is  said 
never  took  advantage  of  the  exigencies 
of  the  times,  to  speculate  in  government 
securities.  After  the  war  of  1812-15, 
he  engaged  largely  in  business  again, 
but  he  lost  often  and  heavily.  Yet  he 
died  a  rich  man,  and  universally  re- 
spected, at  his  elegant  mansion  in  Bos- 
ton, Nov.  4,  1825,  aged  about  seventy- 
four  years.  It  has  been  stated  that  at 
one  period  in  his  early  career,  Mr.  Gray 
was  a  poor  shoemaker;  but,  notwith- 
standing his  subsequent  great  wealth, 
and  the  magnificence  of  his  dwelling, 
the  old  cobbler's  bench  which  he  for- 
merly used  long  remained  intact  in  a 
separate  room,  and  was  shown  with 
pride  to  his  visitors  as  the  sign  of 
what  he  once  was. 


•'Rich  Spencer,"  Merchant  and  Bank- 
er, of  London. 
John  Spencer — afterward  Sir  John, 
and,  in  1594,  Lord  Mayor  of  London — 
died  possessed  of  property  valued  at 
several  round  millions,  acquired  by  his 
tact  and  shrewdness  in  the  pursuits  of 
commerce.  There  is  much  that  might 
be  written  respecting  the  humors  and 
caprices  of  this  noted  representative 
of  the  commerce  of  that  period, — one 
who  rose  to  such  eminence  in  the  an- 
nals of  wealth  amassed  by  sharp  deal- 
ing and  still  closer  saving.  In  a  curi- 
ous pamphlet  printed  in  1651,  and  en- 
titled "  The  Vanity  of  the  Lives  and 
Passions  of  Men,"  there  is  the  follow- 
ing singular  anecdote  respecting  this 
"  Rich  Spencer  " — for  so  Sir  John  was 
usually  called:  In  Queen  Elizabeth's 
days,  a  private  of  Dunkirk  laid  a  plot 
with  twelve  of  his  mates,  to  carry 
Spencer  away,  and  which,  if  he  had 


36 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


done,  fifty  thousand  pounds,  it  is  stated, 
would  not  have  redeemed  him.  This 
private  come  over  the  seas  in  a  shallop, 
with  twelve  musketeers,  and  in  the 
night  came  into  Baring  Creek,  and  left 
the  shallop  in  the  custody  of  six  of  his 
men,  and  with  the  other  six  came  as 
far  as  Islington,  and  there  hid  them- 
selves in  ditches,  near  the  path  in 
which  Sir  John  came  to  his  house 
(Canonbury  House)  ;  but,  as  good  for- 
tune would  have  it.  Sir  John  was  forced, 
by  some  unusual  demands  of  busi- 
ness, to  stay  in  London  that  night. 
But  for  this,  he  would  have  been  taken 
away  and  rigidly  dealt  with.  The  kid 
nappers,  fearing  they  should  be  dis- 
covered, returned  in  the  night  time  to 
their  shallop,  and  went  back  to  Dun- 
kirk, minus  their  anticipated  booty. 


JacQLues  Coeur,  French  Merchant  in  the 
Middle  Ag-es. 

Jacques  Cceur  was  the  great  French 
merchant  and  financier  of  the  middle 
ages.  He  sprung  from  the  people,  and 
raised  himself,  by  successful  commer- 
cial enterprise,  to  a  level  with  the 
princes  of  his  age.  He  found  French 
commerce  behind  that  of  every  other 
nation,  and  left  it  prosperous  and  in- 
creasing. Direct  and  speedy  commu- 
nication with  the  East  seems  to  have 
been  his  great  idea.  Modem  Europe 
is  still  striving  for  it.  He  had,  at  one 
time,  in  his  employment,  three  hundred 
factors ;  and  the  rest  of  the  merchants 
of  France,  with  the  whole  of  those  of 
Italy,  are  not  supposed  to  have  equalled 
this  one  man,  in  the  extent  of  their 
commercial  dealings.  "As  rich  as 
Jacques  Cceur,"  became  a  proverb.  It 
was  even  believed,  by  some,  that  he 
had  found  the  philosopher's  stone; 
and  popular  tradition  asserts  that  so 
great  was  the  profusion  of  the  precious 
metals  possessed  by  him,  that  his  horses 
were  shod  with  silver — a  common  repu- 
tation, even  at  the  present  day,  enjoyed 
by  persons  of  singular  wealth. 

He  showed  himself  worthy  of  his 


great  mercantile  eminence,  by  giving 
his  wealth,  thus  acquired,  freely  for 
noble  objects.  He  raised  three  armies 
for  king  Charles  at  his  own  cost ;  and 
he  repaired  and  reestablished,  in  his 
office  of  Argentier,  the  deranged  finan- 
ces of  the  kingdom.  It  was  his  money 
which  enabled  the  French  to  profit  by 
the  genius  and  enthusiasm  of  Joan  of 
Arc ;  and  it  was  his  honest  sympathy, 
and  steady,  manly  counsel,  which  seems 
to  have  sustained  the  tender  and  brave 
heart  of  the  noblest  of  royal  mistresses, 
in  her  efforts  to  save  the  king.  On  her 
death  bed,  she  selected  Jacques  Coeur 
for  her  executor. 

Jacques  CcGur  had,  in  the  course  of 
twenty  years,  more  commercial  pow- 
er than  all  the  rest  of  the  merchants 
of  the  Mediterranean  put  together. 
Everywhere  his  vessels  were  respected 
as  though  he  had  been  a  sovereign 
prince ;  they  covered  the  seas  wherever 
commerce  was  to  be  cultivated,  and, 
from  farthest  Asia,  they  brought  back 
cloths  of  gold  and  silk,  furs,  arms,  spi- 
ces, and  ingots  of  gold  and  silver,  still 
swelling  his  mighty  stores,  and  filling 
Europe  with  surprise  at  his  adventurous 
daring  and  his  unparalleled  persever- 
ance. Like  his  great  prototype,  Cos- 
mo de  Medicis,  who,  from  a  simple  mer- 
chant, became  a  supreme  ruler,  Jacques 
Coeur,  the  Medicis  of  Bourges,  became 
illustrious  and  wealthy,  and  sailed  long 
in  the  favorable  breezes  of  fortune, 
admired,  envied,  feared,  and  courted 
by  all. 

But  his  weakness  seems  to  have  lain 
in  the  direction  of  personal  magnificence 
and  splendor,  and  to  this  may  be  traced 
his  fall.  He  did  not  allow  sufficiently 
for  the  prejudices  of  his  age,  and  at  last 
armed  them  for  his  ruin.  He  is  de- 
scribed to  have  far  transcended,  in  his 
personal  attendance  and  equipments,  the 
chiefs  of  the  most  illustrious  families 
of  France  ;  and  when  Charles  made  his 
triumphal  entry  into  Rouen,  the  mer- 
chant Jacques  Coeur  was  seen  by  the 
side  of  Dunois,  with  arms  and  tunic 


EARLY   CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


37 


precisely  the  same  as  Ms.  His  destruc- 
tion was  planned  by  a  party  of  the 
nobles,  and  an  indictment  of  all  sorts 
of  crimes  preferred  against  him — among 
them,  the  charge  of  having  poisoned 
Agnes  Sorel.  He  narrowly  escaped 
torture  and  death ;  and  only  this  by 
confiscation  of  his  treasures  (which  his 
judges  divided  among  them),  and  per- 
petual banishment.  This  latter  re- 
solved itself  ultimately  into  a  sort  of 
strict  surveillance  in  a  French  convent, 
from  which  he  at  last  escaped  by  the 
fidelity  of  one  of  his  agents,  who  had 
married  his  niece.  He  was  again  char- 
acteristically engaging  in  active  pur- 
suits, and  beginning  life  anew,  on  the 
coast  of  Asia  Minor,  when  illness  seized 
him  in  the  island  of  Scio. 


Peletiali  Perit,  Merchant,  of  New 
York. 

The  name  of  Peletiah  Peeit  has 
been  familiar  in  the  business  circles  of 
New  York  for  about  half  a  century, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  honored.  He 
was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Perit  &  Lathrop,  and  in  1819  he 
became  a  partner  in  the  house  of  Good- 
hue &  Co.  Mr.  Perit  (says  the  author 
of  the  "  Old  Merchants  of  New  York  ") 
was  born  in  Norwich,  Conn.,  and  re- 
ceived a  collegiate  education  at  Yale 
College.  In  the  first  partnership  of  Mr. 
Perit  with  Mr.  Lathrop,  his  brother- 
in-law,  he  was  not  successful,  and  dur- 
ing the  war  he  was  connected  with  an 
artillery  company,  and  performed  mili- 
tary service  in  the  forts  that  protected 
the  harbor.  After  he  went  with  Mr. 
Goodhue,  his  commercial  good  fortunes 
returned,  and  their  house  coined  mon- 
ey. In  1833  or  1834,  the  health  of  Mr. 
Perit  declined,  and  he  conceived  the 
idea  that  it  was  necessary  to  take  more 
active  exercise,  and  in  order  to  insure 
that  daily,  he  purchased  a  piece  of  pro- 
perty on  the  North  river,  lying  between 
Bumham's  and  the  Orphan  Asylum. 
It  may  have  cost  him  perhaps  ten 
thousand  dollars.      He  sold  it  about 


two  years  ago,  and  it  is  now  supposed 
to  be  worth  half  a  million  dollars. 
This  is  a  comment  on  persevering  mer- 
cantile life.  By  a  mere  accident  Mr. 
Perit  buys  a  small  lot  of  land,  and 
makes  more  money  than  Goodhue  & 
Co.  ever  made  in  fifty-three  years'  hard 
work  !  Probably  no  house  has  done  a 
larger  business  with  all  parts  of  the 
world  than  Goodhue  for  the  fifty-three 
years  that  it  has  existed  in  a  continuous 
business.  This  house,  so  eminent,  com- 
manding means  to  an  extent  that  an 
outsider  has  no  conception  of,  has  made 
merely  moderate  earnings  in  compari- 
son with  some  lucky  land  hit,  made 
by  unknown  and  uncredited  persons, 
that  has  realized  millions.  Since  Mr. 
Perit  sold  his  property  in  New  York, 
he  has  removed  to  New  Haven,  Conn. 
He  has  done  much  for  the  benevolent 
enterprises  of  the  day.  He  is  unequalled 
as  a  merchant,  and  has  been  for  many 
years  honored  with  the  presidency  of 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce. 


Jacob  Ridg-way,  Merchant,  of  Phil- 
adelphia. 

This  wealthy  Philadelphia  celebrity 
came  from  New  Jersey  at  an  early  age, 
and  commenced  the  life  of  a  busy,  bold, 
and  enterprising  merchant.  He  com- 
menced on  a  small  scale ;  but  by  his 
industry,  integrity,  economy,  and  atten- 
tion to  business,  he  rose  rapidly.  Dame 
Fortune  smiled,  and  in  course  of  time 
he  took  high  rank  among  the  shipping 
merchants  of  that  period.  He  visited 
Europe,  to  superintend  a  branch  of  the 
house  with  which  he  was  connected; 
and  soon  after,  having  the  confidence 
of  the  merchants  of  his  own  country, 
Mr.  RiDGWAY  was  appointed  American 
consul  at  Antwerp,  where  he  laid  the 
foundation  of  his  handsome  fortune. 
He  returned  soon  after,  and  retired 
from  mercantile  pursuits,  settling  him- 
self in  Philadelphia,  and  engaging  ex- 
tensively in  plans  for  the  improvement 
of  it  and  the  city  of  Camden,  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river  Delaware.    lu 


38 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


proportion  as  his  efforts  and  means 
were  laid  out  in  this  direction,  so  did 
his  fortune  increase ;  and  from  being 
the  owner,  in  early  life,  of  a  single  farm, 
he  acquired  possessions  and  wealth,  the 
extent  of  which  has  perhaps  never  but 
once  been  equalled  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
in  all  human  probability  never  will  be 
by  any  one  man  again.  He  was  a  plain 
man — his  dress  and  deportment  were 
plain,  and  his  manners  free  from  liau- 
teur.  In  his  directorship  of  the  Bank  of 
Pennsylvania,  in  which  he  was  a  large 
stockholder,  he  exhibited  much  preju- 
dice against  granting  discounts  and  ac- 
commodation to  the  rich  and  extensive 
operators,  preferring  the  humbler  me- 
chanics, tradesmen,  and  merchants. 


Abraham  and  Benjamin  Goldschmid, 
old  English  Bankers. 

For  a  long  and  important  period, 
Abkaham  and  Benjamin  Goldschmid 
were  the  magnates  of  the  English  money 
market.  Of  singular  capacity,  and,  for 
a  time,  of  equally  singular  good  fortune, 
the  firm  of  which  they  were  the  members 
rose  from  comparative  obscurity  to  be 
the  head  and  front  of  the  financial  circle 
of  the  world's  metropolis.  They  were 
the  first  members  of  the  Stock  Exchange 
who  competed  with  the  bankers  for  the 
favors  of  the  chancellor,  and  diverted 
from  their  bloated  purses  those  profits 
which  were  scarcely  a  legitimate  por- 
tion of  banking  business.  The  combi- 
nation of  that  powerful  interest  being 
thus  broken  up,  the  bargains  for  pub- 
lic loans  became  more  open,  and  have 
continued  so. 

The  munificence  of  the  Goldschmids 
was  constant  and  wide  spread.  Natur- 
ally open  hearted,  the  poor  of  all  creeds 
found  kindly  benefactors  in  these  Jew 
capitalists.  On  one  day,  the  grandeur 
of  an  entertainment  given  by  them  to 
royalty  was  recorded  in  the  papers,  and 
on  the  next  a  few  words  related  a  visit 
of  mercy  on  their  part  to  a  condemned 
cell.  At  one  time,  their  mansion,  vying 
in  architectural  beauty  with  those  of 


regal  occupants,  was  described  ;  at  an- 
other, some  great  and  gracious  act  of 
charity  was  narrated.  Entertainments 
to  princes  and  ambassadors,  reviving 
the  glories  of  oriental  splendor,  were 
frequent ;  and  galleries,  with  works  of 
art  worthy  the  magnificence  of  a  Medici, 
graced  their  homes.  They  seemed,  at 
least  for  a  while,  Fortune's  chief  and 
most  special  favorites.  When,  in  1793, 
the  old  aristocracy  of  England's  traders 
fell,  as  in  1847,  and  the  bank  in  one  day 
discounted  to  the  amount  of  more  than 
twenty  million  dollars,  the  losses  of  this 
great  firm  amounted  to  only  the  trivial 
sum  of  fifty  pounds  sterling.  Strange 
to  relate,  both  of  these  brothers  came 
to  their  death  by  violence  at  their  own 
hands. 


Judah  M.  Lopez,  Speculator  in 
Annuities. 

The  name  of  Judah  Manasseh  Lo- 
pez is  handed  down  to  this  day,  in  Eng- 
land, as  that  of  a  Lombard  and  Jew 
of  "  the  baser  sort,"  and  a  usurer — one 
in  whose  business  dealings  the  art  of 
deception  seemed  to  have  fairly  culmi- 
nated. Of  the  origin  or  the  successive 
business  steps  in  the  career  of  this  man 
we  know  little.  His  business  consisted 
in  the  purchase  and  sale  of  annuities. 
He  lent  to  merchants  when  their  vessels 
failed  to  bring  them  returns  in  time  to 
meet  their  engagements ;  and  he  ad- 
vanced cash  on  the  jewels  of  those 
whom  a  disturbed  period  involved  in 
conspiracies  which  required  the  sinews 
of  war.  But  annuities  were  his  favor- 
ite investment ;  and  to  him,  therefore, 
resorted  all  who  were  in  difficulties  and 
were  able  to  deal  with  him.  With  the 
highest  and  the  lowest  he  trafficked. 
He  was  feared  by  most,  and  respected 
by  none. 

One  remarkable  feature  in  this  man's 
dealings  was,  that  no  one  found  it  easy 
to  recover  the  property  once  pledged, 
if  it  chanced  to  much  exceed  the  amount 
advanced.  In  an  extremity,  Bucking- 
ham, the  favorite  of  Charles,  apjilied 


EARLY  CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


39 


to  and  received  assistance  from  the  Jew 
on  the  deposit  of  some  deeds  of  value. 
"When  the  time  approached  for  repay- 
ment, Lopez  appeared  before  the  Duke 
in  an  agony  of  grief,  declaring  that  his 
strongroom  had  been  broken  into,  his 
property  pilfered,  and  the  Duke's  deeds 
carried  away.  But  Buckingham  had 
dealt  too, much  with  men  of  this  class 
to  believe  the  story  on  the  mere  word 
of  Lopez.  He  therefore  detained  the 
usurer  while  he  despatched  messengers 
to  the  city,  to  search  out  the  truth, 
placing  the  Hebrew  at  the  same  time 
under  watch  and  ward,  with  an  utter 
indifference  to  his  comfort. 

When  the  messengers  returned,  they 
avouched  that  all  Lombard  street  was 
in  an  uproar  at  the  violation  of  its 
stronghold.  Still  the  Duke  was  dis- 
satisfied, and  resolutely  refused  to  part 
with  his  prey  until  he  had  received 
full  value  for  his  deposit.  In  vain  did 
the  Hebrew  demurely  fall  on  his  knees 
— in  vain  did  he  call  on  Father  Abra- 
ham to  attest  his  innocence  ;  for,  in  the 
midst  of  one  of  his  most  solemn  assev- 
erations, Buckingham  was  informed 
that  a  scrivener  urgently  solicited  an 
audience,  and  he  saw  at  the  same  time 
that  a  cloud  came  over  the  face  of  Lo- 
pez. 

The  request  of  the  scrivener  being 
granted,  to  the  Duke's  astonishment  he 
produced  the  missing  document,  ex- 
plaining to  his  Grace  that  Lopez,  be- 
lieving the  scrivener  too  much  in  his 
power  to  betray  him,  had  placed  it  in 
his  charge  until  the  storm  should  blow 
over,  but  that,  fearing  the  Duke's  pow- 
er and  trusting  to  his  protection,  he  had 
brought  it  to  York  House.  On  the  in- 
stant, Buckingham  confronted  the  two. 
The  Jew's  countenance  betrayed  his 
crime,  and,  fawning  on  the  very  hem 
of  the  Duke's  garment,  he  begged  for 
forgiveness,  and  crouched  like  a  dog  to 
procure  it.  It  is  intimated  that  from 
that  time  the  Duke  had  his  loans  on 
more  equitable  terms  and  on  smaller 
security,  as  he  dismissed  the  Jew  with 


a   courtesy   the    latter    did    not    de- 


William  B.  Astor,  Millionnaire,  of 
New  York. 

Prince  street,  New  Y'ork,  is  the  lo- 
cality of  Mr.  William  B.  Astor's  finan- 
cial operations.  The  street  itself  is 
of  but  a  third-rate  character,  and  the 
houses  are  but  of  a  common  stamp. 
Near  Broadway,  however,  one  may  no- 
tice a  small  brick  office,  neatly  built, 
of  one  story,  with  gable  to  the  street, 
but  with  doors  and  windows  closed, 
and  the  whole  appearance  one  of  se- 
curity. Near  the  door  may  be  seen 
a  little  sign  which  reads  thus:  'En- 
trance NEXT  DOOR.  Office  hours 
FROM  9  TO  3."  This  "  next  door  "  to 
which  we  are  referred  is  a  plain  three- 
story  brick  dwelling,  with  no  name  on 
the  door,  and  might  be  taken  for  the 
residence  of  some  well-to-do  old-fash- 
ioned family.  Hence  one  is  quite  star- 
tled to  find  that  this  is  the  headquarters 
of  the  chief  capitalist  of  America.  En- 
tering the  street  door,  one  will  find 
himself'  in  a  small  vestibule,  neatly 
floored  with  checkered  oilcloth,  and 
opening  a  door  on  his  left,  he  will  enter 
a  well-lighted  front  room,  destitute  of 
any  furniture  but  a  counting-house  desk 
and  a  few  chairs.  At  this  desk  stands 
an  accountant  (or  perhaps  two)  working " 
at  a  set  of  books,  and  evidently  enjoy- 
ing an  easy  berth.  He  will  answer  all 
ordinary  inquiries,  will  do  the  duty  of 
refusing  charitable  demands,  and  will 
attend  to  an}i:hing  in  the  ordinary  run 
of  business ;  but  if  one  has  anything 
siDccial  on  hand,  he  will  point  to  a  door 
opening  into  a  rear  office.  This  apart- 
ment is  of  moderate  size  and  of  simple 
furniture.  On  the  table  are  a  few 
books,  and  on  opening  one  of  them, 
which  appears  well  thumbed,  it  will  be 
found  to  contain  maps  of  jjlots  of  city 
property,  carefully  and  elegantly  exe- 
cuted, and  embracing  the  boundaries 
of  an  enormous  estate.  Seated  by  the 
table  may  generally  be  seen  a  stout- 


40 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


built  man  with  large  and  unattractive 
features,  and  upon  the  whole  an  ordi- 
nary face.  He  is  plainly  dressed,  and 
has  a  somewhat  careworn  look,  and  ap- 
pears to  be  fifty  or  sixty  years  of  age. 
One  naturally  feels — that  is,  if  he  be  a 
poor  man — that  it  is  quite  a  rare  thing 
to  address  a  capitalist,  and  especially 
when  that  capitalist  is  the  representa- 
tive, say  of  twenty-five  millions  of  dol- 
lars. His  daily  income  has  been  esti- 
mated at  six  thousand  dollars  ! 

The  care  of  Mr.  Astor's  estate — the 
largest  in  America — is  a  vast  burden. 
His  tenements,  of  all  grades,  number 
several  hundreds,  ranging  from  the 
dwelling  at  three  hundred  dollars  per 
annum,  to  the  magnificent  warehouse 
or  hotel  at  thirty  thousand  dollars.  To 
relieve  himself  from  the  more  vexatious 
features  of  his  business,  he  has  com- 
mitted his  real  estate  collections  to  an 
agent,  who  does  the  work  well,  and 
who  is,  no  doubt,  largely  paid.  He, 
with  his  clerks,  collects  rents,  and 
makes  returns  of  a  rent  roll  whose  very 
recital  would  be  wearisome.  As  a  mat- 
ter of  course,  such  a  man  must  employ 
a  small  army  of  painters,  carpenters,  and 
other  mechanics,  in  order  to  keep  up 
suitable  repairs ;  and  as  Mr.  Astor  pays 
no  insurance,  the  work  of  rebuilding 
after  fires  is  in  itself  a  large  item.  A 
large  part  of  Mr.  Astor's  property  con- 
sists of  vacant  lots,  which  are  in  con- 
tinual demand,  and  which  he  generally 
prefers  to  hold  rather  than  sell ;  hence 
he  is  much  employed  with  architects 
and  master  builders,  and  always  has 
several  blocks  in  course  of  erection. 
This  is  a  very  heavy  burden,  and,  were 
it  not  for  the  help  derived  from  his 
family,  would,  doubtless,  crush  him. 
His  son,  John  Jacob,  is  quite  a  busi- 
ness man,  and  bears  his  share  of  the 
load.  In  addition  to  this,  Mr.  Astor 
has  the  aid  of  a  gentleman  of  business 
habits  and  character,  once  a  member 
of  one  of  the  largest  shipping  houses  in 
New  York,  who  has  become  connected 
with  the  family  by  marriage.    The  la- 


bors of  all  these  i^arties  cannot  be  more 
than  adequate  to  the  requirements  of  so 
enormous  a  jDroperty. 


C.  K.  Garrison,  Mercliant,  of  San 

Francisco. 
The  financial  and  public  position  at- 
tained by  Mr.  Garrison,  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, so  well  known  as  one  of  the 
mayors  and  leading  merchants  of  that 
city,  was  due  to  his  own  perseverance, 
exhibited  in  a  manner  and  to  a  degree 
rarely  witnessed  even  in  American  mer- 
cantile character.  Originating  in  New 
York,  near  West  Point,  his  ancestors 
were  among  the  regular  "  Knickerbock- 
ers "  of  that  region — the  Coverts,  Kings- 
lands,  Schuylers,  and  others.  The  pa- 
terfamilias was  at  one  time  considered 
quite  wealthy,  but  from  heavy  indorse- 
ments he  became  involved  at  an  early 
period  in  the  life  of  the  subject  now 
under  notice.  The  latter,  having  to 
look  to  his  own  resources,  left  home  at 
the  age  of  thirteen,  in  the  capacity  of 
a  cabin  boy  in  a  sloop.  It  was  not, 
however,  without  great  difficulty,  that 
young  Garrison  obtained  from  his  pa- 
rents their  consent  that  he  might  leave 
their  home,  and  accept  the  situation 
he  sought.  "  Wliat,"  said  his  mother, 
with  characteristic  feminine  perception, 
"  would  the  Van  Buskirks,  the  Kings- 
lands,  the  Schuylers,  the  host  of  other 
respectable  relatives,  the  thousand  and 
one  cousins,  &c.,  &c.,  say,  if  it  reached 
their  ears  that  my  son  was  a  cabin 
boy  ?  "  From  this  small  beginning  he 
worked  his  way  up,  until  he  finally 
found  himself  in  California,  where, 
shortly  after,  on  account  of  his  great 
business  tact,  he  was  offered  the  Nica- 
ragua Steamship  Company  agency,  at  a 
salary  of  $60,000  a  year,  for  two  years 
certain.  In  addition  to  this  appoint- 
ment, he  received  at  the  same  time  the 
agency  of  two  insurance  companies,  at 
a  salary  of  $25,000  per  annum.  At  the 
age  of  forty-five,  he  found  himself  the 
possessor  of  a  princely  fortune ;  with 
a  salary  three  or  four  times  greater 


EARLY   CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


41 


tlian  that  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States ;  with  a  revenue  besides,  from 
other  sources,  of  as  much  more ;  and 
occupying  the  position  of  Mayor  of  the 
city  of  San  Francisco.  This  is  success 
that  rarely  falls  to  the  lot  of  those, 
even,  who  are  what  may  be  called  the 
"  successful "  ones  in  commercial  life. 


"William  Hog-gr,  tlie  Pennsylvania 
Millionnaire. 

More  than  seventy  years  ago,  Wil- 
liam Hogg — ^who  died  at  his  residence 
in  Brownsville,  Pa.,  leaving  an  estate 
of  more  than  a  million  dollars — crossed 
the  Alleghany  mountains  with  a  small 
pack  of  goods,  all  he  possessed,  and 
which  he  bore  upon  his  own  back,  and 
established  himself  at  Brownsville,  then 
called  Red  Stone.  He  soon  after  open- 
ed a  small  store,  the  first  in  that  region 
of  country,  on  the  Monongahela  river, 
transporting  his  goods  from  Phila- 
delphia by  means  of  packhorses,  and 
increasing  his  stock,  from  time  to  time, 
until  he  became  the  wealthiest  mer- 
chant in  Western  Pennsylvania — a 
rank  which  he  prominently  occupied 
in  the  latter  period  of  his  life.  He  was 
remarkable  for  his  accurate  habits  of 
business,  his  persevering  and  indefati- 
gable application,  and  his  great  sa- 
gacity in  the  management  of  his  nu- 
merous and  extensive  establishments. 
Whether  worth  one  dollar  only,  or  a 
million,  he  held  that  frugality  was  the 
same  virtue,  and  rigidly  lived  up  to 
this  principle. 

Herodotus  a  Merchant. 
The  opinion — equally  ingenious  and 
probable — is  advanced  by  Malte  Brun, 
that  the  great  father  of  history  and 
geography,  Herodotus,  was  a  mer- 
chant. "  At  least,"  says  he,  "  this  suppo- 
sition affords  the  most  natural  solution 
of  his  long  voyages  and  numerous  con- 
nections with  nations  by  no  means 
friendly  to  the  Greeks."  His  silence  re- 
specting commerce  is  presumed  to  have 
arisen  from  the  same  motives  which  in- 


duced the  Carthaginians  to  throw  every 
voyager  into  the  sea  who  approached 
Sardinia,  lest  the  sources  of  their  com- 
merce and  riches  should  be  discovered. 


Jeejeebhoy  Dadabhoy,  Parsee  Banker 
and  Merchant. 

Jeejeebhoy  Dadabhoy,  of  Bombay, 
was  a  Parsee  banker,  merchant,  agent, 
and  broker,  for  more  than  forty  years, 
and  sustained  important  business  rela- 
tions to  many  European  mercantile 
houses.  So  extensive  were  his  transac- 
tions, that  his  name  was  well  known  in 
all  the  commercial  towns  of  England, 
Scotland,  France,  Germany,  Austria, 
Egypt,  India,  China,  Mauritius,  &c. 
A  few  years  before  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1849,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
four  years,  he  retired  from  the  firm  of 
Messrs.  Jeejeebhoy  Dadabhoy,  Sons  & 
Co.,  but  left  his  name  by  associating 
his  sons,  who  have  since  carried  on  the 
business,  the  firm  ranking  among  the 
first  Parsee  commercial  houses  in  India. 

Jeejeebhoy  Dadabhoy  was  one  of  the 
most  active  among  the  native  capi- 
talists in  the  establishment  of  the  va- 
rious banks  in  Bombay ;  and  he  served 
his  time  as  director  respectively  in  the 
Oriental  and  Commercial  Banks.  To 
him  and  to  Sir  Jamsetjee  Jeejeebhoy 
the  people  of  Western  India  are  in- 
debted for  the  introduction  of  steam 
navigation  for  commercial  and  passen- 
ger traffic — the  first,  and  by  far  the  best 
paying  of  these  steamers  having  been 
built  by  them.  Jeejeebhoy  Dadabhoy, 
the  manager  of  this  company,  so  judi- 
ciously conducted  the  business,  that 
in  the  course  of  six  years  he  divided 
profits  amounting  to  nearly  the  out- 
lay. 

He  shared,  indeed,  in  every  enterprise 
which  promised  to  promote  public 
advantage,  however  little  his  personal 
interests  might  be  benefited.  Among 
the  commercial  joint-stock  companies, 
he  was  a  large  shareholder  in  the  fol- 
lowing :  the  Eailway  Companies,  Cot- 
ton Screw  Companies,  Steam  Naviga- 


42 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


tion  Company,  Colaba  Land  and  Cot- 
ton Companies,  most  of  the  Bombay 
Marine  and  Life  Insurance  Companies, 
fhe  Bengal  India  General  Steam  Navi- 
gation Company,  several  Calcutta  In- 
surance Companies,  &c.  His  capital 
was  likewise  engaged  in  advances  on 
coffee,  sugar,  &c.,  &c. 

For  nearly  twenty  years  lie  was  a 
member  of  the  Parsee  Punchayet,  a  po- 
sition which  frequently  imposed  im- 
portant duties  upon  him  for  the  gen- 
eral benefit  of  the  Parsee  community. 
He  was  also  constantly  called  upon  to 
arbitrate  and  settle  matters  in  dispute 
between  members  of  his  caste,  and  his 
straightforward  judgment  invariably 
gained  for  him  the  esteem  of  those  who 
had  submitted  their  difficulties  to  his 
decision. 

In  matters  of  charity  his  purse  was 
always  open  to  the  poor  of  his  com- 
munity. His  name  was  likewise  to  be 
found  on  almost  all  the  lists  of  public 
subscriptions  and  private  charities,  both 
European  and  native.  At  the  time  of 
his  death,  forty-two  schools,  in  various 
parts  of  the  Bombay  Presidency,  were 
wholly  supported  by  his  bounty. 

He  left  a  widow,  four  sons,  three 
daughters,  twenty-one  grandchildren, 
and  six  great-grandchildren,  to  whom 
he  bequeathed  immense  wealth.  He 
likewise,  by  his  will,  left  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  to  be  invested  in  Gov- 
ernment securities  in  the  names  of  eight 
trustees,  four  of  these  being  his  sons, 
the  interest  of  this  amount  to  be  an- 
nually divided  in  charities  for  the  re- 
lief of  the  suffering  of  his  caste. 


Abbott  liawrence,  Merchant,  of 
Boston. 

Abbott  Lawiience,  one  of  the  most 
eminent  of  American  merchants,  was 
bom  in  Groton,  Mass.,  in  1793.  His 
ancestors  were  people  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances, who  had  for  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years  been  settled  in  Groton 
as  cultivators  of  the  soil,  and  his  father. 
Major  Samuel  Lawrence,  served  with 


credit  in  Prescott's  regiment  at  Bunker 
Hill,  and  in  many  of  the  severest  bat- 
tles of  the  war  of  Independence.  For 
a  brief  period  in  his  boyhood,  he  at- 
tended the  district  school  and  the  acad- 
emy at  Groton,  and  in  his  sixteenth  year 
went  to  Boston,  with  less  than  three 
dollars  in  his  pocket,  and  was  bound 
an  apprentice  to  his  brother  Amos, 
then  recently  established  there  in  busi- 
ness. In  1814  he  became  one  of  the 
firm  of  A.  &  A.  Lawrence,  which  for 
many  years  conducted  a  prosperous 
business  in  the  sale  of  foreign  cotton 
and  woollen  goods  on  commission.  Sub- 
sequently to  1830,  they  were  largely  in- 
terested as  selling  agents  for  the  manu- 
facturing companies  of  Lowell ;  and,  in 
the  latter  part  of  his  life,  Abbott  Law- 
rence participated  extensively  in  the 
China  trade. 

In  addition  to  his  business  pursuits, 
Mr.  Lawrence  took  a  deep  interest  in 
all  matters  of  public  concern,  and  was 
at  an  early  period  of  his  career  a  zeal- 
ous advocate  of  the  protective  system. 
In  1834,  he  was  elected  a  representative 
in  the  twenty-fourth  Congress,  and  was 
there  a  member  of  the  important  com- 
mittee of  ways  and  means.  He  also 
served  for  a  brief  period  in  1839-40. 
In  1842,  he  was  appointed  a  commis- 
sioner, on  the  part  of  Massachusetts,  on 
the  subject  of  the  northeastern  boun- 
daiy,  in  the  discharge  of  which  trust 
he  rendered  the  most  important  ser- 
vice. In  the  Whig  Nominating  Con- 
vention of  1848,  he  was  a  prominent 
candidate  for  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States,  lacking  but  six  votes  of 
a  nomination — the  choice  falling  upon 
Mr.  Fillmore.  On  the  accession  of  Gen- 
eral Taylor,  whose  election  Mr.  Law- 
rence had  zealously  advocated,  a  seat  in 
the  cabinet  was  offered  to  Mr.  Law- 
rence, but  declined  by  him.  He  was 
subsequently  appointed  the  representa- 
tive of  the  United  States  at  the  court 
of  Great  Britain,  a  position  which  he 
occupied  with  credit  until  October, 
1852,  when  he  was  recalled  at  his  own 


EARLY  CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


43 


request.     The  remainder  of  his  life  was 
devoted  to  his  private  business. 

The  benefactions  of  Mr.  Lawrence, 
for  private  and  public  purposes,  were 
numerous  and  wisely  bestowed,  al- 
though, from  the  nature  of  the  circum- 
stances under  which  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  was  passed,  the  amount  can- 
not, as  in  his  brother  Amos's  case,  be 
accurately  estimated.  In  1847,  he  gave 
to  Harvard  University  fifty  thousand 
dollars  to  found  the  Scientific  School, 
bearing  his  name,  connected  with  that 
institution ;  and  he  bequeaijied  a  like 
sum  in  aid  of  the  same  object.  He  left 
a  farther  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
for  the  purpose  of  erecting  model  lodg- 
ing houses,  the  income  of  the  rents  to 
be  forever  applied  to  certain  public 
charities.  He  was  greatly  esteemed  in 
private  life  for  his  benevolence  of  dis- 
position and  genial  manners,  and  in  his 
public  relations  commanded  the  respect 
of  all  parties.  Mr.  Lawrence  died  in 
Boston,  August  18th,  1855. 

Jacob  Barker,  Merchant,  of  New 
Orleans. 

Mr.  Barker  is  descended  from  the 
same  stock  as  Dr.  Franklin,  to  whom 
he  is  proud  to  claim  a  certain  family 
resemblance — and  certainly  in  some  of 
their  personal  characteristics  there  is  a 
striking  identity.  He  was  brought  up 
in  the  Quaker  communion,  to  which, 
and  to  their  unpretending  costume,  he 
long  adhered. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was  adrift 
in  the  world,  and  came  to  New  York, 
where  he  got  employment  with  Isaac 
Hicks,  a  commission  merchant,  and, 
beginning  the  trade  on  his  own  ac- 
count, in  a  small  way,  'before  Ids  major- 
ity was  in  possession  of  four  ships  and 
a  brig,  and  had  his  notes  regularly  dis- 
counted at  the  United  States  Bank. 
Sitting  at  his  wedding  dinner,  August 
27th,  1801  (he  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Hazard,  of  New 
York),  with  Mr.  Henry  Dewees,  for 
whom  he  had  heavily  indorsed,  news 


was  brought  him  of  the  ruin  of  them 
both ;  he  passed  the  letter  over  to  Mr. 
Dewees,  drank  wine  with  him,  and  took 
no  further  notice  of  the  matter. 

For  some  transactions  concerning 
the  North  River  Bank,  Mr.  Barker  was 
once  openly  insulted  by  one  David 
Rogers,  to  whom  he  sent  a  note  de- 
manding an  explanation.  No  explana- 
tion came,  but  in  place  of  it  an  indict- 
ment by  the  grand  jury  for  sending  a 
challenge.  Mr.  Barker  defended  him- 
self with  infinite  subtlety  on  the  trial, 
denying  the  fact  of  the  challenge  ;  but 
the  jury  would  not  be  persuaded,  nor 
the  judges  afterward,  when  he  argued 
the  question  of  law,  and  he  was  sen- 
tenced to  be  disfranchised  of  his  politi- 
cal rights — from  which  sentence  he  was 
relieved  by  Governor  Clinton.  But  at 
length,  on  the  failure  of  the  Life  and 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  he  was  in- 
dicted, with  others,  for  conspiracy  to 
defraud.  The  trial  was  long,  the  coun- 
sel wanted  time  to  look  over  their 
notes,  and  it  was  suggested  that  Mr. 
Barker  should  begin  his  defence.  He 
had  no  brief,  and  had  taken  no  notes, 
but  professed  his  readiness.  "Yes," 
said  Mr.  Emmet,  "  if  they  were  all  to 
be  hanged,  Mr.  Barker  would  say,  hang 
me  first ! "  His  defence  was  a  prodigy 
of  ability.  At  the  first  trial  the  jury 
disagreed,  on  the  second  he  was  con- 
victed, but  a  new  trial  granted.  After 
the  third  the  indictment  was  quashed. 

Some  years  since  he  ai)j)eared  in  his 
own  defence  in  a  suit  brought  in  New 
Orleans,  and  obtained  a  verdict  after  a 
long  personal  address  to  the  jury,  wliich 
is  said  to  have  made  a  most  vivid  im- 
pression both  upon  them  and  a  numer- 
ous auditory.  In  reciting  the  chequer- 
ed history  of  his  life — his  unrivalled 
commercial  enterprise, — "  that  the  can- 
vas of  his  ships  had  whitened  every 
sea,  and  that  the  star-spangled  banner 
of  his  country  had  floated  from  the 
mast  head  of  his  ships  in  every  clime," 
— his  aid  in  procuring  a  loan  of  five 
million  dollars  for  the  Government  du- 


44 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


ring  the  last  war  witli  England — ^he 
said  lie  came  to  New  Orleans  poor,  and 
in  debt,  that  he  had  since  made  a  great 
deal  of  money,  and  spent  it  in  the  sup- 
port of  his  family  and  the  payment  of 
his  debts  outstanding  in  New  York; 
that  all  those  debts  were  now  settled,  as 
was  proved,  and  that  he  owed  nothing 
in  the  world  at  present  but  one  account 
(on  a  note,  he  believed)  of  about  a 
thousand  dollars. 

Dming  the  war,  Nantucket  was  in 
want  of  supplies :  Mr.  Barker  purchased 
the  New  York  pilot  boat  Champlain, 
and  caused  her  to  be  landed  at  Nor- 
folk with  flour,  and  despatched  for  that 
place.  "When  near  the  island  a  heavy 
fog  set  in ;  when  it  cleared  away  she 
was  within  a  half  gunshot  of  a  British 
seventy-four,  captured,  and  vessel  and 

cargo  lost. 

♦ — 

Alexander  Fordyce,  the  Shark  of  the 
Exchang'e. 

The  career  of  this  notorious  broker 
— one  of  the  shrewdest  ever  known  on 
the  roll  of  British  financiers — furnishes 
a  dark  phase  in  the  dealings  of  the  ex- 
change. Bred  a  hosier  at  Aberdeen, 
he  found  the  North  too  confined  for 
such  operations  as  he  hoped  at  some 
future  day  to  engage  in ;  and,  repair- 
ing to  London,  as  the  only  place  worthy 
of  his  genius,  obtained  employment  as 
clerk  to  a  city  banking  house. 

Here  he  displayed  great  facility  for 
figures,  with  great  attention  to  busi- 
ness, and  rose  to  the  post  of  junior  part- 
ner in  the  firm  of  Rofiey,  Neale  & 
Jaines.  Scarcely  was  he  thus  estab- 
lished, ere  he  began  to  speculate,  and 
generally  with  marked  good  fortune — 
and,  thinking  his  good  luck  would  be 
perpetual,  ventured  for  sums  which  in- 
volved his  own  character  and  his  part- 
ners' fortune.  The  game  was  with  him ; 
the  funds  were  constantly  on  the  rise  ; 
and,  fortunate  as  daring,  he  was  en- 
abled to  purchase  a  large  estate,  to  sup- 
port a  grand  appearance,  to  surpass 
nabobs  in  extravagance,  and  parvenus 


in  folly.  He  marked  "  the  marble  with 
his  name,"  upon  a  church  which  he  os- 
tentatiously built.  His  ambition  vied 
with  his  extravagance,  and  his  extrava- 
gance rivalled  his  ambition.  The  Aber- 
deen hosier  spent  thousands  of  pounds 
in  attempting  to  become  a  titled  mag- 
nate, and  openly  avowed  his  hope  of 
dying  a  peer.  He  married  a  woman  of 
title ;  made  a  fine  settlement  on  her 
ladyship ;  purchased  estates  in  Scot- 
land at  a  fancy  value  ;  built  a  hospital  ; 
and  founded  charities  in  the  place  of 
which  he  hoped  to  become  the  repre- 
sentative. 

But  a  change  came  over  his  fortunes. 
Some  political  events  first  gave  him  a 
shake;  then  another  blow  followed, 
and  he  had  recourse  to  his  partners' 
private  funds  to  supply  his  deficiencies. 
On  being  smartly  remonstrated  with,  a 
cool  and  insolent  contempt  for  their 
opinion,  coupled  with  the  remark  that 
he  was  quite  disposed  to  leave  them  to 
manage  a  concern  to  which  they  were 
utterly  incompetent,  startled  them ;  and 
when,  with  a  cunning  which  provided 
for  everything,  an  enormous  amount  of 
bank  notes,  which  Fordyce  had  borrow- 
ed for  the  purpose,  was  shown  them, 
their  faith  in  his  genius  returned  with 
the  possession  of  the  magic  paper — ^it 
being  somewhat  doubtful  whether  the 
plausibility  of  his  manner  or  the  agree- 
able rustle  of  the  notes  decided  them. 

HI  fortune,  however,  still  continued 
to  cast  its  gaunt  shadow  on  Mr.  For- 
dyce's  track — the  price  of  the  funds 
would  not  yield  to  his  fine  combina- 
tions and  plans.  But  with  all  his  great 
and  continued  losses,  he  retained  to  the 
last  hour  a  cool  and  calm  self-posses- 
sion. Utter  bankruptcy  finally  follow- 
ed, and  the  public  feeling  was  so  vio- 
lent, as  he  detailed  the  tissue  of  his  un- 
surpassed fraud  and  folly,  that  it  was 
necessary  to  guard  him  from  the  popu- 
lace. He  broke  half  the  commercial 
town.  Two  gentlemen,  ruined  by  the 
broker's  extravagance,  shot  themselves 
dead,  and  many  of  the  wealthiest  fami- 


EARLY  CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


45 


lies  were  beggared.  "Not  is  this  sur- 
prising, wlien  it  is  known  that  bills  to 
the  amount  of  twenty  millions  of  dollars 
were  in  circulation,  with  the  name  of 
Fordyce  attached  to  them — a  name  still 
synonymous  with  that  of  "  the  Shark 
of  the  Exchange." 


Nicholas  Longworth,  Millionnaire,  of 
Cincinnati. 

Nicholas  Longworth,  who  recently 
died  in  Cincinnati,  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
ty years,  was  born  in  Newark,  N.  J., 
in  the  year  1783,  and  was  brought  up 
to  the  shoemaking  business  in  his  early 
life.  His  father,  having  been  reduced 
to  poverty,  became  a  shoemaker,  and 
had  all  his  children  educated  to  follow 
trades.  It  was  intended  that  Nicholas 
should  obtain  his  living  as  a  regular 
shoemaker ;  but  at  an  early  age  he  im- 
proved the  opportunity  offered  him  of 
going  to  the  South  with  a  brother,  and 
became  a  clerk  in  the  latter's  store  in 
Savannah.  After  being  in  mercantile 
business  at  the  South  about  two  and 
a  half  years,  he  removed  in  1804  to 
Cincinnati,  then  only  a  scattered  and 
sparsely  populated  village  of  about 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants, 
adjoining  to  Fort  Washington,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio,  where  the  Federal 
Government  maintained  a  garrison,  the 
expenditure  of  which  at  that  and  earlier 
periods  formed  no  small  share  of  the 
business  of  Cincinnati. 

The  beginning  of  Mr.  Longworth's 
career  in  Cincinnati  was  a  very  curious 
one.  He  commenced  the  study  of  the 
law,  under  Judge  Burnett,  an  eminent 
lawyer,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
advance  of  the  ordinary  period.  Until 
1819,  he  followed  the  law  as  his  profes- 
sion. Meantime  he  had  married  a  wid- 
ow of  some  means,  and  had  devoted 
himself  to  speculations  in  lots,  foresee- 
ing that  the  value  of  real  estate  must 
enhance  immensely.  In  this  way  he 
laid  the  foundation  of  his  gigantic  for- 
tune. At  that  time,  property  was  at  a 
very  low  valuation,  and  many  of  Long- 


worth's  lots  cost  him  no  more  than  ten 
dollars  each,  which  in  a  few  years  mul- 
tiplied in  value  a  hundredfold.  His 
property  increased  so  rapidly  that  in 
1850  his  taxes  rated  higher,  perhaps, 
than  those  of  any  other  man  in  the 
United  States  except  William  B.  Astor, 
the  taxes  of  the  latter  amounting  to 
some  twenty-three  thousand,  while 
those  of  Longworth  were  over  seven- 
teen thousand.  The  ground  occupied 
by  the  celebrated  Observatory  of  Cin- 
cinnati was  a  free  gift  from  Mr.  Long- 
worth.  He  donated  four  acres  of  his 
land  on  Mount  Adams  for  that  purpose. 

Mr.  Longworth  devoted  much  of  his 
time  to  agriculture  and  horticulture — 
the  grape  and  the  strawberry  especially. 
Every  one  has  heard  of  his  Catawba 
wine,  both  still  and  sparkling  cham- 
pagne. Indeed,  Nicholas  Longworth, 
Esq.,  the  "  fifteen  millionnaire,"  is  not 
half  so  well  known  as  "  old  Nick  Long- 
worth,"  who  did  so  much  for  the  cul- 
ture of  the  Catawba  and  Isabella  grape 
in  the  Ohio  valley.  His  gardens  and 
hothouses  abounded  in  the  rarest  ex- 
otics, and  were  freely  accessible  to  visi- 
tors who  wished  to  enjoy  them,  and,  if 
his  gardeners  were  not  on  hand  to  point 
out  their  beauties,  it  is  very  probable 
that  Nicholas  Longworth  himself  would 
perform  the  part  of  chaperon.  Mr. 
Longworth  was  a  ready  writer,  full  of 
wit,  humor,  and  sarcasm. 

Mr.  Longworth  had  four  children — 
three  daughters  and  one  son.  One  of 
the  daughters  man-ied  Larz  Anderson, 
of  Cincinnati,  brother  of  the  hero  of 
Fort  Sumter,  a  prominent  lawyer.  The 
wealth  of  which  Mr.  Longworth  died 
possessed  is  put  down  at  fifteen  mil- 
lions ;  but  it  is  probable  that  it  may  be 
quoted  at  a  much  higher  figure.  His 
city  lots  alone  would  probably  amount 
to  that  sum.  The  value  of  his  prop- 
erty in  the  suburbs  of  Cincinnati  and 
the  different  counties  of  Western  Ohio, 
from  Hamilton  county  to  Sandusky, 
would  perhaps  swell  his  estate  to  twen- 
ty millions. 


46 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Jolin  Overend,  the  Pioneer  Bill  Broker 
of  Liondon. 

John  Overend's  name  stood,  for  a 
long  time,  at  the  head  of  the  most  an- 
cient as  well  as  extensive  and  renown- 
ed bill-brokering  establishment  in  the 
world.  Bill  brokering  in  its  present 
form  was  commenced  about  half  a  cen- 
tury ago.  This  house — Overend  &  Co. 
— so  well  known  in  Europe  and  Ameri- 
ca, was  formed  in  the  year  1807,  under 
the  firm  of  Richardson,  Overend  &  Co. 
The  partners  were  Thomas  Richardson, 
a  clerk  in  the  banking  house  of  Smith, 
Wright  &  Gray ;  John  Overend,  a  clerk 
to  a  woollen  dealer ;  and  Samuel  Gur- 
ney,  then  twenty-one  years  of  age,  the 
second  son  of  Mr.  John  Gurney,  a  part- 
ner in  the  Norwich  Bank.  This  bank 
was  established  in  1770,  by  Henry 
Gurney,  who  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  Bartlett  Gurney,  and  the  latter,  in 
1803,  took  into  partnership  his  cousin, 
John  Gurney,  and  several  other  mem- 
bers of  his  family.  Mr.  John  Gurney 
had  previously  been  a  woolstapler  and 
spinner  of  worsted  yam.  In  this  char- 
acter he  was  acquainted  with  Mr.  Joseph 
Smith,  who  was  extensively  connected 
with  the  trade  of  Norwich,  and  was  en- 
gaged by  the  Norwich  Bank  to  employ 
their  surplus  funds  in  discounting  bills 
for  his  numerous  connections.  This 
business  became  so  extensive  that,  upon 
the  suggestion  of  John  Overend,  a  firm 
was  established  expressly  for  the  pur- 
pose of  carrying  it  on,  under  the  super- 
intendence of  the  Norwich  Bank.  Mr. 
Samuel  Gurney  had,  for  three  years 
previously,  been  a  clerk  to  Mr.  Fry, 
who  had  married  Mr.  Gumey's  sister, 
the  celebrated  Elizabeth  Fry.  After 
the  death  or  retirement  of  Mr.  Richard- 
son, the  firm  was  Overend  &  Co.  On 
the  death  of  Mr.  Overend,  Samuel 
Gurney  became  the  senior  partner,  un- 
til his  death  in  1856,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  David  Barclay  Chapman. 
The  second  house  of  this  kind,  in  point 
of  time,  was  that  of  Messrs.  Sanderson 
&  Co.    The  house  of  Alexander  &  Co. 


has  also  long  been  eminent  in  the  same 
kind  of  business  founded  by  Overend. 


•'  Old  Mr.  Denison,"  of  St.  Mary  Axe. 

"  Old  Mk.  Denison,"  as  he  was 
called  by  every  one,  for  more  than  a 
generation,  belonged  to  the  primitive 
school  of  English  bankers,  who  made 
his  own  fortune,  and  was  remarkable 
for  his  economy  and  strict  attention  to 
business.  He  lived  for  years  at  his 
banking  house  in  "  St.  Mary  Axe,"  and 
was  so  provident  as  to  go  to  market 
daily,  basket  in  hand,  for  his  family. 
But  if  he  thus  looked  closely  after 
small  matters,  it  was  because  he  held 
everything  subservient  to  one  great 
one — his  bank  and  the  accumulation 
of  capital.  Like  many  men  who  have 
a  turn  for  economy,  he  was  fond  of 
boasting  of  the  bargains  he  had  bought. 
There  has  also  been  many  a  chronicle 
rehearsed  of  the  trouble  it  used  to  give 
to  the  old  gentleman  to  provide  good 
things  cheap,  when  his  son,  the  present 
distinguished  banker  and  political  nota- 
bility, entertained  his  west-end  friends 
at  dinner.  For,  with  the  honorable 
pride  so  frequently  observed  among 
Scotchmen,  "  old  Mr.  Denison "  not 
only  took  care  that  his  son's  education 
should  be  excellent,  but  gave  him  a 
very  fair  encouragement  to  gain  a  foot- 
ing in  the  best  society — in  which,  too, 
he  was  as  successful  as  he  could  have 
wished.  He  left  a  large  property, 
which  has  been  increased  by  his  son, 
one  of  the  richest  London  bankers — 
being  commonly  rated  at  three  millions 
sterling — the  greater  part  of  which  is 
always  kept  available  for  business  pur- 
poses. 

liorillard,  the  New  York  Tobacconist. 
The  name  of  Lorillard  looms  up 
very  prominently  in  the  annals  of 
American  mercantile  biography,  and 
few  of  the  solid  merchants  of  New  York 
show  a  more  honorable  record  of  per- 
sonal worth  and  financial  success.     It 


EARLY  CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


47 


was  one  of  Mr.  Lorillarcl's  favorite  re- 
marks, and  well  deserving  of  note,  that 
his  prosperity  arose  from  his  not  having 
made  liaste  to  U  rich.  He  entered  upon 
business  with  a  capital  of  a  thousand 
dollars,  increased  by  a  loan  from  his 
brothers  of  double  that  amount;  and 
from  the  skill,  the  foresight,  and  the 
diligence  with  which  his  business  was 
conducted,  and  from  some  adventitious 
advantages,  his  own  part  of  it  was  even- 
tually multiplied  more  than  a  thousand- 
fold. "  Lorillard,  the  New  York  To- 
bacconist," became,  in  course  of  time,  a 
name  widely  known  in  both  hemi- 
spheres, nor  has  it  yet  lost  its  prestige. 

Simple  in  all  his  tastes  and  habits, 
well  regulated  in  all  his  affections  and 
desires,  free  fi'om  vanity,  ostentation, 
and  pride,  he  had  no  extravagant  long- 
ings, either  to  urge  him  on  in  the  eager 
pursuit  of  wealth,  or  to  make  him 
squander,  in  prodigality,  the  fruits  of 
iniquity  and  fraud.  Instead,  therefore, 
of  unduly  extending  his  business,  and, 
in  haste  to  enrich  himself,  careless 
about  the  interests  and  claims  of 
others;  instead  of  running  out  into 
wild  and  visionary  schemes,  which  are 
usually  so  tempting  to  the  cupidity  of 
business  men,  and  staking  the  laborious 
acquisitions  of  a  life  upon  the  chances 
of  a  day,  Mr.  Lorillard  was  contented 
to  follow  the  prudent  methods  of  better 
times,  to  avoid  unnecessary  anxiety  for 
the  future,  to  keep  innocency,  and  take 
heed  to  the  thing  that  was  right  in  re- 
gard to  his  neighbor. 

Whenever,  therefore,  the  profits  of 
his  business  were  not  needed  for  the 
enlargement  of  his  capital,  he  was  in 
the  habit  of  investing  them  in  real  es- 
tate, selected  very  often  in  obscure  and 
retired  places,  which  would  be  unat- 
tractive to  the  mere  speculator,  and 
with  greater  regard  to  the  security  of 
the  property  than  the  immediate  pros- 
pect of  gain.  But,  in  most  cases,  this 
very  moderation  and  prudence  turned 
to  a  better  account  than  the  grasping 
calculations  of  avarice  itself — his  own 


possessions  increasing  in  value,  securely 
and  steadily,  while  those  of  others  were 
often  swept  away  by  their  extravagance 
and  folly. 


Jolin  Jacob  Astor,  Eichest  Merchant 
of  America. 

Mr.  AsTOK  was  born  near  the  ancient 
city  of  Heidelberg,  Germany,  in  the 
year  1763,  and  his  history  embodies  an  in- 
valuable moral  for  merchants  generally, 
and  for  young  men  in  particular.  His 
parents  moved  in  humble  life.  He  came 
to  this  country  when  about  nineteen 
years  of  age,  at  which  time  the  State 
of  Xew  York  was  mostly  a  wilderness. 
He  made  frequent  excursions  up  the 
Mohawk  river,  to  traffic  with  the  In- 
dians for  furs,  and  gradually  enlarged 
his  business  as  his  means  increased. 
After  a  while,  the  American  Fur  Com- 
pany was  formed,  and  he  became  a  com- 
petitor with  the  great  capitalists  of  Eu- 
rojDC,  who  controlled  the  Northwestern 
and  Canadian  Fur  Companies.  Such 
was  his  enterprise,  that  he  extended 
his  business  to  the  mouth  of  the  As- 
toria river,  and  formed  the  first  fur 
establishment  then  known  as  Astoria. 
For  many  years  previous  to  the  war  of 
1812,  and  subsequently,  Mr.  Astor  was 
extensively  engaged  in  the  Canton 
trade,  and  during  the  war  was  fortu- 
nate in  having  several  of  his  ships  ar- 
rive here  with  valuable  cargoes.  The 
profits  on  these  were  enormous.  Mr. 
Astor  made  large  investments  in  Gov- 
ernment stocks,  which  he  purchased 
during  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  at 
sixty  or  seventy  cents  on  the  dollar,  and 
which,  after  the  peace,  went  up  to 
twenty  per  cent,  above  par.  On  his 
death,  most  of  his  estate  went  to  Mr. 
William  B.  Astor,  his  son,  and  consist- 
ing in  a  great  measure  of  property  not 
subject  to  regular  appraisal,  the  esti- 
mates of  its  value  have  been  very  va- 
rious. During  the  whole  of  his  pro- 
tracted business  career,  Mr.  Astor  was 
noted  for  persevering  industry,  rigid 
economy,  and  strict  integrity.    He  had 


48 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


a  genius  bold,  fertile,  and  expansive ; 
a  sagacity  quick  to  grasp  and  convert 
a  circumstance  to  the  highest  advan- 
tage ;  and  a  singular  and  never-waver- 
ing confidence  of  signal  success  in  vrhat 
he  undertook. 

As  the  result  of  only  sixteen  years  of 
business  life,  Mr.  Astor  was  worth  one 
quarter  of  a  million  dollars,  and  is  sup- 
posed, on  a  moderate  estimation,  to 
have  left  a  fortune  of  twenty  millions. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  say  whether 
the  great  part  of  his  immense  fortune 
was  derived  from  his  mercantile  deal- 
ings or  his  investments  in  real  estate. 
He  early  began  and  systematically  fol- 
lowed up  the  policy  of  investing  large- 
ly, not  only  in  the  inhabited  parts  of 
the  city,  where  immediate  income  could 
be  realized,  but  in  unoccupied  lots,  or 
acres,  rather,  of  fields .  out  of  town, 
which  he  saw,  in  anticipation,  covered 
by  the  spreading  city.  He  was  under 
no  necessity  of  mortgaging  one  prop- 
erty for  the  purchase  of  another — under 
no  temptation  to  dangerously  expand. 
Thus  he  was  enabled  to  make  invest- 
ments which  it  has  been  said,  no  doubt 
with  literal  truth,  centupled  on  his 
hands.  At  one  time,  it  is  stated,  he 
was  in  the  habit  of  investing  two  thirds 
of  his  net  annual  receipts  in  land,  and 
in  the  course  of  all  of  his  vast  opera- 
tions, with  a  large  part  of  his  fortune 
afloat  on  the  ocean,  he  is  said  never  to 
have  mortgaged  a  lot.  During  the 
fifty  years  of  his  active  business  life,  he 
hardly  made  a  mistake  or  misstep 
through  defect  of  his  own  judgment. 
Until  his  fifty-fifth  year,  he  was  at  his 
office  before  seven  o'clock.  He  was  a 
great  horseman,  and  in  the  constant 
habit  of  riding  out  for  pleasure  and 
exercise.  In  the  strength  of  his  gen- 
eral grasp  of  a  great  subject,  he  did 
not  allow  himself  to  be  too  much  dis- 
turbed by  the  consideration  of  details. 
His  mind  worked  so  actively  that  he 
soon  got  through  the  business  of  a  day, 
and  he  could  leave  his  office  earlier 
than  many  business  men  who  did  less.  , 


Troubled  and  annoyed  by  petty  trials, 
he  was  calm  and  self-possessed  under 
great  ones.  "  Keep  quiet — keep  cool," 
was  the  constant  and  familiar  admoni- 
tion from  his  lips.  When  the  great 
trials  came,  his  spirit  rose  with  the 
emergency,  and  he  was  equal  to  the 
hour.  Mr.  Astor  died  in  March,  1848, 
aged  eighty-four  years,  and  in  his  will 
bequeathed  four  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars to  found  a  free  public  library  in 
the  city  of  New  York. 

Samuel  Appleton,  Merchant,  of 
Boston. 

Samuel  Appleton,  a  rich  merchant 
and  distinguished  philanthrojoist  of 
Boston,  was  bom  in  New  Ipswich,  N.  H., 
in  1766.  His  father  was  a  respectable 
farmer,  and  the  son  spent  his  youth 
amidst  the  severe  toils  attendant  on  the 
pursuits  of  agricultural  life.  Samuel 
shared  his  good  fortune  with  his 
brother  Nathan,  who  was  his  partner  in 
mercantile  business.  Some  amusing 
anecdotes  are  related  of  the  early  career 
of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  illustrative 
of  his  humble  origin  and  his  fidelity. 
One  of  these  is,  that,  when  fourteen 
years  of  age,  his  father  hired  him  to  as- 
sist a  drover  of  cattle  ten  miles  through 
the  woods,  for  which  service  the  fath- 
er received  twelve  and  a  half  cents. 
The  boy  satisfied  the  drover  so  well, 
that  six  and  a  quarter  cents  more 
were  given  him  as  a  gratuity.  This 
was  perhaps  the  first  money  that 
he  could  call  his  own.  "When  about 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  left  home 
and  spent  some  time  in  clearing  a  lot 
of  new  land  in  Maine,  on  which  was 
a  log  cabin ;  the  nearest  residence  was 
distant  two  miles,  and  his  only  guide 
to  it  was  the  marked  trees.  He  next 
became  a  country  schoolmaster,  but 
after  a  short  time  engaged  in  a  small 
village  store.  His  success  was  good; 
and  in  1794  he  removed  to  Boston, 
where,  with  his  brother  Nathan,  under 
the  firm  of  S.  &  N.  Appleton,  lie  em- 
barked in  commercial  pursuits,  and  be- 


EARLY  CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


49 


came  one  of  the  most  thrifty  merchants 
in  that  city.  His  wealth  increased 
rapidly ;  and,  from  an  early  date  in  his 
accumulations,  his  charities  gladdened 
the  hearts  of  the  widow  and  orphan. 
The  Boston  Female  Orphan  Society  was 
one  of  the  fii'st  to  participate  in  his 
munificence.  His  native  town,  also, 
was  occasionally  remembered  by  him 
with  filial  affection.  Indeed,  he  was 
always  ready  to  give,  according  to  his 
means,  and  when  consistent  with  their 
claims,  if  the  object  presented  was  a 
good  one.  Being  himself  without  chil- 
dren, most  of  his  estate,  amounting  to 
a  million  of  dollars,  was  distributed  by 
his  will  as  follows :  he  left  to  his  wid- 
ow specific  bequests  amounting  to  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars ;  also,  many 
other  bequests,  to  nephews,  nieces  and 
others,  amounting  to  some  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  thousand  dollars  more. 
Among  these  may  be  mentioned  one 
of  five  thousand  dollars  "  to  his  friend 
and  pastor,  Rev.  Ephraim  Peabody," 
and  five  thousand  dollars  to  the  ser- 
vants living  in  the  family  at  the  time 
of  his  decease,  to  be  distributed  in  the 
manner  and  according  to  the  proportion 
to  be  fixed  upon  by  his  widow.  He 
then  bequeathed  to  his  executors,  man- 
ufacturing stocks  valued  at  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars,  to  be  by  them 
appropriated  for  scientific,  literary,  re- 
ligious, or  charitable  purposes, — and 
thus,  through  the  long  future,  his 
wealth  is  to  be  beneficially  employed. 
Mr.  Appleton  lived  to  the  good  old  age 
of  eighty-seven  years. 


Peter  C.  Brooks,  Underwriter  and 
Millionnaire,  of  Boston. 

Peter  C.  Brooks  was  born  in  North 
Yarmouth,  Maine,  January  6th,  1769, 
his  father.  Rev.  Edward  Brooks,  being 
then  a  settled  clergyman  in  that  place. 
Soon  after  his  birth,  his  father  returned 
to  Medford,  Mass.,  his  native  town,  to 
which  the  family  was  strongly  attached, 
and  there  he  died  prematurely,  in  1781, 
the  son  being  only  twelve  years  of  age. 

A. 


As  soon  as  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
arrived  at  maturity,  he  repaired  to  Bos- 
ton, gifted  only  with  a  common  school 
education,  and  without  pecuniary 
means,  to  seek  his  fortune.  The  rich 
men  of  that  city  were  then  in  especial 
need  of  young  men  of  talent  and  char- 
acter, by  whom  they  could  be  assisted 
in  the  care  of  their  property  and  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Brooks  soon  proved  to  them 
that  he  had  business  talents  of  the 
highest  order,  and  these  were  united 
with  great  modesty,  and  an  integrity 
that  never  received  from  youth  to  old 
age  a  single  blemish. 

At  the  time  referred  to,  there  were 
no  insurance  companies  in  Boston,  and 
Mr.  Brooks  had  the  sagacity  to  see  the 
need  of  a  substitute,  and  hence  estab- 
lished himself  as  an  insurance  broker, 
particularly  for  marine  policies.  Most 
of  tlie  capitalists  had  such  confidence  in 
his  judgments,  that  they  became  under- 
writers in  his  ofiSce.  With  the  rapidly 
increasing  commerce  of  the  country, 
the  business  of  Mr.  Brooks  became 
large  and  lucrative,  and,  almost  before 
he  or  any  one  else  thought  of  it,  he  was 
a  rich  man.  This  was  the  foundation 
of  an  estate  estimated,  long  before  his 
death,  to  amount  to  three  millions  of 
dollars,  more  or  less;  but  it  was  at 
least  sufficient  to  furnish  a  moral  to 
young  men,  which  to  them  is  worth 
more  than  any  mere  financial  compu- 
tation. It  shows  how  a  small  busi- 
ness, shrewdly  commenced  and  skilfully 
prosecuted,  will  ordinarily  lead  to  com- 
petence, if  not  to  afliuence.  The  same 
good  sense  manifested  by  Mr.  Brooks 
in  his  business  affairs  was  also  exhib- 
ited by  him  in  regard  to  his  daughters 
when  contracting  matrimonial  alliances. 
He  desired  his  daughters  especially  to 
select  wise  and  good  husbands,  rather 
than  heartless  and  brainless  shadows 
of  manhood,  though  possessed  of 
wealth.  In  illustration  of  this,  it  may 
be  mentioned  that  Rev.  Nathaniel  L. 
Frothingham,  D.D.,  Hon.  Edward  Eve- 
rett, and  Hon.  Charles  Francis  Adams, 


50 


COMMERCIAL  AKD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


son  of  John  Quincy  Adams,  were  his 
sons-in-law.  Although  Mr.  Brooks  did 
not  receive  an  university  education,  yet 
his  attainments  were  better  than  many 
who  had  enjoyed  those  advantages. 
As  a  man  of  business  he  had  not  a  su- 
perior ;  and  in  the  social  relations  of 
life,  he  was  an  accomplished  Christian 
gentleman. 

Thomas  H.  Perkins,  Merchant,  of 
Boston. 

Mr.  PERKms  was  one  of  the  most 
sagacious,  enterprising,  and  successful 
of  Boston  merchants,  of  which  city  he 
was  a  native.  Colonel  Perkins,  as  he 
was  uniformly  called,  had  two  brothers, 
James  and  Samuel,  both  merchants. 
James,  who  died  about  the  year  1825, 
and  left  a  large  fortune,  was  a  liberal 
patron  of  the  Boston  Athenaeum.  Sam- 
uel acquired  a  fortune ;  but  afterward 
incurred  such  heavy  losses,  that  for 
many  years  he  derived  his  chief  sup- 
port from  a  salary  as  President  of  the 
Suffolk  Insurance  Company.  Colonel 
Perkins  had  three  sisters,  one  of  whom 
was  the  mother  of  John  P.  Cushing, 
the  well-known  millionnaire,  who  accu- 
mulated a  large  fortune  in  China  ;  one 
was  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Abbott, 
LL.D.,  for  fifty  years  the  celebrated 
principal  of  Phillips  Academy,  Exetej-, 
ISr.  H. ;  and  the  third  sister  was  the 
mother  of  the  philanthropic  Captain 
Forbes,  who  commanded  the  James- 
town on  her  mission  of  benevolence  to 
famished  Ireland,  in  the  year  1847. 

Colonel  Perkins  commenced  his  com- 
mercial career  in  partnership  with  his 
elder  brother,  James,  who  was  a  resi- 
dent of  St.  Domingo,  when  the  insur- 
rection occurred  in  that  island,  and 
was  then  compelled  to  flee  for  liis  life. 
They  afterward  embarked  in  the  trade 
to  the  Northwest  coast,  Canton  and 
Calcutta,  in  which  they  acquired  great 
wealth.  Soon  after  the  death  of  his 
brother  James,  Colonel  Perkins  retired 
from  active  business.  The  Perkins 
family  gave  over  sixty  thousand  dol- 


lars to  the  Boston  Athenaeum.  For 
more  than  sixty  years  was  Colonel 
Perkins  identified  with  the  commercial 
history  of  Boston ;  and  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century,  or  more,  by  common  con- 
sent, occupied  a  prominent  position  as 
the  leading  merchant  of  New  England. 

Among"  the  many  incidents  of  his 
life,  which  mark  and  illustrate  his  pri- 
vate character,  is  the  part  he  took  in 
the  erection  of  the  Bunker  Hill  Monu- 
ment, and  the  donation  of  his  elegant 
estate  for  the  use  of  the  Boston  Institu- 
tion for  the  Blind.  He  was  also,  in 
1827,  the  projector  of  the  Quincy  rail- 
way, the  first  enterprise  of  the  kind  in 
the  United  States.  Subsequently,  he 
was  much  interested  in  urging  forward 
the  completion  of  the  "Washington 
Monument ;  and  was  also  the  largest 
contributor  to  the  Boston  Mercantile 
Library  Association.  But  his  chief 
pleasure  was  derived  from  his  free  and 
constant  private  charities.  His  full 
heart  kept  his  full  hand  always  open. 

Colonel  Perkins  visited  Europe  sev- 
eral times,  and,  while  in  Paris,  on  one 
of  these  tours,  participated,  with  anoth- 
er Bostonian,  in  the  pleasure  of  libera- 
ting from  the  conscription,  George 
Washington,  the  eldest  son  of  the  Mar- 
quis de  Lafayette.  His  last  visit  to 
Europe  was  made  when  in  his  seventy- 
seventh  year ;  and  it  has  been  asserted 
that  no  American,  occupying  a  private 
station,  has  been  treated  with  such 
marked  attention  by  the  nobility  and 
gentry  of  Great  Britain,  as  was  Colonel 
Perkins.  He  was  not  simply  a  talented 
merchant,  but  his  taste  led  him  to  the 
study  and  to  the  advancement  of  litera- 
ture, the  sciences,  and  the  arts.  He 
died  at  Boston,  in  January,  1854,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-nine  years,  leaving  a  for- 
tune of  nearly  two  millions. 


Jonathan  Goodhue,  Merchant,  of 
New  York. 

This  eminent  and  excellent  merchant 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  having 
been  bom  in  Salem,  June  21,   1783. 


EARLY   CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


His  father,  Hon.  Benjamin  Goodhue, 
represented  the  State  of  Massachusetts 
in  the  United  States  Senate,  two  suc- 
cessive terms.  Jonathan  received  his 
education  at  the  village  grammar 
school,  and  diligently  improved  the 
opportunities  of  educational  advance- 
ment there  afforded  him,  until,  at  the 
age  of  fifteen,  he  became  a  clerk  of  that 
excellent  man  and  distinguished  mer- 
chant, John  Norris,  of  Salem.  After 
serving  in  this  capacity  a  few  years,  his 
employer  sent  him  to  Arabia,  as  super- 
cargo, touching  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  and  the  Isle  of  France,  and  re- 
maining some  six  months  at  Aden,  Ara- 
bia, carrying  on  trade  with  the  Moham- 
medans. Subsequently  to  this  he  went, 
in  the  same  capacity,  on  a  voyage  to 
Calcutta. 

In  1807,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four, 
Mr.  Goodhue  removed  to  New  York, 
and  there  commenced  his  successful 
career  as  an  extensive,  high-minded 
and  opulent  merchant,  under  the  p-at- 
ronage  of  his  former  friend,  Mr.  Norris, 
together  with  such  men  as  William 
Gray,  of  Boston,  Joseph  Peabody,  of 
Salem,  and  others  of  kindred  stamp  in 
that  section  of  the  country ;  and  one 
of  his  warmest  friends  in  his  newly 
chosen  sphere  of  commercial  operations 
was  the  late  Archibald  Gracie. 

As  soon  as  the  peace  of  1814  came 
with  its  blessings  upon  the  country, 
Mr.  Goodhue  greatly  extended  his  busi- 
ness, comprising  voyages  to  almost  all 
parts  of  Europe,  the  East  Indies,  Mexi- 
co, South  America,  etc.  And  such  was 
the  method  which  characterized  Mr. 
Goodhue's  business  transactions,  that, 
notwithstanding  the  long  period  cov- 
ered by  his  career,  and  the  consequent 
multiplicity  and  importance  of  the  po- 
litical and  other  events  affecting  com- 
mercial interests  during  that  period,  his 
credit  remained  unimpaired  throughout 
the  whole. 

In  his  intellectual  qualities,  Mr.  Good- 
hue was  distinguis'lied  for  simplicity, 
clearness  and  strength,  and  his  love  of 


acquiring  information  from  books  and 
intelligent  acquaintances.  He  was  an 
unflinching  Federalist,  and  an  advocate 
of  the  doctrine  of  free  trade, — differing 
of  course,  in  these  respects,  from  the 
great  body  of  his  associates  through  life. 
But  that  he  entertained  these  views  of 
political  and  commercial  policy  con- 
scientiously, no  one  ever  for  a  mopient 
doubted.  The  same  quality  of  con- 
scientious uprightness  may  be  said  to 
have  shone  conspicuously  in  all  his 
personal,  public,  and  business  dealings. 
His  tastes,  too,  were  simple,  and  thus 
the  affluence  to  which  he  attained  was 
never  accompanied  by  pride  or  extrava- 
gance ;  and  though  he  shunned  noto- 
riety, he  was  always  ready  to  fill  those 
positions  of  philanthropic  or  financial 
trust  in  which  he  could  be  of  benefit  to 
his  fellow-men, — a  feeling  which  was 
illustrated  by  his  long  and  honorable 
connection  with  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant institutions  in  his  adopted  city. 
Mr.  Goodhue  died  at  the  age  of  six- 
ty-five years.  Immediately  after  this 
event,  a  letter  was  found,  written  by  Mr. 
Goodhue  to  his  family,  and  in  which, 
— with  many  other  things  equally  char- 
acteristic of  the  goodly  simplicity  of 
his  character, — he  says :  "  In  reference 
to  the  closing  scene  in  this  world,  I 
wish  to  express  my  desire  that  there 
be  no  parade  connected  with  the  funeral 
performances.  It  would  be  my  desire 
that  none  but  the  immediate  relatives 
and  friends  should  be  called  together 
when  the  usual  religious  services  should 
be  performed,  and  that  no  more  than  a 
single  carriage  should  follow  the  hearse 
to  the  cemetery.*' 


Erastus  Corning-,  Mercliant,  of  New 
York. 

In  1807,  when  but  thirteen  years  of 
age,  Erastus  Corning  sought  and  found 
the  opportunity  to  begin  that  indus- 
trious career,  which  he  has  so  long  and 
so  admirably  sustained.  Troy  at  that 
time  attracted  the  attention  of  many 


52 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


of  the  sagacious  men  of  business  of  the 
Eastern  States.  It  seemed  by  its  posi- 
tion toward  the  Western  and  Northern 
trade,  and  the  facilities  for  manufacture 
which  clustered  near  it,  to  afford  a  sure 
recompense  for  the  exercise  of  business 
energy  ;  a  result  of  which  the  success 
of  the  city  has  justified  the  prediction. 
Mr.  Coming's  relative,  Mr.  Benjamin 
Smith,  appreciating  the  character  and 
energy  of  his  nephew,  made  him  the 
companion  of  his  removal  from  Nor- 
wich ;  and,  as  he  fixed  his  abode  in 
Troy,  associated  him  with  his  business. 
Mr.  Corning  here,  and  then,  entered 
upon  that  connection  with  the  business 
of  hardware  which,  with  him,  has  been 
the  progress  from  a  moderate  begin- 
ning to  the  head  and  control  of  the 
largest  establishment  in  that  section  of 
the  country.  Seven  years  were  passed 
in  Troy.  The  same  kind  relative  who 
had  initiated  him  into  the  duties  of  a 
commercial  life,  accompanied  him  with 
his  kindness  to  the  last.  Strengthened 
in  fortune,  and  with  a  business  habit 
which  moulded  readily  to  his  charac- 
ter, and  which  was  every  day  develop- 
ing the  resources  of  judgment  and  good 
sense  which  distinguished  him,  he  re- 
moved to  Albany — the  city  the  annals 
of  whose  prosperity,  and,  better  than 
that,  of  whose  charities,  cannot  be  dis- 
sociated from  his  life. 

The  house  Mr.  Corning  entered,  when 
he  arrived  at  Albany,  had  at  its  head 
a  remarkable  man — a  man  of  the  first 
grade  of  merchants.  John  Spencer  ex- 
hibited one  of  the  best  specimens  of  a 
merchant  high  in  the  order  of  commer- 
cial integrity.  Nor  is  it  strange  that 
out  of  a  house,  conducted  by  such  a 
man,  so  many  fortunes  have  had  origin. 
Many  of  those,  now  giving  to  various 
great  measures  of  good  the  valuable 
influence  of  their  wealth,  as  well  as 
their  example,  traced  from  the  house 
of  John  Spencer  &  Co.  their  career. 
On  one  occasion,  Mr.  Spencer  was  at 
the  old  Pearl-street  House  in  New 
York,  when  that  locality  was  the  gath- 


ering place  of  the  merchants  of  West- 
ern New  York.  At  the  dinner  table 
were  collected  such  men  as  Christopher 
Morgan,  and  those  who,  like  him,  led 
the  business  of  "the  West" — a  geo- 
graphical designation  applied,  at  that 
time,  to  New  York  State.  The  name 
of  a  merchant  in  Albany  was  mention- 
ed, and  Mr.  S^Dencer  asked  in  relation 
to  his  solvency  and  credit.  He  an- 
swered instantly :  "  As  good  as  my 
own."  Returning  to  Albany,  he  sent 
for  that  man,  conversed  with  him  of 
his  afiairs,  entered  fully  into  their  ac- 
tual condition,  and  finding  them  pre- 
carious and  at  peril,  assumed  the  bur- 
den of  his  obligations,  and  placed  him 
beyond  cavil  or  danger.  Such  was 
John  Spencer's  estimate  of  the  worth 
of  a  merchant's  word,  that  even  his 
opinion  was  to  be — though  at  cost  and 
loss — made  sound  and  reliable. 

The  young  man  who,  at  the  age  of 
twenty,  came  to  his  establishment,  was 
congenial  to  such  honorable  rule,  and 
in  two  years  after  his  entry  to  the  house 
he  became  a  partner,  and  the  house  of 
Erastus  Corning — sometimes  alone,  but 
oftener  with  partners,  giving  to  the 
business  the  same  high  and  earnest  di- 
rection— ^has  continued  in  increasing 
prosperity,  and  with  a  range  of  busi- 
ness touching  the  very  verge  of  the 
country.  But  it  is  to  Mr.  Corning,  as 
a  railway  man,  that  the  public  eye  has 
for  many  years  been  directed,  and,  so 
well  known  is  his  distinguished  career 
in  this  sphere,  that  it  would  be  well- 
nigh  superfluous  to  attempt,  in  this 
place,  any  delineation  of  his  great  and 
sagacious  abilities. 


ArcMbald  Gracie,  Mercliant,  of  Now 
York. 

This  distinguished  merchant  and  es- 
timable man  was  born  at  Dumfries,  in 
Scotland,  in  1756.  He  received  a  mer- 
cantile education  of  high  order,  in  a 
counting  house  at  Liverpool.  Among 
his  fellow  clerks  were  three  other  emi- 


EARLY  CAREER  OF  BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


53 


nent  merchants — the  late  Mr.  Ewart, 
of  the  latter  place  ;  Mr.  Reid,  of  Reid, 
Irving  &  Co.,  London  ;  and  Mr.  Caton, 
of  Baltimore,  who  married  a  daughter 
of  Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton. 

IVIr.  Gracie  came  to  the  United 
States  soon  after  the  peace  which  con- 
firmed their  independence,  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Rogers,  a  sister  of  the  late 
Moses  Rogers  Esq.,  of  New  York.  He 
established  himself  first  in  Virginia ; 
where,  in  the  year  1796,  he  was  ranked 
among  our  first  merchants  for  credit 
and  capital. 

The  geographical  position  of  New 
York  did  not  escape  his  foresight ;  for 
he  early  pronounced  its  destiny  to  be 
the  commercial  emporium  of  the  West- 
ern "World,  and  selected  that  port  for 
the  home  of  his  mercantile  operations, 
as  well  as  permanently  made  it  his  resi- 
dence. Here  riches  flowed  in,  and 
honor  and  usefulness  were  his  rewards 
for  a  long  term  of  years.  Endowed 
with  rare  sagacity  and  sound  sense,  to 
which  he  added  great  experience,  his 
commercial  enterprises  were  laid  with 
judgment,  and  executed  with  zeal.  His 
signal  flag  was  known  in  most  of  the 
ports  of  the  Mediterranean  and  the 
Baltic  set(i§,  of  the  Peninsula,  in  Great 
Britain  and  China,  and  his  name  was 
synonymous  with  credit,  probity,  and 
honor.  Even  the  Spanish  Government, 
not  usually  over-confiding  in  foreigners, 
intrusted  to  him  at  one  time  their  bills 
of  exchange,  drawn  on  Vera  Cruz,  to 
the  extent  of  ten  millions  of  dollars. 
These  bills  were  brought  in  a  French 
frigate  to  New  York,  in  1806,  and  Mr. 
Isaac  Bell,  who  had  charge  of  them, 
was  upset  in  a  boat,  and  a  reward  of 
two  hundred  dollars  was  offered  to  the 
finder  of  the  trunk  which  contained 
them.  It  was  picked  up  a  fortnight 
after,  at  Deal  Beach,  near  Long  Branch. 
The  bills  were  dried,  and  collected  in 
specie  by  Mr.  Gracie  and  two  other 
distinguished  merchants — Mr.  Oliver, 
of  Baltimore,  and  Mr.  Craig,  of  Phila- 
delphia. 


But  a  season  of  reverses  came.  Em- 
barrassed by  the  capture  of  ships  and 
cargoes,  and  by  the  failure  of  foreign 
correspondents  and  domestic  debtors — 
disaster  upon  disaster  befalling  the 
commercial  community — his  mass  of 
wealth,  accumulated  by  a  long  life  of 
enterprise  and  industry,  was  entirely 
swept  away  in  the  common  ruin — a 
sad  verification  of  the  proverb :  "  Rich- 
es take  to  themselves  wings  and  fly 
away."  But  he  never  boasted  of 
them,  nor  trusted  in  their  continuance. 
Public  confidence  had  often  been  mani- 
fested toward  him  by  appointments  to 
places  of  trust ;  and  now  his  friends, 
whose  esteem  he  never  lost  nor  for- 
feited, sought  to  secure  a  continuance 
of  his  usefulness,  and  an  asylum  for  his 
declining  years,  in  the  presidency  of 
an  insurance  company,  created  for  these 
purposes.  But  the  effect  of  the  blast 
which  had  prostrated  him  was  not  yet 
over ;  for  here  again  adversity  crossed 
his  path,  and  the  hazards  of  the  ocean 
proved  ruinous  to  the  affairs  of  the  office. 

Benevolence  and  beneficence  were 
the  shining  characteristics  of  Mr.  Gra- 
cie. His  dwelling  was  long  the  man- 
sion of  elegant,  unostentatious  hospi- 
tality, and  his  door  never  closed  against 
the  poor.  It  is  no  slight  testimonial  to 
his  standing  and  worth,  that  he  re- 
ciprocated honor  in  a  long  and  confi- 
dential intimacy  with  Alexander  Ham- 
ilton and  Gouvemeur  Morris.  Mr. 
Gracie  died  on  the  12th  of  April,  1829, 
in  the  seventy-fourth  year  of  his  age. 


Thomas  P.  Cope,  Merchant,  of 
Philadelphia 

Mr.  Cope,  formerly  one  of  the  most 
eminent  of  Philadelphia  merchants,  was 
a  native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  belonged  to  a  highly  re- 
spectable Quaker  family.  His  ances- 
tor, Oliver  Cope,  was  one  of  the  first 
purchasers  from  William  Penn.  On 
the  maternal  side,  Mr.  C.  descended 
from  the  Pyms,  who  claim  as  an  an- 


54 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


cestor  the  celebrated  parliamentarian, 
John  Pym,  whose  name  is  connected 
with  that  of  Strafford.  In  1786,  he  was 
sent  to  Philadelphia,  and  entered  a 
counting  house.  In  1790,  he  began 
business  for  himself,  and  built  for  his 
own  use  the  store  at  the  corner  of  Second 
street  and  Jones's  Alley,  then  known 
by  the  euphonious  designation  of  Pew- 
ter-Platter Alley.  Here  he  transacted 
a  large  business,  importing  his  own 
goods.  In  this  location  he  continued 
until  1807,  at  which  time  he  built  his 
first  ship,  which  he  named  for  his  na- 
tive county,  Lancaster.  This  same  year 
he  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature  ; 
and  soon  afterward  he  was  solicited  to 
accept  a  nomination  for  Congress,  but 
preferred  to  superintend  his  extensive 
mercantile  concerns.  To  Mr.  Cope  was 
Philadelphia  indebted,  in  1821,  for  the 
establishment  of  the  first  regular  line 
of  packet  ships  between  that  city  and 
Liverpool,  England. 

About  1810,  Mr.  Cope  removed  his 
place  of  business  to  Walnut  street  wharf, 
where  his  sons  now  have  their  counting 
house,  and  where  their  packet  ships 
lie  when  in  port.  This  place  had  been 
remarkable  as  the  scene  of  misfortune 
to  nearly  all  its  previous  occupants, 
and  so  marked  had  the  results  been, 
so  striking  and  so  uninterrupted,  that  a 
dread  had  been  excited  in  the  minds 
of  those  the  least  tinctured  with  super- 
stition. It  was  what  was  called  an 
"  unlucky  place,"  and  several  of  Mr. 
Cope's  friends  mentioned  to  him  with 
some  earnestness  its  bad  character  in 
this  respect.  "Then,"  said  he,  with 
his  characteristic  uprightness  and  fear- 
lessness, "  I  will  try  to  earn  for  it  a  bet- 
ter name."  And  although  he  was  a 
wealthy  man  before  he  removed  thither, 
yet  that  place  is  identified  with  his 
subsequent  prosperity. 

As  a  mercantile  man,  Mr.  Cope  was 
the  contemporary  and  often  the  rival 
of  Stephen  Girard;  he  was  also  on 
terms  of  intimacy  and  friendship  with 
that  remarkable  man.     It  was  another 


proof  of  Mr.  Girard's  sagacity,  that  he 
selected  Mr.  Cope  to  be  one  of  the  exe- 
cutors of  his  will,  and  one  of  the  trus- 
tees of  the  bank.  It  happened  that 
after  discharging  with  fidelity  the  du- 
ties which  his  friend  and  fellow  mer- 
chant had  thus  devolved  upon  him, 
Mr.  Cope  became,  for  a  time.  President 
of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  the 
Girard  Estate.  To  Mr.  Cope,  in  an 
eminent  degree,  may  be  acceded  the 
praise  of  bringing  to  a  completion  the 
Chesapeake  and  Delaware  Canal;  and 
the  citizens  of  Philadelphia  are  not 
likely  soon  to  forget  the  promptness 
and  the  eflaciency  of  his  efforts  to  se- 
cure the  construction  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Kailroad.  For  a  long  time  he 
was  President  of  the  Board  of  Trade, 
an  active  manager  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Hospital,  and  was  also  President  of  the 
Mercantile  Library  Company  from  its 
foundation  to  his  death. 

His  personal  appearance  was  quite 
prepossessing  ;  and  not  even  the  weight 
of  eighty  years  deprived  him  of  a  buoy- 
ancy of  spirits  that  made  his  company 
the  delight  of  social  gatherings.  He 
died  November  22,  1854. 


Jacob  Ridgway,  Merchant,  of 
Philadelphia. 

Jacob  Kidgway,  son  of  John  and 
Phebe  Ridgway,  of  Little  Egg  Harbor, 
was  bom  on  the  18th  of  April,  1768, 
and  was  the  youngest  of  five  children. 
His  parents  were  Friends,  his  father 
being  an  elder  in  the  meeting.  He  was 
about  seven  years  old  when  his  father 
died.  His  father  left  a  good  farm,  be- 
sides money  at  interest,  for  each  of  the 
three  sons ;  and  a  small  house  and  lot, 
with  three  thousand  dollars,  to  each  of 
the  daughters.  The  family  continued 
to  live  at  the  homestead,  until  the  death 
of  the  mother,  when  the  household  was 
broken  up  ;  and  Jacob,  then  about  six- 
teen, went  to  Philadelphia,  to  live  with 
his  eldest  sister,  whose  husband  he  had 
chosen  as  his  guardian.    His  property 


EARLY  CAREER  OF   BUSINESS  CELEBRITIES. 


65 


was  more  than  sufficient  for  his  main- 
tenance and  education,  and  aflforded  a 
capital  at  last  for  commencing  business. 

He  studied  the  wholesale  dry  goods 
business  in  the  store  of  Samuel  Shaw, 
and  succeeded  him  in  it  as  partner  with 
his  son,  Thomas  Shaw.  Though  only 
twenty-one,  he  was  highly  valued  for 
his  business  capacity.  After  a  few 
years  he  withdrew  from  this,  and  went 
into  partnership  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  James  Smith,  in  a  grocery,  on 
Water  street.  They  continued  this  for 
some  time,  till,  finding  their  funds  in- 
creasing, they  sold  out  to  Joseph  Pry- 
or,  and  commenced  the  shipping  busi- 
ness. 

Smith  &  Ridgway  continued  as  ship- 
ping merchants  with  great  prosperity 
until  the  difficulties  between  France 
and  England.  Their  ships  were  seized ; 
and  it  became  necessary  for  one  of  the 
firm  to  reside  abroad  to  protect  their 
property.  Mr.  Ridgway  then  removed 
with  his  family  to  London,  where  he 
conducted  the  business  of  the  firm,  and 
also  that  of  other  merchants.  He  spent 
much  time  in  travelling,  but  finally 
settled  at  Antwerp,  as  consul  for  the 
United  States.  He  there  became  a 
partner  in  the  firm  of  Mertons  &  Ridg- 
way, stiU  continuing  in  the  firm  of 


Smith  &  Ridgway,  of  Philadelphia. 
During  this  time  he  constantly  sent  on 
funds  to  be  invested  in  real  estate  in 
Philadelphia.  On  his  return,  after  sev- 
eral years'  absence,  he  retired  from 
business,  finding  sufficient  employment 
in  the  care  of  his  property. 

It  is  related,  as  an  instance  of  his  de- 
cision and  promptitude,  that,  while 
living  as  consul  at  Antwerp,  he  was  in- 
formed of  the  seizure  of  a  vessel  con- 
signed to  his  care,  the  cargo  of  which 
was  very  valuable.  Instantly  he  de- 
spatched a  courier  to  Paris  to  order 
relays  of  post-horses  at  the  different 
stations,  collected  his  papers,  and  trav- 
elled day  and  night,  eating  and  sleep- 
ing in  his  carriage,  until  he  reached 
Paris,  where  he  procured  an  interview 
with  Bonaparte,  obtained  authenticated 
papers  for  the  ship's  release,  and  re- 
turned to  Antwerp  with  the  same  ra- 
pidity. Before  his  absence  had  been 
even  suspected,  and  just  as  the  captors 
were  about  breaking  open  the  cargo 
and  dividing  the  spoil,  much  to  their 
surprise  and  disappointment,  he  ap- 
peared among  them  and  countermand- 
ed their  proceedings,  producing  his 
papers,  and  taking  possession  of  the 
ship.  Mr.  Ridgway  died  in  May,  1843, 
aged  seventy-six  years. 


PART  SECOm 


Anecdotes  and  Incidents  of  Business  Pubsuits  nr 
THEIR  Monet  Eelations. 


PAET  SECOI^D. 

Anecdotes  and  Incidents  of  Business  Pursuits  in  their  Money 

Eelations. 

BANKS,    BANKERS,    BROKERS,    SPECIE,    NOTES,     LOANS,    EXCHANGE,    DRAFTS,    CHECKS,    PUBLIC 
SECURITIES,    AND    CURRENCY    IN    ALL    ITS    FORMS   AND    PHASES;     WITH    JOTTINGS    OF    THE 

MOST    CELEBRATED    MILLIONAIRES    AND    MONEY    DEALERS THEIR    BUSINESS    MODES    AND 

CHARACTERISTICS,    MAXIMS,    COLLOQUIES,    ECCENTRICITIES,    WIT,    AND    FINESSE. 


Money  in  thy  purse  will  ever  be  in  fashion. — Raleigh. 
Money,  as  money,  satisfies  no  want,  answers  no  purpose— can  bo  neither  eaten,  drank,  nor 
worn.— Laurins. 

It — money— is  none  of  the  wheels  of  trade  ;  it  is  the  oil  -which  renders  the  motion  of  the  wheels 
more  smooth  and  easy.— Hume. 

.  Then  would  he  be  a  brolver,  and  draw  in 
Both  wares  and  money,  by  exchange  to  win.— Spenser. 
"Whole  droves  of  lenders  crowd  the  banker's  doors.- Dryden. 


Drawing:  the  Specie. 

There  was  at  one  time,  in  tlie  vicinity 
of  Boston,  a  working  man  who  had 
saved  quite  a  sum  from  his  earnings, 
and  of  this  sum  he  deposited  some 
fifteen  hundred  dollars  in  a  bank,  one 
of  the  officers  of  which  was  an  old 
acquaintance.  After  a  time,  however, 
the  depositor  concluded  to  withdraw 
his  money,  stating  that  he  wished  gold, 
as  he  was  to  expend  it  in  Maine,  and 
there  might  be  some  trouble  about  bills 
if  he  took  them.  He  was  informed 
that  the  cashier's  check  would  be  as 
good  as  gold  for  the  purpose,  and  in 
case  of  loss,  be  more  secure,  as  pay- 
ment could  be  stopped.  But  he  desired 
to  have  the  gold,  which  was  at  once 
counted  out  to  him.  The  next  the 
bank  officers  heard  of  him,  he  was 
under  arrest,  and  the  following  facts 
were  elicited :  The  story  gfbout  taking 
the  funds  to  Maine  was  simply  an 
excuse  for  drawing  specie.    The  gold 


had  been  secreted  under  the  hay  in  the 
loft  of  a  stable ;  and  the  man,  visiting 
it  in  the  night,  had  taken  a  lantern, 
the  light  of  which  had  arrested  the 
attention  of  another  party  who  watched 
the  movements,  supposing  the  owner 
of  the  gold  to  be  an  incendiary,  and 
took  the  man  and  his  bag  of  double 
eagles  forthwith  to  the  police  station 
house.  After  considerable  parley  and 
protestations  of  innocence  on  the  part 
of  the  supposed  culprit,  the  funds  were 
retained  as  security  for  the  owner's 
appearance  in  the  morning.  His  state- 
ments concerning  his  treasure  were 
verified  the  next  day,  and  he  was  re- 
leased. When  remonstrated  with  for 
his  imprudence  in  mistrusting  a  sound 
bank  so  capriciously,  and  leaving  his 
money  in  a  place  so  liable  to  destruc- 
tion as  a  stable,  he  replied,  that  he 
thought  that  in  case  the  barn  was 
burned,  his  gold  would  drop' through, 
and  he  could  easily  find  it  among  th» 


60 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


The  Great  Bankers  of  tlie  World  in 
Kothschild's  Parlor. 

In  the  year  1824,  the  great  bankers 
of  the  world  met  together  to  combine 
in  the  carrying  out  of  a  colossal  opera- 
tion for  the  French  government,  viz., 
to  convert  the  state  debt  from  five  per 
cents,  to  three  per  cents. 

It  was  proposed  to  pay  off  with  a 
round  sum  those  who  were  disinclined 
to  exchange  their  claims  which  bore 
five  per  cent,  interest  for  new  three  per 
cent,  claims,  and  to  take  seventy-five 
francs  for  every  hundred.  The  whole 
of  the  state  debt  amounted  to  3,066,- 
783,560  francs ;  and  as  it  was  shown 
that  only  about  one  third  of  the  state 
creditors  would  consent  to  the  conver- 
sion, a  payment  in  cash  of  1,055,556,720 
francs  became  necessary.  In  order  to 
collect  this  important  capital,  the  whole 
financial  power  of  England,  Holland 
and  France  was  called  into  exercise. 
Invitations  in  all  directions  assembled 
the  leaders  of  the  Paris  and  London  Ex- 
changes— Messrs,  Baring  Brothers  & 
Co.  of  London,  Brothers  Rothschild, 
and  J.  Lafitte  &  Co.  of  Paris, — to  no  very 
difficult  task,  namely,  to  arrange  in 
three  lists  the  capitalists  of  various 
lands  with  whom  they  were  connected, 
especially  those  of  London,  Amsterdam, 
and  Paris,  at  the  head  of  each  list  being 
one  of  themselves. 

These  financial  magnates  sat  daily  in 
the  parlor  of  the  Brothers  Eothschild, 
and  sat  the  longer  because  of  the  inex- 
haustible eloquence  of  M.  Lafitte,  about 
the  advantages  to  accrue  from  the  con- 
version and  all  matters  cormected  with 
it, — an  eloquence  which,  as  Mr.  Baring 
afterwards  remarked,  drove  them  fre- 
quently into  positive  impatience. 

The  secret  plan  of  the  holders  of  the 
three  per  cent,  debt  was  to  raise  it  to 
eighty,  and  then  to  sell  it,  and  so  get 
rid  of  it.  This  price  would  give  to 
buyers  an  interest  of  three  and  one-half 
per  cent. ;  and  if  the  portion  of  the 
debt  to  be  paid  off  could  not  be  raised, 
excepting  by  new  three  per  cent,  pur- 


chasers at  eighty,  the  consequence 
would  be,  that  the  five  per  cent,  before 
the  conversion  would  be  worth  the  rela- 
tive price  of  one  hundred  and  six  francs 
sixty-six  and  two- thirds,  in  order  to  get 
rid  of  the  corresponding  interest.  This 
governed  the  operations  of  the  London, 
Frankfort,  Amsterdam,  and  Paris  Ex- 
changes. The  capital  destined  for  the 
conversion,  and  collected  at  the  com- 
mon cost  of  the  representatives  of  the 
three  lists,  was  estimated  at  one  thou- 
sand millions.  Speculators  had  con- 
ceived so  favourable  an  idea  of  the 
three  per  cent,  funds  to  be  created — an 
idea  based  upon  the  belief  that  the 
undertakers  would  not  bring  it  into 
circulation  under  eighty — ^that  buyers 
were  found  in  Amsterdam  and  Frank- 
fort at  eighty-one  and  eighty-two,  and 
even  eighty-three  and  a  half.  At  the 
same  time  important  sales  were  made  of 
French  five  per  cent,  state  paper,  at  the 
relative  price  of  from  one  hundred  and 
six  francs  sixty-seven,  to  one  hundred 
and  ten.  Nothing  more  was  to  be  had. 
The  project,  after  much  opposition,  was 
sanctioned  by  the  chambers  of  deputies 
and  peers.  For  the  business  world,  the 
consequence  of  this  measure  was  im- 
mense losses  for  all  the  direct  par- 
takers in  the  conversion,  and  for  all  the 
first  speculators.  The  five  per  cents, 
ran  down  to  ninety-eight  francs,  and 
remained  fixed  at  that  price  for  a  long 
time.  As  people  had  freely  purchased 
in  behalf  of  the  conversion,  it  became 
necessary  to  turn  the  purchases  made 
on  time  into  money  again. 

Of  the  three  chiefs  of  this  celebrated 
coalition,  Messrs.  Baring  and  Lafitte 
suffered  most,  because  of  the  immense 
expense  caused  by  the  collection  of  the 
thousand  millions.  But  the  Roths- 
childs were  splendidly  compensated  by 
the  sales  of  the  three  per  cents,  at  eigh- 
ty-one and  eighty-two,  and  by  the  sale, 
at  the  same  time,  of  a  great  quantity 
of  five  per  cents,  at  one  hundred  and 
four — ^five — and  six.  As  the  three  per 
cents,  had  just  been  called  into  exist- 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


61 


ence  they  had  nothing  to  furnish,  and 
they  could  replace  the  five  per  cents, 
sold  at  ninety-eight  francs.  This  plan 
of  M.  Rothschild  was  not  imparted  to 
the  other  two  who  were  interested  in  the 
conversion,  as  is  always  required  by  the 
common  understanding  of  a  common 
participation  in  loss  and  gain — the  two 
had  been  outflanked.  The  unconquer- 
able aversion  which  the  chief  of  the 
Hope  house  had  long  felt,  to  all  busi- 
ness connections  with  the  Rothschilds, 
was  the  cause  of  the  Amsterdam  firms 
having  no  part  in  the  projected  con- 
version, and  consequently  none  in  the 
losses.  In  the  same  way  the  house  of 
Hottinguer  &  Co.  refused  any  partici- 
pation in  the  matter. 


Nicholas  Biddle  and  the  Mississippi 
IJoan. 

To  the  prudence  and  clearness  which 
characterized  Mr.  Biddle's  course  in  the 
crisis  of  1836-7  has  been  attributed  the 
fact  that  American  credit  was  saved, 
and  the  mercantile  interests  of  the 
United  States  preserved  from  ruin.  The 
gratitude  of  the  commercial  houses  thus 
carried  through  was  limitless,  and  Bid- 
die  was  always  received  with  marked 
attention  in  New  York,  and  through- 
out the.  States  he  was  hailed  as  the 
greatest  financier  of  the  day — ^the  Sa- 
viour of  Commerce.  Perhaps  the  height 
to  which  he  was  thus  elevated  made 
him  dizzy,  even  generating  the  fancy 
that  his  popularity  and  moneyed  in- 
fluence could  lift  him  to  the  presi- 
dential chair.  To  win  the  South,  he 
made  enormous  advances  to  the  cotton 
planters.  His  last  measure  for  popu- 
larity was  this  :  there  was  no  American 
holder  of  the  whole  $5,000,000  to  the 
State  of  Mississippi.  Planters  are  natu- 
rally rather  backward,  and  this  begat 
public  distrust.  Then  Biddle  took  the 
whole  loan,  reckoning  on  his  influence 
and  the  indorsement  of  his  bank  to  pro- 
cure money  from  the  capitalist.  When 
he  saw,  however,  that  he  had  reckoned 
without  Ms  host,  he  determined  to  offer 


a  part  of  it  to  Hottinguer  &  Co.,  as 
equivalent  for  the  bank  exchanges. 
The  French  firm,  however,  already  a 
little  nervous,  resolved  to  get  rid  of  the 
whole  burden,  to  let  the  bank  paper  be 
protested,  and  to  send  back  the  Missis- 
sippi paper.  What  followed  is  weU 
known. 


Goldschmid  and  Baring's  Unfortunate 
Contract— Suicide  of  the  Former. 

Some  fifty  years  ago,  the  houses  of 
Baring  and  Goldschmid  were  contract- 
ors for  a  ministerial  loan  of  £14,000,000. 
But  Sir  Francis  Baring  dying,  the  sup- 
port of  the  market  was  left  to  his  com- 
panion. The  task  was  difficult,  for  a 
formidable  opposition  had  arisen,  which 
required  the  united  energies  of  both 
houses  to  repress,  and  to  meet  which 
one  house  was  inadequate.  It  was  the 
interest  of  this  opposition  to  reduce  the 
value  of  scrip,  and  it  succeeded.  Day 
by  day  it  lowered,  and  day  by  day  was 
Mr.  Goldschmid's  fortune  lowered  with 
it.  He  had  about  £8,000,000  in  his 
possession  ;  and  with  the  depression  of 
his  fortune  his  mind  grew  dispirited 
and  clouded.  Another  circumstance 
occurred  at  this  particular  moment  to 
increase  his  embarrassments.  Half  a 
million  of  exchequer  bills  had  been 
placed  in  his  hands  to  negotiate  for  the 
East  India  Company;  and  the  latter, 
fearing  the  result  of  the  contest  going 
on,  claimed  the  amount.  His  friends 
did  not  rally  around  him,  as  might 
have  been  expected  they  would,  at  such 
a  moment ;  and  Abraham  Goldschmid, 
dreading  a  disgrace  which  his  sensi- 
tive and  honorable  nature  magnified  a 
hundredfold,  after  entertaining  a  large 
dinner  party,  destroyed  himself  in  the 
garden  of  his  magnificent  residence  in 
Surrey. 

♦ 

Glances  behind  the  Bank  Counter. 

A  VERY  readable  account  of  some  of 
the  inside  operations  of  a  provincial 
bank  is  given  in  Chambers'  Journal. 
We  commence  with  "  Old  Levy,"  the 


62 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


official  specie  hunter  :  "  Who  can  this 
little  man  be  who  comes  forward, 
thumping  down  on  the  counter  those 
immense  bags  of  silver,  and  who  has  a 
man  behind  him  bringing  more?" 
This  is  "  Old  Levy,"  who  collects  silver 
for  the  bank,  when  hard  pressed  for 
that  useful  commodity.  How  he  gets 
it  all,  or  where,  nobody  cares  to  know ; 
there  it  is.  Hard  work  he  must  have, 
and  not  very  great  pay,  for  he  receives 
only  half  a  crown  for  every  hundred 
pounds  of  silver  he  brings.  But  a  very 
useful  appendage  to  the  bank  is  Mr. 
Levy,  nevertheless. 

There  goes  the  messenger  oflf  to  some 
branch  with  a  remittance  which  prob- 
ably has  just  been  asked  for  by  letter. 
There  seems  nothing  very  particular 
about  him,  and  yet  his  non-arrival  at 
the  branch  to-day  would  place  the  re- 
spectable manager  there  in  a  very  un- 
comfortable dilemma.  It  is  curious  how 
little  bother  is  made  in  sending  him 
off.  The  manager  quietly  walks  up  to 
him  and  says  laconically  :  "  Ten  thou- 
sand pounds  in  notes  to  go  to  Overdun 
Branch  by  next  train ;  you  have  twenty 
minutes."  The  messenger  sends  out 
for  a  cab,  stuffs  the  little  bundle  of 
notes  into  an  inside  breastpocket,  and 
away  he  goes,  as  unceremoniously  and 
unconcernedly  as  if  he  hadn't  a  penny 
about  him. 

Here  comes  the  little  telegraph  lad, 
elbowing  his  way  up  to  the  teller,  and 
pitching  his  missive  imperiously  across 
to  him,  as  if  he  knew  that  his  busi- 
ness was  of  primary  consequence,  and 
would  be  first  attended  to ;  and  he  is 
right.  The  dispatch  is  opened  by  the 
manager,  and  is  from  the  London  bank- 
ers, where  all  the  bills  are  payable, — 
and  he  thus  reads  :  "  Your  customer, 
Robert  Banks's  bill  for  three  hundred 
pounds  to  Hayes  &  Co.,  is  presented  for 
payment ;  we  have  no  advice  from  you 
to  pay, — shall  we  do  so  ? "  "  Very 
stupid  of  Banks,"  mutters  the  manager ; 
but  on  referring  to  his  account,  he  finds 
plenty  of  funds  to  meet  it ;  so  the  care- 


less friend  is  sent  for,  to  give  the  neces- 
sary check  and  sanction  for  correcting 
his  oversight.  He  comes  in  very  hot, 
makes  all  kinds  of  apologies,  and  then 
another  little  missive  is  sent  to  the  tele- 
graph office,  addressed  to  the  bank's 
agents;  it  contains  only  the  word 
"Pay,"  accompanied,  however,  by  a 
private  cipher,  known  only  to  the  "  con- 
fidentials  "  in  both  establishments,  and 
without  which  no  notice  would  be 
taken  of  it. 


Vaults  of  the  Bank  of  France. 

The  silver  coin  of  the  Bank  of  France 
is  heaped  up  in  barrels  and  placed  in 
spacious  cellars,  resembling  the  subter- 
ranean storehouse  of  a  brewery,  «ach 
tub  holding  fifty  thousand  francs,  in 
five-franc  pieces,  and  weighing  about 
six  hundred  pounds.  There  are,  at 
times,  eight  hundred  barrels,  piled  up 
to  the  very  crown  of  the  arches,  and 
rising  much  higher  than  a  man's  head. 
The  visitor  walks  through  a  long  alley 
of  these  barrels,  for  some  time,  until  he 
comes  to  a  large  stone-floored  apart- 
ment, wherein  are  to  be  seen  large  square 
leaden  cases,  resembling  those  used  at 
vitriol  and  sulphuric  acid  works.  Each 
of  these  holds  twenty  thousand  bags 
of  one  thousand  francs,  and  the  whole 
are  soldered  up  hermetically  within  the 
cases — several  of  these,  it  appears,  not 
having  been  opened  for  nearly  forty 
years,  and  will  probably  remain  en- 
tombed one  hundred  years  longer — the 
last  of  the  stock  to  be  disposed  of  or 
dipped  into.  In  these  leaden  reservoirs 
the  treasure  of  the  Bank  of  France  is 
kept  perfectly  dry,  and  free  also  from 
any  variation  of  temperature.  The 
stairs  reaching  to  these  regions  of  Plu- 
tus  are  narrow,  and  admit  of  only  one 
person  at  a  time,  ascending  or  descend- 
ing with  a  candle.  This  has  been  ex- 
pressly contrived  for  protection  and 
defence  from  insurgent  mobs.  In  one 
of  the  treasure  vaults  are  the  precious 
deposits  of  the  Rothschilds,  and  other 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


63 


wealthy  capitalists,  left  for  safety  with 
the  bank. 


"Confidence  "  in  Hard  Times. 

A  LITTLE  Frenchman  loaned  a  mer- 
chant five  thousand  dollars,  when  times 
were  good.  He  called  at  the  counting 
house  on  the  times  becoming  "  hard," 
in  a  state  of  agitation  not  easily  de- 
scribed. 

"  How  do  you  do  ? "  inquired  the 
merchant. 

"  Sick — very  sick,"  replied  monsieur. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ? " 

"  De  times  is  de  matter." 

"  Betimes  f — what  disease  is  that  ? " 

"  De  malaide  vat  break  all  de  mar- 
chants,  ver  much." 

"  Ah — the  times,  eh  ?    Well,  they  are 
bad,  very  bad,  sure  enough  ;   but  how 
do  they  affect  you  ? " 
■  "  Vy,  monsieur,  I  lose  de  confidence." 

"  In  whom  ? " 

"  In  everybody." 

"  JS'ot  in  me,  I  hope  ? " 

"Pardonnez  moi,  monsieur;  but  I 
do  not  know  who  to  trust  a,  present, 
when  all  de  marchants  break  several 
times,  all  to  pieces." 

"  Then  I  presume  you  want  your 
money  ? " 

"  Oui,  monsieur,  I  starve  for  want 
of  Vargenty 

"  Can't  you  do  without  it  ? " 

"  Ko,  monsieur,  I  must  have  him." 

"  You  must  ? " 

"  Oui,  monsieur,"  said  little  dimity 
breeches,  turning  pale  with  apprehen- 
sion for  the  safety  of  Ms  money. 

"  And  you  can't  do  without  it  ?  " 

"  No,  monsieur,  not  von  other  leetle 
moment  longare." 

The  merchant  reached  his  bank  book, 
drew  a  check  on  the  good  old  "  Con- 
tinental" for  the  amount,  and  handed 
it  to  his  visitor. 

"  Vat  is  dis,  monsieur  ? " 

"  A  check  for  five  thousand  dollars, 
with  the  interest." 

"Is  it  bon?"  said  the  Frenchman, 
with  amazement. 


"  Certainly." 

"  Have  you  de  Vargent  in  de  bank  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"And  is  it  parfaitement  convenient 
to  pay  de  same  ? " 

"  Undoubtedly.  What  astonishes 
you  ? " 

"  Yy,  dat  you  have  got  him  in  dees 
times." 

"  Oh,  yes,  and  I  have  plenty  more. 
I  owe  nothing  that  I  cannot  pay  at  a 
moment's  notice." 

The  Frenchman  was  perplexed. 

"Monsieur,  you  shall  do  me  von 
leetle  favor,  eh  ? " 

"  With  all  my  heart." 

"  Yell,  monsieur,  you  shall  keep  de 
Vargent  for  me  some  leetle  year  lon- 
ger." 

"  Why,  I  thought  you  wanted  it ! " 

"  Tout  au  contraire.  I  no  vant  de 
Vargent.  I  vant  de  grand  confidence. 
Suppose  you  no  got  de  money,  den  I 
vant  him  ver  much — suppose  you  got 
him,  den  I  no  vant  him  at  all.  Vous 
comprenez,  eh  ? " 

After  some  further  conference,  the 
little  Frenchman  prevailed  upon  the 
merchant  to  retain  the  money,  and  left 
the  counting-house  with  a  light  heart, 
and  a  countenance  very  different  from 
the  one  he  wore  when  he  entered.  His 
confidence  was  restored — he  did  not 
stand  in  need  of  the  money.    That's  all. 


Pursuit  of  Specie  under  DiflELculties. 

An  anecdote  of  a  somewhat  lively 
character  is  given  of  a  Cincinnati  bro- 
ker, who  favored  the  banks  of  La- 
fayette, Ind.,  during  a  financial  excite- 
ment. The  broker  had  with  him  about 
$3,500  in  bills  on  the  old  State  Bank, 
and  some  $4,500  on  the  Bank  of  the 
State.  He  stepped  into  the  latter,  and 
his  eye  brightened  at  the  prospect  of 
the  yellow  boys  ranged  in  tempting 
piles  before  him,  every  dollar  worth  ten 
per  cent,  premium.  He  presented  his 
notes,  and  the  cashier  recognizing  him 
as  one  of  the  Cincinnati  sharks,  took  up 


64 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


a  bag  of  silver  specially  reserved  for 
sucli  chaps,  and  commenced  redeeming 
one  bill  at  a  time.  The  broker  expos- 
tulated. He  wanted  gold — offered  to 
make  a  slight  discount;  but  no,  the 
cashier  told  him  that  the  notes  were 
worth  one  hundred  cents  to  the  dollar, 
and  he  proposed  to  redeem  them  in 
Uncle  Sam's  currency  at  that  figure. 
He  refused  to  take  the  silver,  and  de- 
positing the  red  backs  in  an  old  carpet 
sack  that  looked  as  though  it  could  a 
tale  unfold  of  many  a  "  run,"  the  dis- 
comfited broker  wended  his  way  to  the 
old  State  Bank.  He  presented  his 
packages,  marked  "  $3,500,"  and  de- 
manded the  specie.  The  cashier  of  this 
bank  promptly  put  his  hook  into  the 
broker's  nostrils,  by  setting  out  a  couple 
of  bags  filled  with  dimes  and  half- 
dimes.  Mr.  Broker  thus  finding  "a 
spider  in  his  cake "  here  also,  turned 
upon  his  heel  in  disgust — if  not  a  bet- 
ter man,  at  least  better  "  posted." 


Specie  in  the  Brokers'  Windows.  . 

It  has  been  said  that  next  to  owning 
gold,  the  highest  pleasure  in  life  is  look- 
ing at  it.  Acting  on  this  idea;  espe- 
cially in  times  when  specie  circulates 
scantily,  knots  of  people  stand,  shoul- 
der to  shoulder,  at  the  windows  of  the 
exchange  brokers,  and  feast  their  greedy 
eyes  with  gold. 

There  it  is,  spread  out  in  a  flat, 
careless  heap,  with  an  ingenious  affec- 
tation of  profusion.  Looking  at  it, 
tossed  recklessly  on  the  black  velvet,  as 
if  thrown  out  of  a  shovel,  one  would 
hardly  think  that  the  owners  attached 
much  value  to  it.  Its  tempting  abund- 
ance calls  up  visions  of  great  vaults  full 
of  gold  in  the  back  office.  The  display 
in  the  window  seems  but  a  sample  of 
tons  more,  which  can  be  heard  of  by 
inquiring  within.  This  is  a  high  in- 
stance of  art  concealing  art.  The  in- 
tention of  the  broker  is  to  express  the 
idea  of  boundless  resources,  and  he 
does  it.    If  he  arranged  the  gold  in  his 


window,  in  the  shape  of  a  cornucopia, 
or  piled  it  up  in  little  uniform  columns, 
set  like  the  squares  of  a  checker-board, 
the  illusion  of  untold  wealth  would  at 
once  be  dispelled.  The  gazers  on  the 
sidewalk  would  say,  or  think,  "This 
is  all  the  gold  the  man  has.  He  is 
showing  it  off  to  .the  best  advantage." 
So  it  seems  that  the  arrangement  of 
gold  in  a  broker's  window,  like  the 
tying  of  a  cravat,  must  be  done  with  a 
certain  studied  carelessness,  or  it  will 
fall  short  of  a  perfect  success. 

Some  brokers,  who  have  investigated 
the  subject  with  that  attention  which 
it  deserves,  as  a  legitimate  department 
of  the  fine  arts,  obtain  an  admirable 
effect  by  scattering  twenty-dollar  gold 
pieces  carelessly  at  the  bottom  of  the 
heap,  barely  allowing  the  milled  edge 
of  the  ground  periphery  to  stick  out 
from  the  mass  of  smaller  coins  above 
and  around.  The  sidewalk  man  recog- 
nizes the  sublime  double  eagle  of  the 
national  currency  at  once.  Perhaps  he 
owned  one  like  it  years  ago — or,  more 
probably,  he  was  slightly  acquainted 
with  some  other  man  that  once  had 
one.  At  any  rate,  he  has  seen  a  twenty- 
dollar  gold  piece  somewhere  before, 
and  its  majestic  outline  is  stamped  upon 
his  memory.  From  seeing  these  double 
eagles  peeping  out  here  and  there, 
among  the  sprawling  mass  of  coins,  he 
derives,  by  a  natural  logical  process,  an 
impression  of  Ophirs  and  Golcondas 
within,  which  ten  times  the  number 
of  the  same  huge  unattainable  pieces 
would  fail  to  create,  if  geometrically 
adjusted  in  cylindrical  piles. 


lioss  of  Bank  Notes. 

The  old  Bank  of  the  United  States 
was  chartered  in  1791,  and  continued 
in  active  business  operation  during  a 
period  of  twenty  years.  Its  circulation 
never  exceeded  twenty  millions.  In 
1823,  by  decree  of  court,  the  trustees 
of  the  bank  were  formally  released  from 
any  obligation  to  redeem  outstanding 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


65 


bills,  as  twelve  years  had  elapsed  from 
the  expiration  of  the  charter ;  and  no- 
tice, by  public  advertisements,  had 
been  widely  sjjread  for  seven  years, — 
sufficient  to  meet  almost  every  ordi- 
nary case,  it  would  seem.  The  notes 
then  unredeemed  amounted  to  the  large 
sum  of  $205,000.  A  fund  of  five  thou- 
sand dollars  was  reserved  for  instances 
of  peculiar  hardship  that  might  in  fu- 
ture turn  up  ;  but  the  whole  presented 
did  not  exceed  eleven  hundred  dollars, 
of  which  the  greater  part  was  in  the 
hands  of  an  invalid  revolutionary  sol- 
dier, and  liquidated  in  1835.  A  note 
of  ten  dollars,  however,  was  redeemed 
a  short  time  since. 


Lafltte  in  a  Tight  Place. 

The  ancient  and  close  connection 
between  the  banking  houses  of  Lafitte 
of  Paris  and  Coutts  &  Co.  of  London, 
who  were  intrusted  with  the  wealth  of 
the  highest  and  richest  nobles  in  Eng- 
land, had  brought  into  their  hands  an 
immense  capital,  belonging  to  English 
travellers  in  France  and  Italy.  Many 
of  the  travellers  had  settled  in  those 
countries,  leaving  their  money  in  La- 
fitte's  hands. 

It  was  the  common  calculation,  that 
fifty  thousand  Englishmen  were  living 
in  France;  and  that  if  each  were  to 
spend  but  ten  francs  a  day,  fifteen  mil- 
lions of  francs  a  month,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  millions  a  year,  of 
English  gold,  would  be  spent  in 
France.  It  is  evident,  that  if  one-third 
of  these  people,  or  even  fewer,  were  to 
leave  their  funds  in  Lafitte's  hands,  it 
would  make  up  a  capital  far  beyond 
the  need  of  his  banking  business,  and 
so  his  own  capital  might  be  untouched. 
But,  in  order  to  make  it  lucrative,  La- 
fitte had  loaned  it  on  mortgages  of 
every  sort,  had  invested  it  in  factories, 
had  bought  real  estate,  forests,  etc.,  so 
that  it  was  no  longer  of  use  in  his  busi- 
ness, but  the  foreign  capital  served  for 
his  operations.  The  Julv  revolution 
5 


alarmed  most  of  the  English  in  France ; 
they  departed,  and  drew  their  money 
from  the  banker.  This  emigration  be- 
came stronger  every  day,  and  emptied 
the  portfolios  and  chests  of  the  house. 

For  the  first  time^  tJie  credit  of  the 
mightiest  FreTich  lanMng  house  mm 
shaken^  and  their  embarrassment  was 
notorious.  Then  the  new  king,  Louis 
Philippe,  came  to  the  help  of  his  friend 
Lafitte,  who  had  greatly  contributed 
to  his  elevation,  and  bought  of  him  the 
part  of  the  forest  of  St.  Germain  which 
he  owned,  for  the  sum  of  nine  millions 
of  francs.  Even  this  heli?,  however, 
was  not  needed,  for  the  storm  soon 
blew  over. 


Ouvrard  the  Banker,  and  Napoleon. 

Napoleon  once  sent  for  Ouvrard  the 
banker,  ostensibly  on  diplomatic  busi- 
ness. After  a  brief  interview,  Napoleon 
said: 

"  Can  you  give  me  any  money  ? " 

"  How  much  does  your  imperial  ma- 
jesty require  ? "  was  Ouvrard's  answer. 

"  To  begin  with,"  said  the  emperor, 
"  fifty  millions  of  francs." 

"  I  could  get  that  amount  within 
twenty  days,  in  return  for  five  millions 
Kente,"  (of  which  the  price  was  more 
than  fifty-three  francs,)  "to  be  given 
me  at  fifty  francs,  and  under  the  condi- 
tion that  the  treasury  shall  pay  Dou- 
merc,  whose  creditor  I  am,  the  fifteen 
millions  it  owes  him." 

The  agreement  was  at  once  con- 
cluded, and  the  terms  drawn  upon  the 
spot,  by  a  secretary  of  the  emperor,  the 
latter  dictating  every  word,  and  sign- 
ing the  paper  with  his  own  hand. 
Napoleon,  who  had  made  himself  fully 
acquainted  with  the  condition  of  the 
public  credit  on  the  Paris  Bourse,  him- 
self doubted  the  success  of  this  propo- 
sition of  Ouvrard's;  but  when  the 
great  banker  continued,  for  seventeen 
days,  to  pay  in  two  millions  of  francs 
daily  to  the  treasury.  Napoleon  could 
scarcely  master  his  astonishment.    This  , 


66 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


was,  perhaps,  the  first  time  that  he,  who 
had  never  known  any  other  way  of  fill- 
ing the  treasury  than  by  contributions 
from  the  countries  he  overran,  and  the 
taxation  of  his  own  subjects,  formed  a 
correct  idea  of  the  power  of  credit. 


liearning-  the  Currency  in  a  Small 
»  Way. 

Of  all  the  close  dealers  among  us,  the 
Dutchmen  live  on  the  least,  and  shave 
the  closest.  It  is  astonishing  how  soon 
they  learn  our  currency.  A  good  thing 
occurred,  however,  in  this  connection, 
with  the  keeper  of  a  small  lager  bier 
saloon,  in  a  certain  neighborhood,  who 
undertook  to  teach  his  assistant,  a 
thick-headed  sprout  of  "Faderland," 
the  difierence  between  "  fivepence  "  and 
"  sixpence." 

"Yah!"  said  John,  with  a  dull 
twinkle  of  intelligence. 

A  wag  of  a  loafer,  who  overheard  the 
lecture,  immediately  conceived  the  idea 
of  a  "  saw  "  and  "  lager  bier  "  gratis,  for 
that  day  at  least.  Procuring  a  three 
cent  piece,  he  watched  the  departure 
of  the  "  boss,"  and  going  up  to  John, 
he  called  for  a  mug  of  "  bier,"  throwing 
down  the  coin,  and  looking  as  if  he  ex- 
pected the  change.  John,  who  remem- 
bered his  recent  lesson,  took  up  the 
piece,  and  muttering  to  himself,  "  Mit- 
out  de  vomans — 'tish  von  sixpence," 
he  handed  over  three  coppers  change. 

How  often  the  aforesaid  was  drank 
that  day,  we  know  not ;  it  depended 
upon  his  thirst  and  the  number  of  times 
he  could  exchange  three  coppers  for 
three-cent  pieces;  but  when  the  boss 
came  home  at  night,  the  number  of 
small  coin  astonished  him. 

"Yat  ish  dese,  John;  you  take  so 
many  ? " 

"  Sixpence,"  replied  John,  with  a  pe- 
culiarly satisfied  leer. 

"  Sixpence  I  Dunder  and  Blitzen ! 
You  take  all  dese  for  sixpence  ?  Who 
from  ? " 

"De  manumit  peard  like  Kossuth; 
he  dhring  all  day  mit  himself." 


"  Der  teufel !  You  give  him  change 
every  time  ? " 

"Y-a-h,"  said  John,  with  a  vacant 
stare. 

"  Der  teufel  catch  de  Yankees  ! "  was 
all  the  astonished  Dutchman  could  say. 


Punch's  Money  Vag-aries. 

The  early  Italians,  says  "Punch," 
used  cattle  as  currency,  instead  of  coin ; 
and  a  person  would  sometimes  send  for 
change  for  a  thousand-pound  bullock, 
when  he  would  receive  twenty  fifty- 
pound  sheep  ;  or,  perhaps,  if  he  wanted 
'cery  small  change,  there  would  be  a 
few  lambs  among  them.  The  incon- 
venience of  keeping  a  flock  of  sheep  at 
one's  bankers,  or  paying  in  a  short- 
horned  heifer  to  one's  private  accomit, 
led  to  the  introduction  of  'bullion. 

As  to  the  unhealthy  custom  of 
"  sweating  sovereigns,"  it  may  be  well 
to  recollect  that  Charles  the  First  was, 
perhaps,  the  earliest  sovereign  who  Was 
sweated  to  such  an  extent,  that  his  im- 
mediate successor,  Charles  the  Second, 
became  one  of  the  "  lightest  sovereigns  " 
ever  known  in  England. 

Formerly  every  gold  watch  weighed 
so  many  "  carats,"  from  which  it  became 
usual  to  call  a  silver  watch  a  "  tur- 
nip." 

"  Troy  weight "  is  derived  from  the 
extremely  "  heavy  "  responsibility  which 
the  Trojans  were  under  to  their  credi- 
tors. 

The  Eomans  were  in  the  habit  of 
tossing  up  their  coins  in  the  presence 
of  their  legions,  and  if  a  piece  of  money 
went  higher  than  the  top  of  the  en- 
sign's flag,  it  was  pronounced  to  be 
"  above  the  standard." 


Banking:  Hahits  of  Girard. 
The  habits  characterizing  Mr.  Girard's 
attention  to  business  were  extremely 
regular  in  his  counting  room,  and  gen- 
erally so  in  the  bank,  but  not  always. 
On  discount  days,  he  almost  invariably 


^l^fil 


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<y 


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.\i...-ntan»..nl<Xolfr<.AV«-V..rl, 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


67 


entered  tlie  bank  between  nine  and 
eleven  o'clock  during  tlie  short  days 
of  winter,  and  six  and  nine  during  the 
summer  months ;  he  immediately  pro- 
ceeded to  the  despatch  of  business,  and 
would  then  drive  to  his  farm — for 
which  purpose  he  would  order  his  horse 
and  chair  to  the  bank  at  the  exact  hour 
that  he  calculated  to  finish  his  business. 
This  routine  he  generally  followed  up, 
unvaryingly,  throughout  the  whole  year, 
never  deterred  by  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather  or  other  circumstances. 

During  the  first  years  of  the  existence 
of  his  bank,  his  visits,  except  on  dis- 
count days,  could  not  be  calculated 
upon,  but  at  a  later  day,  as  the  course  of 
trade  induced  him  to  abstract  more  of  his 
capital  from  commerce,  the  pleasure  he 
took  in  his  banking  and  financial  ope- 
rations seemed  to  increase,  and  he  then 
seldom  failed  to  examine  his  balance 
sheet  every  day,  and  "  bleed  "  some  of 
the  debtor  banks  of  their  specie.  In 
this  latter  operation,  however,  it  is 
claimed  for  him  that  he  was  never  ac- 
tuated by  any  spirit  of  envy  or  hostili- 
ty, but  exclusively  by  the  broad  and 
fair  principle  of  equitable  competition 
— to  keep  down  the  balances  due  him 
to  a  sum  corresponding  to  the  resources 
of  character  of  the  debtor  bank,  as  well 
as  to-  check  that  spirit  of  too  liberal 
discounting,  by  which  they  often  ex- 
tended their  business  beyond  the  just 
proportion  of  their  specie  responsibili- 
ty, and  the  ability  of  their  capitals. 

From  the  peculiar  nature  of  a  private 
institution  like  Girard's,  the  harvest  of 
his  business  was  during  a  scarcity  of 
money  in  the  market,  or  a  scarcity  of  spe- 
cie among  the  banks.  His  deposits  bore 
no  proportion  to  his  capital,  but  his 
specie  responsibility  always  far  exceed- 
ed, even  in  a  compound  ratio,  that  of 
other  institutions;  so  that,  when  the 
State  banks  began  to  curtail,  Girard's 
bank  began  to  extend  discounts,  and 
this  he  always  did  to  the  utmost  limits 
of  a  sound  discretion,  but  never  to  the 
extent  of  his  ability.    He  never  seemed 


to  evince  any  great  anxiety  as  to  the 
small  or  large  amount  of  applications  for 
discounts.  If  the  offerings  were  limit- 
ed, he  was  content  to  keep  his  surplus 
funds,  and  draw  specie  from  the  other 
banks,  to  stock  his  vaults  for  emergen- 
cies. If  they  were  ample,  he  discounted 
freely,  and  paid  away  the  specie  he  had 
before  been  employed  in  gathering.  In 
this  respect,  he  seemed  to  have  as  much 
elasticity  of  mind,  as  he  was  distin- 
guished by  eccentricity  of  conduct; 
and,  like  a  true  philosopher,  was  al- 
ways prepared  for  the  loss  or  the  profit 
that  happened  to  him. 

When  the  State  passed  an  act  pro- 
hibiting individuals  from  discounting 
notes,  as  bankers,  he  altered  his  books 
as  they  stood,  and  his  system,  from  that 
of  discount  to  loaning  operations — giv- 
ing the  customer  full  credit  for  the 
whole  amount  of  the  note,  and  the  in- 
terest charged  against  him,  as  a  check 
drawn. 


Timely  Hard-Money  Loan. 
Egbert  Momiis's  financial  benefits 
rendered  to  our  country  were  equal  m  im- 
portance, as  affecting  the  great  issue  in- 
volved, to  the  military  exploits  of  some 
of  the  ablest  generals,  in  the  conflict 
then  waged.  At  one  time,  the  public 
safety  absolutely  demanded  a  certain 
sum  of  hard  money,  and  information 
of  this  demand  was  sent  to  Mr.  Monis, 
in  the  hope  that,  through  his  financial 
credit,  the  money  might  be  obtained. 
The  communication  reached  him  at  his 
office,  on  his  way  from  which  to  his 
dwellmg-house,  immediately  afterward, 
he  was  met  by  a  merchant  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  with  whom  he  was  in 
habits  of  business  and  acquaintance, 
and  who  accosted  him  with  his  accus- 
tomed phrase,  "  "Well,  Robert,  what 
news  ?  "  "  The  news  is,"  said  Mr.  Mor- 
ris, "  that  I  am  in  immediate  want  of  a 
sum  of  hard  money  " — mentioning  the 
amount — "  and  that  you  are  the  man 
who  must  procure  it  for  me.  Your  se- 
curity is  to  be  my  note  of  hand  and  my 


68 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


honor."  After  a  short  hesitation,  the 
quaker  gentleman  replied,  "  Robert, 
thou  shalt  have  it,"  and  by  the  punc- 
tual performance  of  his  promise,  the 
great  public  exigency  was  met. 


liOg-ic  of  Specie  Payments. 

A  PECiJLiAE.  circumstance  once  occur- 
red in  Mr.  Eothschild's  dealings  with 
the  Bank  of  England,  in  which  the  lat- 
ter may  be  said  to  have  been  essentially 
outwitted  by  his  superior  finesse.  Mr. 
Rothschild  was  in  want  of  bullion,  and 
went  to  the  governor  of  the  bank  to 
procure  on  loan  a  portion  of  their  super- 
fluous store.  His  wishes  were  met ;  the 
terms  were  agreed  on ;  the  period  was 
named  for  its  return;  and  the  affair 
finished  for  the  time.  The  gold  was 
used  by  the  financier,  his  end  was  an- 
swered, and  the  day  arrived  on  which 
he  was  to  return  the  bon*owed  metal. 
Punctual  to  the  time  appointed,  Mr, 
Rothschild  entered,  and  those  who 
know  anything  of  his  personal  appear- 
ance may  imagine  the  cunning  twinlde 
of  his  small,  quick  eye,  as,  ushered  into 
the  presence  of  the  governor,  he  handed 
the  borrowed  amount  in  bank  notes. 
He  was  reminded  of  his  agreement,  and 
the  necessity  for  bullion  was  urged. 
His  reply  was  worthy  a  commercial 
Talleyrand:  "Very  well,  gentlemen. 
Give  me  the  notes !  I  dare  say  your 
cashier  will  honour  them  with  gold 
from  your  vaults,  and  then  I  can  return 
you  bullion."  To  such  a  speech  the 
only  worthy  reply  was  a  scornful  si- 
lence. 


Roman  Money  Lenders. 
The  Roman  money  lenders  had  no 
newspaper  in  which  they  could  tempt- 
ingly advertise  "  advances  to  gentlemen 
on  personal  security  " — after  the  mod- 
em fashion ;  but  they  could  stand  in 
the  Forum,  and  offer  their  shining  coin 
to  the  passers-by — a  more  beguiling 
lure  to  ruin  perhaps,  in  the  case  of  the 
heedless,  than  an  advertisement.   What 


spendthrift  could  resist  the  sight  and 
convenient  form  of  the  yellow  metal,  or 
hear  the  clink  thereof  unmoved  ?  No 
stairs  to  mount — no  grim  clerk  to  face 
— no  "  sweating  room  "  to  be  ushered 
into, — the  money  amiably  and  inviting- 
ly thrust  under  his  very  nose  !  They  had 
a  thriving  business,  those  Roman  money 
lenders ;  legal  interest  was  one  per  cent, 
per  month— and  the  rest  thei/  knew 
about.  The  penalties,  too,  of  non-pay- 
ment, were  such,  in  those  times,  as  make 
a  very  paradise  of  all  modern  Botany 
Bays. 


Disinterested  Brokers. 

What  would  the  British  Government 
do  without  its  broker?  There  never 
is  a  difficulty  in  the  money  market  but 
he  disinterestedly  comes  forward,  bear- 
ing his  offers  of  relief,  and  spends  his 
fifteen  or  twenty  thousand  pounds  with 
no  more  concern  than  a  school  boy 
would  drop  his  halfpenny  at  the  near- 
est apple  stand.  This  he  does,  not 
merely  one  day,  or  a  couple  of  days,  but 
will  go  on  generously  buying  for  weeks 
and  weeks  together. 

He  is  the  financial  physician  to  the 
State,  and  no  sooner  does  Government 
feel  a  little  tightness  in  its  chest,  than 
with  the  benevolence  of  a  Rothschild 
himself,  he  is  ready  to  relieve  it  by  im- 
mediately applying  for  an  investment, 
— the  happy  application  of  which  to 
the  part  affected,  enables  the  patient  to 
exclaim  with  as  much  saltatory  glee  as 
the  dressing-gowned  invalid  in  George 
Cruikshank's  pictorial  advertisement, 
"  Ha  !  ha  !  Cured  in  an  instant !  " 

He  is  the  best  friend  that  Madam 
Bank,  the  aged  lady  in  Threadneedle 
street,,  ever  had,  and,  supposing  that 
elderly  dame  ever  took  it  into  her  head 
to  marry,  it  would  be  no  matter  of 
wonder  that  the  government  broker 
should  prove  to  be  the  object  of  her 
affection. 

His  wealth  must  be  somethiijg  enor- 
mous, considering  the  amount  he  spends 
in  the  course  of  a  twelvemonth ;    and 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


69 


his  frugality  must  be  almost  as  great  as 
his  wealth,  for  it  is  noticed  that  he 
never  buys  for  any  other  purpose  than 
that  of  paying  into  the  savings  banks. 
He  must  make  money  very  fast,  too,  or 
else  has  an  enormous  "  ready  cash"  busi- 
ness, that  brings  him  in  thousands  every 
week  throughout  the  whole  year,  inas- 
much as  it  is  a  stereotyped  fact  that  the 
government  broker  limits  his  operations 
generally  to  buying — for  he  is  rarely 
caught  selling.  This  is  a  proof  of  the 
sure  principle  upon  which  he  always 
conducts  his  business,  and  the  conse- 
quence is,  that  the  interest  w^hich  ac- 
cnies  is  invariably  not  less  sure  than  the 
principal. 

Counting-  House  Dinners. 
A  CHARACTERISTIC  anecdote  is  told 
of  Girard,  which  shows  that  he  was  not 
disposed  to  permit  his  appetite  to  inter- 
fere with  his  business.  A  merchant 
had  made  a  large  purchase  of  him  ;  and 
after  waiting  some  time  for  Mr.  Girard 
to  send  for  his  notes,  and  not  residing 
far  off,  he  carried  his  receipt  book  and 
waited  upon  Mr.  Girard  to  pay  ];iim. 
As  he  entered  his  counting  room,  he 
found  Girard  at  dinner,  making  his  re- 
past upon  biscuit  and  cheese,  from  a 
small  pine  table,  the  drawer  of  which, 
as  the  merchant  entered,  Girard  opened, 
and  with  a  broad,  oflf-hand  sweep  of  his 
right  arm,  brushed  in  the  fragments  of 
his  simple  meal — thus  consulting  not 
only  the  economy  of  money,  but  the 
economy  of  time.  It  is  not  supposed 
but  that  the  "fragments"  were  made 
to  serve  a  prudent  purpose  at  another 
time. 


Securing"  Trustworthy  Bank  OflBLoers 
and  Safety  of  Capital. 

Credit,  respectability,  reputation, 
rank,  and  religious  exterior  having 
been  proved  to  be  no  pledge  for  the 
probity  of  bankers,  the  public  have  be- 
come very  anxious  to  be  informed  of 
some  definite  criterion,  by  which  they 
shall  be  assured  of  the  trustworthiness 


of  those  in  whose  keeping  they  intrust 
the  whole,  or  most,  of  their  money. 

Since,  then,  the  grounds  of  confi- 
dence in  bankers  above  enumerated  are 
not  to  be  depended  upon,  the  gentle- 
man in  search  of  a  banker  is  reduced, 
by  a  process  of  utter  exhaustion,  to  re- 
sort, for  guidance  in  his  momentous  in- 
quiry, to  physiognomical  indications, 
but  of  these  the  only  scientific  basis  is 
the  system  of  phrenology. 

This  consideration  has  suggested  the 
formation  of  a  new  joint-stock  bank,  to 
be  entitled  the  "  Phrenological  Bank- 
ing Company,"  the  directors  to  con- 
sist of  individuals  whose  heads  are  all 
highly  developed  in  the  moral  and  in- 
tellectual regions.  No  doubt  can  be 
entertained  of  the  soundness  of  the 
principles  on  which  a  bank  would  be 
conducted  by  gentlemen  of  fine  emboss- 
ments laying  their  heads  together. 

Casts  of  the  heads  of  the  directors 
and  other  officers  of  the  bank  are  to  be 
exhibited  for  public  inspection  in  the 
bank  windows  facing  the  street,  and 
another  set  of  them  will  be  on  view 
within,  open,  on  application,  to  all  par- 
ties desirous  of  taking  shares,  or  de- 
positing money  with  the  company. 

As  most  persons,  however,  are  but 
imperfectly  acquainted  with  practical 
phrenology,— in  order  to  facilitate  the 
examination  of  the  development  of  the 
directors,  casts  of  the  heads  of  the  most 
noted  villains  will  be  placed  in  juxta- 
position with  them,  for  the  sake  of  con- 
trast or  comparison.  The  criminal 
heads  will  include  those  of  bankers 
most  recently  convicted  and  therefore 
most  familiar  to  the  public,  and,  if  pro- 
curable, those  also  of  directors  who 
have  eluded  justice. 

The  casts  of  the  heads  of  the  direc- 
tors of  this  new  bank  are  to  be  dupli- 
cated, and  kept  on  sale  at  all  the  prin- 
cipal image  shops,  and  at  the  bank  it- 
self. It  is  submitted  that  this  pro- 
vision for  the  publicity  of  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  establishment  will  be  far 
more  satisfactory  than  an  ordinary  ad- 


10 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


vertisement  of  the  heads  of  a  banking 
association. 

It  cannot  have  escaped  the  notice  of 
many  persons,  that  bankers  are  very  apt 
to  be  bald.  This  fact  looks  almost  like 
a  provision  of  nature  for  assisting  ob- 
servation so  extremely  important  as 
that  of  the  moral  organization  of  a 
banker ;  and  it  is  not  unworthy  of  re- 
mark, that  "  conscientiousness,"  and  all 
the  other  organs  of  the  virtues,  are  seat- 
ed at  the  crown  of  the  head. 

Pecuniary  particulars  are  to  be  an- 
nounced when  a  certain  number  of  sub- 
scribers shall  have  come  forward;  all 
that  is  precisely  stated  at  present  con- 
cerning the  resources  of  the  company 
being,  that  it  is  composed  of  capitalists 
with  capital  heads,  and  that  the  ser- 
vices of  Mr.  Bumpass  have  been  secur- 
ed as  provisional  manager. 


Novel  Securities  for  Loans. 

The  great  banking  house  of  Strahan, 
Paul  &  Bates,  of  London,  came  to  a 
sudden  and  ignominious  end,  some 
years  ago,  on  its  becoming  known  that 
they  had  been  guilty  of  disposing  of 
securities  intrusted  to  them  as  bankers, 
by  their  customers,  for  safe  keeping,  and 
for  their  use,  but  which  they  had  ap- 
propriated to  their  own, — one  of  the 
highest  criminal  oflFences  in  England, 
and  which  was  formerly  punishable 
with  death.  The  name  of  this  firm  was 
originally  Snow  &  Walton.  It  was  one 
of  the  oldest,  wealthiest,  and  most  hon- 
ored banking  houses  in  London,  second 
only  to  Child  &  Co.,  who  date  from 
1640.  At  the  period  of  the  Common- 
wealth, Snow  &  Co.  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness of  pawnbrokers,  under  the  sign  of 
the  "  Golden  Anchor."  The  firm,  about 
the  year  1679,  suspended  its  payments, 
in  common  with  most  of  the  London 
bankers,  owing  to  the  circumstance  of 
the  seizure  of  their  money  by  that 
most  profligate  and  unprincipled  ruler, 
Charles  the  Second.  On  an  examina- 
tion of  the  books  of  Strahan  &  Co.,  ren- 


dered necessary  by  their  failure,  one 
was  discovered  of  the  date  of  1672, 
which  clearly  shows  that  the  mode  of 
keeping  accounts  in  those  days  was  in 
decimals.  It  is  also  stated  as  a  curious 
fact,  in  respect  to  the  nature  and  quali- 
ty of  the  articles  pledged  by  the  elite 
at  the  loan  houses  of  that  period  (com- 
prising some  of  a  domestic  as  well  as 
rather  comical  character),  that  one  of 
the  entries  in  the  books  in  question 
runs  thus:      "March   10,   1673.      To 

fifteen  pounds  lent  to  Lady ,  on  the 

deposit  of  a  golden  pot  de  clmfrihrey 
The  blank,  it  is  said,  might  be  filled  up 
with  an  existing  Scotch  title. 


Pawning-  Money  in  Ireland. 

The  fund  of  Irish  anecdotes  will 
probably  never  be  so  much  drawn  upon, 
but  that  there  will  be  one  left.  Among 
a  portion  of  the  people  of  Galway,  so 
little  is  the  commercial  value  of  money 
known,  that  they  are  constantly  in  the 
habit  of  pawning  it.  A  traveller  visit- 
ing that  place,  having  been  informed 
of  the  fact,  was  so  incredulous  as  to  its 
truth,  that  he  went  to  a  pawnbroker's 
shop  to  satisfy  himself  in  regard  to  it. 
On  asking  the  question,  the  shopman 
said  it  was  quite  a  common  thing  to 
have  money  pawned,  and  he  produced 
a  drawer  containing  a  £10  Bank  of  Ire- 
land note,  pawned  six  months  ago,  for 
ten  shillings ; .  a  thirty  shilling  note  of 
the  National  Bank,  pawned  for  ten  shil- 
lings ;  a  thirty  shilling  Bank  of  Ireland 
note,  pawned  for  one  shilling ;  a  £1 
Provincial  Bank  note,  pawned  for  six 
shillings  ;  and  a  guinea,  in  gold,  of  the 
reign  of  George  the  Third,  pawned  for 
fifteen  shillings,  two  months  ago.  Any- 
thing more  blindly  ignorant  and  ab- 
surd than  this,  it  is  scarcely  possible  to 
conceive.  The  £10  bank  note  would 
produce  six  shillings  and  sixpence  in- 
terest in  the  year,  if  jjut  into  the  sav- 
ings bank,  while  the  owner,  who  pledg- 
ed it  for  ten  shillings,  will  have  to  pay 
two  shillings  and  sixpence  a  year  for 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


71 


the  ten  sliillings,  and  lose  the  interest 
on  his  £10  ;  in  other  words,  he  will  pay 
ninety  per  cent,  through  ignorance,  for 
the  use  of  ten  shillings,  which  he  might 
have  for  nothing,  and  realize  besides, 
some  five  or  six  shillings  for  the  use  of 
his  nine  pounds  ten  shillings.  The 
keeper  of  the  establishment  also  stated 
that  in  many  cases  money  was  sold  as 
a  forfeited  pledge ;  that  a  man  would 
pawn  a  guinea  or  fifteen  shillings,  keep 
it  in  pawn  till  the  interest  amounted  to 
three  or  four  shillings,  and  then  abso- 
lutely and  doggedly  refuse  to  redeem  it. 


Business  Aspect  and  Conduct  of  the 
Richest  Banker  in  the  World. 

At  all  times  in  the  haunts  of  busi- 
ness, and  especially  on  'change,  Nathan 
Rothschild  was  a  marked  object.  There 
he  stood,  day  after  day,  leaning  against 
his  pillar  on  the  right  hand,  entering 
from  Cornhill.  He  was  a  monarch  on 
'change ;  and  the  pillar  in  question  may 
be  said  to  have  been  his  throne — but  in 
his  case  a  solid  one  of  granite.  No 
consideration  would  induce  him  to  do 
business  anywhere  else,  so  devotedly 
attached  was  he  to  that  particular  spot. 
There,  with  his  back  resting  against 
the  pillar,  and  with  note  book  in  hand, 
he  was  always  to  be  seen,  during  the 
usual  hour  of  business,  entering  into 
transactions  of  great  extent  with  the 
merchants  and  capitalists  of  all  coun- 
tries. 

Little  would  a  stranger,  who  chanced 
to  see  the  money  potentate  of  the  world 
standing  on  the  spot  in  question,  have 
fancied  from  his  personal  appearance, 
what  an  important  influence  he  exerted 
on  the  destinies  of  Europe.  No  one 
could  be  more  unprepossessing  than  he, 
—just  such  a  man  as  the  boys  in  the 
street  would  have  thought  a  fine  sub- 
ject for  a  "  lark,"  unless,  indeed,  they 
had  been  deterred  by  the  lowering  ex- 
pression or  sullen  aspect  of  his  counte- 
nance. He.  always  looked  sulky,  never 
indulged  in  a  smile,  nor  even  relaxed 
the  rigidity  of  his  muscles.    In  private, 


his  intimate  friends  mention  that  he 
occasionally  made  an  eflbrt  to  smile, 
but  never  with  any  marked  success,  his 
smiles  at  best  being  hardly  more  than 
a  species  of  spoiled  grin. 

His  countenance  wore  a  thoughtful 
aspect,  but  his  whole  appearance  was 
that  rather  of  a  stupid,  clownish-like 
farmer  of  the  humbler  class.  His  fea- 
tures were  massy.  He  had  a  flat  face, 
its  conformation  being  peculiarly  char- 
acteristic of  the  faces  of  the  Jewish  race 
of  people.  His  features  seemed  to  be 
huddled  together,  without  anything 
like  regularity  in  them.  His  nose  had 
a  good  deal  of  the  cock-up  form.  His 
mouth  was  rather  large,  and  his  lips 
thick  and  prominent.  His  forehead 
was  of  more  than  an  average  height, 
considering  the  altitude  of  his  face. 
His  hair  had  something  like  a  darkish 
hue,  and  was  generally  short.  His 
complexion  was  pale,  except  where  it 
was  slightly  tinged  with  color  by  the 
weather.  He  was  short  and  thick ; 
though  being  considerably  under  the 
general  height,  it  is  possible  his  pot- 
belly and  corpulent  aspect  generally, 
may  have  made  him  appear  shorter 
than  he  really  was.  He  usually  was  to 
be  seen  in  a  great  coat  of  a  dark  brown 
color ;  and  as  he  paid  but  little  attention 
to  his  personal  habiliments,  his  tailor 
had  no  difficult  customer  to  please — 
that  is,  in  respect  to  taste  and  style, 
though  not  on  the  question  of  price. 

It  was  one  feature  in  Nathan's  con- 
duct when  on  'change,  that  he  never, 
except  when  engaged  in  business,  en- 
tered into  any  conversation  whatsoever 
with  any  of  the  multitude  surrounding 
him.  There  he  stood,  apparently  as 
deeply  lost  in  thought,  and  with  as 
melancholy  a  countenance,  as  if  he  had 
been  alone  in  the  "  vast  wilderness  "  of 
shade  referred  to  by  Cowper,  or  been 
the  "Last  Man,"  described  by  Camp- 
bell. Whether  his  reserve  was  consti- 
tutional, or  whether  it  arose  from  the 
pride  of  purse,  or  whether  from  the 
magnitude  of  the  matters  which  must 


72 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


have  been  ever  occupying  Ms  mind — 
or  from  the  conjoint  operation  of  these 
three, — can  only  be  surmised. 


Another  Bank  Project. 

It  has  long  been  a  reproach  to 
roguery  that  it  never  permanently  pros- 
pers ;  a  fact  which  is  owing  to  the  im- 
providence which  generally  accompanies 
want  of  "  principle." 

Numerous  examples  however,  in  the 
commercial  world,  as  well  as  elsewhere, 
prove  that  it  is  possible  for  a  rogue, 
provided  he  be  prudent,  to  get  on  as 
well  as  anybody  else.  And,  as  organi- 
zation is  as  necessary  as  honor  among 
thieves,  an  eminent  pickpocket  has  sug- 
gested the  propriety  of  establishing  a 
Steallngs  Bank  to  be  conducted  on 
the  principle  of  a  Savings  Bank,  for  the 
accumulation  of  the  earnings  of  dishon- 
est industry,  as  a  provision  for  the  de- 
predator's declining  years. 

The  direction  of  the  Stealings  Bank 
is,  according  to  the  plan  announced,  to 
be  vested  in  a  chairman,  whose  name, 
for  obvious  reasons,  has  not  been  made 
public,  he  being  the  greatest  character 
in  the  fraternity  concerned.  This  "  gen- 
tleman "is  to  be  assisted  by  an  unlim- 
ited number  of  Vices  of  the  lowest 
grade.  The  smallest  deposits  will  be 
admissible,  and  plunder  in  kind  will 
be  regarded  as  an  investment,  and  re- 
ceive a  fair  moneyed  equivalent — where- 
by, it  is  hoped,  an  end  will  be  put  to 
the  extortions  of  less  reputable  estab- 
lishments now  so  numerous.  The  bank 
wiU  be  open  to  yards  of  ribbon  and 
bits  of  tape,  and  even  to  rags  and 
bones.  To  sharp  shop-boys,  also,  hav- 
ing access  to  tills,  no  less  than  the  foot- 
pad and  highwayman,  this  institution 
will  be  available,  and  will  receive  any 
amount  of  booty  from  the  smallest 
theft  to  the  highest  burglary,  swin- 
dling, or  forgery  transaction. 

No  distinction  is  contemplated  be- 
tween common  thieves,  sharpers,  Funks 
and  pickpockets,  and  those  engaged  in 


mercantile  and  financial  pursuits,  or 
speculators  in  Government  and  other 
official  situations ;  and  thus,  to  all  dis- 
honestly-disposed persons  holding  pub- 
lic or  private  berths  of  trust,  the  Steal- 
ings Bank  holds  out  peculiar  tempta- 
tions and  facilities.  Magistrates'  clerks 
likewise,  and  officers  of  certain  law 
courts,  whose  fees  come  decidedly  un- 
der the  head  of  impositions,  will  find 
an  apiDropriate  recei^tacle  for  their  gains 
in  the  proposed  Stealings  Bank. 


Yankee  Hoarding"  Specie. 

Now  and  then  some  very  remarkable 
cases  of  specie  hoarding  come  to  light. 
A  Boston  broker  some  time  ago  pur- 
chased a  quantity  of  coin,  of  which  the 
history  was  as  follows  :  The  coin  was 
purchased  of  the  heirs  of  an  old  man 
who  died  in  Barnstable  county,  Mass. 
He  was  an  old  resident  of  that  county, 
and  lived  to  be  ninety-four  years  old. 
He  was  the  owner  of  the  house  and 
land  which  he  occupied;  but  it  was 
not  supposed  that  he  had  much  prop- 
erty beyond  his  real  estate,  although  it 
was  known  that  he  was  very  close  and 
miserly  in  his  habits.  After  his  death, 
his  premises  were  searched,  and  specie 
of  various  kinds  found  to  the  amount 
of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  Many  of  the 
Spanish  dollars  were  of  ancient  date ; 
but  they  showed  by  their  color  and 
perfect  stamp  that  they  had  not  cir- 
culated much  since  the  coinage.  The 
Spanish  gold  pieces  were  wrapped  in 
scraps  of  parchment,  on  which  the  value 
of  each  was  marked ;  and  the  date  in- 
dicated that  they  had  been  thus  hoard- 
ed for  a  long  period.  In  all  probabili- 
ty, a  large  part  of  this  gold  and  silver 
had  been  in  his  possession  more  than 
half  a  century. 


Georgre  Peabody's  Colossal  Forttme. 

When  all  American  securities  were 
cast  down  in  the  London  market,  from 
the  unjust  confusion  of  good  with  bad, 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


73 


arising  from  the  repudiation  of  some  of 
the  States,  George  Peabody  made  the 
beginning  of  that  colossal  fortune, 
■which  he  has  proved  he  knows  so  well 
how  to  use.  He  made  no  secret,  in- 
deed, of  the  true  state  of  affairs,  and 
publicly  as  well  as  privately  exerted 
himself  for  the  maintenance  of  Ameri- 
can credit.  It  was  a  sort  of  poetical 
justice,  that  rendered  the  instruments 
by  which  he  proved  to  the  world  his 
confidence  in  his  assertions,  the  means 
of  his  own  exceeding  great  reward, 
in  a  solid  pecuniary  return. 


California  Gold  Seventy  Years  Ag-o. 

In  the  "  Voyage  Round  the  World," 
by  Captain  George  Shelvocke,  begun  in 
1790,  he  says  of  California:  The  soil 
about  Puerto  Seguro,  and  very  likely 
in  most  of  the  valleys,  is  a  rich  black 
mould,  which,  as  you  turn  it  fresh  up 
to  the  sun,  appears  as  if  intermingled 
with  gold  dust,  some  of  which  we  en- 
deavored to  purify  and  wash  from  the 
dirt ;  but  though  we  were  a  little  preju- 
diced against  the  thoughts  that  it 
would  be  possible  that  this  metal 
should  be  so  promiscuously  and  uni- 
versally mingled  with  the  common 
earth,  yet  we  endeavored  to  cleanse 
and  wash  the  earth  from  some  of  it  ; 
and  the  more  we  did,  the  more  it  ap- 
peared like  gold.  In  order  to  be  fur- 
ther satisfied,  I  brought  away  some 
of  it,  which  we  lost  in  our  confusion  in 
China. 

How  remarkably  a  mere  accident 
thus  prevented  the  available  discovery, 
nearly  a  century  back,  of  the  magnifi- 
cent harvest  of  gold  since  gathered  and 
now  gathering  in  California  ! 


"Lives"  of  Bank  Notes. 

The  average  period  which  each  de- 
nomination of  London  notes  remains  in 
circulation  has  been  calculated,  and  is 
shown  by  the  following  authentic  ac- 
count of  the  number  of  days  a  bank 


note  issued  in  London  remains  in  cir- 
culation :  £5  note,  73.7  days ;  £10 
77.0  ;  £30,  57.4  ;  £30,  18.9  ;  £40,  13.7 
£50,  38.8;  £100,  38.4;  £300,  13.7: 
£300,  10.6 ;  £500,  11.8 ;  £1,000,  11.1. 
The  exceptions  to  these  averages  are 
few,  and  therefore  remarkable.  The 
time  during  which  some  notes  remain 
unpresented  is  reckoned  by  the  cen- 
tury. On  the  37th  of  September,  1846, 
a  £50  note  was  presented  bearing  date 
30th  January,  1743.  Another,  for  £10, 
issued  on  the  19th  of  November,  1763, 
was  not  paid  till  the  30th  of  April, 
1845. 

There  is  a  legend  extant  of  the  eccen- 
tric possessor  of  a  £1,000  note,  who 
kept  it  framed  and  glazed  for  a  series 
of  years,  preferring  to  feast  his  eyes 
upon  it,  to  putting  the  amount  it  repre- 
sented out  at  interest.  It  was  convert- 
ed into  gold  however,  without  a  day's 
loss  of  time,  by  his  heirs  on  his  demise 
— a  fact  which  can  very  easily  be  cred- 
ited. 

Stolen  and  lost  notes  are  generally 
long  absentees.  The  former  usually 
make  their  appearance  soon  after  a 
great  horse  race,  or  other  sporting  event, 
altered  or  disguised  so  as  to  deceive 
bankers,  to  whom  the  bank  furnishes  a 
list  of  the  numbers  and  dates  of  all 
stolen  notes. 

Bank  notes  have  been  known  to  light 
pipes,  to  wrap  up  snuff,  and  to  be  used 
as  curl  papers ;  and  British  tars,  mad 
with  rum  and  prize  money,  have  not 
unfrequently,  in  the  time  of  war,  made 
sandwiches  of  them,  and  eat  them  be- 
tween bread  and  butter.  Carelessness 
gives  the  bank  enormous  profits,  against 
which  the  loss  of  a  mere  £30,000  note 
is  but  a  trifle.  In  the  forty  years  be- 
tween 1793  and  1833,  there  were  out- 
standing notes  of  the  Bank  of  England 
— presumed  to  have  been  lost  or  de- 
stroyed— amounting  to  £1,330,000  odd, 
every  shilling  of  which  was  clear  profit 
to  the  bank. 


74 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Bank  Parlor  in  the  "Winter. 

The  parlor  of  tjie  Bank  of  England 
has  always  been  a  place  of  considerable 
"interest,"  and  has  been  often  de- 
scribed by  those  so  fortunate  as  to  visit 
it.  But  its  aspect  in  winter  has  been 
portrayed  by  only  one  hand,  the  spark- 
ling qualities  of  whose  pen  are  only 
equalled  by  those  of  real  "Punch." 
Of  course,  in  the  cold  weather,  the  fire- 
place is  the  spot  which  first  attracts 
and  holds  the  attention,  and  there  the 
observer  perceives  the  conventional 
mode  of  keeping  the  pot  boiling  by 
means  of  money,  most  strikingly  real- 
ized. A  bank  coffer  filled  with  real  cofiee 
rests  on  the  bars,  which  of  course  are 
made  of  real  bullion,  and  the  fire  is  kept 
alight  by  the  agency  of  little  bags  of  a 
material — one  hundred  in  a  bag — ^that 
may  be  seen  piled  up  in  the  neighboring 
coal-scuttle,  which  is  also  of  the  same 
shiny  Material.  On  the  rug  before  the 
fire-place  is  a  little  footstool  with  a  de- 
licious stuffing  of  bank  notes — an  ar- 
ticle known  to  be  extremely  useful  in 
keeping  people  on  their  legs  and  giving 
them  a  firm  footing.  The  seats  serve 
the  purpose  of  chests  as  well  as  chairs, 
and  are  filled  with  the  national  curren- 
cy— every  seat  in  the  bank  parlor  hav- 
ing a  good  stock  of  the  precious  metals 
for  its  foundation.  The  works  of  art 
in  the  bank  parlor  are  rare,  and  the 
celebrated  drawing  of  a  bank  note  for 
one  million  pounds,  inclosed  in  a  frame 
of  gold — similar  in  style  to  the  bars  of 
gold  which  form  the  window  sashes — 
is  the  chief  ornament  to  the  walls  of  the 

apartment. 

— — ♦ — 

Avoiding-  Specie  Suspension. 
When  the  Combined  influence  of  the 
non-intercourse  act,  the  war,  and  the 
dissolution  of  the  old  Bank  of  the 
United  States,  caused  the  State  banks 
to  resort  to  a  suspension  of  specie  pay- 
ments, in  order  to  avoid  total  ruin  and 
bankruptcy,  Mr.  Girard  became  greatly 
embarrassed  as  to  the  course  he  should 


pursue,  to  avoid  the  drain  of  his  specie, 
and  yet  preserve  his  character  for  strict 
integrity  of  business  dealing;  but  he 
was  soon  relieved  of  his  inquietude  by 
adopting,  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Simp- 
son, a  most  competent  and  respected 
adviser  in  such  matters,  viz.,  to  pay  out  ' 
the  notes  of  the  State  banks  instead  of 
his  own,  which  he  drew  in,  by  paying 
the  specie  for  them  ; — so  that,  at  no  pe- 
riod of  the  most  disastrous  financial  cri- 
sis, was  a  bank  note  of  Stephen  Girard's 
ever  suffered  to  become  depreciated. 
This  husbanding  of  his  resources  subse- 
quently enabled  him,  in  1817,  to  con- 
tribute so  materially  to  the  restoration 
of  specie  payments. 

The  fact  just  mentioned  is  interest- 
ing, as  showing  that  Girard  was  never 
seduced  into  an  imprudent  measure,  by 
the  prospect  of  immediate  profit,  but 
was  satisfied  to  do  what  appeared  to  pro- 
cure permanent  advantage,  though,  for 
the  time  being,  rather  detrimental  than 
profitable.  Most  men  would  have  at- 
tempted to  force  their  notes  into  circu- 
lation, and  redeem  them  when  presented 
for  payment,  with  the  common  circula- 
ting medium  of  the  country.  But,  act- 
ing according  to  the  principle  and 
method  which  he  did,  Stephen  Girard's 
bank  never  refused  to  pay  the  specie  for 
a  note  of  Stephen  Girard !  It  is  also 
stated,  that  only  in  one  instance  was 
his  name  ever  protested ;  but  even  then, 
it  was  not  his  name,  but  that  of  his 
agent  in  Europe,  on  whom  he  had 
drawn  bills,  that  became  dishonored — 
for,  as  soon  as  they  were  presented  to 
him,  after  their  return,  he  immediately 

paid  them. 

— » 

Curious  Reasons  for  Borrowing: 
Money. 

Mr.  Peter  C.  Brooks's  maxim  was, 
that  "  the  whole  value  of  wealth  con- 
sists in  the  personal  independence  it 
secures."  An  amusing  and  singular 
illustration  of  that  distinguished  mer- 
chant's maxim  is  thus  given  : — 

A  merchant  named  Porter  once  had 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


75 


a  clerical  friend  between  whom  and 
himself  there  existed  great  intimacy. 
Every  Saturday  night,  as  Porter  was 
sitting  balancing  his  cash,  a  note  would 
come,  requesting  "  the  loan  of  a  five 
dollar  bill."  The  money  was  always 
restored  punctually  at  eight  o'clock  on 
the  Monday  morning  following.  But 
what  puzzled  the  lender  was,  the  per- 
son always  returned  the  identical  note 
he  borrowed.  Since  the  discovery  of 
this  fact,  he  had  made  private  marks 
on  the  note  ;  still  the  same  was  handed 
back  on  Monday  morning. 

One  Saturday  evening.  Porter  sent  a 
five  dollar  gold  piece,  instead  of  a  note, 
and  marked  it.  Still  the  very  same 
coin  was  returned  on  Monday.  Porter 
got  nervous  and  bilious  about  it ;  he 
could  hardly  sleep  at  night  for  think- 
ing about  it ;  he  would  wake  his  wife 
in  the  middle  of  the  night,  and  ask  her 
what  she  thought  of  such  a  strange  oc- 
currence. He  was  fast  boiling  over 
with  curiosity,  when  a  note  came  from 
the  reverend  borrower,  one  Christmas 
eve,  asking  for  the  loan  of  ten  dollars. 
A  brilliant  thought  now  struck  him. 
He  put  on  his  great  coat,  resolving  to 
call  and  demand  an  explanation  of  the 
mystery.  When  he  was  shown  into  his 
friend's  study,  he  found  him  plunged 
in  the  profoundest  melancholy. 

"  Mr.  B.,"  said  the  lender,  "  if  you 
will  answer  me  one  question,  I  will  let 
you  have  that  ten  dollars  !  How  does 
it  happen  that  you  always  pay  me  the 
mnney  you  borrow  on  Saturday  night 
in  the  very  same  coin  or  note  on  Mon- 
day ?  " 

The  parson  raised  his  head,  and  after 
a  violent  internal  struggle,  as  though 
he  were  about  to  unveil  the  hoarded 
mystery  of  his  soul,  said,  in  faltering 
tones,  "  Porter,  you  are  a  gentleman,  a 
Christian,  and  a  New  Yorker — I  know 
I  can  rely  on  your  inviolable  secrecy. 
Listen  to  the  secret  of  my  eloquence. 
You  know  that  I  am  poor,  and  when, 
on  Saturday,  I  have  bought  my  Sunday 
dinner,  I  have  seldom  a  red  cent  left 


in  my  pocket.  Now  I  maintain  that 
no  man  can  preach  the  gospel  and  blow 
up  his  congregation  properly,  without 
he  has  something  in  his  pocket  to  in- 
spire him  with  confidence.  I  have 
therefore  borrowed  five  dollars  of  you 
every  Saturday,  that  I  might  feel  it 
occasionally,  as  I  preached  on  Smiday. 
You  know  how  independently  I  do 
preach — how  I  make  the  rich  shake 
in  their  shoes.  Well,  it  is  all  owing 
to  my  knowing  that  I  have  a  five  dollar 
bill  in  my  pocket.  Of  course,  never 
having  to  use  it  for  any  other  purpose, 
it  is  not  changed,  but  invariably  re- 
turned to  you  the  next  morning.  But, 
to-morrow,  Mr.  George  Law  is  coming 
to  hear  me  preach,  and  I  thought  I 
would  try  the  effect  of  a  ten  dollar-bill 
sermon  on  him  !  " 


Atchafalaya  Currency  by  the  Cord. 

Capt.  Shallcross,  of  the  Mississippi 
steamer  Peytona,  is  one  of  the  crack 
captains  on  the  river.  Everybody  knows 
him  and  he  knows  everybody — there- 
fore everybody  will  be  pleased  with  a 
little  story  about  him.  One  day,  the 
Peytona  was  steaming  down  past  the 
cotton  woods  toward  New  Orleans, 
when  she  was  hailed  by  another  boat 
going  up. 

"  Hallo  !  Capt.  Shall. !  " 

"  Hallo  !  "  was  the  answer. 

"  Got  any  Atchafalaya  money  ?  " 

"  Yes,  plenty." 

"  Well,  pay  it  out ;  the  bank's  busted, 
or  gwine  to." 

"Ay,  ay,"  said  Capt.  Shallcross. 
"  Clerk,  have  you  got  much  of  that 
money?"  "About  a  thousand  dol- 
lars, I  reckon,  sir,"  said  the  clerk  of 
the  Peytona.  "  Well,  stop  at  the  first 
wood  boat."  And  the  Peytona  puffed 
on,  until  a  wood  boat  was  seen  moored 
to  the  shore,  with  piles  of  cord-wood 
around,  and  a  small  man,  with  his 
trousers  rolled  up,  and  his  hands  in 
his  pockets,  shivering  on  the  bank  be- 
side his  boat,  in  the  chill  December 
weather. 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"  Wood  boat,  ahoy ! "  sang  out  Capt. 
Sliallcross. 

"  Hallo  !  "  sounded  the  small  man  in 
the  distance. 

"  Want  to  sell  that  wood  ? " 

Small  man  in  the  distance — "  Yas." 

"  Take  Atchafalaya  money  ?  " 

Small  man  in  the  distance — "  Yas." 

"Round  to,  pilot,"  said  Capt.  Shall. 

The  boats  bound  down  stream  always 
have  to  come  around,  with  their  bow 
pointed  up  stream,  to  resist  the  current 
of  the  Mississippi ;  sometimes  they  en- 
counter a  big  eddy,  and  have  to  take 
a  sweep  of  some  miles  before  they  reach 
the  landing  place.  So  it  was  in  this 
instance. 

"  So  you  iiyiU  take  Atchafalaya  money 
for  wood,  wiU  you  ?  "  said  the  captain, 
as  the  boat  approached  the  shore. 

"  Yas,"  said  the  small  man. 

"  How  will  you  take  it  ? "  asked 
Capt,  Shall. — meaning  at  what  rate. 

"  Take  it  even,"  quoth  the  small  man. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  even  ?  " 

"  Cord  for  cord,  Captain.^'' 

"Put  her  round  again,  pilot,"  said 
Capt.  Shall.,"  "  and  wood  up  at  the  next 
wharf-boat ;  I  reckon  that  some  gabbler 
"heA  posted  this  fellow  on  Atchafalaya." 


Btiming  a  Banker's  Notes. 

During  one  of  the  rebellions  in  Ire- 
land, the  rebels,  who  had  conceived  a 
high  degree  of  indignation  against  a 
certain  great  banker,  passed  a  resolu- 
tion that  they  would  at  once  burn  his 
notes  which  they  held;  this  they  ac- 
cordingly did — forgetting  that,  in  burn- 
ing his  notes,  they  were  destroying  his 
debts,  and  that  for  every  note  which 
went  into  the  flames,  a  corresponding 
value  went  into  the  banker's  pocket 
and.  out  of  their  own.  This  is  what 
may  be  termed  a  genuine  financial  Hi- 
bemianism ! 


Money  Chang-ers  in  China. 
The  Chinese  do  not  recognize  either 
gold  or  silver  as  current  coin.    Gold  is 


considered  merchandise,  and  its  value 
varies  like  that  of  any  other  precious 
commodity  in  Europe.  As  to  silver, 
it  is  never  coined,  but,  to  forward  the 
purposes  of  commerce,  it  is  generally 
divided  into  small  ingots,  which  they 
can  cut  into  morsels,  as  they  choose, 
in  order  to  make  their  payments  exact. 
Thus  all  men  of  business  carry  with 
them  a  pair  of  small  scales,  of  most 
exact  balance,  by  means  of  which  they 
settle  all  their  accounts  by  weight. 
The  changer  may  usually  be  seen  ex- 
amining a  dollar,  and  grasping  with  one 
hand  a  species  of  shears,  used  as  well 
for  testing  as  dividing  the  coin  of 
foreigners.  A  dollar  is  worth  a  num- 
ber— more  or  less,  according  to  the 
course  of  exchange — of  the  small  cop- 
per coins  which  are  seen  threaded  on 
the  changer's  desk.  This  coin  is  the 
only  one  legally  current  in  China ;  it 
is  round,  with  a  hole  in  the  middle, 
and  is  a  little  larger,  but  much  thinner 
than  an  English  farthing.  These  small 
coins  are  called  lees;  they  are  used 
separately  for  trade  purposes,  or  strung 
in  fifties,  hundreds,  or  thousands.  The 
lees  are  cun*ent  only  during  the  reign 
of  the  sovereign  who  issued  them.  The 
head  of  the  reigning  prince,  however, 
is  never  engraved  on  the  Chinese  coin ; 
the  only  distinguishing  mark  is  that 
of  the  dynasty  under  which  it  was 
struck,  with  a  couple  of  Chinese  char- 
acters on  the  face,  and  as  many  Tartar 
characters  on  the  reverse.  The  Chinese 
would  think  it  a  great  mark  of  disre- 
spect to  the  majesty  of  the  emperor, 
as  brother  of  the  sun,  to  circulate  his 
august  effigy  among  the  common  peo- 
ple, and  submit  it  to  the  plebeian  fingers 
of  hawkers,  pedlers,  and  fishfags.  Such 
a  degradation  is  not  to  be  thought  of. 


Bankers  of  the  Old  School. 

The  London  banker  of  the  olden  time, 
the  successor  to  the  Lombards,  had  but 
little  resemblance  to  the  modern  gentle- 
man who  is  known  by  the  same  title. 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


77 


He  was  a  man  of  serious  manners,  plain 
apparel,  the  steadiest  conduct,  and  a 
rigid  observer  of  formalities.  On  look- 
ing in  his  face,  there  could  be  read,  in 
intelligible  characters,  the  fact  that  the 
ruling  maxim  of  life,  the  one  to  which 
he  turned  all  his  thoughts  and  by  which 
he  shaped  all  his  actions,  was,  "  that 
he  who  would  be  trusted  with  the 
money  of  other  men  should  looh  as  if 
he  deserved  the  trust,  and  be  an  osten- 
sible pattern  to  society  of  probity,  ex- 
actness, frugality,  and  decorum." 

He  lived,  if  not  the  whole  of  the 
year,  at  least  the  greater  part  of  it,  at 
his  banking  house,  was  punctual  to  the 
hours  of  business,  and  always  to  be 
found  at  his  desk.  The  fashionable 
society  at  the  west  end  of  the  town, 
and  the  amusements  of  high  life,  he 
never  dreamed  of  enjoying,  and  would 
have  deemed  it  little  short  of  insanity 
to  imagine  that  such  an  act  was  within 
the  compass  of  human  daring,  as  that 
of  a  banker  lounging  for  an  evening  in 
Fop's  Alley,  at  the  opera,  or  turning 
out  for  the  Derby  with  four  greys  to 
his  chariot,  and  a  goodly  bumper  swung 
behind,  well  stuffed  with  pies,  spring 
chickens,  and  iced  champagne. 

The  material  or  architectural  aspect 
of  the  business  of  banking  in  early 
times,  is  also,  to  modern  ideas,  as  hum- 
ble as  it  must  have  been  picturesque. 
Instead  of  the  handsome  apartments, 
the  highly  polished  and  well-fitted 
counters,  and  well-dressed  clerks  of 
the  modern  banking-houses,  there  were 
the  dark-featured  Lombards,  ranged 
behind  their  bags  of  money  displayed 
on  low  benches  in  open  shops,  pro- 
tected, perhaps,  by  occasional  awnings, 
from  the  inclemency  of  the  weather. 


''The  Lady's  Broker." 
Most  of  the  leading  men  who  act 
as  brokers  in  London  go  by  nick-names ; 
and  the  way  in  which  these  names  some- 
times originate,  is  quite  curious.  One 
of  the  fraternity  has  been  dubbed  "  The 
Lady's  Broker,"  in  consequence  of  hay- 


ing been  employed,  on  one  occasion,  by 
Madame  R.,  the  lady  of  a  deceased 
capitalist,  in  a  speculation  into  which 
she  entered  on  her  own  account,  and 
without  the  knowledge  of  her  husband. 
The  speculation  turned  out  so  unfavor- 
ably, that  neither  the  lady  nor  her  bro- 
ker could  discharge  their  obligations ; 
and  hence,  as  in  other  cases  where  the 
broker  cannot  meet  the  engagements  he 
has  entered  into  for  any  other  party,  he 
must,  to  save  himself  from  the  black- 
board, give  up  the  name  of  his  prin- 
cipal,— the  broker  was  compelled  to 
divulge  the  name  of  the  lady  speculator. 
From  that  day  to  this,  he  has  gone 
under  the  name  of  the  "  The  Lady's 
Broker."  The  husband,  in  this  case, 
knowing  he  could  not  be  compelled  to 
pay  for  the  illegal  gambling  of  his  wife, 
refused  to  advance  a  single  farthing 
in  liquidation  of  her  debts. 


Cashier  Inviting  a  Run  upon  his  Bank. 

A  BANK  that  was  managed  with  great 
caution  was  once  in  what  was  supposed 
to  be  a  peculiar  position,  when  a  friend 
of  the  cashier  called  upon  him,  and  tak- 
ing him  aside,  with  a  grave  face,  said, 
"  I  heard  it  asserted  just  now  that  you 
have  not  five  thousand  Tlollars  left  out 
of  the  one  hundred  thousand  silver 
dollars  that  were  lately  paid  into  your 
bank,  and  I  hastened  to  tell  you,  in 
order  that  you  may  show  me  your 
vaults,  and  give  me  the  means  to  con- 
tradict the  rumor." 

"  No,"  said  the  cashier,  "  the  rumor 
is  all  true.  Wliat  use  do  you  suppose 
that  I  have  for  the  silver  ? " 

"Why,  to  meet  the  run  upon  your 
bank,  which  must  certainly  come  when 
this  state  of  your  affairs  is  generally 
known,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Let  the  run  come^''  said  the  cashier ; 
"  and  by  way  of  beginning  it,  do  you 
go  into  the  street,  collect  all  of  our 
bills  that  you  can  find,  and  bring  them 
to  me,  and  I  promise  to  give  you  the 
hard  dollars  for  them." 


IS 


COMMERCIAL  AKD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


After  some  time,  his  friend  returned 
to  say  that  he  had  not  been  able  to  find 
any  of  the  bills  of  that  particular  bank, 
excepting  a  solitary  one  for  five  dollars, 
for  which  the  silver  was  immediately 
ofiered  him. 

"  Just  so,"  said  the  cashier,  "  almost 
all  the  bills  that  I  have  issued  have 
already  been  sent  in,  and  I  have  paid 
out  the  silver  for  them.  But  in  doing 
so,  I  have  emptied  most  of  these  boxes 
of  dollars.  The  money  was  given  'me  to 
lend  ;  and  I  have  lent  it  for  about  four 
months.  But  I  could  not  lend  and  keep 
it  too.  I  have,  therefore,  very  little 
gold  or  silver  in  the  vaults.  So  long 
as  I  have  the  small  amount  that  is 
necessary  to  redeem  the  few  bills  that 
remain  out,  and  the  two  thousand  dol- 
lars which  I  have  earned  for  the  stock- 
holders, I  am  easy.  You  may  go  back 
to  the  street,  if  you  will,  and  defy  the 
world  to  break  our  bank.  We  shall 
lend  nothing  more  until  the  promissory 
notes  that  we  have  taken  as  security 
begin  to  fall  due.  As  they  are  paid  in, 
with  hard  dollars,  or  the  bills  of  other 
banks,  we  shall  have  the  means  to  lend 
moneys  again." 


Obtaining:  Security  to  be  a  Broker. 

Amo:ng  the  "political  opponents  of 
George  Hudson,  the  English  railway 
monarch,  when  at  York,  was  one  who, 
when  riches  were  discovered  by  him  to 
be  so  easily  realized  on  the  stock  ex- 
change, sought  the  great  metropolis  to 
make  his  fortune,  as  others  had,  by  be- 
coming a  broker.  To  London  he  went. 
But  to  be  a  member  of  the  money  mar- 
ket in  that  city,  two  sureties  were  re- 
quired ;  and  he  could  procure  only  one. 
The  difficulty  continued,  and  great  was 
his  disappointment.  In  his  despair  he 
thought  of  the  railway  king  ;  and,  as  a 
last  resource,  on  Mr.  Hudson  he  waited, 
and  told  his  mission. 

"  You've  been  no  friend  of  mine," 
said  Mr.  Hudson,  bluntly ;  "  but  I  be- 
lieve you're  a  good  sort  of  fellow — call 
on  me  to-morrow." 


The  morrow  came,  and,  full  of  anxi- 
ety, he  waited  on  the  autocrat. 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Hudson,  "  it's  all 
settled ;  I've  arranged  everything.   Mr. 

will  be  your  other  security:  go 

to  him  ;  I've  told  him  to  do  it." 

Mr.  Hudson  did  not  add,  as  he  might, 
that  he  had  in  fact  guaranteed  the 
amount  to  the  broker  named  by  him, 
and  was  himself  sole  surety  for  the 
opponent  he  befriended. 


London  Bankers  and  Banking  Houses. 

The  oldest  banking  houses  in  Lon- 
don are  Child's,  at  Temple  Bar,  Hoare's, 
in  Fleet  street,  Strahan's  —  formerly 
Snow's,  in  the  Strand,  and  Gosling's, 
in  Fleet  street.  None  date  earlier  than 
the  restoration  of  Charles  the  Second. 
The  original  bankers  were  goldsmiths — 
"  goldsmiths  that  keep  running  cashes  " 
— and  their  shops  were  distinguished 
by  signs.  Thus,  Child's  was  known  by 
"  The  Marygold,"  still  to  be  seen  where 
the  checks  are  cashed ;  Hoare's,  by  "  the 
Golden  Bottle,"  still  remaining  over  the 
door;  Strahan's,  by  "the  Golden  An- 
chor," to  be  seen  inside ;  and  Gosling's, 
by  "  the  Three  Squirrels,"  still  promi- 
nent in  the  ironwork  of  their  windows 
toward  the  street. 

The  founder  of  Child's  celebrated 
house  was  John  Backwell,  an  alderman 
of  the  city  of  London,  ruined  by  the 
shutting  up  of  the  Exchequer  in  the 
reign  of  Charles  the  Second.  Stone 
and  Martin's,  in  Lombard  street,  is  said 
to  have  been  founded  by  Sir  Thomas 
Gresham,  and  the  grasshopper  sign  of 
the  Gresham  family  was  preserved  in 
the  banking  house  till  late  in  the  last 
century. 

Of  the  west-end  banking  houses, 
Drummond's,  at  Charing-cross,  is  the 
oldest;  and  next  to  Drummond's, 
Coutts's,  in  the  Strand.  The  founder 
of  Drummond's  obtained  his  great 
position  by  advancing  money  to  the 
Pretender,  and  the  king's  consequent 
withdrawal  led  to  a  rush  of  the  Scot- 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


79 


tish  nobility  and  gentry  with  their 
accounts,  and  to  the  ultimate  advance- 
ment of  the  bank  to  its  present  footing. 
Coutts's  house  was  founded  by  George 
Middleton,  and  originally  stood  in  St. 
Martin's  lane,  near  St  Martin's  church  ; 
Coutts  removed  it  to  its  present  site. 

The  great  Lord  Clarendon,  in  the 
reign  of  Charles  the  Second,  kept  an 
account  at  Hoare's ;  Dryden  lodged 
his  £50  for  the  discovery  of  the  bullies 
who  waylaid  and  beat  him,  at  Child's, 
Temple  Bar;  Pope  banked  at  Drum- 
mond's ;  Lady  Mary  Wortley  Montague, 
at  Child's  ;  Gay,  at  Hoare's ;  Dr.  John- 
son and  Sir  Walter  Scott,  at  Coutts's ; 
Bishop  Percy,  at  Gosling's ;  the  Duke 
of  Wellington,  at  Coutts's ;  the  Duke 
of  Sutherland,  at  Drummond's;  the 
Duke  of  Devonshire,  at  Snow's. 


Paying  Notes  in  Specie. 

Philip  Hone,  speaking  of  tbe  "  bless- 
ed "  days  of  specie  currency,  says :  "  The 
few  notes  which  were  given  out  by  the 
merchants  and  shopkeepers — and  the 
sequel  will  show  how  few  they  must 
have  been — were  collected  of  course 
through  the  bank.  Michael  Boyle,  the 
runner,  with  his  jocund  laugh  and 
pleasant  countenance,  called,  several 
days  before  the  time,  with  a  notice  that 
the  note  would  be  due  on  such  a  day, 
and  payment  expected  three  days  there- 
after. When  the  day  arrived,  the  same 
person  called  again  with  a  canvas  bag, 
counted  the  money  in  dollars,  half  dol- 
lars, quarters,  and  sixpences  (those 
abominable  disturbers  of  the  people's 
peace — bank  notes  being  scarcely 
known  in  those  days),  carried  it  to  the 
bank,  and  then  sallied  out  to  another 
debtor.  And  in  this  way  all  the  notes 
were  collected  in  the  great  commercial 
city  of  New  York,  in  such  a  circum- 
scribed circle  did  its  operations  then 
revolve.  Well  do  I  remember  Mi- 
chael Boyle,  running  around  from  Pearl 
street  to  Maiden  lane, .  Broadway,  and 
William  street, — the    business    limits, 


happily  for  him,  not  extending  north 
of  the  present  Fulton  street, — panting 
under  the  load  of  a  bag  of  silver,  a  sort 
of  locomotive  sub-treasurer,  or  the  em- 
bodiment of  a  specie  circular." 


Security  for  a  Discount. 

It  is  very  common  among  business 
men  to  give  vent  to  a  good  deal  of 
grumbling  about  the  illiberal  course 
which  characterizes  banks  in  hard 
times,  toward  their  customers.  An 
unfortunate  customer  of  one  of  these 
institutions  in  Pliiladelphia,  being 
somewhat  irritated  at  the  picayune  poli- 
cy pursued,  resorted  to  the  following 
desperate  expedient,  to  see  if  there  was 
any  such  thing  as  "  raising  the  wind," 
in  said  concern.  He  drew  a  note  for 
five  dollars  at  thirty  days,  covered  it 
down  the  back  with  first-class  indorse- 
ments from  his  fellow  sufferers,  pinned 
it  to  a  ten  dollar  bill  of  the  same  bank, 
as  collateral,  and  then  ventured  to  offer 
it  for  discount.  That  is  what  Jedediah 
Tompkins  would  call  "  liintin^  rounds 


Jacob  Barker's  Forty  Kegs  of  Specie. 

Many  years  ago^  Jacob  Barker  offered 
some  good  business  paper  for  discount 
at  one  of  the  Wall  street  banks,  and, 
when  the  board  of  directors  met,  they, 
after  mature  deliberation,  threw  the 
paper  out,  which  displeased  friend  Ja- 
cob, and  he  consequently  sought  re- 
venge, in  a  professional  way,  for  what 
he  took  to  be  rather  ungentlemanly 
treatment.  A  few  days  only  elapsed, 
when  Jacob  presented  forty  thousand 
dollars  of  the  bills  of  that  same  bank 
at  its  counter,  and  demanded  the  specie 
from  the  astonished  oflicers  ;  but  never- 
theless it  was  rolled  out  to  him  in  kegs 
of  one  thousand  dollars  each, — the 
teller  of  the  bank  informing  him  that 
they  were  obliged  to  give  him  small 
coin,  five  and  ten  cent  pieces. 

Here  was  a  dilemma,  even  for  so 
bright  witted  and  redoubtable  a  man 


80 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


as  Jacob  ;  but  being  equal  to  tbe  emer- 
gency, Jacob  ordered  the  porter  to  un- 
liead  the  casks,  which  being  done,  Ja- 
cob took  a  handful  of  the  coin  from 
each,  and  requested  the  teller  to  place 
the  remainder — which  of  course  re- 
quired, according  to  bank  custom,  to  be 
counted — to  his  credit.  It  was  said, 
at  the  time,  that  it  required  the  whole 
available  force  of  the  institution  to 
count  the  coin,  and  that  many  late 
hours  were  made.  Whether  Jacob  ever 
offered  any  more  notes  for  discount,  or 
applied  for  any  "  accommodation  "  fa- 
vors, at  that  bank — or  whether  he  got 
them  if  he  did, — we  are  only  left  to  in- 
fer. 


Final  Argument  at  a  Bank  Counter. 

On  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  banks 
suspending  specie  payments,  Mrs.  Jones 
hastened  to  her  savings  bank,  elbowed 
her  way  smartly  to  the  desk,  presented 
her  book,  and  demanded  her  money. 

"  Madam,"  said  the  clerk  persuasive- 
ly, "  are  you  sure  you  want  to  draw  this 
money  out  in  specie  ? " 

"Mrs.  Jones,"  said  a  director,  with 
an  oracular  frown,  do  you  know  that 
you  are  injuring  your  fellow  deposi- 
tors ? " 

"  And  setting  an  example  of  great 
folly  to  less  educated  persons  in  this 
community  ? "  struck  in  another  direc- 
tor. 

"  Let  us  advise  you  simply  to  reflect," 
interposed  the  clerk,  blandly. 

"  To  wait  for  a  day  or  two  at  least," 
said  the  director 

At  last  there  was  a  pause. 

Mrs.  Jones  had  been  collecting  her- 
self She  burst  now.  In  a  tone  which 
was  heard  throughout  the  building, 
and  above  all  the  din,  and  at  which 
her  interlocutors  turned  ashy  pale,  she 
said : 

"  WUl  you  pay  me  my  money — yes  or 
no?'' 

They  paid  her  instantly. 


First  Jewish  Bill  of  Exchangre. 

The  circumstance  which  gave  rise  to 
the  introduction  of  bills  of  exchange  in 
the  mercantile  world,  was  the  banish- 
ment from  France,  in  the  reigns  of 
Philip  Augustus  and  Philip  the  Long, 
of  the  Jews,  who,  it  is  well  known, 
took  refuge  in  Lombardy.  On  their 
leaving  the  kingdom,  they  had  com- 
mitted to  the  care  of  some  persons  in 
whom  they  could  place  confidence,  such 
of  their  property  as  they  could  not 
carry  with  them.  Having  fixed  their 
abode  in  a  new  country,  they  furnished 
various  foreign  merchants  and  travel- 
lers, whom  they  had  commissioned  to 
bring  away  their  fortunes,  with  secret 
letters,  which  were  accepted  in  France 
by  those  who  had  the  care  of  their 
effects.  From  this  it  is  claimed  that 
the  merit  of  the  invention  of  exchanges 
belongs  to  the  Jews  exclusively.  They 
discovered  the  means  of  substituting 
impalpable  riches  for  palpable  ones,  the 
former  being  transmissible  to  all  parts, 
without  leaving  behind  them  any  traces 
indicative  of  the  way  they  have  taken. 


lieather  Money. 

On  the  authority  of  Seneca,  a  curious 
account  is  given  of  a  period  when  leath- 
er, appropriately  stamped  to  give  it  a 
certain  legal  character,  was  the  only 
current  money.  At  a  comparatively  re- 
cent date,  in  the  annals  of  Europe, 
Fredich  the  Second,  who  died  in  1250, 
at  the  siege  of  Milan,  actually  paid  his 
troops  with  leather  money.  Nearly  the 
same  circumstance  occurred  in  England, 
during  the  great  wars  of  the  barons. 
In  the  course  of  1350,  King  John,  for 
the  ransom  of  his  royal  person,  prom- 
ised to  pay  Edward  the  Third,  of  Eng- 
land, three  millions  of  gold  crowns. 
In  order  to  fulfil  this  obligation,  he 
was  reduced  to  the  mortifying  neces- 
sity of  paying  the  expenses  of  the  pal- 
ace in  leather  money,  in  the  centre  of 
each  piece  there  being  a  little,  bright 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


81 


point  of  silver.  In  that  reign  is  found 
the  origin  of  the  burlesque  honor  of 
boyhood,  called  "•  conferring  a  leather 
medal."  The  imposing  ceremonies  ac- 
companying a  presentation,  gave  full 
force,  dignity,  and  value  to  a  leather 
jewel,  which  noblemen  were  probably 
proud  to  receive  at  the  hand  of  ma- 
jesty. 

The  United  Job  and  Lazarus  Bank. 

With  a  view  to  the  special  advan- 
tage of  the  small  and  uncertain  capi- 
talist, the  United  Job  and  Lazarus  Bank 
has  at  last  been  established. 

That  distinguished  British  actuary, 
Mr.  Fitzlocker,  has  calculated  that  the 
half-pence  annually  bestowed  in  charity 
upon  persons  of  the  mendicant  class 
amounts,  on  an  average,  to  no  less  a 
sum  than  £950,000,  14^.  3|<Z.  This 
sum  does  not  include  the  daily  coppers 
expended  upon  the  crossing-sweepers, 
that  may  fairly  be  put  down  at  £50,000 
more,  sinking,  for  the  sake  of  round 
numbers,  the  odd  half-penny.  Thus,  a 
total  is  presented  of  £1,000,000,  14s. 
2ld.  Now,  it  is  welt  known  that  the 
mendicant  and  crossing-sweeper  class 
are,  for  the  most  part,  a  thrifty  if  not  a 
penurious  people.  What  is  more  com- 
mon than  to  read  of  the  apprehension 
or  death  of  the  beggar  upon  whose  per- 
son or  body  are  found  rolls  of  bank 
notes  and  showers  of  sovereigns  ? 

It  is  calculated  that  of  the  above  £1,- 
000,000,  not  above  one  half  is  expended 
by  the  recipients  for  board,  clothing, 
and  lodging — leaving  a  fair  margin  of 
expense  for  an  annual  visit  to  a  watering 
place.  Thus,  a  clear  half  million  is  an- 
nually accumulating  in  old  stockings, 
under  worm-eaten  floors,  and  in  all  sorts 
of  impossible  nooks  and  corners  consid- 
ered convenient  only  to  Plutus. 

Now,  it  is  to  afford  safe  and  pecu- 
liarly profitable  means  of  investment  to 
the  provident  classes  above  named,  that 
the  United  Job  (it  is  requested  that 
"  Job  "  be  taken  in  its  purely  patriarch- 
al pronunciation) — the  United  Job  and 
6 


Lazarus  Bank  is  established.  The  per- 
sons most  interested  in  the  successful 
permanence  of  the  institution,  it  cannot 
be  doubted,  will  feel  the  fullest  and- 
deepest  confidence  in  the  character  of 
the  concern,  upon  a  careful  perusal  of 
the  circular  containing  the  names  of 
the  officers ;  these  include  such  individ- 
uals as  Messrs.  Crook-fingered  Jack, 
Jemmy  Twitcher,  Wat  Dreary,  Ben 
Budge,  Ben  Booty,  Reynard  Foxleer, 
and  others,  with  Mr.  Filch  as  manager 
and  cashier 


Capital  of  European  Bankers. 
An  actual  report  of  the  general  super- 
visor of  the  books  of  the  several  firms 
of  the  Rothschild,  giving  the  aggregate 
amount  of  their  capital  or  the  sum  at 
their  instantaneous  command,  shows 
that  capital  to  be  a  millard  of  francs, 
or  two  hundred  million  dollars.  It  is 
also  stated  that  the  similar  capital  of 
the  two  P^reires  is  at  least  one  hundred 
millions  of  francs ;  of  the  Hottinguers, 
seventy-five  millions ;  of  Mir6s  and  the 
Foulds  still  higher ;  and  the  Duke  of 
Galiera,  at  the  head  of  the  Credit  Mobi- 
lier,  is  held  to  be  prodigiously  opulent. 
The  Pereires  have  created  for  them- 
selves a  new  fortune  by  the  purchase 
of  very  extensive  grounds  within  and 
without  the  walls  of  the  capital,  which 
they  turn  into  streets  and  boulevards 
with  a  certainty  of  the  earliest  and 
most  ample  proceeds. 


Dudley  North's  Opposition  to  Bro- 
kerage. 

The  system  of  banking  or  brokerage 
by  bills  which  was  introduced  in  Lon- 
don in  the  sixteenth  century,  in  place 
of  the  old  method  of  paying  in  solid 
metals,  encountered  much  opposition 
and  clamor.  Old  fashioned  merchants 
complained  bitterly  that  a  class  of  men 
who,  thirty  years  before,  had  confined 
themselves  to  their  functions,  and  had 
made  a  fair  profit  by  embossing  silver 
bowls  and  chargers,  by  setting  jewels 
for  fine  ladies,  and  by  selling  pistoles 


82 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


and  dollars  to  gentlemen  setting  out  for 
the  Continent,  had  become  the  treas- 
urers and  were  fast  becoming  the  mas- 
ters of  the  whole  city.  These  usurers, 
it  was  said,  played  at  hazard  with  what 
had  been  earned  by  the  industry  and 
hoarded  by  the  thrift  of  other  men.  .If 
the  dice  turned  up  well,  the  knave  who 
kept  the  cash  became  an  alderman  ;  if 
they  turned  up  ill,  the  dupe  who  fur- 
nished the  cash  became  a  bankrupt.  On 
the  other  side,  the  consequences  of  the 
modern  practice  were  set  forth  in  ani- 
mated language.  The  new  system,  it 
was  said,  saved  both  labor  and  money. 
Two  clerks,  seated  in  one  counting 
house,  did  what,  under  the  old  system, 
must  have  been  done  by  twenty  clerks 
in  twenty  different  establishments. 

Gradually,  however,  even  those  who 
had  been  loudest  in  murmuring  against 
the  innovation,  gave  way  and  conform- 
ed to  the  prevailing  usage.  The  last 
person  who  held  out,  strange  to  say, 
w^as  Sir  Dudley  North.  When,  in 
1689,  after  residing  many  years  abroad, 
he  returned  to  London,  nothing  aston- 
ished or  displeased  him  more  than  the 
practice  of  making  payments  by  draw- 
ing bills  on  bankers.  He  found  that 
he  could  not  go  on  'change  without 
being  stealthily  followed  round  the 
piazza  by  goldsmiths — as  the  dealers  in 
bullion  were  then  called — who,  with 
low  bows,  begged  to  have  the  honor 
of  serving  him.  He  lost  his  temper 
when  some  of  these  friends  asked  him 
where  he  kept  his  cash:  "Where 
should  I  keep  it,"  he  sharply  asked, 
"  but  in  my  own  house  ? "  and  turned 
his  heel  upon  the  whole  pack.  With 
difficulty  he  was  at  last  induced  to  put 
his  money,  just  by  way  of  trial,  into 
the  hands  of  one  of  the  Lombard  street 
men,  as  they  were  familiarly  called. 
As  ill  luck  would  have  it,  the  Lombard 
street  man  broke,  and  some  of  his  cus- 
tomers suffered  severely.  Dudley  North 
lost  only  fifty  pounds ;  but  this  loss  im- 
movably confirmed  him  in  his  dislike 
of  the  whole  art  of  "  improved  bank- 


ing." It  was  in  vain,  however,  that 
this  old  landmark  stood  up  and  exhort- 
ed his  fellow  citizens  to  return  to  the 
good  old  practice,  and  not  to  expose 
themselves  to  utter  ruin  in  order  to 
spare  themselves  a  little  trouble.  He 
stood  alone  against  the  whole  com- 
munity. 


Strongest  Bank  in  the  World. 

The  Bank  of  Genoa,  which  has  been 
in  existence  hundreds  of  years,  has 
perhaps  proved  itself  the  strongest  in- 
stitution of  the  kind  in  the  world.  It 
is  a  remarkable  fact  in  its  history,  that 
its  administration  has  always  been  as 
permanent  and  unchangeable,  as  that 
of  the  republic  has  been  agitated  and 
fluctuating.  No  alteration  ever  took 
place  in  the  mode  of  governing  and 
regulating  the  affairs  of  the  bank  ;  and 
two  sovereign  and  independent  powers, 
at  war  with  each  other,  have  been 
within  the  walls  of  the  city,  without 
producing  the  slightest  shock  to  the 
bank,  or  causing  it  to  secrete  any  of  its 
books  or  treasures. 


Pinancial  Physic. 

It  is  proposed  to  establish  an  alto- 
gether new  method  of  inquiring  into 
the  state  of  the  health  of  certain  classes 
of  the  community.  The  following  are 
some  of  the  interrogatories  to  be  ad- 
dressed to  the  patient :  How  are  your 
funds  ?  Let  me  see  your  coupons.  Put 
out  your  stock.  Are  your  dividends  all 
right  ?  Have  you  any  pain  about  your 
bonds?  Any  uneasiness  referring  to 
your  foreign  securities  ?  What  is  the 
state  of  your  corn  market  ?  Allow  me 
to  examine  your  shares.  Let  me  feel 
your  scrip.  Have  you  any  sinking  in 
your  mines?  Any  tightness  at  the 
back,  or  hollowness  of  the  chest  ?  How 
is  your  discount  ?  Have  you  any  appe- 
tite for  speculation  ? 


BUSINESS  PUKSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


83 


Brief  Explanation  of  Banking:. 

Old  Mr.  Lefevre,  father  of  the  former 
speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and 
the  principal  founder  of  the  house  of 
Curries  &  Co.,  illustrated  the  simple  the- 
ory of  banking  to  a  customer  Qne  day,  in 
a  manner  rivalling  the  best  treatises  on 
that  subject.  The  customer  in  question 
was  one  of  those  men  who  find  it  very 
convenient  to  have  bad  memories,  and 
very  tantalizing  at  times  to  have  good 
ones.  His  account  was  almost  always 
overdrawn,  and  whenever  spoken  to 
on  the  hitch  thus  occasioned,  his  an- 
swer was  invariably  the  same — he  really 
had  forgotten  hoio  it  stood.  At  last, 
Mr.  Lefevre  watched  his  opportunity, 
caught  him  one  day  at  the  counter,  and 
said  to  him : 

"Mr.  Y — ,  you  and  I  must  under- 
stand one  another  something  better 
than  we  now  seem  to.  I  am  afraid  you 
don't  know  what  banking  really  is; 
give  me  leave  to  tell  you.  It's  my 
business  to  take  care  of  yoi(,r  money ; 
but  I  find  you  are  always  taking  care 
of  mine.  Now,  that  is  not  banking, 
Mr.  Y. ;  it  must  be  the  other  way.  i'w 
the  banker,  not  you.  You  understand 
me  now,  Mr.  Y. ;  I'm  sure  you  do  ! " 


Jacob  Little  and  the  Missing  Bank 
Bill. 

Of  this  acute  financier,  an  anecdote 
of  the  most  extraordinary  of  his  facul- 
ties— his  quickness  of  perception — is 
related,  as  illustrating  one  of  the  secrets 
of  his  success.  A  man  came  to  the 
counter  with  a  draft  for  $650.  He  was 
handed  at  once  a  $500,  a  $100,  and  a 
$50  bill.  The  man  left.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments he  returned,  saying, 

"  Mr.  Little,  sir,  I  think  you  made  a 
mistake.  That  was  a  draft  for  $650  I 
gave  you,  and  you  have  given  me  only 
$150— and  he  held  out  the  $100  ^nd 
the  $50  notes. 

With  almost  fierce  abruptness — the 
tone  familiar  to  all  who  knew  Mr.  L., 


he  asked  the  man,  "Where  have  you 
been  ? " 

"  To  the  Bank  of  America,  to  deposit 
my  money,  and  it  was  there  I — " 

Mr.  Little  did  not  wait  to  hear  the 
end  of  the  sentence.  Dashing  on  his 
hat,  he  ran  out,  hastened  to  the  bank, 
and  returned,  in  almost  less  time,  than 
it  takes  to  tell  the  story,  with  the  miss- 
ing $500  in  his  hand. 

"  Here,  sir,"  said  he,  to  the  overjoy- 
ed customer  ;  "  you  dropped  your  bill 
at  the  bank,  and  if  I  had  been  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  later,  you  would  never  have 
seen  it  again — let  me  tell  you." 


New  York  Bankers  and  Western  Court 
Houses. 

That  city  bankers  are  called  upon 
to  loan  for  almost  everything,  far  and 
near,  is  a  fact  which  none  know  so  well 
as  themselves.  Occasionally,  however, 
an  incident  like  the  following,  in  their 
experience,  comes  to  light.  The  agent 
of  a  county  in  one  of  the  Western 
States,  visited  New  York  to  negotiate 
bonds,  and  called  on  a  leading  banker, 
with  the  expectation  of  having  the  gold 
shovelled  into  his  pocket,  that  he  might 
go  home  by  the  next  train. 

"What  do  you  want  the  money 
for  ? "  asked  the  banker. 

"  To  build  a  court  house  and  jail," 
was  the  answer. 

"  And  you  have  called  on  me  for  ad- 
vice ? " 

"Yes,  sir.  Knowing  you  to  be  ac- 
quainted with  the  best  houses,  I  thought 
you  could  refer  me  to  them  in  a  favor- 
able manner." 

"  I  will  give  you  my  advice  and  help 
you  willingly." 

"  Thank  you — thank  you." 

"  It  is  this :  Put  your  bonds  in 
your  pocket  and  go  home.  When  you 
get  there,  take  your  bonds  out  of  your 
pocket,  and  put  them  into  the  fire." 

The  banker's  visitor  opened  his  eyes 
and  mouth. 

"  Yes,  sir,  put  them  in  the  fire.  Then 
tax  your  people  and  build  your  court 


84 


COMMERCIAL  AKD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


house  and  jail.  We  can't  give  you 
money  for  any  such  purposes,  and  you 
have  no  business  to  ask  it.  What  do 
"we  care  for  a  court  house  and  jail  out 
by  the  Mississippi  River  ?  This  is  the 
way  with  some  of  you  Western  men ! 
Now  go  back  and  do  as  I  tell  you — 
burn  your  bonds  and  tax  your  people. 
Nobody  here  cares  a  jjicayune  whether 
you  have  a  court  house  or  not.  If  it 
should  do  no  better  than  some  other 
court  houses,  justice  won't  be  the  gainer 
by  it.  I  think  it  quite  likely  you  would 
be  better  with  a  jail,  and  I'm  sorry  to 
have  to  say  that  I  can't  help  you  to 
build  it." 


Banks  Failiugr. 
"  Are  you  afraid  of  the  banks  fail- 
ing ? "  asked  a  Boston  cashier,  as  Mrs. 
Partington  went  to  draw  her  pension. 
"  Banks  failing  ! "  said  the  dame  ;  "  I 
never  had  any  idea  about  it  at  all.  If 
he  gets  votes  enough,  I  don't  see  how 
he  can  fail,  and  if  he  don't,  I  can't  see 
how  he  is  to  help  it."  "  I  mean,"  said 
he,  "  the  banks  that  furnish  paper  for 
the  currency."  She  stood  a  moment 
counting  her  bills.  "  Oh,  you  did,  did 
you  ? "  said  she ;  "  well,  it's  about  the 
same  thing.  If  they  have  money  enough 
to  redeem  with — and  heaven  knows 
there's  need  enough  for '  redemption'  for 
a  good  many  of  them,  and  more  '  grace ' 
than  they  allow  their  customers— they 
may  stand  it ;  but  doubtful  things  are 
uncertain."  She  passed  off  like  an  ex- 
halation, and  the  cashier  counted  out 
$115.17  fifteen  times  while  pondering 
what  she  said,  in  order  to  catch  her 
meaning. 


Spanisli  Reals  versus  Spanish  Bonds. 
Rothschild,  though  so  deeply  en- 
grossed in  money  matters,  occasionally 
has  time  to  add  to  his  quality  of 
shrewdness  that  of  being  witty.  On 
being  called  upon  one  time  to  give  a 
good  definition  of  the  real  and  the 
ideal  in  sublunary  matters,  he,  true  to 
his  profession,  answered :    "I  cannot 


give  you  a  more  forcible  example  than 
this,  namely — the  '  real '  is  the  current 
coin  of  Spain,  and  a  Spanish  bond, 
which  is  supposed  to  represent  it,  is 
the  '  ideal.' " 


Throwing-  out  Jacob  Barker's  Notes. 

The  bitter  opposition  of  Jacob 
Barker  to  the  renewal  of  the  charter  of 
the  United  States  Bank  is  matter  of 
history,  and  it  came  about  in  this  wise  : 
Although  subject  to  occasional  reverses, 
Mr.  Barker  prospered  greatly  in  his 
business  until  he  had  the  misfortune  to 
incur  the  displeasure  of  Robert  Lenox, 
a  very  rich  Scotch  merchant — strong- 
minded  and  intelligent,  with  a  will  and 
prejudices  equally  decided. 

Mr.  Barker  had,  as  agent  for  the 
owner,  chartered  to  James  Scott,  the 
ship  Live  Oak,  of  Portland,  Me.,  for  a 
voyage  to  St.  Domingo  and  back.  On 
her  aiTival  off"  the  port  of  destination 
she  found  it  blockaded,  and  was  or- 
dered off,  when,  according  to  custom, 
she  proceeded  to  the  next  jjort ;  finding 
that  in  the  possession  of  the  slaves, 
they  having  revolted,  the  captain  pru- 
dently returned  to  New  York  with  the 
outward  cargo. 

A  question  now  arose,  whether  or 
not  the  ship  was  entitled  to  comiDcnsa- 
tion.  Mr.  Barker  applied  immediately 
to  his  friend  and  professional  adviser, 
Gen.  Alexander  Hamilton,  for  advice ; 
that  gentleman  advised  him  to  retain  a 
sufl[iciency  of  the  cargo  to  pay  the 
amount  of  the  charter,  until  he  could 
advise  and  receive  an  answer  from  his 
employer,  the  owner  of  the  ship.  A 
portion  less  than  the  amount  of  charter 
was  in  money ;  it  was  retained. 

The  following  day,  Mr.  Barker's  notes 
offered  for  discount  at  the  United 
States  Branch  Bank,  where  he  kept  his 
account,  were  all  thrown  out,  which 
was  followed  up  every  discount  day  for 
two  or  three  weeks,  when  Mr.  B.  began 
to  feel  its  effects.  Knowing  Mr.  Lenox 
to  be  the  most  influential  director,  he 
applied  to  that  gentleman,  without  the 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


85 


least  idea  of  the  cause,  or  tliat  he  was 
the  individual  who  had  induced  the 
rejection  of  the  notes  oJQTered ;  named  to 
him  the  liberality  with  which  he  had 
always  been  treated  by  the  bank,  the 
goodness  of  the  notes  offered  and  their 
rejection,  adding  that  he  presumed 
there  must  be  some  hidden  cause  which 
he,  Mr.  L.,  could  satisfactorily  explain, 
if  he  knew  what  it  was. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Lenox,  "  there  is  a 
cause,  and  if  you  expect  any  more  dis- 
counts at  the  Branch  Bank,  you  must 
deliver  to  Mr.  Scott  the  money  you 
withhold  from  him." 

Mr.  Barker,  astonished  at  the  avowal, 
inquired  if  the  board  of  directors  un- 
dertook to  pass,  ex  parte,  on  differences 
which  arose  among  merchants,  neither 
of  whom  was  of  their  number,  and  to 
enforce  their  decision  against  one  of 
the  parties,  without  having  allowed 
him  a  hearing.  Mr.  Lenox  replied  that 
he  believed  every  director  at  the  board 
agreed  with  him  in  opinion. 

Application  was  immediately  made  to 
Gen.  Stevens,  Thomas  Buchanan,  and 
other  directors,  who  informed  him  that 
Mr.  Lenox  was  mistaken;  that  they 
were  opposed  to  all  such  assumption 
of  power,  and  that  if  Mr.  Lenox  did 
not  withdraw  his  objection,  they  would 
not  allow  the  notes  of  his  friends  to 
be  discounted.  One  or  two  opposing  a 
note,  it  could  not,  by  the  rules  of  the 
board,  be  discounted.  On  the  re-ap- 
pointment of  Mr.  Lenox  as  a  director 
by  the  mother  bank  at  Philadelphia, 
Mr.  Barker  sought  his  redress  by  op- 
posing a  renewal  of  the  bank's  charter, 
which  was  soon  to  expire.  This  he 
did  with  untiring  tact  and  energy,  not 
ceasing  his  exertions  until  the  fate  of 
the  bank  was  sealed  by  a  rejection  of 
the  bill  for  the  renewal  of  the  charter 
by  Congress.  This  was  done  by  a  ma- 
jority of  only  one  ;  and  as  Mr.  Barker's 
half-brother,  Gideon  Gardner,  was  a 
member  from  Nantucket,  and  voted 
against  the  bank,  it  is  not  unreasonable 
to  conclude  that  Mr.  Barker's  influence 


was  not  small,  in  overthrowing  the  first 
United  States  Bank. 


Establislimeiit  of  the  Bank  of  England 
—Curious  Pacts. 

After  much  opposition,  the  Bank 
of  England  was  established  in  1694. 
Strange  as  it  may  seem,  the  act  of  Par- 
liament by  which  the  bank  was  estab- 
lished is  entitled  "  An  act  for  granting 
to  theu*  majesties  several  duties  upon 
tonnage  of  ships  and  vessels,  and  upon 
beer,  ale,  and  other  liquors,  for  securing 
certain  recompenses  and  advantages  in 
the  said  act  mentioned,  to  such  persons 
as  shall  voluntarily  advance  the  sum 
of  fifteen  hundred  thousand  pounds 
toward  carrying  on  the  war  with 
France."  After  a  variety  of  enactments 
relative  to  the  duties  upon  tonnage  of 
ships  and  vessels,  and  upon  beer,  ale, 
and  other  liquors,  the  act  authorizes 
the  raising  of  twelve  hundred  thousand 
pounds  by  voluntary  subscription,  the 
subscribers  to  be  formed  into  a  corpo- 
ration, and  be  styled  "  The  Governor 
and  Company  of  the  Bank  of  England." 
The  sum  of  three  hundred  thousand 
pounds  was  also  to  be  raised  by  subscrip- 
tion, and  the  contributors  to  receive 
instead  annuities  for  one,  two,  or  three 
lives.  Toward  the  twelve  hundred 
thousand  pounds  no  one  was  to  sub- 
scribe more  than  ten  thousand  pounds 
before  the  first  day  of  July  next  en- 
suing, nor  at  any  time  more  than 
twenty  thousand  pounds.  The  corpora- 
tion were  to  lend  their  whole  capital 
to  government,  for  which  they  were  to 
receive  interest  at  the  rate  of  eight  per 
cent,  per  annum,  and  four  thousand 
pounds  per  annum  for  management; 
being  one  hundred  thousand  pounds 
per  annum  on  the  whole.  The  corpo- 
ration were  not  allowed  to  borrow  or 
owe  more  than  the  amount  of  their 
capital,  and  if  they  did  so,  the  individ- 
ual members  became  liable  to  the  credi- 
tors in  proportion  to  the  amount  of 
their  stock.  The  corporation  were  not 
to  trade  in  any  goods,  wares,  or  mer- 


86 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


chandise  whatever,  but  they  were  al- 
lowed to  deal  in  bills  of  exchange,  gold 
or  silver  bullion,  and  to  sell  any  goods, 
wares,  or  merchandise  upon  which  they 
had  advanced  money,  and  which  had 
not  been  redeemed  within  three  months 
after  the  time  agreed  upon.  The  whole 
of  the  subscription  was  filled  in  a  few 
days.  In  Grocers'  Hall,  since  razed  for 
the  erection  of  a  more  stately  structure, 
the  Bank  of  England  commenced  oper- 
ations. Here,  in  one  room,  were  gath- 
ered, with  almost  primitive  simplicity, 
all  who  performed  the  duties  of  the 
establishment.  "I  looked  into  the 
great  hall  where  the  bank  is  kept," 
says  the  graceful  essayist  of  the  day, 
"and  was  not  a  little  pleased  to  see 
the  directors,  secretaries,  and  clerks, 
with  all  the  other  members  of  that 
wealthy  corporation,  ranged  in  their 
several  stations  according  to  the  parts 
they  hold  in  that  just  and  regular  econ- 
omy." 

A  writer  in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine, 
speaking  of  the  external  appearance  of 
the  bank,  in  1757,  describes  it  as  com- 
paratively a  small  structure,  almost  in- 
visible to  passers  by,  being  surrounded 
by  many  others,  viz.,  a  church  called 
St.  Christopher  le  Stocks ;  three  tav- 
erns, two  on  the  south  side  (the  Foun- 
tain) in  Bartholomew  lane,  facing  the 
church  there,  just  where  the  great  door 
of  entrance  is  now  placed,  and  about 
fifteen  or  twenty  private  dwelling 
houses.  Visitors  are  sometimes  shown 
in  the  bullion  oflBce  the  identical  old 
chest,  somewhat  larger  than  a  common 
seaman's,  also  the  original  shelves  or 
cases,  where  the  cash,  notes,  papers, 
and  books  of  business  were  kept.  Vis- 
itors are  occasionally  shown  some  notes 
for  large  amounts,  which  have  passed 
between  the  bank  and  government.  In 
the  early  history  of  the  establishment 
any  person  in  the  possession  of  a  bank 
note  might  demand  only  part  of  its 
amount,  and  the  same  plan  might  be 
resorted  to  with  the  same  note  until  the 
whole  of  the  sum  due  upon  it  was  ab- 


sorbed ;  some  of  these  are  still  shown 
— on  the  last  which  came  in  there  was 
only  sixpence  to  receive.  A  bank  of 
England  note  is  never  issued  after  it 
returns  to  the  bank  ;  it  is  then  cancelled 
and  destroyed,  to  make  w^ay  for  the 
next  issue.  Whenever  a  note  is  pre- 
sented to  the  bank  the  corner  is  torn 
from  it,  the  number  is  punched  out,  it 
is  cancelled  in  the  register  book,  and 
then  sent  down  to  the  library,  there  to 
lie  for  ten  years,  until  burned  in  the 
yard  duruig  the  eleventh.  About  one 
thousand  persons  are  employed  in  the 
establishment. 


Bound  not  to  Break. 

The  banking  operations  of  Jacob 
Barker,  when  he  earned  on  business  in 
Wall  street.  New  York,  met  with  much 
opposition  from  many  of  the  bankers 
of  that  locality,  and  they  managed  once 
in  a  while  to  push  Jacob  pretty  close 
to  the  wall.  On  one  occasion,  when 
the  times  were  somewhat  tight,  and 
Mr.  Barker  was  absent,  attending  to 
his  duties  as  a  member  of  the  New 
York  senate,  a  ship  arrived  from  Liver- 
pool with  advice  of  the  failure  of  his 
house  at  that  place.  This  at  once 
caused  a  very  great  run  on  Mr.  Barker's 
bank — on  receiving  notice  of  which  he 
returned  to  the  city,  was  the  first  to 
land  from  the  steamboat,  and  drove 
with  great  speed  to  Wall  street,  the 
carriage  making  its  way  through  the 
crowd  with  difficulty. 

He  alighted  at  the  bank  door,  to  the 
surprise  of  all,  and  to  the  disappoint- 
ment of  his  enemies,  w^ho  were  ranged 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  in 
momentary  expectation  of  seeing  the 
doors  of  the  bank  close.  They  had  not 
heard  of  the  boat's  arrival,  or  of  the 
river's  being  free  from  ice.  He  was  too 
quick  for  them,  and  remarked  to  all 
how  glad  he  was  to  see  them,  saying, 
"  Come  in,  come  in— come  in  and  get 
your  money ;  "  caused  the  back  room 
to  be  thrown  open,  and  additional 
clerks  to  be  placed  there,  with  plenty 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


87 


of  specie.  All  that  wished,  it  were  sup- 
plied. A  great  number  put  the  notes  in 
their  iDockets  and  went  home,  fully  re- 
covered from  their  alarm.  Mr.  Barker 
was  "  bound  not  to  break,"  and,  as  his 
stores  were  full  of  goods — hemp,  sail 
cloth,  iron,  sugar,  tea,  salt,  etc., — he 
sold  a  sufficiency  of  these  at  auction  to 
replenish  the  vaults  of  his  bank,  and 
at  once  returned  to  the  duties  of  his 
office.  Jacob  declared,  with  character- 
istic emphasis,  that  he  was  "  bound  not 
to  break." 


"Weight  of  Miss  Burdett  Coutts's  For- 
ttme. 

The  late  Duchess  of  St.  Albans  left 
Miss  Burdett  Coutts  the  regal  sum  of 
£1,800,000,  or  some  nine  million  dol- 
lars. The  weight  of  this  prodigious 
sum  in  gold,  reckoning  sixty  sovereigns 
to  the  pound,  is  thirteen  tons,  seven 
cwt.,  three  qr.,  twelve  lbs.,  and  would 
require  one  hundred  and  seven  men  to 
carry  it,  supposing  that  each  of  them 
carried  the  solid  weight  of  two  hun- 
dred and  ninety-eight  pounds.  This 
large  sum  may  also  be  partially  guessed, 
by  considering  that,  counting  at  the 
rate  of  sixty  sovereigns  a  minute  for 
eight  hours  a  day,  and  six  days,  of 
course,  in  the  week,  it  would  take  ten 
weeks,  two  days,  and  four  hours,  to  ac- 
complish the  task.  In  sovereigns,  by 
the  most  exact  computation  —  each 
measuring  in  diameter  seventeen-twen- 
tieths  of  an  inch,  and  placed  to  touch 
each  other — it  would  extend  to  the 
length  of  tvA^enty-four  miles  and  two 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  ;  and  in  crown 
pieces,  to  one  hundred  and  thirteen 
and  one  half  miles  and  two  hundred 
and  eighty  yards. 


Mr.  Biddle's  Wit. 

"  Nick  Biddle  "  was  a  wit  as  well 
as  a  financier.  During  the  session  of 
the  legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  in  the 
year  184-,  a  bill  was  up  appropriating 
a  large  sum  for  continuing  the  State 


improvements.  Mr.  H,,  of  Berks,  an 
honest  but  unlearned  German  member, 
was  very  hostile  to  the  bill,  and  in  fact 
opposed  to  all  State  improvements,  as 
they  involved  such  an  expenditure  of 
money.  He  knew  the  wishes  of  his 
constituents,  but  his  general  knowledge 
was  rather  limited.  While  the  bill  was 
under  consideration,  Mr.  Biddle  of  the 
city  moved  an  ironical  amendment,  ap- 
propriating ten  thousand  dollars  for 
the  improvement  of  the  Alimentary 
Canal.  The  member  from  Berks  was 
instantly  upon  his  feet,  declaring  his 
purpose  to  oppose  any  aiDpropriation 
for  the  Alimentary  or  any  other  canal 
— energetically  declaring  the  amend- 
ment to  be  unnecessary  and  against  the 
wishes  of  the  people.  The  amendment 
was  instantly  withdrawn,  amidst  the 
general  mirth  of  the  members  at  the 
expense  of  the  honest  member  from. 
Berks. 


Bankers  Snubbing-  Napoleon. 

The  house  of  Hope  &  Co.,  of  Amster- 
dam— always  remarkable  for  great  in- 
dependence of  character — effectually 
checkmated  Napoleon  in  his  presump- 
tuous dictation  to  them  as  bankers. 
This  powerful  house,  which  may  be 
said  to  have  then  stood  at  the  head  of 
the  mercantile  order  throughout  the 
world,  and,  in  Holland,  not  only  felt 
itself  perfectly  its  own  master,  but  con- 
sidered itself  equal  in  financial  matters 
to  any  potentate  on  earth,  and  entitled 
to  occupy  a  similar  footing  with  them, 
could  not  recognize  that  it  was  in  any 
manner  bound  by  an  imperial  decree. 

Yet  Najjoleon  was  weak  enough  to 
think  differently.  He  had  dictated  a 
letter,  addressed  to  Messrs.  Hope  &  Co., 
in  the  handwriting  of  Mollieu,  the  suc- 
cessor of  Barbe  Marbais,  who  had  been 
removed.  This  missive,  worded  in  the 
language  of  a  master  to  his  servant, 
contained  the  following  words  : 

"  You  have  made  enough  money  in 
the  Louisiana  business  to  leave  me  no 
room  to  doubt  that  you  will,  without 


88 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


reservation^  comply  with  any  order  I 
may  see  fit  to  make." 

He  then  sent  this  letter,  without 
Ouvrard's  consent,  by  an  inspector  of 
finance,  to  Amsterdam.  However,  the 
finance  inspector  was  very  coolly  re- 
ceived, and  had  to  come  back  without 
accomplishing  anything.  Soon  after- 
ward, Napoleon  thought  it  advisable 
to  send  the  Baron  Louis — afterward 
Louis  Philippe's  first  minister  of  finance 
— ^to  Holland,  to  explore  the  ground, 
and  discover  what  resources  Ouvrard 
might  have  there.  Baron  Louis  pre- 
sented himself  to  the  Messrs.  Hope,  and 
disclosed  the  object  of  his  visit.  Mr. 
Labouch^re,  the  partner  who  received 
him,  at  once  replied  in  the  following 
admirable  and  high-minded  mercantile 
decision : 

"Whether  we  have  money  in  our 
hands  for  Mr.  Ouvrard,  or  not,  baron,  is 
not  a  matter  for  which  we  are  obliged 
to  render  any  account  to  you ;  and  the 
inappropriateness  of  your  present  visit 
must  have  been  apparent  to  yourself!  " 

This  anecdote  was  related  by  Ouv- 
rard himself,  and  was  likewise  repeated 
frequently  by  Mr.  LabouchSre,  who 
could  not  suppress  his  commercial 
pride,  whenever  he  got  an  opportunity, 
at  this  illustration  of  his  independence 
of  the  man,  at  whose  feet  all  Europe 
bent  the  knee. 


Aster's  •'  Secret  Pain." 
Mr.  Astob  was  compelled,  at  one 
time,  to  repair  to  Paris,  where  he  could 
avail  himself,  for  a  physical  infirmity, 
of  the  skilful  assistance  of  Baron  Du- 
puytren.  The  latter  thoroughly  restored 
him,  and  advised  him  to  ride  out  every 
day.  He  frequently  took  occasion  him- 
self to  accompany  his  patient  on  these 
rides.  One  day,  when  riding,  Astor 
appeared  by  no  means  disposed  to  con- 
verse ;  not  a  word  could  be  got  out  of 
him — and  at  length  Dupuytren  declared 
that  A.  must  be  suffering  from  some 
secret  pain  or  trouble,  when  he  would 
not  speak.    He  pressed  him,  and  wor- 


ried him,  until  finally  Astor  loosed  his 
tongue : 

"  Look  ye,  Baron  !  "  said  Astor ; 
"  how  frightful  this  is.  I  have  here,  in 
the  hands  of  my  banker,  at  Paris, 
about  two  million  francs,  and  cannot 
manage,  without  great  eflbrt,  to  get 
more  than  two  and  one  half  per  cent. 
per  annum  on  it.  Now,  this  morning, 
I  have  received  a  letter  from  my  son  in 
New  York,  informing  me  that  there 
the  best  acceptances  are  at  from  one 
and  a  half  to  two  per  cent,  per  month. 
Is  it  not  enough  to  enrage  a  man?" 
This  revelation  of  course  relieved  the 
Baron's  apprehension  of  any  "  secret 
pain  or  trouble  "  oi  b,  physical  nature. 


Jewish  Perseverance  and  Shrewdness. 

The  clerk  of  an  English  banker  hav- 
ing robbed  his  employer  of  Bank  of 
England  notes  to  the  amount  of  twenty 
thousand  pounds,  made  his  escape  to 
Holland.  Unable  to  present  them  him- 
self, he  sold  them  to  a  Jew,  doubtless 
at  a  price  affording  a  good  bargain  to 
the  purchaser.  In  the  mean  time  every 
plan  was  exhausted  to  give  publicity 
to  the  loss.  The  numbers  of  the  notes 
were  advertised  in  the  papers,  with  a 
request  that  they  might  be  refused; 
and  for  about  six  months  no  informa- 
tion was  received  of  the  lost  property. 
At  the  end  of  that  period,  the  Jew  ap- 
peared with  the  whole  of  his  spoil,  and 
demanded  payment,  which  was  at  once 
refused,  on  the  plea  that  the  bills  had 
been  stolen,  and  that  payment  had  been 
stopped.  The  owner  insisted  upon 
gold,  and  the  bank  persisted  in  refus- 
ing. 

But  the  Jew  was  an  energetic  man, 
and  was  aware  of  the  credit  of  the  cor- 
poration; he  was  known  to  be  pos- 
sessed of  immense  wealth.  He  went 
deliberately  to  the  exchange,  where,  to 
the  assembled  merchants  of  London,  in 
the  presence  of  her  citizens,  he  related 
publicly  that  the  bank  had  refused  to 
honor  their  own  bills  for  twenty  thou- 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


sand  pounds ;  that  their  credit  was 
gone ;  their  affairs  in  confusion ;  and 
that  they  had  stopped  payment.  The 
exchange  wore  every  appearance  of 
alarm ;  the  Hebrew  showed  the  notes 
to  corroborate  his  assertion.  He  de- 
clared that  they  had  been  remitted  to 
him  from  Holland  ;  and  as  his  transac- 
tions were  known  to  be  extensive,  there 
appeared  every  reason  to  credit  his 
statement.  He  then  avowed  his  inten- 
tion of  advertising  this  refusal  of  the 
bank;  and  the  citizens  thought  there 
must  indeed  be  some  truth  in  his  bold 
announcement. 

Information  reached  the  directors, 
who  grew  anxious,  and  a  messenger 
was  sent  to  inform  the  holder  that  he 
might  receive  cash  in  exchange  for  the 
notes.  In  any  other  country,  the  Jew 
would  have  been  tried  as  a  calumnia- 
tor; but  in  England,  the  bank — the 
soul  of  the  State — would  have  lost  the 
cause.  The  law  could  not  hinder  the 
holder  of  the  notes  from  interpreting 
the  refusal  that  was  made  of  payment 
according  to  his  fancy ;  nothing  could 
prevent  him  from  saying  that  he  be- 
lieved the  excuse  was  only  a  pretext  to 
gain  time ;  and  though  intelligent 
people  could  not  credit  the  story,  the 
majority  would  have  been  alarmed, 
and  would  not  have  taken  their  notes 
for  cash.  In  short,  the  Jew  was  ac- 
quainted with  the  nation  and  its  laws, 
and  he  gained  his  point. 


Sir  RoTaert  Peel's  Opinion  of  his  Son 
as  a  Financier. 

Mr.  Peel's  great  currency  measure, 
which  he  caused  to  be  carried  through 
Parliament  by  his  influence  and  elo- 
quence, was  opposed  by  his  distin- 
guished father,  and  one  of  the  most  in- 
teresting features  in  the  history  of  that 
celebrated  measure  is  to  be  found  in  a 
petition  from  the  merchants  of  the  city 
of  London,  presented  by  the  elder  Peel, 
against  its  enactment.  After  stating 
that  his  petitioners  were  the  best  calcu- 
lated to  judge  on  so  important  a  point, 


and  that  a  meeting,  which  he  had  at- 
tended for  this  purpose,  was  composed 
of  the  very  men  who  had  so  nobly  sup- 
ported the  government  in  1797,  he  jjro- 
ceeded  to  say,  in  language  as  feeling  as 
the  subject  was  interesting,  that  '  he 
well  remembered  when  that  near  and 
dear  relation  was  only  a  child,  he  ob- 
served to  some  friends  who  were  stand- 
ing near  him,  that  the  man  who  dis- 
charged his  duty  to  his  country  in  the 
manner  in  which  Mr.  Pitt  did,  did  most 
to  be  admired,  and  was  most  to  be  imi- 
tated ;  and  he  thought,  at  that  moment, 
if  his  own  life  and  that  of  his  dear  re- 
lation should  be  spared,  he  should  one 
day  present  him  to  his  country  to  fol- 
low in  the  same  path.  He  was  well 
satisfied  that  the  head  and  heart  of 
that  relation  were  in  their  right  places ; 
and  that  though  he  had  deviated  a 
little  from  the  path  of  propriety  in  this 
instance,  he  would  soon  be  restored 
to  it." 


Peeresses  Conducting-  Banking:  Opera- 
tions. 

Two  of  the  richest  bankers  in  Lon- 
don, a  few  years  ago,  were  peeresses, 
namely,  the  Duchess  of  St.  Albans  and 
the  Countess  of  Jersey — the  latter,  as 
the  heiress  of  old  Josiah  Child,  consti- 
tuting the  principal  partner  of  the 
Child  banking  house.  Both  ladies  were 
at  one  time  said  to  be  in  the  habit  of 
paying  periodical  visits  to  their  re- 
spective establishments,  and  are  said  to 
have  been  distinguished  for  the  affa- 
bility and  good  sense  with  which  they 
sustained  their  positions,  inspected  the 
books,  and  entered  into  general  busi- 
ness details.  But  this  report  was  true, 
and  that  in  part,  only  of  the  late 
Duchess  of  St.  Albans.  She  was  pecu- 
liarly fond  of  showing  herself  at  the 
bank  in  the  Strand,  and  putting  ques- 
tions to  the  partners  and  clerks,  with 
whom  she  was  no  favorite — being,  in 
truth,  somewhat  of  a  bore.  Lady  Jer- 
sey, as  the  representative  of  Sir  Josiah 
Child's  interest,  only  attends  the  bank 


90 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


once  a  year,  when  the  accounts  are  bal- 
anced and  the  profits  struck.  On  this 
occasion,  the  partners  dine  together  at 
the  bank,  and  the  countess,  as  the  prin- 
cipal partner,  takes  the  head  of  the 
table.  This  lady's  connection  with  the 
concern  has  the  following  history : 
The  last  Mr.  Child  left  an  only  daugh- 
ter, who  was  the  heiress  of  his  great 
wealth,  and  was  married  to  the  Earl  of 
Westmoreland  ;  the  eldest  daughter  of 
that  marriage  was  the  present  Countess 
of  Jersey,  to  whom  the  grandfather's  in- 
terest in  the  bank  descended. 


Model  Engrlisli  Banker. 

The  model  English  banker  of  the 
present  day,  is  educated  at  Eton,  and 
makes  love  to  lords.  They  borrow  his 
money,  and  laugh  at  him  as  a  "  toady." 
He  enters  the  banking  house  at  twenty- 
one,  and  looks  upon  the  clerks  as  ser- 
vants— as  breathing  copying  machines. 
He  belongs  to  all  sorts  of  clubs.  He 
is  a  great  authority  upon  wine,  horses, 
and  women.  He  keeps  his  yacht,  and 
never  stops  in  town  after  the  opera. 
He  walks  through  the  city  as  if  it  be- 
longed to  him.  He  is  great  in  jewelry, 
and  very  particular  about  his  riding- 
whips.  He  wears  in  winter  white 
cords  and  buckskin  gloves,  and  sub- 
scribes to  the  nearest  "  hounds."  His 
wristbands  show  an  inch  and  a  half. 
He  marries  a  baronet's  daughter,  and 
talks  nothing  but  the  Blue  Book  ever 
afterward.  He  has  a  house  in  Belgravia 
and  a  seat  in  the  North.  His  name, 
too,  is  generally  amongst  the  "  fashion- 
ables whom  we  observed  last  night  at 
Her  Majesty's  Theatre."  He  has  always 
a  particular  engagement  at  the  West- 
end  at  two,  at  which  hour  his  bay  cab 
invariably  calls  for  him.  His  printed 
charities  are  very  extensive — one  sum  al- 
ways for  himself,  another  for  the  com- 
pany. He  is  very  nervous  during  panics, 
and  when  there  is  a  run  upon  the  bank,  it 
is  always  owing  to  "  the  pressure  of  the 
times."    He  pays  his  creditors  one  half 


crown  in  the  pound,  and  lives  on  three 
thousand  pounds  a  year,  "  settled  on 
his  wife" — ^perhaps,  indeed,  a  model 
banker  of  this  description  never  fell 
yet,  whose  fall  was  not  agreeably  soft- 
ened by  a  snug  little  property  "  settled 
on  his  wife."  The  inference  from  this 
is,  that  the  model  banker  is  a  most 
rigid  cultivator  of  the  matrimonial  vir- 
tues, and  if  he  forgets  occasionally 
what  he  owes  to  himself  and  others,  he 
remembers  to  a  nicety  what  is  due  to 
his  wife.  It  is  only  the  system  of 
double  entry  applied  to  banking. 


Ijargrest  Dealer  in  Commercial  Paper 
in  the  TJnited  States. 

The  late  Stephen  Whitney,  of  New 
York,  is  supposed  to  have  dealt  more 
largely  in  commercial  paper  than  any 
other  man  in  that  city,  and  perhaps  in 
the  Union.  His  habits  of  industry  con- 
tinued through  life,  and  were  a  com- 
mon theme  of  remark  with  those  who 
observed  him  in  his  daily  walk  from 
his  office  to  the  great  moneyed  centre 
of  America,  where  the  price  of  paper 
and  money  rates  regaled  his  ears.  He 
was  a  good  judge  of  paper,  and  needed 
no  one  to  advise  him.  He  touched 
nothing  but  what  in  commercial  par- 
lance is  termed  "gilt-edged,"  and  of 
this  he  purchased  almost  daily  for 
thirty  years.  These  notes  being  made 
payable  to  the  order  of  the  drawers, 
needed  no  other  indorsement,  and 
hence  might  pass  through  a  hundred 
hands  without  this  fact  becoming 
known.  Mr.  Whitney's  bills  receivable 
falling  due  in  Wall  street,  must  have 
been  at  the  rate  of  thirty  thousand  per 
day,  and  his  purchases  of  paper,  of 
course,  were  about  the  same  rate. 


"  Borrow  Money  P   Borrow  Money  P  " 

One  of  the  familiar  cries  of  the  Lon- 
don Stock  Exchange  is  "  Borrow  Mon- 
ey ?  Borrow  Money  ? "  a  singular  one 
to  general  apprehension,  but  it  must 
be  understood  of  course,  that  the  credit 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR   MONEY  RELATIONS. 


91 


of  the  borrower  must  either  be  first  rate 
or  Ms  security  of  the  most  satisfactory 
nature,  and  that  it  is  not  the  principal 
who  thus  goes  into  the  market,  but  his 
broker. 

"  Have  you  money  to  lend  to-day  ?  " 
is  a  question  asked  with  a  nonchalance 
which  would  astonish  the  simple  man 
who  goes  to  a  "friend,"  with  such  a 
question  quivering  on  his  mouth. 
"  Yes,"  may  be  the  reply.  "  I  want  ten 
or  twenty  thousand  pounds."  "  On 
what  security  ? "  for  that  is  the  vital 
question  ;  and  this  point  being  settled, 
the  transaction  goes  on  smoothly  and 
quickly  enough. 

Another  mode  of  doing  the  business 
is  to  conceal  the  object  of  the  borrower 
or  lender,  who  asks,  "  What  are  Ex- 
chequer ? "  The  answer  may  be  "  forty 
to  forty-two ; "  that  is,  the  party  ad- 
dressed will  buy  one  thousand  pounds 
at  forty  shillings,  and  sell  one  thousand 
pounds  at  forty-two  shillings.  The 
jobbers  cluster  around  the  broker,  who 
perhaps  says,  "  I  must  have  a  price  in 
five  thousand  pounds."  If  it  suits 
them,  they  will  say,  "  Five  with  me, 
five  w^ith  me,  five  with  me,"  making 
fifteen — or,  they  will  say  each,  "Ten 
with  me ;  "  and  it  is  the  broker's  busi- 
ness to  get  these  parties  pledged  to  buy 
of  him  at  forty,  or  to  sell  to  him  at 
forty-two,  they  not  knowing  whether 
he  is  a  buyer  or  seller.  The  broker 
then  declares  his  purpose,  saying,  for 
example,  "  Gentlemen,  I  sell  to  you 
twenty  thousand  pounds  at  forty,"  and 
the  sum  is  then  apportioned  among 
them. 


Peep  at  tlie  Treasure  in  Threadneedle 
Street. 

"  The  next  room  I  entered  " — says  a 
visitor  at  the  Bank  of  England — "  was 
that  in  which  notes  are  deposited  which 
are  ready  for  issue."  "  We  have  thirty- 
tiDO  millions  of  pounds  sterling  in  this 
roorn^'^  the  officer  remarked  to  me, 
"  will  you  take  a  little  of  it  ? "  I  told 
him  that  it  would  be  vastly  agreeable, 


and  he  handed  me  a  million  sterling  (five 
million  dollars),  which  I  received  with 
many  thanks  for  his  liberality  ;  but  he 
kind  of  insisted  on  my  depositing  it 
with  him  again — ^perhaps  because  it 
would  be  hardly  safe,  besides  being 
burdensome,  to  carry  so  much  money 
with  me  into  the  street,  though  that 
was  a  risk  I  would  willingly  have  in- 
curred. I  very  much  fear  I  shall  never 
see  that  money  again.  In  the  vault 
beneath  the  floor  was  a  director  and 
cashier  counting  the  bags  of  gold  which 
men  were  pitching  down  to  them,  each 
bag  containing  a  thousand  pounds 
sterlmg,  just  from  the  mint.  This 
money  seemed  to  realize  the  most  daz- 
zling fables  of  Eastern  wealth. 


Vast  Wealth  of  CrcESus. 

In  our  jottings  of  millionnaires,  it 
would  seem  as  though  these  pages  were 
incomplete  without  some  data  concern- 
ing him  whose  name  has  for  centuries 
and  generations — fresh  down  to  the 
present  day, — furnished  the  standard 
representative  of  vast  wealth.  Croesus 
flourished  about  the  middle  of  the  sixth 
century  b.  c.  The  prodigious  wealth 
which  he  had  inherited  had  been  in- 
creased by  the  tribute  of  conquered  na- 
tions, by  the  confiscation  of  great  es- 
tates, and  by  the  golden  sands  of  the 
Pactolus.  Perhaps  some  idea  of  the 
extent  of  this  wealth  may  be  formed 
from  the  rich  votive  ofterings  which  he 
is  known  to  have  deposited  in  the  tem- 
ples of  the  gods.  Herodotus  himself 
saw  the  ingots  of  solid  gold,  six  palms 
long,  three  broad,  and  one  deep,  which 
to  the  number  of  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enteen, were  laid  up  in  the  treasury  at 
Delphi.  He  also  saw,  in  various  parts 
of  Greece,  the  following  offerings,  all  in 
gold,  which  had  been  deposited  in  the 
temples  by  the  same  opulent  man :  a 
figure  of  a  lion,  probably  of  the  natural 
size ;  a  wine  bowl  of  about  the  same 
weight  as  the  lion ;  a  lustral  vase ;  a 
statue  of  a  female,  said  to  be  Croesus's 


92 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


baking  woman,  four  and  one-half  feet 
high  ;  a  shield  and  a  spear ;  a  tripod  ; 
some  figures  of  cows;  and  a  number 
of  pillars ;  and  a  second  shield  in  a  dif- 
ferent place  from  the  first,  and  of  great- 


Mode  of  Conducting  Great  Transac- 
tions by  Rothschild. 

"When  engaging  in  large  transac- 
tions, the  method  pursued  by  Roths- 
child was  this  :  Supposing  he  possess- 
ed exclusively,  which  he  often  did  a 
day  or  two  before  it  could  be  generally 
known,  intelligence  of  some  event 
which  had  occurred  in  any  part  of  the 
continent  sufficiently  important  to  cause 
a  rise  in  the  French  funds,  and  through 
them  on  the  English  funds,  he  would 
empower  the  brokers  he  usually  em- 
ployed to  sell  out  stock,  say  to  the 
amount  of  five  hundred  thousand 
pounds.  The  news  spread  in  a  moment 
in  financial  quarters,  that  Rothschild 
was  selling  out,  and  a  general  alarm 
followed.  Every  one  apprehended  he 
had  received  intelligence,  from  some  for- 
eign part,  of  some  important  event 
which  would  produce  a  fall  in  prices. 
As  might,  under  such  circumstances  be 
expected,  all  became  sellers  at  once. 
This,  of  necessity,  caused  the  funds — ^to 
use  the  customary  phraseology, — "  to 
tumble  down  at  a  fearful  rate."  Next 
day,  when  they  had  fallen  perhaps,  on« 
or  two  per  cent,  he  would  make  pur- 
chases, say  to  the  amount  of  one  and 
a  half  million  pounds,  taking  care, 
however,  to  employ  a  number  of  bro- 
kers whom  he  was  not  in  the  habit  of 
employing,  and  commissioning  each  to 
purchase  to  a  certain  extent,  and  giving 
all  of  them  strict  orders  to  preserve  se- 
crecy in  the  matter.  Each  of  the  per- 
sons so  employed  was,  by  this  means, 
ignorant  of  the  commission  given  to 
others.  Had  it  been  known  the  pur- 
chases were  for»  him,  there  would  have 
been  as  great  and  sudden  a  rise  in  the 
prices  as  there  had  been  in  the  fall,  so 
that  he  could  not  purchase  to  the  in- 


tended extent,  on  such  advantageous 
terms.  On  the  third  day,  perhaps,  the 
intelligence,  which  had  been  expected 
by  the  jobbers  to  be  unfavorable,  ar- 
rives, and  instead  of  being  so,  turns  out 
to  be  highly  favorable.  Prices  instan- 
taneously rise  again  ;  and  possibly  they 
may  get  one  and  a  half,  or  even  two 
per  cent,  higher  than  they  were  when 
he  sold  out  his  five  hundred  thousand 
pounds.  He  now  sells  out  at  the  ad- 
vanced price  the  entire  million  and  a 
half  pounds  he  had  purchased  at  the 
reduced  prices.  The  gains  by  such  ex- 
tensive operations,  when  thus  skilfully 
managed,  are  enormous. 


Bank  Teller's  "Varieties." 

Few  are  aware  of  the  perplexing 
difficulties  of  a  bank  teller.  Besides 
the  routine  of  business  in  connection 
with  the  clearing-house,  which  requires 
most  judicious  examination,  the  cur- 
rent business  of  the  day  goes  on  with 
increasing  pressure  from  the  outside. 
So  long  as  he  can  dispose  of  the  appli- 
cations uninterruptedly,  as  they  are 
represented,  the  lobby  is  comparatively 
quiet  and  free  from  obstruction;  but 
even  a  momentary  stoppage  causes  the 
crowd  to  gather,  and  soon  ten  or  a 
dozen  persons  are  waiting  to  be  served 
in  turn.  Expressions  of  impatience  are 
not  uncommon.  The  teller  is  pro- 
nounced "  slow  " — "  indifferent  to  the 
convenience  of  the  customers" — "in- 
competent," and  "  tantalizing,"  by  his 
deliberation  of  movement.  Delibera- 
tion is  the  secret  of  his  accomplishing 
so  much.  In  truth,  there  is  hardly  a 
moment  when  he  may  not  be  said  to  be 
doing  two  or  more  things  at  once. 

The  interruptions  to  which  he  is  sub- 
jected are  almost  incessant.  The 
cashier  has  just  received  advices  of  the 
issue  of  a  number  of  duplicate  checks 
by  a  corresponding  bank,  to  replace 
the  originals  which  have  been  lost  in 
the  mail.  He  brings  the  letter  and  list 
of  duplicates  to  the  teller,  who  is  occu- 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


93 


pied  several  minutes  in  obtaining  a 
clear  understanding  of  the  case.  Some 
of  the  originals  might  be  in  the  hands 
of  j)ersons  then  waiting  to  be  served, 
and  he  must  be  able  to  detect  them  at 
sight. 

"  Will  you  pay  me  this  check,  sir  ?  I 
don't  want  to  be  kept  here  half  a  day  ! " 
growls  a  hot-tempered  customer. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answers  the  teller,  "  if  you 
will  have  the  discrepancy  corrected  be- 
tween the  figures  and  the  writing." 

Another  :  "  How  did  your  exchanges 
come  out  the  day  before  yesterday  ? " 
asks  a  messenger  from  another  bank. 

"  A  thousand  dollars  over." 

"  That's  lucky  !  Our  teller  is  short  a 
thousand — that  must  be  it." 

"  Well,  if  he  can  establish  his  claim, 
and  no  other  bank  contests,  I'll  pay  it." 

"I  want  five  thousand  dollars  in 
gold  for  that  check — not  good,"  says 
another  bank  messenger. 

The  porter  or  specie  clerk,  who  keeps 
the  coin  prepared  for  such  demands,  is 
absent,  and  the  teller  may  be  obliged 
to  go  to  the  vault  for  it. 

In  the  next  moment,  a  check  which 
had  been  sent  to  another  bank,  through 
the  exchanges,  is  returned  for  a  written 
guarantee  of  indorsement.  If  satisfied 
of  its  correctness,  the  teller  gives  the 
guarantee.  Otherwise  he  pays  the 
money  for  it,  and  returns  it  to  the 
dealer  who  had  deposited  it. 

A  stranger  ofiers  to  the  teller  five 
hundred  dollars  in  bills,  to  pay  a  check 
which  he  had  drawn  on  the  bank. 
Keeping  no  account,  his  money  is  re- 
fused, but  he  persists  in  an  altercation 
about  it,  to  the  hindrance  of  those  be- 
hind him. 

A  dealer  wants  thirty  or  forty  thou- 
sand dollars  in  coin,  to  pay  duties  at 
the  custom  house.  Another  hands  in  a 
memorandum  check  that  he  has  given 
out,  but  of  which  he  wants  to  arrest 
payment.  Another  inquires  whether  a 
lost  check,  of  which  he  had  previously 
given  notice,  has  been  paid.  A  porter 
from  the  Merchants'  Bank  presents  a 


dozen  notes  of  different  parties  for  cer- 
tification, and  he  is  immediately  fol- 
lowed by  one  from  another  bank,  with 
a  bag  of  gold  which  he  reports  ten  dol- 
lars short,  and  which  may  be  the  occa- 
sion of  some  dispute. 

The  other  clerks  have  frequent  neces- 
sity to  communicate  with  the  paying 
teller  with  respect  to  the  state  of  ac- 
counts, and  he  with  them. 

A  noisy  colloquy  ensues  with  a  dealer 
whose  check  has  been  refused,  because 
of  his  deposit  having  been  credited  to 
another  party ;  and  with  another,  whose 
account  appears  deficient,  because  a 
promised  discount  of  paper  has  not 
been  entered  on  the  books. 

"Here,"  says  Mr.  Bungle,  returning 
a  handful  of  rumpled  bank  bills  and 
coin,  "  that  money  which  you  paid  me 
is  twenty  dollars  short."  The  teller 
examines  it,  and  satisfies  Mr.  Bungle 
that  the  error  was  in  his  own  counting. 


Kaisingr  Money  on  Manuscript. 

In  ancient  times,  manuscripts  were 
important  articles  in  a  commercial 
point  of  view ;  they  were  excessively 
scarce,  and  preserved  with  the  utmost 
care.  Usurers  themselves  considered 
them  as  precious  objects  for  pawn.  A 
student  of  Pavia,  who  was  reduced  by 
his  debaucheries,  raised  a  new  fortune 
by  leaving  in  pawn  a  manuscript  of  a 
body  of  law ;  and  a  grammarian,  who 
was  ruined  by  a  fire,  rebuilt  his  house 
with  two  small  volumes  of  Cicero, 
through  the  pawnbroker. 


Irish  Banker  E-edeeming-  his  Notes. 

Says  a  sprightly  writer  who  possesses 
a  lively  relish  for  the  humorous  in  mat- 
ters of  business :  I  once  accompanied 
a  large  party  of  English  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen to  that  enchanting  spot,  the 
Lakes  of  Killarney,  where,  having 
amused  ourselves  for  a  few  days,  we 
were  on  the  point  of  returning  to  Dub- 
lin, when  one  of  the  party  recollected 


94 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


tliat  lie  had  in  his  possession  a  handful 
of  notes  on  a  banker  who  was  a  kind 
of  saddler  in  the  town  of  Killarney. 
Accordingly,  we  all  set  out  by  way  of 
sport  to  have  them  exchanged,  our 
principal  object  being  to  see  and  con- 
verse with  the  proprietor  of  such  a 
bank. 

Having  entered  the  "bank,"  which 
hardly  sufficed  to  admit  the  whole  com- 
pany, we  found  the  banking  saddler 
hard  at  work.  One  of  the  gentlemen 
thus  addressed  him : 

"  Good  morning  to  you,  sir.  I  pre- 
sume you  are  the  gentleman  of  the 
house  ? " 

"  At  your  service,  ladies  and  gentle- 
men," returned  the  saddler. 

"  It  is  here  that  I  understand  that  the 
bank  is  kept." 

"  You  are  right,  sir,"  was  the  reply ; 
"  this  is  the  Killarney  Bank,  for  want 
of  a  better." 

"  We  are  on  the  eve,"  said  the  spokes- 
man, "  of  quitting  your  town,  and,  as 
we  have  some  few  of  your  notes  which 
will  be  of  no  manner  of  use  to  us  else- 
where, I'll  thank  you  for  the  cash  for 
them." 

The  banker  replied  "  Cash,  plase  your 
honor,  what  is  that  ?  Is  it  anything  in 
the  leather  line  ?  I  have  a  beautiful 
saddle  here  as  ever  was  put  across  a 
horse,  good  and  cheap.  How  much  of 
my  notes  have  you,  sir,  if  you  please  ? " 

"  There  are  no  less  than  sixteen  of 
your  promises  to  pay,  for  the  amazingly 
large  sum  of  fifteen  shillings  and  nine- 
pence  sterling  money." 

"  I  should  be  sorry,  most  noble,"  re- 
turned the  banker,  "  to  waste  any  more 
of  your  lordship's  time  or  of  those  swate 
beautiful  ladies  and  gentlemen,  but  I 
have  an  illegant  bridle  here  as  isn't  to 
be  matched  in  Yoorup,  Aishy,  Africay, 
or  Merickay  ;  its  lowest  price  is  fifteen 
shillings  six  and  a-half  pence — will  say 
fifteen  shillings  sixpence  to  your  lord- 
ship. If  ye'll  be  plased  to  accept  of  it, 
then  there  will  be  twopence  ha'penny 
or  a  three-pence  note  coming  to  your 


lordship,  and  that  will  clear  the  busi- 
ness at  once." 

This  account  of  an  Irish  banker,  al- 
though possibly  somewhat  overcharged, 
may  be  considered  a  pretty  fair  speci- 
men of  many  who  pretended  to  carry 
on  the  business  of  banking  in  that 
country,  years  ago. 


Florentine  Brokers  and  Money 
lioaners. 

The  early  prosperity  of  the  Floren- 
tine brokers  was  great  indeed.  The 
useful  invention  of  a  system  of  ex- 
change, first  known,  or  at  least  perfect- 
ed in  Florence,  raised  her  in  commer- 
cial character ;  and  strengthened  by  the 
sums  of  money  which,  at  an  advan- 
tageous interest,  were  loaned  by  the 
Florentine  merchants  to  the  largest 
houses,  and  not  unfrequently  to  the 
governments  of  other  countries,  the 
body  or  board  of  Florentine  brokers 
became  at  once  among  the  most  influ- 
ential in  the  domestic  affairs  of  the 
city,  and  among  the  most  necessary  to 
the  rising  commerce  of  Europe. 

The  mode  of  exacting  security  on 
loans  is  a  notable  circumstance,  and 
shows,  with  unerring  certainty,  the  exact 
value  to  commerce  of  the  indefatigable 
exertions  made  by  the  money  lenders 
of  Florence.  When  Aldobrandino 
d'Este  applied  for  the  aid  of  the  bank- 
ers of  Florence,  in  addition  to  the  mort- 
gage of  all  his  real  estate,  they  required 
the  person  of  his  brother  in  pledge. 
The  neglect  of  similar  precautions  had 
caused  to  Florence  a  loss  that  shook  the 
whole  fabric  of  commercial  prosperity, 
when  Edward  of  England,  the  conquer- 
or of  Cressy  and  Poictiers,  and  the  am- 
bitious aspirant  to  the  realm  and  throne 
of  France,  pennitted  the  great  house 
of  Peruzzi  to  fail  in  consequence  of  his 
inability  to  repay  the  moneys  which 
they  had  furnished  for  his  wars,  and 
which  amounted  to  a  sum,  calculated 
according  to  the  present  value  of  mon- 
ey, of  not  less  than  thirteen  millions  of 
dollars. 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


95 


Conductingr  Business  on  the  Paris 
Bourse. 

Theke  are  some  interesting  peculiari- 
ties in  tlie  mode  of  doing  business  on 
tlie  Paris  Bourse,  or  stock  exchange. 
The  agens  de  cliaiige  alone  are  author- 
ized by  law  to  purchase  or  sell  public 
securities.  All  respectable  business, 
whether  for  cash  or  the  end  of  the 
month,  is  transacted  by  them — not,  as 
in  London,  through  the  medium  of  the 
third  party,  called  the  jobber, — but 
directly  with  each  other.  They  seldom 
communicate  to  their  principals  the 
names  of  the  persons  with  whom  they 
deal ;  but  they  report  each  bargain  as  it 
is  made,  and  answer  at  the  end  of  the 
month  for  the  balance  due  to  him. 
They  are  very  cautious  in  doing  busi- 
ness with  the  public,  and  they  generally 
require  a  deposit,  or  couverture,  as  it  is 
called,  of  from  two  to  four  per  cent,  of 
the  sum  bought  or  sold,  before  they 
will  deal  for  the  end  of  the  month. 

Their  profits  are  enormous,  as  about 
sixty  agents  engross  the  whole  respec- 
table business  of  the  Bourse,  and  as 
they  encounter  losses  only  when  some 
great  banker  fails,  or  some  brother 
agent  de  change  stops  payment. 

The  agens  de  change  compose  what  is 
called  the  ^^  parquet,''^  but  there  is 
another  body  in  the  exchange  called 
the  coulisse,  consisting  of  speculators  of 
all  classes  and  fortunes,  who  are  beyond 
the  law,  and  who  do  business  with 
each  other  on  parole.  There  are  re- 
spectable men  to  be  found  in  the  coulisse, 
but  many  persons  are  admitted  into  it 
who  have  very  little  to  recommend 
them.  Their  operations  are  all  for 
time,  and  in  the  three  per  cents,  only. 
Several  members  of  the  coulisse  do  busi- 
ness as  brokers  for  speculators  out  of 
the  market,  but  their  chief  occupation 
consists  in  catching  for  each  other  the 
turn  of  the  market.  It  rarely  happens 
that  the  parquet  and  the  coulisse  take 
the  same  view  of  public  affairs ;  and 
the  former,  backed  by  the  great  capi- 


talists, are  usually  the  "bulls,"  while 
the  latter  usually  are  the  "  bears."  In 
both,  the  small  fry  are  sacrificed — soon- 
er or  later  they  are  carried  down  the 
stream,  as  the  rich  bankers,  at  stated 
times,  combine  and  execute  them  with- 
out mercy. 


Terrible  Reveng-e  on  a  Bank  by 
Bothschild. 

An  amusing  adventure  is  related  as 
having  happened  to  the  Bank  of  Eng- 
land, which  had  committed  the  great 
disrespect  of  refusing  to  discount  a  bill 
of  a  large  amount,  drawn  by  Anselm 
Rothschild,  of  Frankfort,  on  Nathan 
Rothschild,  of  London. 

The  bank  had  haughtily  replied 
"  that  they  discounted  only  their  own 
bills,  and  not  those  of  private  persons." 
But  they  had  to  do  with  one  stronger 
than  the  bank.  "  Private  persons  !  " 
exclaimed  Nathan  Rothschild,  when 
they  reported  to  him  the  fact :  "  Pri- 
vate persons  !  I  will  make  these  gentle- 
men see  what  sort  of  private  persons 
we  are  ! "    ' 

Three  weeks  afterward,  Nathan 
Rothschild — who  had  employed  the  in- 
terval in  gathering  all  the  five-pound 
notes  he  could  procure  in  England  and 
on  the  Continent — jDresented  himself  at 
the  bank  at  the  opening  of  the  oflice.  He 
drew  from  his  pocket  book  a  five-pound 
note,  and  they  naturally  counted  out 
five  sovereigns,  at  the  same  time  look- 
ing quite  astonished  that  the  Baron 
Rothschild  should  have  personally 
troubled  himself  for  such  a  trifle.  The 
baron  examined  one  by  one  the  coins, 
and  put  them  into  a  little  canvas  bag, 
then  drawing  out  another  note, — a 
third — a  tenth — a  hundredth,  he  never 
put  the  pieces  of  gold  into  the  bag 
without  scrupulously  examining  them, 
and  in  some  instances  trying  them  in 
the  balance,  as,  he  said,  "  the  law  gave 
him  the  right  to  do."  The  first  pocket- 
book  being  emptied,  and  the  first  bag 
full,  he  passed  them  to  his  clerk,  and 
received  a  second,  and  thus  continued, 


96 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


till  the  close  of  tlie  bank.  The  baron 
had  employed  seven  hours  to  change 
twenty-one  thousand  pounds.  But  as  he 
had  also  nine  employes  of  his  house  en- 
gaged in  the  same  manner,  it  resulted 
that  the  house  of  Rothschild  had  drawn 
£210,000  in  gold  from  the  bank,  and  that 
he  had  so  occuj)ied  the  tellers  that  no 
other  person  could  change  a  single  note. 
Everything  which  bears  the  stamp 
of  eccentricity  has  always  pleased  the 
English.  They  were,  therefore,  the 
first  day,  very  much  amused  at  the 
little  pique  of  Baron  Rothschild.  They 
however  laughed  less  when  they  saw 
him  return  the  next  day  at  the  opening 
of  the  bank,  flanked  by  his  nine  clerks, 
and  followed  this  time  by  many  drays, 
destined  to  carry  away  the  specie. 
They  laughed  no  longer,  when  the  king 
of  bankers  said  with  ironic  simplicity  : 
"  These  gentlemen  refuse  to  pay  my 
bills,  I  have  sworn  not  to  keep  theirs. 
At  their  leisure — only  I  notify  them 
that  I  have  enough  to  employ  them 
for  two  months  ! "  "  For  two  months ! " 
"  Eleven  millions  in  gold  drawn  from 
the  Bank  of  England  which  they  have 
never  possessed ! "  The  bank  took 
alarm.  There  was  something  to  be 
done.  The  next  morning,  notice  ap- 
peared in  the  journals  that  henceforth 
the  bank  would  pay  Rothschild's  bills 
the  same  as  their  own. 


Determining:  the  Genuineness  of  a 
Check. 

The  bank  account  of  a  highly  re- 
spectable house  was  reported  over- 
drawn for  two  thousand  dollars;  and 
one  of  the  firm  denied  the  genuineness 
of  a  particular  check  for  that  amount. 
A  number  of  his  checks  were  so  ar- 
ranged as  to  conceal  all  but  the  signa- 
tures, and  he  was  requested  to  point 
out  the  forgery.  He  acknowledged  his 
inability  to  discriminate  between  that 
and  any  other.  On  close  inquiry  it  ap- 
peared that  he  had  been  in  the  habit 
of  signing  checks  in  blank  to  the  order 
of  his  bookkeeper,  to  be  used  in  his  ab- 


sence, and  the  one  in  question  was  of 
this  description,  excepting  that  it  was 
payable  to  the  bearer.  He  was  asked 
if  he  could  swear  that  the  signature 
was  not  liis  own — to  which  he  answered 
in  the  negative.  Yet  it  was  not  made 
subject  to  order  in  his  usual  form,  and 
he  had  no  recollection  of  having  signed 
it.  Under  these  circumstances,  the 
bank  insisted  that  it  was  genuine,  and 
the  house  submitted  to  the  loss. 


Modem  Bank  Directors'  Parlor. 

The  bank  room,  or  parlor,  of  the 
Bank  of  England,  is  the  grand  centre 
around  which  the  whole  mechanism 
of  that  vast  establishment  revolves. 
There  in  solemn  assembly  sit,  once  a 
week,  that  august  commercial  body, 
reverently  spoken  of  by  all  as  the 
"  board  of  directors ; "  there  all  the 
overdrawn  accounts  are  gone  over  and 
commented  upon  ;  instructions  are  giv- 
en for  further  advance  or  reduced  bal- 
ances ;  all  the  bills  on  hand,  and  the 
character  of  their  acceptors,  are  regular- 
ly examined  and  criticized ;  grave  de- 
liberations are  held  as  to  the  best  means 
of  investing  any  surplus  funds ;  and 
last,  but  not  least,  to  those  immediate- 
ly concerned,  the  question  of  salaries  is 
there  gone  into,  and  duly  disposed  of. 
Very  rarely,  indeed,  is  a  joke  heard,  or 
a  pun  perpetrated  in  this  retreat,  sacred 
to  business  alone ;  but  should  such  an 
event  ever  occur,  it  would  doubtless  be 
some  dry  wit  comprehensible  only  to 
financiers.  The  directors  never  die — 
that  is  to  say,  they  never  die  out.  So 
soon  as  a  vacancy  takes  place,  it  is  im- 
mediately filled,  generally  by  the  larg- 
est shareholder,  if  possessed  of  a  reason- 
able amount  of  capacity  for  the  posi- 
tion. 


Detecting"  Bad  Bills. 
A  BANK  TELLER  requires  an  instinc- 
tive faculty  for  the  detection  of  spurious 
bills.    To  stand  by  and  observe  him 
counting,  it  might  be  supposed  that  he 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


9-7 


Modern  Bank  Directors'  Parlor. 


could  hardly  get  a  glimpse  of  each,  so 
rapidly  do  they  pass  through  his  hands. 
He  looks  as  if  he  were  trying  how  many 
times  he  could  strike  the  ends  of  his 
fingers  together  in  the  twentieth  part 
of  a  second ;  but  you  see  a  steady 
stream  of  bills  issuing  beneath  them 
and  gradually  gathering  into  a  pile. 

There  goes  one  aside,  without  per- 
ceptible pause  in  the  handling  1  He 
checks  the  item  on  the  list,  and  with 
his  right  hand  thrusts  the  pile  into  a 
drawer,  whilst  with  the  left  he  tosses 
the  single  bill  back  to  the  depositor. 

"  Counterfeit — five  dollars  off" !  " 

He  makes  the  entry,  deducting  it 
from  the  list,  hands  the  book  to  the 
dealer,  and  takes  the  next  in  order,  in 
which  there  is  a  package  of  mixed  de- 
nominations of  several  hundred  dollars. 
He  gives  it  a  smack  on  the  counter  to 
loosen  the  bills,  and  a  peculiar  toss, 
which  makes  them  fall  over  like  the 
leaves  of  a  book,  affording  an  instanta- 
neous glance  at  their  ends.  His  eye  has 
caught  in  that  instant  an  old  acquaint- 
ance. 

"Where  did  you  get  that  altered 
bill  ?  "  he  asks  of  the  customer,  mean- 
while counting — "  twenty,  thirty,  fifty, 
7 


fifty-five,  sixty,"  and  on  he  goes  like 
lightning.  The  dealer  looks  aston- 
ished, not  thinking  that  the  question 
could  possibly  have  reference  to  any 
bill  in  his  money.  The  teller  repeats, 
without  ceasing  liis  account  for  an  ap- 
preciable instant — "  one  twenty,  one 
thirty,  two,  five,  one  forty  five — say, 
where  did  you  get  that  altered  bill  ? — 
sixty-five,  one  seventy,  eighty,  two 
thirty — that^^''  he  says,  tossing  it  in  his 
face — "  two  altered  to  ten ;  two  eighty- 
five,  two  ninety-five,  three,  five,  ten, 
three  thirty-five— ten  ofF,  right;"  and 
the  deposit  is  entered,  and  the  dealer's 
book  is  returned  before  he  knows  it, 
and  the  teller  is  in  the  midst  of  another 
count  for  the  next  customer  in  order. 

This  is  very  curious  to  an  inexpe- 
rienced observer.  But  there  are  cer- 
tain well-known  spurious  and  altered 
bank  bills,  which  are  distinguished  by 
a  quick  teller,  as  well  as  the  counte- 
nance of  said  teller's  landlord  who  ap- 
proaches to  ask  for  his  quarter's  rent. 


An  Excited  Specie  Hunter. 

During  the  heat  of  the  specie  excite- 
ment at  Glasgow,  a  few  years  ago,  a 


98 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


gentleman  went  into  the  Union  Bank 
of  that  city,  and  presented  a  check  of 
five  hundred  pounds.  The  teller  asked 
him  if  he  wished  gold.  "  Gold  ! "  re- 
plied he,  "  no ;  give  me  notes,  and  let 
the  fools  that  are  frightened  get  the 
gold." 

Another  gentleman  rushed  into  the 
same  bank  in  a  great  state  of  excite- 
ment, with  a  check  for  fourteen  hun- 
dred pounds.  On  being  asked  if  he 
wished  gold,  he  replied,  "Yes." 
"  Well,"  said  the  teller,  "  there  are  one 
thousand  pounds  in  that  bag,  and  four 
hundred  in  this  one."  The  gentleman 
was  so  flurried  by  the  readiness  with 
which  the  demand  was  granted,  that  he 
lifted  up  the  bag  with  the  four  hundred 
pounds  only,  and  walked  ofF,  leaving 
the  one  thousand  pounds  on  the  coun- 
ter. The  teller,  on  discovering  the  bag, 
laid  it  aside  for  the  time.  Late  in  the 
day  the  gentleman  returned  to  the  bank 
in  great  distress,  stating  that  he  had 
lost  the  bag  with  the  one  thousand 
pounds,  and  could  not  tell  whether  he 
left  it  behind  him  on  leaving  the  bank, 
or  dropped  it  while  in  the  crowd. 
"  Oh,  you  left  it  on  the  counter,"  said 
the  teller  quietly,  "  and  if  you  will  call 
to-morrow  you  will  get  your  thousand 
pounds." 

♦ 

Renewing  a  Note. 

As  queer  scenes  occur  in  the  daily 
proceedings  of  a  bank,  probably,  as  in 
almost  any  kind  or  place  of  business 
that  can  be  named — the  apparent  mo- 
notonous routine  of  bank  transactions 
being  diversified  by  many  an  odd  inci- 
dent. 

AVhen  the  tellers  get  at  their  posts, 
and  the  hour  for  business  has  arrived, 
customers  begin  to  drop  in  first  one  by 
one,  and  there  are  generally  "  cases " 
of  some  sort  or  other  soon  requiring 
special  attention.  Perhaps  among  them 
will  come  "  Old  Indian,"  as  he  is  fa- 
miliarly known  at  the  institution,  a 
man  who  has  honorably  acquitted  him- 
self in  the  military  line,  and  one  who 


is  liked  by  all  at  the  bank,  but  who 
has  got  into  diflSculties,  which,  per- 
haj)s,  he  feels  to  be  more  galling  than 
he  ever  did  the  fire  of  an  enemy.  With- 
out preliminaries,  he,  soldier-like,  comes 
to  the  point  at  once. 

"  I  wish  to  pay  the  interest  on  that 
bill  of  mine  you  hold,  and  to  renew  it 
for  three  months  longer." 

"  Very  good,  sir ;  I  will  find  the  bill." 

The  teller  now  goes  ostensibly  for  the 
document,  but  in  reality  to  consult  the 
manager's  wishes  on  the  subject :  "  Mr. 
Brookes  has  called  to  renew  his  note ; 
shall  I  do  so  ? "  "  Well,  I  suppose  we 
must.  You  know  we  have  a  little  se- 
curity for  it,  and  as  he  means  to  pay 
off  gradually,  we  must  try  to  oblige 
him." 

Having  thus  "  found  the  bill,"  the 
teller  again  goes  to  his  desk,  and 
draws  out  the  new  one,  which  the  old 
gentleman  signs,  pays  the  interest  on 
the  first,  and  with  a  stiff  "  good  morn- 
ing," takes  his  leave.  They  all  feel  for 
him,  but  sometimes  wonder,  with  all 
credit  to  his  good  intentions,  whether 
he  will  ever  do  much  more  than  reneio 
his  bills. 


Franklin's  Multitude  of  Capitalists. 
'^  "  Time  is  money,"  said  Franklin ; 
but  it  doesn't  follow  that  the  multitude 
of  those  who  have  so  great  a  quantity 
of  such  "  money "  on  their  hands  are 
all  capitalists. 


'•  Manifolding:"  Bank  Notes. 
The  use  of  bank  notes,  independent- 
ly of  their  legitimate  value,  appears  to 
be  somewhat  diverse.  But  perhaps  the 
most  extraordinary  use  to  which  they 
have  been  applied  is  to  be  found  in  the 
process  termed  "  manifolding."  A  per- 
son carrying  on  a  rather  extensive  busi- 
ness in  the  British  provinces,  being  in 
want  of  cash,  and  having  in  his  pos- 
session a  fifty-pound  note,  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  he  would  cut  it  in  two. 
With  one  part  he  went  to  a  moneyed 
acquaintance  told  him  he  had  just  re- 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


ceived  it  by  post,  and  that  the  other 
would  follow  in  a  day  or  two,  and  it 
would  be  a  great  convenience  if  his 
friend  could  advance  him  cash  to  the 
amount  on  its  security.  The  person  to 
whom  he  applied  consented  to  the  re- 
quest. Having  been  thus  successful 
with  one  half,  he  determined  to  try  the 
other ;  with  it  he  proved  equally  for- 
tunate, and  thus  his  iifty-pound  note 
produced  him  one  hundred  pounds. 
The  game  was  too  profitable  to  be 
given  up  at  once ;  so  he  went  to  a 
banker,  and  demanded  a  one  hundred 
pound  note  with  the  cash  he  had  re- 
ceived. Again  he  had  recourse  to  the  pro- 
cess of  cutting ;  again  he  victimized  two 
acquaintances,  and  thus  procured  two 
hundred  pounds  for  his  original  note. 
With  the  money  thus  acquired  he  de- 
parted, satisfied  with  having  gained  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds  thus  easily. 


Kunning-  a  Bank. 

The  Bank  of  England  probably  never 
passed  through  a  more  critical  strait 
than  the  "  run "  made  upon  it  by  the 
Due  de  Choiseul, — a  French  plan  to 
destroy  the  institution,  hoping  thereby 
to  obtain  important  State  advantages 
for  France  over  her  rival.  Some  mil- 
lions of  livres  added  to  the  zeal  of  the 
French  emissaries,  who  discovered  a 
period  when  the  bullion  was  somewhat 
low,  and  spread  reports  calculated  to 
injure  the  standing  of  the  corporation. 

Collecting  all  the  notes  which  they 
could  possibly  procure,  they  poured 
them  into  the  bank,  and  carried  away 
the  gold  with  a  parade  which  attracted 
the  attention  it  sought.  The  old  cry 
arose  of  a  run  upon  the  bank,  and  in 
a  few  hours  the  whole  city  was  in  mo- 
tion. Volumes  of  paper  were  present- 
ed, and  gold  received  in  exchange. 
The  consternation  of  the  directors  was 
in  proportion  to  the  suddenness  of  the 
attack.  The  alarm,  far  from  being 
quieted,  became  every  day  more  gen- 
eral.    Post-chaises  poured  in  from  the 


provinces.  The  application  for  specie 
became  more  urgent.  There  was  no 
mode  of  judging  to  what  extent  an  at- 
tempt so  unprecedented  and  so  unex- 
pected might  be  carried.  The  eff"orts 
of  the  national  enemy  seemed  prosper- 
ing, and  for  some  days  England  appear- 
ed to  be  on  the  brink  of  the  greatest 
evil  which  could  happen. 

Time  was  necessary  to  collect  specie, 
and  people  were  employed  day  and 
night  to  coin  money.  All  the  gold 
which  by  any  stratagem  could  be  gath- 
ered was  brought  into  the  bank.  The 
method  of  paying  by  weight  was  dis- 
continued. The  sums  claimed  were  de- 
livered with  greater  deliberation ;  and 
the  money  placed  guinea  by  guinea  on 
the  table.  For  nine  days  this  fever 
continued ;  but  the  method  adopted  by 
the  directors,  with  concurrent  circum- 
stances, gave  time  for  the  production 
of  a  large  supply  of  gold.  All  the  de- 
mands were  met,  and  the  claimants  find- 
ing there  was  no  cause  for  doubt,  re- 
sumed their  confidence  in  the  bank. 


Intruding:  into  the  Bullion  Boom. 

The  directors  of  the  Bank  of  Eng- 
land some  time  since  received  an  an- 
onymous letter,  stating  that  the  writer 
had  the  means  of  access  to  their  bul- 
lion room.  They  treated  the  matter  as 
a  hoax  and  took  no  notice  of  the  letter. 
Another  and  more  urgent  and  specific 
letter  failed  to  rouse  them.  At  length, 
the  writer  offered  to  meet  them  in  their 
bullion  room  at  any  hour  they  might 
please  to  name.  They  then  communi- 
cated with  their  correspondent  through 
the  channel  he  had  indicated,  appoint- 
ing some  "  dark  and  midnight  hour " 
for  the  rendezvous.  A  deputation  from 
the  Board,  with  lantern  in  hand,  re- 
paired to  the  bullion  room,  locked 
themselves  in,  and  awaited  the  arrival 
of  the  mysterious  correspondent. 
Punctual  to  the  hour  a  noise  was  heard 
below.  Some  boards  in  the  floor  with- 
out much  trouble  were  displaced,  and 


100 


COMMEKCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


in  a  few  minutes  the  Guy  Fawkes  of 
the  bank  stood  in  the  presence  of  the 
astonished  directors.  His  story  was 
very  simple  and  straightforward.  An 
old  drain  ran  under  the  bullion  room, 
the  existence  of  which  had  become 
known  to  him,  and  by  means  of  which 
he  might  have  carried  away  enormous 
sums.  Inquiry  was  made.  Nothing 
had  been  abstracted,  and  the  directors 
forthwith  l-ewarded  the  honesty  and 
ingenuity  of  their  anonymous  corre- 
spondent— a  working  man,  who  had 
been  employed  in  repairing  sewers — by 
a  present  of  eight  hundred  pounds. 


Sothscliild  Trying-  to  Baise  a  Small 
Lioan. 

The  name  of  Nathan  Meyer  Roths- 
child is  found  upon  more  money  bills 
than  passed  through  any  twenty  bank- 
ing firms  in  London,  during  the  period 
covered  by  his  business  career.  But  he 
was  far  from  being  celebrated  for  his 
proficiency  in  the  art  of  writing.  This 
defect,  on  one  occasion  in  particular, 
caused  him  some  little  annoyance.  He 
was  travelling  in  Scotland,  and,  on  his 
return,  stopped  at  the  town  of  Mont- 
rose ;  here,  wishing  to  replenish  his  ex- 
hausted exchequer,  he  went  to  the 
bank,  and  requested  cash  for  a  draft 
of  one  hundred  pounds  on  his  agent  in 
London.  He  was,  however,  much  sur- 
prised at  the  refusal  of  the  bank  man- 
ager to  honor  his  check,  without,  as 
that  functionary  said,  having  the  gen- 
uineness of  the  signature — ichich  Tie  icas 
utterly  unahle  to  read — previously  ac- 
credited ;  and  for  this  purpose  it  must 
be  first  forwarded  to  London.  To  this 
arrangement  Mr.  Rothschild  was  com- 
pelled to  submit ;  and  as,  at  that  time, 
it  took  six  days  before  an  answer  could 
be  received  from  London,  he  was  de- 
tained until  the  reply  came,  which,  of 
course,  proving  favorable,  he  was  en- 
abled to  pursue  his  journey. 


Girard's  Great  Government  Loan. 

It  is  a  fact  which  may  be  put  to  the 
credit  of  Girard's  patriotism,  that  in 
1814,  when  the  credit  of  the  country 
was  exhausted,  the  treasury  bankrupt, 
and  an  invading  army  was  marching 
over  the  land  ;  when,  in  fact,  subscrip- 
tions were  solicited  for  funds  to  the 
amount  of  five  millions  of  dollars,  upon 
the  inducement  of  a  large  bonus  and  an 
interest  of  seven  per  cent.,  and  only 
twenty  thousand  dollars  could  be  ob- 
tained upon  that  ofier  for  the  purpose 
of  carrying  on  the  war,  Stephen  Gi- 
rard  stepped  forward  and  subscribed 
for  the  whole  amount.  When,  too, 
those  who  had  before  rejected  the  terms 
were  afterward  anxious  to  subscribe, 
even  at  a  considerable  advance  from 
the  original  subscription,  these  individ- 
uals were  let  in  by  him  upon  the  same 
terms. 


Coin  Used  by  Judas. 

The  "  piece  of  silver,"  thirty  of  which 
were  paid  to  Judas,  in  his  trade  of  be- 
traying Christ,  was  considered  a  pecu- 
liar piece  by  the  Israelites,  and  was  al- 
ways spoken  of  in  their  holy  books  as 
the  shekel  of  Israel,  or  holy  shekel  of  the 
sanctuary.  It  was  the  amount  which 
each  Israelite,  between  the  ages  of 
twenty  and  fifty,  was  required  to  pay 
into  the  public  treasury,  as  a  ransom 
for  their  delivery,  during  their  sojourn 
in  the  wilderness. 

According  to  the  British  currency,  a 
shekel  was  worth  two  shillings  three 
pence  three  farthings, — equal  to  about 
fifty  cents  of  our  money.  The  coin 
was  somewhat  larger  than  an  American 
half-dollar,  and  was  smooth-edged.  On 
one  side  it  bore  the  emblem  of  Aaron's 
rod,  as  mentioned  in  Numbers,  xvii.  8, 
surrounded  with  the  inscription  in  He- 
brew which  is  given  in  the  eleventh 
chapter  of  Leviticus — with  the  words, 
"Shekel  of  Israel." 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


101 


History  of  the  Old  Red  Cent. 

As  tlie  old  "  red  cent "  has  now  passed 
out  of  use,  and,  except  rarely,  out  of 
siglit,  like  the  "  old  oaken  bucket,"  its 
history  is  a  matter  of  sufficient  interest 
for  preservation.  The  cent  was  first  pro- 
posed by  Robert  Morris,  the  great  finan- 
cier of  the  Revolution,  and  was  named 
by  Jefferson  two  years  after.  It  began 
to  make  its  appearance  from  the  mint 
in  1792.  It  bore  the  head  of  Washing- 
ton on  one  side,  and  thirteen  links  on 
the  other.  The  French  Revolution 
soon  created  a  rage  for  French  ideas  in 
America,  which  put  on  the  cent,  instead 
of  the  head  of  Washington,  the  head 
of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty — a  French 
liberty,  with  neck  thrust  forward  and 
flowing  locks.  The  chain  on  the  re- 
verse was  replaced  by  the  olive  wreath 
of  peace.  But  the  French  liberty  was 
short-lived,  and  so  was  her  portrait  on 
our  cent.  The  next  head  or  figure  suc- 
ceeding this — the  staid,  classic  dame, 
with  a  fillet  around  her  hair, — came 
into  fashion  about  thirty  or  forty  years 
ago,  and  her  finely  chiselled  Grecian 
features  have  been  but  slightly  altered 
by  the  lapse  of  time. 


Origin  of  Paper  Money. 

The  celebrated  traveller,  Marco 
Paulo,  of  Venice,  was  the  first  person 
who  announced  to  Europe  the  existence 
of  paper  money  in  China,  under  the 
Moguls.  It  was  subsequently  intro- 
duced by  the  Moguls  into  Persia,  where 
their  notes  were  called  djaou,  or  djaw, 
a  word  evidently  derived  from  the  Chi- 
nese word  schaio — a  word  intended  to 
signify  the  want  of  specie. 

The  fact  of  the  Moguls  having,  in 
China  and  Persia,  made  use  of  paper 
money,  has  induced  the  belief  that 
they  were  the  inventors  of  it.  But  in 
the  history  of  Tchinghiz-khan,  and  of 
the  Mogul  dynasty  in  China,  published 
in  the  year  1739,  the  author  speaks  of 
the  suppression  of  the  paper  money, 


which  was  in  use  under  the  dynasty 
of  the  Soung,  who  reigned  in  China 
previous  to  the  Moguls;  and  he  also 
mentions  a  new  species  of  notes  which 
were  substituted  for  the  ancient  in  the 
year  1264. 

The  original  financial  speculation  of 
the  Chinese  ministry,  to  provide  for  the 
extraordinary  expenditvu'eg  of  the  sta]te, 
which  were  exceesdir-g'  Vihe  revenuesj 
was  in  the  yea^f  119  before  ,the  Christian 
era.  At  this  "periccl  w^r^'lnlr<j4«-"'p^l(i 
the  phi-pi,  or  value  in  skins.  These 
were  small  pieces  of  the  skin  of  deer, 
which  were  kept  in  a  pen,  within  the 
precincts  of  the  palace.  They  were  a 
Chinese  square  foot  in  size,  and  were 
beautifully  ornamented  with  painting 
and  embroidery.  The  price  of  those 
skins  was  fixed  at  a  sum  equal  in  Eng- 
lish money  to  about  twelve  guineas. 


Ricardo's  Three  Golden  Rules. 

David  Ricardo,  the  English  Jew 
broker,  accumulated  an  immense  prop- 
erty. He  had  what  he  called  his  three 
golden  rules  m  business,  the  observance 
of  which  he  always  pressed  upon  his 
private  friends.  These  were  :  Never  to 
refuse  an  option  when  you  can  get  it ; 
cut  short  your  losses ;  let  your  profits 
run  on.  By  cutting  short  one's  losses, 
Mr.  Ricardo  meant  that,  when  a  broker 
had  made  a  purchase  of  stock,  and 
prices  were  falling,  he  ought  to  re-sell 
immediately.  And  by  letting  one's 
profits  run  on,  he  meant  that,  when  a 
dealer  possessed  stock,  and  the  prices 
were  rising,  he  ought  not  to  sell  until 
prices  had  reached  their  highest,  and 
were  beginning  again  to  fall. 


M.  Rothschild  on  the  Secret  of  his 
Success. 

On  the  occasion  of  a  familiar  inter- 
view, one  day,  between  Sir  Thomas 
Buxton  and  Rothschild,  the  latter  said  : 
"My  success  has  always  turned  upon 
one  maxim.  I  said,  Jean  do  what  another 
man  can,  and  so  I  am  a  match  for  all 


102 


COMSIERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


the  rest  of  'em.  Another  advantage  I 
had — I  was  always  an  oflf-hand  man ; 
I  made  a  bargain  at  once.  When  I  was 
settled  in  London,  the  East  India  Com- 
pany had  eight  hundred  thousand 
pounds  in  gold  to  sell.  I  went  to  the 
sale,  and  bought  the  whole  of  it.  I 
knew  the  Duke  of  "Wellington  must 
have  it.  I -had  bought  a  great  many 
bills  of 'hi^  at  a  (Ji&cftunt.  The  govern- 
ment- sent- for  me,  and  "^aicl  they  must 
4iave"$t.  "When  fney  hid  got  it,  they 
didn't  know  how  to  get  it  to  Portugal, 
where  they  wanted  it.  I  undertook  all 
that,  and  sent  it  through  France  ;  and 
that  was  the  best  business  I  ever  did  in 
my  life. 

"  It  requires  (continued  Rothschild)  a 
great  deal  of  boldness  and  a  great  deal 
of  caution  to  make  a  great  fortune ; 
and  when  you  have  got  it,  it  requires 
ten  times  as  much  wit  to  keep  it.  If  I 
should  listen  to  one  half  the  projects 
proposed  to  me,  I  should  ruin  myself 
very  soon. 

"  One  of  my  neighbors  is  a  very  ill- 
tempered  man.  He  tries  to  vex  me, 
and  has  built  a  great  place  for  swine 
close  to  my  walk.  So,  when  I  go  out, 
I  hear  first,  *  Grunt,  grunt,'  then 
*  Squeak,  squeak,'  But  this  does  me 
no  harm.  I  am  always  in  good  humor. 
Sometimes,  to  amuse  myself,  I  give  a 
beggar  a  "guinea.  He  thinks  it  is  a 
mistake,  and  for  fear  I  should  find  it 
out,  he  runs  away  as  hard  as  he  can.  I 
advise  you  to  give  a  beggar  a  guinea 
sometimes — it  is  very  amusing." 


Application  for  a  Discount,  by  Astor. 

Me.  J.  J.  Astor's  profits  rolled  in 
upon  him  at  a  rate  which  no  one  could 
have  dreamed  of,  and  he  kept  their 
amount  a  secret  until  he  had  so  pene- 
trated the  frontier  by  his  agencies  that 
he  controlled  the  whole  fur-trade,  when 
he  occasionally  acknowledged  a  degree 
of  wealth  which  astonished  those  who 
heard.  For  instance,  he  had  occasion 
at  a  certain  time,  to  use  a  large  amount 


of  cash,  and,  what  was  very  rare  with 
him,  applied  to  his  bank  for  a  heavy 
discount.  The  unusual  cu'cumstance 
and  the  sum  demanded  startled  the 
cashier,  who,  in  a  plain  business  way, 
put  the  question:  "Mr.  Astor,  how 
much  do  you  consider  yourself  worth  ? " 
^'•Not  less  tliana  million,''''  was  the  reply. 
"A  million!" — the  cashier  was  over- 
whelmed. He  supposed  that  he  knew 
all  his  customers,  and  had  rated  Astor 
at  hardly  more  than  one-tenth  of  that 
sum. 


Peculiar  Manag-ement  of  the  Bank 
of  Amsterdam. 

Previously  to  the  year  1609,  the 
great  trade  of  Amsterdam  brought 
thither  large  quantities  of  clipped  and 
worn  coin,  from  foreign  countries. 
Thus,  the  whole  currency  became  great- 
ly debased  ;  for,  whenever  any  coin  was 
issued  fresh  from  the  mint,  as  the  metal 
was  worth  more  than  its  nominal  and 
current  value,  it  was  immediately  with- 
drawn from  circulation,  and  exported, 
or  melted  down.  In  this  state  of  things, 
merchants  could  not  always  find  enough 
of  good  money  to  pay  their  bills  of  ex- 
change. 

To  remedy  the  inconveniences  in 
question,  a  bank  was  established  in 
1609,  which  received  all  money,  at  its 
real  value  in  standard  coin,  and  gave 
the  owners  credit  for  the  amount,  after 
deducting  a  small  percentage  for  the 
recoining  and  other  expenses.  A  law 
was  passed,  that  all  bills  of  exchange 
of  the  value  of  six  hundred  guilders, 
or  above,  should  be  payable  only  in 
bank  currency — a  regulation,  which  at 
once  compelled  all  merchants  to  open 
an  account  with  the  bank.  As  the  city 
of  Amsterdam  became  bound  for  the 
solvency  of  the  bank,  and  as  the  paper 
currency  had  many  conveniences,  the 
bank  paper  was  always  at  a  premium, 
and  could  be  sold  in  the  money  market 
for  more  than  its  nominal  value.  Con- 
sequently there  was  no  necessity  to  de- 
mand payment  of  the  bills. 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONE 


103 


The  bank  professed  to  lend  no  part 
of  the  money  that  was  deposited  in  its 
vaults,  but  to  have  the  value  in  coin 
always  in  hand,  for  all  its  certificates 
of  credit.  It  is  believed  that  this  was 
really  the  case ;  for,  on  one  occasion, 
when  political  events  caused  a  run 
upon  the  bank,  some  of  the  coins,  then 
paid  out,  bore  the  marks  of  having 
been  scorched  by  a  fire,  which  had  oc- 
curred soon  after  the  institution  was  es- 
tablished. 


Lost  Bank-Note  of  Thirty  Thousand 
Pounds. 

A  VERY  wealthy  English  banker  had 
occasion  for  thirty  thousand  pounds, 
which  he  was  to  pay  as  the  price  of  an 
estate  he  had  just  bought ;  to  facilitate 
the  matter,  he  carried  the  sum  with  him 
to  the  bank,  and  obtained  for  it  a  bank 
note.  On  his  return  home,  he  was  sud- 
denly called  out  upon  particular  busi- 
ness ;  he  threw  the  note  somewhat  care- 
lessly on  the  chimney,  but  when  he 
came  back  a  few  minutes  afterward  to 
lock  it  up,  it  was  not  to  be  found. 

No  one  had  entered  the  room — he 
could  not,  therefore,  suspect  any  per- 
son. At  last,  after  much  ineffectual 
search,  he  was  persuaded  that  it  had 
fallen  from  the  chimney  into  the  fire. 
The  banker  went  to  acquaint  the  gen- 
tlemen, who  were  associated  with  him 
as  directors  of  the  bank,  with  the  mis- 
fortune that  had  happened  to  him; 
and,  as  he  was  known  to  be  a  perfectly 
honorable  man,  he  was  readily  be- 
lieved. It  was  only  four-and-twenty 
hours  from  the  time  that  he  had  de- 
posited his  money ;  they  thought,  there- 
fore, that  it  would  be  hard  to  refuse  his 
request  for  a  second  bill.  He  received 
it  upon  giving  an  obligation  to  restore 
the  first  bill,  if  it  should  ever  be  found, 
or  to  pay  the  money  himself,  if  it  should 
be  presented  by  any  stranger. 

About  thirty  years  afterward  (the 
banker  having  been  long  dead,  and  his 
heirs  in  possession  of  his  fortune),  an 
unknown  person  presented  the  lost  bill 


at  the  bank,  and  demanded  payment. 
It  was  in  vain  that  they  narrated  to  this 
person  the  transaction  by  which  that 
bill  was  annulled — he  would  not  listen 
to  it ;  he  maintained  that  it  had  come 
to  him  from  abroad,  and  insisted  upon 
immediate  payment.  The  note  was 
payable  to  bearer;  and  the  thirty 
thousand  pounds  were  paid  to  him. 
The  heirs  of  the  deceased  banker 
would  not  heed  any  demand  upon 
them  for  restitution,  and  the  bank  was 
obliged  to  sustain  the  loss.  It  was  dis- 
covered afterward  that  an  architect, 
having  purchased  the  banker's  house, 
had  it  taken  down,  in  order  to  build 
another  upon  the  same  spot,  and  found 
the  note  in  a  crevice  of  the  chimney  ! 


Merchants'  Notes  as  Currency. 

The  peculiarities  of  carrying  on  busi- 
ness in  the  United  States  and  England 
respectively,  are  illustrated  by  the  dif- 
ference in  passing  good  mercantile 
notes  as  a  circulating  medium.  In 
England,  a  note  of  hand,  when  given 
for  any  business  purpose,  is  not  taken 
to  some  convenient  banker's,  to  be  dis- 
counted or  sold,  but  is  treated  with 
that  deference  that  is  given  to  other 
kinds  of  notes  signed  by  certain  of- 
ficials known  as  the  president  and 
cashier  of  a  bank,  for  the  simple  reason 
that,  if  made  by  an  honest,  responsible 
man,  it  is  worth  just  as  much.  The 
holder  can,  any  day,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood where  its  character  may  be 
known,  without  any  previous  negotia- 
tion, buy  anything  he  pleases,  and  pay 
for  it  with  this  paper  by  simply  in- 
dorsing it — because  the  second  holder 
knows  he  can  in  turn  do  the  same; 
and  so  it  goes,  getting  farther  and  far- 
ther from  home,  until  having  passed 
through  the  hands  of  perhaps  more 
than  twenty  different  persons,  and 
being  literally  covered  with  indorse- 
ments, it  is  finally  lodged  in  the  bank 
for  collection.  Such  a  note,  of  one 
thousand  pounds,  is  frequently  made 


104 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


to  pay  the  indebtedness  of  twenty  dif- 
ferent men,  not  one  of  whom  needs  to 
know  w^hether  the  bank  is  calling  in  or 
letting  out  its  best  money,  or  to  care 
whether  his  banker  is  easy  or  "  tight " 
in  his  financial  condition. 


Scenes  after  Discount  Day. 

Discount  customers  at  New  York 
banks  are,  in  a  good  majority  of  cases, 
an  eager  set.  The  first  crowd  at  the 
bank  the  morning  after  the  board  has 
sat,  is  composed  of  the  most  anxious 
dealers.  It  is  important  for  them  to 
know  early,  whether  they  must  seek 
elsewhere  the  bread  of  commercial  life 
for  the  day.  They  are  followed  by  the 
less  needy — the  more  deliberate,  who 
know  the  value  of  "  deportment "  in  a 
tight  market.  Here  are  some  samples 
which  will  keep  fresh  for  a  long  time  : 

"  Notes  done,  sir  ? "  is  asked  by  the 
applicant,  either  verbally,  or  in  panto- 
mime. The  afiirmative  causes  a  bright 
gleam  of  sunshine  in  the  face  of  the 
questioner.  But  a  negative  to  the  next 
comer  substitutes  a  scowl  of  disappoint- 
ment :  "  What  is  the  reason  of  that,  sir  ? 
Has  the  bank  stopped  discounting  ? " 
"Market  tightened  up,  sir.  Deposits 
down.     Ofierings  very  heavy." 

The  customer  departs  with  an  audi- 
ble growl  of  indignation  at  what  he 
conceives  to  be  "  a  denial  of  rights." 

Another :  "  Good  morning,  Mr.  Smith ; 
what  have  you  to  say  to  me  ? "  "  Noth- 
ing veiy  encouraging,  sir.  The  bank 
discounted  one  of  your  notes."  "  What 
—only  one  out  of  ten  ? "  "  That's  all. 
Very  good  proportion,  I  do  assure  you." 
"  A  single  thousand !  And  I  want  five 
to-day  !  Where's  the  president  ? "  "  In 
his  room,  sir.  But  I  don't  believe  you'll 
gain  anything  by  talking  to  him.  Our 
receipts  are  very  small  just  now,  and 
the  porter  brings  bad  news  from  the 
clearing-house." 

A  third  fills  the  little  gate  in  the  rail- 
ing with  a  grim  and  threatening  visage, 
but  does  not  sjDeak.    The  clerk  knows 


him  as  a  frequent  applicant,  and  seldom 
a  fortunate  one  ;  the  character  of  his  ac- 
count, as  well  as  of  his  paper,  being  in- 
ferior, and  presenting  no  claims  worthy 
of  consideration  by  the  directors.  He 
receives  back  his  oflfering  without  re- 
mark, and  departs  in  sullen  silence. 

Customer  four  :  "  Well,  Smith,  don't 
tell  me  my  notes  ain't  done  I " 
"Wouldn't  if  I  could  help  it,  sir. 
Board  did  mighty  little."  "Hang 
the  board !  Isn't  there  any  explana- 
tion ?  Don't  they  know  the  paper  ? 
Is  it  too  long?"  "No  explanation 
given  to  me.  Bank's  short.  Can't 
help  it.  Majority  in  the  same  boat." 
Customer  leaves  an  oath  behind  him. 


Neapolitan  Cambiamoneta,  or  Money 
Chang'er. 

Along  the  crowded  streets  of  Naples 
the  passer-by  will  occasionally  see  a 
great  red  umbrella  mounted  on  a  tall 
pole,  and  under  which  a  very  snug  little 
business  is  carried  on.  A  smart,  respect- 
able, middle-aged  lady  sits  in  state  be- 
neath this  circumscribed,  but  brilliant, 
little  awning,  which  lends  a  decidedly 
roseate  hue,  not  only  to  herself  but  to 
her  calling.  The  table  at  which  she 
sits  is,  in  fact,  a  "  strong  box "  on 
wheels,  and  she  herself  is  a  banker  in 
a  small  w^ay — a  street  money-changer. 
On  her  little  counter  are  disposed  vari- 
ous money  bags,  with  open  mouths — a 
small  one  of  gold,  a  larger  one  of  silver, 
and  a  still  larger  of  copper  coins.  Her 
transactions  are  as  safe  as  they  are  sim- 
ple. She  does  not  lend  out  her  money 
on  usury ;  she  does  not  gamble  on  the 
stock-exchange,  or  make  "time  bar- 
gains," or  demand  a  high  rate  of  in- 
terest for  "  accommodation,"  while  she 
gives  a  low  rate  of  interest  on  "  depos- 
its." She  merely  lays  herself  out  to 
change  one  set  of  coins  into  their  equiv- 
alents; for  this  she  receives  a  small 
banker's  commission,  and  on  this  small 
commission  she  lives  and  thrives. 

It  is  surprising  how  often  her  inter- 
vention is  required  in  the  daily  busi- 


J    pO  <•  O    o 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


105 


ness  of  life.  Here  is  a  laughing,  rol- 
licking, black-eyed  servant  girl  come 
out,  with  a  basket  on  her  arm,  to  make 
her  purchases  in  the  market  of  Santa 
Lucia.  Her  money  does  not  happen  to 
be  in  an  available  shape,  and  the  fish- 
monger cannot  give  change.  But — 
"  Ah  !  most  fortunate  !  See,  the  Sig- 
nora  Marclietti  !  Ah,  ''cellenza^  without 
your  help  I  am  lost.  Oblige  me,  this 
holy  morning,  with  some  of  your  dear 
carlini.  Mj  jpadrone  (master)  is  so  im- 
patient. Ah,  ''cellenza^  how  eagerly  he 
craves  his  dinner."  And  so  her  "  Ex- 
cellency "  is  only  too  happy  to  oblige 
her  friend,  the  brisk  and  vivacious  little 
cook,  while  with  the  blandest  of  smiles 
she  deducts  from  the  change  her  own 
pretty  little  percentage. 

Again,  there  is  a  tall,  dark,  suspi- 
cious-looking man,  who  finds  that  his 
long  walk  from  Capua  has  made  a  hole 
in  his  shoe.  Near  by,  too,  there  is  a 
poor  street  cobbler,  who  is  seated  on 
his  own  tool-basket,  with  his  little 
hammer,  and  his  twine  and  wax  dis- 
posed around  him  on  the  pavement. 
The  dark  Capuan  kicks  oflT  his  ailing 
shoe,  plants  his  unshod  foot  on  the 
ground  by  the  shod  one,  and,  in  spite 
of  the  police,  hums  a  proscribed  ode  to 
Masaniello,  until  the  poor  cobbler  sets 
him  comfortably  on  his  feet  again. 
Once  more,  the  Signora  Marchetti  must 
be  referred  to,  for  the  cobbler's  pocket 
is  as  empty  as  himself,  and  not  a  "  gra- 
na  "  lurks  there  to  supply  his  employer 
with  the  requisite  change,  and  to  sup- 
ply himself  with  the  yet  more  requisite 
dinner  of  chestnuts ;  and  thus,  for  an 
additional  exchange  of  equivalents,  the 
banker's  commission  glides  into  the  Sig- 
nora's  waiting  purse. 


Largest  Check  ever  Drawn. 

In  the  negotiations  made  a  few  years 
since  by  the  English  government  for  a 
loan  of  eighty  million  dollars,  the  suc- 
cessful contractors  v/ere  the  Messrs. 
Rothschild;    and,   having    been    sup- 


ported by  the  subscriptions  of  friends, 
they  were  of  course  recognized  as  the 
acting  firm  in  that  important  transac- 
tion. In  paying  the  first  deposit  to- 
ward this  amount  to  the  government, 
the  check  they  drew  was  for  the  sum 
of  six  million  dollars.  This  bank  check 
was  probably  the  largest  ever  drawn  at 
once  by  one  private  banking-house — or, 
if  not,  it  was  certainly  for  a  very  "  con- 
siderable sum." 


Ijorillard  Faying  a  Bequest  in  Bank 
Stock. 

On  a  certain  occasion,  Jacob  Loril- 
lard  was  appointed  executor  to  an  es- 
tate in  which  the  widow  had  a  life- 
interest,  but  where  each  of  the  children 
was  to  receive  a  thousand  dollars  on 
coming  to  age.  When,  in  the  fii'st 
case,  this  period  had  arrived,  one  of 
the  sons  called  on  him  for  the  amount 
of  this  bequest.  "  And  what,"  he  said, 
"  do  you  wish  to  do  with  it  ? "  "  To 
purchase  stock  with  it  in  a  particular 
bank."  "  At  what  is  it  now  selling  ? " 
"  A  hundred  and  ten."  "  Have  you 
any  objections  to  leave  the  money  with 
me  on  interest  till  the  1st  of  May,  and 
then  I  will  let  you  have  the  stock  at 
the  same  rate  ? "  In  the  mean  time  it 
fell,  as  he  anticij)ated,  to  eighty-four. 
When  this  change  took  place,  the 
young  man  was  greatly  depressed.  He 
called  at  the  time  appointed,  to  fulfil 
the  engagement.  "  The  stock  is  ready 
for  you,"  Mr.  Lorillard  playfully  re- 
marked ;  "  however,  if  you  prefer  it,  I 
will  release  you  from  the  contract,  and 
the  money  may  remain  where  it  is."  It 
may  easily  be  conceived  that  the  young 
man  left  him  grateful  and  rejoicing. 


Greatest  Xiending  House  in  Europe. 

The  great  money-lending  house  at 
Naples  was  first  established  in  1539  or 
1540.  Two  rich  citizens,  Aurelio  Papa- 
ro  and  Leonardo  or  Nardo  di  Palma, 
redeemed  all  the  pledges  which  were  at 
that  time  in  the  hands  of  the  Jcavs,  and 


106 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


offered  to  deliver  them  to  the  owners 
without  interest,  provided  they  would 
return  the  money  which  had  been  ad- 
vanced on  them.  More  of  the  opulent 
citizens  soon  followed  their  examples  ; 
many  bequeathed  large  sums  for  this 
particular  purpose;  and  Toledo,  the 
viceroy,  who  drove  the  Jews  from  the 
kingdom,  supported  it  by  every  method 
possible.  This  lending  house,  which 
has  undergone  so  many  variations,  is 
the  largest  in  Europe  ;  and  it  contains 
such  an  immense  amount  and  number 
of  different  articles,  many  of  them  ex- 
ceedingly valuable,  that  it  may  be  con- 
sidered as  a  repository  of  the  most  im- 
portant part  of  the  movables  of  the 
whole  nation. 


Oldest  Bill  of  Exchangre  in  the  World, 
1325. 

The  oldest  copy  of  a  formal  bill  of 
exchange  known  to  be  in  existence,  at 
present,  is  one  dated  at  Milan,  on  the 
9th  of  March,  1325,  and  runs  in  the 
original  as  follows : 

"  Pagate  per  questa  prima  litera  [let- 
tera]  a  di  IX.  Ottobre  a  Luca  de  Goro 
Lib.  XLV.  Sono  per  la  valuta  qui  da 
Marco  Reno,  al  tempo  il  pagate  e  po- 
nete  a  mio  conto  e  R.  die  Christo  vi 
guarde  Bonromeo  de  Bonromei  de  Mila- 
no  IX.  de'  Marzo,  1325."  Or,  in  Eng- 
lish— 

"  Pay  for  this  first  bill  of  exchange, 
on  the  9th  of  October,  to  Luca  Goro  45 
livres ;  they  are  for  value  received  here 
from  Marco  Reno ;  at  the  time  of  ma- 
turity pay  the  same  to  my  account, 
thanking  you,  may  Christ  protect  you, 
Bonromeo  de  Bonromei  of  Milan,  the 
9th  of  March,  1325." 


XTnexpected  Balance  at  Contts's  Bank. 

Lord  A.  Fitzclarence  happened  to 
drop  into  Coutts's  bank  with  his  friend 
Mr.  W.,  who  wanted  to  draw  some 
money,  for  which  purpose  he  got  a 
check  from  the  cashier,  and  filled  it 
up  for  two  hundred   pounds;  on  re- 


ceiving which,  he  observed  that  he 
had  something  to  say  to  one  of  the 
partners,  and  excused  himself  for  step- 
ping into  an  inner  room  a  few  minutes 
for  the  purpose.  Lord  A.,  left  standing 
by  the  counter,  remarked,  laughingly  : 

"  "Well,  it  is  a  very  pleasant  thing  to 
walk  in  and  get  helped  to  two  hundred 
pounds  in  that  way." 

"  If  your  lordship  wishes  to  draw," 
replied  the  cashier,  "  I  will  hand  you  a 
check." 

"  Oh,  yes  !  but  as  I  do  not  keep  an 
account  here,  that  would  be  of  very  lit- 
tle use,"  said  the  lord ;  and  the  conver- 
sation went  on,  as  his  lordship  thought, 
jocularly. 

"  I  beg  your  lordship's  pardon  ;  but 
I  should  be  very  happy  to  cash  it." 

"  But  I  tell  you  I  have  no  money  in 
the  bank,  and  never  had  any  at  Messrs. 
Coutts's." 

"  Your  lordship  is  mistaken ;  there 
is  a  larger  sum  than  that  standing  on 
our  books  in  your  name;"  and,  con- 
sulting a  large  ledger,  he  pointed  out 
the  entry. 

It  turned  out  that  Lord  A.'s  royal 
father  had  vested  certain  amounts  for 
the  younger  branches  of  his  family,  and 
had  somehow  forgotten  to  mention  the 
circumstance ;  and  so  it  might  have 
lain  for  a  very  long  time,  as  it  is  a  rule 
of  the  house  never  to  announce  moneys 
paid  in. 


ColloQLtiies  inside  the  Bank. 

In  his  various  walks  and  contacts, 
the  porter  of  a  bank  gains  much  knowl- 
edge of  men  and  things,  which,  discre- 
tionally,  or  in  answer  to  questions,  he 
communicates  to  the  bank  officials,  be- 
tween whom  and  himself  there  is  free 
and  often  confidential  intercourse. 
Here  is  an  amusing  illustration,  from 
no  other  pen  than  Gibbons's  : 

"What  news  at  the  clearing-house 
to-day,  Mr.  Donaldson  ? "  asks  the  pres- 
ident. "I  didn't  hear  anything  par- 
ticular, sir.    It  looks  as  if  things  might 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


107 


be  a  little  excited  and  uncomfortable, 
that's  all."  "  Ah  !  Well,  that's  a  good 
deal.  "What  makes  you  think  so  ? " 
"  A  little  sort  of  snap,  sir.  Some  of 
the  porters  came  in  late,  as  though 
they'd  been  holding  back  for  morning 
checks."  "Did  you  hear  anything  in 
the  street ? "  "I  heard  some  talk 
about  a  failure  among  the  brokers,  but 


no  name."    "  No  steamer  in 


Well, 


yes,  sir ;  but  the  boys  ain't  crying  an 
extra  yet.  They've  got  a  notice  on  the 
bulletins — '  Delhi  not  taken  / '  " 

The  president  catches  a  valuable  hint 
from  many  a  conversation,  of  which  this 
is  an  example. 

"  Delhi  not  taken !  Then,  Mr.  Cash- 
ier, I  think  you  may  answer  Mr.  Bor- 
row, that  we  can't  give  him  any  priv- 
ilege of  over-draft,  nor  re-discount  his 
paper.  These  country  banks  must  learn 
to  take  care  of  themselves."  An  appli- 
cation for  a  credit  of  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars, which  had  been  lying  in  suspense, 
is  thus  decided  by  the  state  of  things  in 
India. 

It  is  not  unlikely  that  the  porter  will 
carry  notices  to  parties  within  the  next 
half  hour,  calling  in  one  or  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  of  demand  loans, 
so  sensitive  are  bank  officers  to  imag- 
inary effects  that  may  follow  an  an- 
nouncement that  some  "Delhi"  or 
other  is  "  not  yet  taken." 


Disadvantage  of  TDeingr  a  Bank 
Director. 

The  Senate  of  the  State  once  elected 
Mr.  Matthew  Carey,  the  eminent  book 
publisher,  a  director  of  the  Bank  of 
Pennsylvania.  He  mentions,  as  a  dis- 
advantage to  him  from  the  position, 
the  lenity  shown  by  the  other  directors, 
whereby  his  debts  rose  extravagantly 
high.  This  evil  he  urges  with  great 
warmth  and  zeal,  as  the  one  which  sev- 
eral times  in  his  business  life  came  near 
bringing  him  to  bankruptcy.  "  I  print- 
ed and  published,"  he  declares,  "  above 
twice  as  many  books  as  were  necessary 
for  the  extent  of  my  business ;  and,  in 


consequence,  incurred  oppressive  debts 
to  banks — was  laid  under  contribution 
for  interest  to  them  and  to  usurers, 
which  not  only  swallowed  up  my  profits, 
but  kept  me  in  a  constant  state  of  pen- 
ury. I  was  in  many  cases  shaved  so 
close  by  the  latter  class,  that  they  al- 
most skinned  me  alive.  To  this  cause 
my  difficulties  were  nearly  altogether 
owing,  for  I  did  a  large  and  profitable 
business  almost  from  the  time  I  opened 
a  bookstore." 

He  sets  down  another  evil  practice 
of  his  business  career,  which  he  cau- 
tions young  traders  to  shun,  as  they 
would  "temporal  perdition."  It  is 
that  of  endorsation.  "  In  this  way,  in 
fourteen  years,"  he  writes,  "  I  lost  be- 
tween thirty  and  forty  thousand  dol- 
lars; and  but  for  this  I  might  have 
retired  from  business  ten  years  earlier 
than  I  did ;  besides,  in  one  of  the  cases 
of  failure,  I  was  brought  to  the  verge 
of  stoppage." 


Boyal  Pawners  and  Brokers. 

The  infection  of  gambling,  in  the 
different  varieties  of  that  practice,  is  so 
strong  that  Pope,  who  knew  his  coun- 
trymen well,  declared  that  : 

''Statesman  axiA patriot  ply  alike  the  stocks; 
Peeress  and  butler  share  aUke  the  box ; 
Andi  judges  ]oh,  and  bishops  bite  the  town, 
And  mighty  dukes  pack  cards  for  half  a 
crown." 

In  the  twelfth  century  Richard  I. 
pawned  the  revenues  of  the  crown  for 
the  payment  of  moneys-  borrowed  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  the  fanatical 
conquest  of  the  Holy  Land.  Henry  HI. 
pawned  the  crown  jewels  and  regal 
ornaments  and  robes  of  state.  Ed- 
ward I.  borrowed  money  to  pay  the 
debts  of  his  father,  in  order  to  get  his 
soul  "  out  of  purgatory,"  as  the  record 
states.  Richard  II.  was  deposed  for 
extorting  one  million  one  hundred 
thousand  pounds  sterling,  under  pre- 
text of  borrowing,  which  was  never 
repaid.     This  was  one  of   the    chief 


108 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


causes  of  the  York  and  Lancaster  wars. 
In  1346  Edward  III.  ordered  a  sum  of 
money  to  be  lent  to  him.  Henry  IV. 
obliged  the  rich  men  of  the  kingdom  to 
lend  him  money  on  the  growing  taxes. 
Henry  VIIL  escaped  the  punishment  he 
so  justly  merited  for  defrauding  his 
creditors  ;  he  compelled  Parliament  to 
pass  two  acts,  offering  him  "  all  the 
money  he  had  received  in  loans," — thus 
discharging  him  of  all  obligations  he 
had  come  under,  and  all  suits  that 
might  arise  thereupon.  In  money 
matters  in  Elizabeth's  time,  the  peojDle 
insisted  upon  the  payment  of  the  sums 
advanced  to  her  predecessors,  a  demand 
she  was  wise  enough  to  comply  with. 


Irishman  at  the  Bank. 

The  city  banks  have  all  kinds  of  cus- 
tomers. For  instance,  one  in  the  shape 
of  an  Irish  pig-jobber,  a  stranger,  intro- 
duces himself,  or  rather  his  business,  by 
laying  his  great  whip  on  the  counter, 
taking  off  an  apology  of  a  hat — so  far 
as  any  known  styles  stand  related  to 
it, — and  then,  fumbling  in  the  caver- 
nous recesses  of  his  dirty  garments, 
lugs  out  a  crumpled  bundle  of  very 
nasty-looking  notes. 

"  Could  ye  give  me  your  bank  notes 
for  these,  sur  ? "  he  asks,  m  his  most  in- 
sinuating manner. 

"  We  never  change  notes  to  stran- 
gers." 

"  Why,  they're  good,  ain't  they  ? " 

"  Yes,  doubtless ;  but  we  don't  change 
notes  of  another  bank." 

"Well,  sur,  supposing  I'd  be  after 
paying  ye  a  little  charges  now,  would 
ye  do  it  for  me  ? " 

"  Do  you  know  any  one  in  the  town  ? 
If  you  can  find  any  one  known  to  us, 
who  will  write  his  name  on  the  back 
of  them,  we  might  do  it,  perhaps." 

"  Yes,  sure,  sur,  there's  Mr.  Murphy 
the  pork  butcher,  sur." 

"  Well,  he  will  do." 

In  due  time  he  re-appears,  with  his 
friend  Murphy,  and  with  much  satisfac- 


tion pockets  the  new  and  clean  notes. 
After  paying  his  "  charges,"  as  he  calls 
them,  the  warm  heart  of  a  son  of  Erin 
exhibits  itself: 

"  Thank  ye,  sur ;  and,  by  jabbers,  if 
ye'll  come  out  wid  me.  I'll  stand  trate 
for  brandy." 


Juvenile  Contempt  of  the  Bank. 

A  SHOP  boy,  having  a  very  rustic  ap- 
pearance in  dress  and  manners,  entered 
one  of  the  banks  in  Dundee,  Scotland, 
and,  throwing  a  sixpence  to  the  teller, 
asked,  "  A  saxpence  worth  o'  fardins." 
The  teller  very  politely  replied,  "I 
can't  do  it.  I  have  not  so  many." 
Shop  boy,  "  Gie's  back  my  saxpence, 
then."  The  boy,  on  opening  the  door 
to  leave,  looked  over  his  shoulder,  and 
staring  at  the  teller,  exclaimed,  "  Sic  a 
bank  ! "  Next  day  he  had  occasion  to 
visit  the  same  bank,  and  on  being  asked 
amid  the  laughter  of  the  clerks  "  If  he 
got  his  saxpence  worth  o'  fardins  ? "  re- 
plied contemptuously,  "Ay  did  I.  I 
got  them  in  a  little  pie-shop." 


Banks  of  Ease. 

Many  years  ago  the  first  settlers  in 
Western  New  York  were  obliged  to 
take  their  grain  a  great  distance  in 
wagons  to  Albany,  to  find  a  market. 
The  roads  were  bad,  and  the  travelling 
dangerous.  Three  farmers  of  this  re- 
gion found  a  purchaser  for  their  loads 
of  wheat  at  Amsterdam,  a  village  some 
twenty-five  miles  west  of  Albany,  and 
were  glad  thus  to  dispose  of  it,  and 
save  themselves  the  trouble  and  travel. 
They  took  an  order  on  the  bank  of 
Amsterdam  for  their  pay,  which  was 
offered  them  in  specie — silver ;  but  they 
objected  to  taking  it,  as  it  was  too  hea- 
vy to  carry,  and  they  preferred  the  notes 
of  the  bank.  And  here  the  laugh  comes 
in.  The  ofiicers  of  the  bank  refused  to 
give  them  the  bills,  because  the  farmers 
were  going  so  far  out  into  the  wilder- 
ness, the  bills  would  never  come  back 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


109 


to  the  bank  again !  The  matter  was 
finally  compromised  by  the  bank's  pay- 
ing each  of  them  one  dollar  extra,  on 
their  consenting  to  receive  silver  in- 
stead of  paper  money.  Surely,  this 
bank  might  well  be  termed  a  Bank  of 
Ease ! 


Russian  Money  Brokers. 

Though  the  ring  u|)on  one's  finger  is 
said  to  be  unsafe  in  the  Russian  money- 
marts,  it  is  clear  that  the  silver  rubles 
and  ducats  on  the  tables  of  the  money- 
brokers  are  perfectly  secure  ;  for  tables 
of  this  kind  stand  at  the  comers  of  all 
the  streets,  amidst  the  tliickest  of  the 
throng,  upon  which  columns  and  heaps 
of  the  diflferent  sorts  of  coin  are  invit- 
ingly exposed  to  the  public  gaze — a 
phenomenon  that  perhaps  could  not 
take  place  in  any  other  great  and 
crowded  city.  It  would  be  easy  for 
any  one  intent  on  plunder  to  upset  the 
table,  and  tumble  its  valuable  freight 
promiscuously  into  the  mud;  and  no 
one,  amidst  the  general  confusion,  could 
be  expected  to  point  out  the  rogue  that 
was  enriching  himself  with  the  scatter- 
ed spoil. 

And  yet  it  is  a  fact,  that  though 
thousands  of  rubles  are  often  placed 
under  the  care  of  lads  only  twelve  years 
of  age,  not  a  broker  would  risk  a  farth- 
ing, if  he  did  not  think  himself  per- 
fectly safe  with  his  money  amidst  all 
these  people  and  the  attendant  commo- 
tion. But  the  Russian  rogue  is  a 
strangely  discriminating  fellow,  who 
has  not  the  least  scruple  to  commit 
some  actions  that  are  palpably  dis- 
honest— for  instance,  to  charge  a  buyer 
six  times  as  much  for  a  thing  as  it  is 
worth,  or  to  pick  one's  pocket  of  watch 
or  purse,— while  he  thinks  others  most 
disgraceful,  and  is  therefore,  in  certain 
points,  as  honorable  and  trustworthy  as 
the  most  conscientious  man  that  can  be 
found.  These  money-brokers  are  under 
the  protection  of  the  public  and  of  the 
thieves  themselves.    No  doubt  it  has 


often  happened  that  such  money-tables 
have  been  overthrown,  and  not  a  single 
copeck,  much  less  a  ducat,  has  been 
lost,  because  all  the  by-standers,  in  their 
sheep-skin  dresses,  assisted  with  the 
most  courteous  oflSciousness  to  pick  up 
all  the  pieces  of  gold  and  silver  out  of 
the  dirt. 


Note  Suyers. 

There  are  men  who  spend  their 
whole  lives  in  Wall  street,  and  who  do 
nothing  else  but  buy  notes.  They  come 
in  early  and  go  out  late.  Their  time  is 
occupied  in  making  fresh  inquiries,  and 
in  haggling  about  the  rate  per  cent. 
You  can  to-day  see  these  persons,  if 
you  will  take  the  trouble  to  station 
yourself  on  the  spot,  and  I  predict  you 
will  behold  what  will  deeply  interest 
you.  Wait  a  few  moments  near  this 
corner,  and  you  will  not  be  disappoint- 
ed. There  he  comes,  passing  thought- 
fully along  the  street.  He  has  the  ap^ 
pearance  of  a  man  laden  with  many 
cares.  Look  at  him  !  He  is  respecta- 
bly encased  in  a  moderately  warm  suit 
of  black.  His  head  inclines  forward; 
his  eye  has  become  stony ;  his  nose 
pointed ;  his  chin  angular ;  his  cheeks 
rigid;  his  lips  wooden;  his  mind— 
alas  !  he  has  no  longer  any  mind ;  but 
in  place  of  mind  he  possesses  an  instinct 
so  subtle  and  acute  that  it  will  detect 
a  piece  of  "  made  "  paper  in  the  very- 
curl  of  the  signature.  If  you  wish  to 
see  more  of  this  sort,  go  and  take  a 
seat  for  an  hour  or  two  in  one  of  the 
many  small  note-brokers'  offices,  which 
abound,  and  watch  the  arrival  of  others 
of  these  paper  sharks.  They  come  in 
hungry,  eager,  sharp,  to  hear  and  see 
what  new  offers.  They  have  a  large 
capital,  perhaps  hundreds  of  thousands 
of  dollars,  invested  in  notes,  or  repre- 
sented by  securities,  which  can  be  con- 
verted into  cash  in  twenty-four  hours, 
should  it  be  required  to  buy  more  pa- 
per with.  They  are  always  moving 
about  to  pick  up  the  note  of  some  good 


110 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


mechanic,  who  they  know  for  certain 
reasons  is  hard-up,  and  who  is  willing 
to  bleed  freely  rather  than  to  fail  in  a 
contract. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that,  for 
the  delineation  of  the  above  character, 
the  credit  belongs  to  Kimball's  facile 
pen. 

— — « — 

Jacob  Iiorillard's  Note  of  Accommo- 
dation. 

The  benevolent  feelings  manifested 
by  Jacob  Lorillard  toward  young  begin- 
ners in  business,  who  were  needy  and 
friendless,  exhibit  a  very  bright  side  to 
human  nature.  When  a  director  of  that 
institution,  of  which  he  was  twice  the 
president,  he  would  frequently  take  a 
parcel  of  the  small  notes  which  were 
offered  for  discount  by  poor  mechanics, 
who  were  obscure  and  unknown,  and 
which,  therefore,  for  the  most  part, 
would  have  been  rejected,  and  make 
diligent  inquiry,  in  person,  as  to  their 
character  and  standing ;  and  if  he  found 
that,  with  a  proper  regard  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  bank,  he  could  commend 
them  to  favor  and  confidence,  he  felt 
that  he  was  abundantly  rewarded  for 
all  his  pains. 

On  one  occasion,  a  person  whose  note 
had  been  refused  where  it  was  offered 
for  discount,  and  who,  it  appears,  had 
no  peculiar  claims  on  his  kindness  and 
influence,  though  possessing  his  confi- 
dence, called  on  him  for  the  favor  of  a 
line  of  recommendation,  which  would 
be  sure  to  procure  the  desired  accom- 
modation. He  at  once,  as  it  seemed, 
complied  with  the  desired  request ;  in- 
stead of  being  a  line  of  recommenda- 
tion, however,  it  was  afterward  discov- 
ered to  be  a  note  of  Mr.  Lorillard,  for 
the  amount  which  was  needed.  The 
person  immediately  returned,  and  point- 
ed out  the  mistake.  "  Never  mind," 
said  Mr.  Lorillard,  "if  they  will  not 
discount  your  note,  see  whether  they 
will  not  mine." 


Xiosinir  a  Bank  Custom.er. 

Mr.  Chickeiiing,  of  piano-forte  fame, 
one  day  presented  a  large  number  of 
notes  for  discount  at  one  of  the  banks 
in  Boston,  where  he  had  done  his  busi- 
ness. The  president  asked  him  who 
was  to  endorse  the  notes.  Mr.  Chicker- 
ing  replied,  "  I  shall  endorse  them  my- 
self." "  That  will  never  do,"  said  the 
president.  Mr.  Chickering  simply  re- 
sponded, "  Very  well,"  took  the  notes, 
and  carried  them  to  another  bank,  which 
immediately  gave  him  all  the  money  he 
needed.  On  another  occasion,  a  bank 
with  which  he  had  long  had  transac- 
tions, and  to  which  he  had  as  usual 
applied  through  his  clerk  for  an  accom- 
modation, sent  for  Mr.  Chickering,  and 
said  to  him,  "  Security  was  w^anted." 
Mr.  Chickering  replied,  "  I  shall  give 
you  none  ;  I  have  done  my  business  at 
this  bank  for  a  long  time ;  and  if  you 
do  not  know  me,  I  shall  apjDly  where  I 
am  better  known."  The  consequence 
was,  the  necessary  discount  was  at  once 
given  by  another  bank,  to  which  he 
transferred  his  business.  This  business 
was  worth  at  least  ten  thousand  dollars 
a  year.  Soon  after  this,  a  director  of 
the  bank  which  refused  him,  called  on 
Mr.  Chickering,  to  induce  him  to  re- 
store his  business,  under  the  assurance 
that  for  the  future  the  bank  would 
grant  whatever  accommodation  might 
be  wanted.  Mr.  Chickermg,  however, 
declined  the  proposed  arrangement,  not 
wishing  to  do  business  at  an  institution 
willing  to  suspect  his  responsibility. 


Endorser's  Qualifications. 

A  WORTHY  but  poor  minister  once 
requested  the  loan  of  fifty  dollars  from 
the  cashier  of  a  country  bank ;  and  in 
the  note  requesting  the  favor,  he  said 
that  if  the  cashier  would  oblige  him, 
he  would  "  pay  him  in  ten  days,  on  the 
faith  of  Abraham."  The  cashier  re- 
turned word  that  by  the  rules  of  the 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


Ill 


bank,  tlie  endorser  of  the  note  must  re- 
side in  the  State ! 


More  Cunning  than  Rothschild. 

Notwithstanding  his  great  fore- 
thought, sagacity,  and  penetration, 
Rothschild  was  occasionally  surpassed 
in  cunning.  On  one  occasion  a  great 
banker  lent  Rothschild  a  million  and  a 
half  on  the  security  of  consols,  the  price 
of  which  was  then  eighty-four.  The 
terms  on  which  the  money  was  lent 
were  simple  and  usual.  If  the  price 
reached  seventy-four,  the  banker  might 
claim  the  stock  at  seventy ;  but  Roth- 
schild felt  satisfied  that,  with  so  large 
a  sum  out  of  the  market,  the  bargain 
was  tolerably  safe.  The  banker,  how- 
ever, as  much  a  Jew  as  Rothschild,  had 
a  plan  of  his  own.  He  immediately 
began  selling  the  consols  received  from 
the  latter,  together  with  a  similar 
amount  in  his  own  possession.  The 
funds  dropped;  the  stock  exchange 
grew  alarmed ;  other  circumstances 
tended  to  depress  it — the  fatal  price 
of  seventy-four  was  reached,  and  the 
Christian  banker  had  the  satisfaction 
©f  outwitting  the  Hebrew  loanmonger. 


Voltaire's  Dealing-s  in  Q-ovemment 
Stocks. 

Though  a  literary  man,  Voltaire  had 
an  eye  to  the  main  chance,  the  angle  of 
his  vision  finding  its  focus  in  govern- 
ment stocks.  "  Here  I  am,"  he  says, 
"  living  in  a  way  suited  to  my  habits, 
and  caring  but  little  for  to-morrow ;  for 
I  have  a  friend,  a  director  in  the  Bank 
of  France,  who  writes  to  me  whenever 
money  is  to  be  made  in  the  public  funds. 
Sometimes  he  writes  to  me  desiring  me 
to  sell,  because  the  bank  is  going  to 
withdraw  its  notes.  At  other  times  he 
bids  me  buy — for  '  we  are  going  to  issue 
a  quantity  of  notes  ; '  and  so,  through 
the  kindness  of  my  friend,  I  always 
make  money,  though  living  two  hun- 
dred miles  from  Paris." 


Jewish  Money  Lenders. 

A  PREJUDICE  against  Jews,  on  ac- 
count of  their  sharpness  in  money  trans- 
actions is  almost  universal.  The  simple 
fact  is,  however,  just  this  :  that  when  a 
man — not  a  Jew — is  in  a  tight  place, 
or  broken  down  in  his  fortune,  so  that 
he  can  neither  raise  funds  by  the  credit 
of  his  name  nor  by  mortgage  on  his  es- 
tate, he  flies  to  the  money  lender.  Now, 
Jews  are  essentially  a  financial  people, 
and  money-broking,  in  all  its  details, 
is  their  special  avocation.  The  class 
of  Israelite  money  lenders  is,  therefore, 
numerous ;  and  it  is  ten  to  one  that  the 
broken-down  individual  who  requires  a 
loan  addresses  himself  to  a  Jew,  even 
if  he  take  the  money  lender  nearest  to 
him,  or  to  whom  he  is  at  first  recom- 
mended. Well,  he  transacts  his  busi- 
ness with  this  Jew ;  and  as  his  habits 
of  life  and  shaky  business  condition  are 
well  known,  he  cannot  of  course  obtain 
the  loan  he  seeks,  save  on  terms  propor- 
tionate to  the  risk  incurred  by  the 
lender.  Yet  he  goes  away,  and  de- 
nounces the  Jew  as  a  usurer;  when, 
had  he  applied  to  a  "  Christian  "  money 
broker,  the  terms  would  have  been 
equally  high, — if  any  terms  could  have 
been  efliected  at  all,  seeing  that  he  had 
no  real  security  to  offer,  and  that  his 
name  was  already  tarnished.  Perhaps, 
then,  after  all,  Jewish  "  hardness  "  will 
compare  favorably  with  the  proverbial- 
ly rapacious  practices  of  Christian  attor- 
neys and  the  greedy  exactions  of  Chris- 
tian bill  discounters ! 


Discounting  a  Hibernian's  Note. 

A  TRANSPABENT  Hibernian  wanted  a 
friend  to  discount  a  note.  "  If  I  ad- 
vance this,"  said  the  lender,  "  will  you 
pay  your  note  punctually  ? "  "I  will, 
on  my  honor,"  replied  the  other — "  thd 
expense  of  the  protest  and  all !  " 


112 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Addison's  Opinion  of  the  Boyal  Ex- 
change and  its  Frequenters. 

Addison  once  pleasantly  wrote : 
There  is  no  place  in  the  town  which 
I  so  much  love  to  frequent  as  the  Royal 
Exchange.  It  gives  me  a  secret  satis- 
faction, and  in  some  measure  gratifies 
my  vanity,  as  I  am  an  Englishman,  to 
see  so  rich  an  assembly  of  countrymen 
and  foreigners,  consulting  together 
upon  the  private  business  of  mankind, 
and  making  this  metropolis  a  kind  of 
emporium  for  the  whole  earth. 

The  Royal  Exchange  of  London  still 
exhibits  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
assemblages  in  the  world,  if  the  stran- 
ger visiting  it  is  fortunate  enough  to 
have  the  advantage  of  a  city  merchant 
as  his  cicerone ;  otherwise  there  is  little 
in  its  general  aspect  differing  from  what 
may  be  seen  daily  at  'Change  hour  in 
any  of  the  large  cities.  But  it  certain- 
ly interests  the  stranger,  on  walking 
into  the  quadrangle  between  two  and 
three  o'clock,  "when  merchants  most 
do  congregate,"  to  see  the  representa- 
tives of  the  different  nations  of  the 
earth,  grouped  in  their  respective  places 
under  the  piazzas,  and  engaging  in  ne- 
gotiations, which,  more  than  the  coun- 
cils of  cabinets,  influence  the  policy  of 
states;  and  to  be  told,  for  example, 
that  the  thoughtful-looking  man,  with 
strongly  marked  Jewish  features,  lean- 
ing carelessly  against  a  pillar,  is  able 
by  a  dash  of  his  pen  to  control  the 
most  powerful  governments  in  Europe. 
In  this  quadrangle,  too,  resides  the  mys- 
terious susceptibility  to  the  variations 
in  the  political  and  commercial  atmo- 
sphere, indicated  upon  the  scale  of  that 
most  sensitive  of  all  barometers,  the 
money  market,  with  its  constantly  fluc- 
tuating prices. 


Money  Street  of  New  York. 

Wall  street  is  not  a  long  street, 
though  it  is  felt  a  long  ways.  A  man, 
without  corns,  can  walk  the  length  of 


it  in  five  minutes — and  then,  if  he 
should  keep  on,  would  find  himself  in 
the  East  River.  It  is  not  a  wide  street. 
Bids  have  been  made  from  curb  to 
curb.  Wheels  get  locked  there  daily, 
especially  near  the  head  of  it ;  and  a 
vast  deal  of  highly  ornamental  profan- 
ity is  done  by  sweet-tempered  carmen, 
who,  having  wedged  themselves  in,  seem 
to  think  that,  like  the  poor  debtor,  they 
can  swear  themselves  out. 

It  is  not  a  handsome  street,  still  there 
is  nothing  wooden  in  it,  except,  per- 
haps, the  heads  of  some  stock  buyers. 
White  marble,  brown  freestone,  terra 
cotta,  and  substantial  granite  bespeak 
its  wealth.  There  is  that  wonderfully 
intricate  building,  the  Merchants'  Ex- 
change— now  the  Custom  House,  where 
there  is  so  much  hard  swearing  over 
fraudulent  invoices  and  political  assess- 
ments. 

On  either  side  of  the  street  is  an  il- 
lustrious row  of  banks  and  insurance 
offices,  with  foreign  insurance  agents, 
land  agents,  coal  agents,  railroad  agents, 
steamship  agents,  and  many  other  sorts 
of  agents  (Satan's  too,  perhaps),  includ- 
ing some  lawyers  on  the  second  and 
higher  floors.  The  basements  swarm 
with  brokers.  Every  nook  and  cranny 
in  all  these  buildings  commands  high 
rents.  Add  to  this  picture  innumera- 
ble groups  of  earnest-talking,  scolding, 
chaffing,  gesticulating  men,  dividing 
the  rapid  currents  of  merchants,  bro- 
kers, clerks,  foreign  consuls,  financiers, 
and  commercial  editors,  who  are  con- 
tinually passing,  and  one  who  has  never 
seen  the  notorious  thoroughfare  will 
have  a  tolerably  graphic  idea  of  Wall 
street. 

It  is  admitted,  even  by  Europeans, 
that,  as  a  money-dealing  street,  this 
has  no  superior  in  the  world.  The  na- 
ture and  amount  of  transactions  of  this 
kind,  for  a  single  week,  in  this  locality, 
would  make  a  formidable  portion  of 
Doomsday  Book.  "-^ 


BUSINESS   PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


11; 


Governor  of  the  Bank  of  England  taken 
by  Surprise. 

At  the  half-yearly  meetings  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Bank  of  England,  it 
sometimes  happens  that  one  or  more 
of  the  stockholders  endeavor  to  elicit 
some  information  relative  to  the  con- 
duct of  the  governor,  and  also  as  to  the 
cause  of  any  particular  loss  sustained 
by  the  bank,  and  from  what  data  the 
directors  have  fixed  the  dividend. 
These  and  similar  questions  are  gener- 
ally put  in  the  most  cautious  manner ; 
and,  if  answered  at  all — which  is  a 
rare  occurrence — are  met  with  an  equal 
degree  of  caution  on  the  part  of  the 
governor. 

That  functionary,  however,  is  on 
some  occasions  taken  by  surprise,  and 
betrayed  into  admissions  which  are 
contrary  to  practice.  A  singular  in- 
stance of  this  occurred  during  the  term 
of  Governor  Reid,  at  a  meeting  for  the 
declaration  of  the  dividends,  when  he 
stated  that  during  the  past  year  the 
amount  of  commercial  paper  discount- 
ed by  the  bank  was  forty  millions  of 
pounds.  As  this  amount  was  unusually 
large,  and  as  the  r,ate  of  interest  charged 
by  the  bank  was  five  and  one-half  to  six 
per  cent.,  with  only  a  loss  of  six  hun- 
dred pounds,  it  naturally  occurred  to  the 
stockholders  to  inquire  why  the  divi- 
dend was  not  larger  than  the  corre- 
sponding period  of  the  last  year  ;  and, 
on  one  of  them  putting  a  question  to 
the  chair,  as  to  whether  the  repayment 
of  the  money  borrowed  from  the  Bank 
of  France  had  been  attended  with  any 
considerable  loss  to  the  corporation,  the 
governor  was  on  the  point  of  answering 
this  question,  when  some  kind  friend, 
like  a  second  Mentor,  whispered  some- 
thing in  the  ear  of  the  governor,  Vv^hich 
had  the  effect  of  immediately  sealing 
his  lips,  and  he  refused  to  answer  the 
question.  At  these  meetings,  as  little 
as  possible  of  the  afl'airs  of  the  bank  is 
disclosed  by  the  directors,  from  the 
fear  that,  should  they  be  more  explicit, 
8 


it  might  endanger  their  property  by 
depreciating  the  value  of  bank  stock  ; 
and,  to  such  an  extent  is  this  system  of 
secrecy  carried,  that  it  is  a  proverbial 
saying,  "  that  if  you  met  a  bank  direc- 
tor going  across  the  Royal  Exchange, 
and  you  asked  him  what  o'clock  it  was, 
he  would  say,  '  You  must  excuse  me 
answering  that  question.' " 

Picayunes  and  Coppers. 

You  "  can't  buy  nothing "  in  Kew 
Orleans,  or  most  Southern  and  "Western 
cities,  for  less  than  a  "  picayune  " — six 
and  a  quarter  cents.  And  in  connec- 
tion with  this  fact  in  currency,  a  little 
incident  took  place  on  board  one  of  the 
"Western  boats,  the  rehearsal  of  which 
can  do  no  harm  on  a  hot  or  rainy  day. 
A  man  from  the  North,  who  happened 
to  have  quite  a  lot  of  coppers  weighing 
down  his  pocket,  but  who.  Yankee- 
like, had  no  idea  of  not  getting  their 
full  value  in  a  trade,  essayed  to  pass 
ten  of  the  filthy  coin  upon  a  "  Sucker," 
for  a  dime. 

"  "What  le  they  ? "  inquired  the  Suck- 
er, in  unfeigned  ignorance. 

"  I  calculate  they  are  cents,"  replied 
the  Northerner ;  "  can't  you  read  ? " 

"  I  reckon  not,"  said  the  other ;  "  and 
what's  more,  old  hoss,  I  allow  I  don't 
want  to.     "What  is  cents,  mister  ? " 

"I  vow  to  the  judges,"  said  the 
Northerner,  "you  are  worse  than  the 
heathen  1  Cents  is  money — 'sartin  ! 
Ten  of  them  are  worth  one  dime. 
Can't  you  see?  It  says  'E  Pluribus 
Unum  ' — that's  the  Latin  for  '  Hail  Co. 
lumbia ' — and  here  it's  inscribed  '  One 
Cent.' " 

"  Look  here,"  responded  the  Sucker, 
putting  the  thumb  of  his  hand  into  his 
ear,  and  inclining  his  fingers  forward, 
"  you  may  run  a  sew  on  a  Hoosier  or  a 
Wolverine,  but  I'm  blamed  if  you  Yan-  , 
kee  me  with  that  contusive  stuff  \ " 


114 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Bewitching  a  Bank  Teller. 

During  the  sojourn  of  Professor 
Anderson  in  the  Quaker  City,  he  used 
one  of  the  banks  for  his  deposits.  One 
day  he  went  to  the  bank  for  this  pur- 
pose, with  a  large  amount.  It  was 
principally  in  twenty  and  ten  dollar 
gold  pieces,  and  was  handed  in  in 
packaged  of  five  hundred  each.  The 
teller,  who  did  not  know  the  wizard, 
and  who  is  usually  a  very  smart  man, 
commenced  counting  the  gold,  but  could 
not,  for  his  life,  satisfy  himself  of  the 
numerous  amounts.  Opening  one  pack- 
age, he  found  all  right ;  then  he  took 
a  second,  and  found  it  ten  dollars 
short — recounted  it,  and  found  ten  dol- 
lars over ;  and  then  again,  and  it  was 
short.  He  then  laid  it  aside,  took  an- 
other parcel,  and  found  it  contained 
twenty  dollars  over — recounted  it,  and 
it  was  only  ten  over ;  again  he  carefully 
and  deliberately  counted  it,  and  discov- 
ered it  was  thirty  short !  The  young 
man  felt  his  head,  to  see  if  he  was  labor- 
ing under  sickness,  dreaming,  or  de- 
ranged. Finding  his  senses  all  right, 
he  set  to  work  again,  commencing  at 
the  first  package  and  got  through  five 
very  well;  the  next  he  found  twenty 
short,  and,  recounting  it,  discovered 
forty  over !  He  finally  called  to  his 
aid  another  teller,  who  was  equally 
puzzled;  but,  turning  round,  his  eye 
fell  upon  Professor  Anderson  standing 
near  by,  and  he  felt  convinced  it  was 
the  trick  of  the  wizard.  The  professor 
blandly  smiled,  and  desire^d  him  to 
proceed ;  and  when  he  got  through 
satisfactorily,  he  took  the  receipt  for 
the  amount.  The  teller  then  went  to 
the  table  where  he  had  left  the  piles  of 
gold,  in  order  to  put  them  into  the 
drawer,  when  lo !  he  could  not  lift 
any  of  them  ;  the  coins  clung  together 
and  were  immovable  !  The  young  man 
here  looked  fairly  terrified,  and  sought 
a  chair ;  but  the  professor,  seeing  his 
perplexity,  told  him  not  to  be  alarmed. 
He  found  his  imagination  had  affected 


him,  and  told  him  to  put  the  cash 
away ;  the  professor  then  left  the  bank, 
passing  the  crowd  of  anxious  customers 
who  had  been  observing,  in  blank  as- 
tonishment, the  capers  that  were  being 
cut  up  on  the  other  side  of  the  counter. 


The  Proud  Broker  Barnard. 

JoHisr  Barnard,  usually  styled  "  the 
proud  broker,"  flourished  extensively 
in  the  English  money  circles  of  the  last 
century.  The  reduction  of  interest  on 
money  loans,  in  1750,  from  four  to 
three  per  cent.,  originated  with  this 
famous  man,  and  he  it  was  who  de- 
fiantly made  war  upon  time  bargains. 
His  pride  was  indomitable  to  such  a 
degree  that  it  passed  into  a  proverb; 
the  members  of  the  exchange,  who  were 
always  spoken  of  by  Sir  John  with 
haughty  contempt,  thoroughly  detest- 
ed him,  and  greatly  helped  to  fan  the 
unpopularity  which  fell  upon  him 
when  he  opposed  public  feeling — as, 
with  a  most  unflinching  determination, 
he  invariably  did,  if  his  conscience 
prompted. 

On  commercial  subjects  his  opinion 
was  greatly  regarded;  when  any  re- 
markable feature  in  financial  politics 
occurred,  the  town  echoed  with, 
"  What  does  Sir  John  say  to  this  ? — 
what  is  Sir  John's  opinion  ? "  He  once 
had  the  honor  of  refusing  the  post  of 
chancellor  of  the  exchequer. 

It  is  somewhat  at  variance  with  the 
proud  character  of  the  man,  that  from 
the  time  the  distinguished  honor  was 
paid  him  of  erecting  his  statue  in  the 
Royal  Exchange,  he  never  so  much  as 
entered  that  building,  but  transacted 
his  business  in  the  front. 

The  blood  of  Sir  John  Barnard  still 
flows  in  the  veins  of  some  of  the  best 
houses  in  the  commercial  world,  his 
son  having  married  the  daughter  of  the 
great  banker,  Sir  Thomas  Hankey.  Sir 
John's  great  enemy — and  a  powerful 
one,  it  may  well  be  believed — was 
Sampson    Gideon,    the    Jew    broker. 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


115 


"  worth   more  than  all  the    land  of 
Canaan."  __^_ 

Poxir  Money-making-  E-tiles  of  Roth.- 
schild. 

Rothschild  commonly  ascribed  his 
early  success,  in  a  great  degree,  to  the 
following  rules : 

"  First :  I  combined  three  profits  ;  I 
made  the  manufacturer  my  customer, 
and  the  one  I  bought  of  my  customer 
— that  is,  I  supplied  the  manufacturer 
with  raw  materials  and  dyes,  on  each 
of  which  I  made  a  profit,  and  took  his 
manufactured  goods,  which  I  sold  at  a 
profit,  and  thus  combined  three  profits. 

"  Second  :  Make  a  bargain  at  once. 
Be  an  off-hand  man. 

"  Third :  Never  have  anything  to  do 
with  an  unlucky  man  or  flace.  I  have 
seen  many  clever  men  who  had  not 
shoes  to  their  feet.  I  never  act  with 
them ;  their  advice  sounds  very  well, 
but  fate  is  against  them — they  cannot 
get  on  themselves — how  can  they  do 
good  to  me  ? 

"  Fourth  :  Be  cautious  and  told.  It 
requires  a  great  deal  of  boldness  and  a 
great  deal  of  caution  to  make  a  great 
fortune ;  and  when  you  have  got  it,  it 
requires  ten  times  as  much  wit  to  keep 
it." 

The  last  idea  was  one  which  Roth- 
schild frequently  expressed  ;  it  forms  a 
passage  in  his  memorable  conversation 
with  Sir  Thomas  Buxton,  and  there  is 
no  doubt  he  was  thoroughly  impressed 
with  its  truth. 


Albert  Gallatin  declining  Baring's 
Offer  of  a  Fortune. 

The  financial  talent  and  success  of 
Albert  Gallatin  were  equalled  only  by 
his  inflexible  business  integrity — his 
name,  through  scores  of  years,  stand- 
ing forth  as  the  very  embodiment  of 
rare  good  judgment  and  unspotted 
honor.  One  of  the  most  interesting 
illustrations  of  his .  high-toned  charac- 
ter, in  business  dealings,  occurred  while 


he  was  in  Europe,  on  a  mission  in  be- 
half of  his  Government,  in  1818.  While 
absent  on  his  duty,  he  rendered  some 
essential  service  to  Mr.  Alexander  Bar- 
ing in  the  negotiation  of  a  loan  from 
the  French  Government.  Mr.  Baring 
in  return  pressed  him  to  take  a  part  of 
the  loan,  offering  him  such  advantages 
in  it  that,  without  advancing  any  funds, 
he  could  have  realized  a  fortune.  "  I 
thank  you,"  was  Gallatin's  reply;  "I 
will  not  accept  your  obliging  offer,  be- 
cause a  man  who  has  had  the  direction 
of  the  finances  of  his  country  as  long  as 


Gresliam's  Scheme  of  Exchanges. 

Thomas  Gresham  was  for  many 
years  the  commercial  pride  of  England ; 
and  that  his  character  has  not  been 
overrated  is  proved  by  the  notable 
scheme  he  devised  at  Ajitwerp,  for  op- 
erating on  the  exchanges,  so  as  to  ren- 
der them  favorable  to  England.  He 
promised  Edward  the  Sixth,  during 
the  reign  of  whom  this  occurred,  that 
if  he  might  pursue  his  own  views,'  he 
would  remove  all  his  sovereign's  diffi- 
culties in  two  years.  The  following  is 
his  plan,  in  his  own  words  : 

My  request  shall  be  to  his  majesty 
and  you,  to  appoint  me  out,  weekly, 
twelve  or  thirteen  hundred  pounds,  to 
be  secretly  received  at  one  man's  hands, 
so  that  it  may  be  kept  secret,  and  that 
I  may  thereunto  trust,  and  that  I  may 
make  my  reckoning  thereof  assuredly. 
I  shall  so,  use  the  matter  here  in  the 
town  of  Antwerp,  that  every  day  I  will 
be  sure  to  take  up  two  or  three  hundred 
pounds  sterling  by  exchange.  And  thus 
doing,  it  shall  not  be  perceived,  nor  yet 
shall  be  the  occasion  to  ipake  the  ex- 
change fall.  For  that  it  shall  be  taken  up 
in  my  name.  And  so  by  these  means,  in 
working  by  deliberation  and  time,  the 
merchant's  turn  also  shall  be  served. 
As  also  this  should  bring  all  merchants 
out  of  suspicion,  who  do  nothing  to- 
ward payment  of  the  king's  debts,  and 


116 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


will  not  stick  to  say,  that  ere  tlie  pay- 
ment of  the  king's  debts  be  made,  it 
will  bring  down  the  exchange  to  135. 
4(Z.,  which  I  trust  never  to  see  that 
day.  So  that  by  this  you  may  per- 
ceive if  that  I  do  but  take  up  every  day, 
but  £200  sterling,  it  will  amount  in  one 
year  to  £72,000,  and  the  king's  majesty 
oweth  here  at  this  present  £108,000, 
with  the  interest  money  that  was  pro- 
longed before  this  time.  So  that,  by 
these  means,  in  two  years,  things  wiU 
be  compassed  accordingly,  and  my 
purpose  set  forth. 

By  this  plan,  he  found  means  in  a 
short  space  to  raise  the  exchange  from 
sixteen  shillings  Flemish  for  the  pound 
sterling  to  twenty-two  shillings,  at 
which  rate  he  discharged  all  the  king's 
debts,  and  in  this  way  money  was  ren- 
dered plentiful  and  trade  prosperous. 


First  Bun  upon  Bankers. 

The  extravagant  luxury  of  the  court 
of  King  Charles,  together  with  its  utter 
want  of  principle,  and  incapacity  to 
carry  on  the  contest  with  Holland,  pro- 
duced the  first  run  upon  'banhers  ever 
made.  The  Government  had  suffered 
a  succession  of  humiliating  disasters. 
The  extravagance  of  the  court  had  dis- 
sipated all  the  means  which  Parliament 
had  supplied  for  the  purpose  of  carry- 
ing on  offensive  hostilities.  It  was  de- 
termined only  to  wage  defensive  war ; 
but  even  for  defensive  war  the  vast  re- 
sources of  England  were  found  insuffi- 
cient. The  Dutch  insulted  the  British 
coast,  sailed  up  the  Thames,  took  Sheer- 
ness,  and  carried  their  ravages  to  Chat- 
ham. The  blaze  of  the  ships  burning 
in  the  river  was  seen  at  London;  it 
was  rumored  that  a  foreign  army  had 
landed  at  Gravesend ;  and  military 
men  seriously  proposed  to  abandon  the 
tower. 

The  people,  accustomed  to  the  se- 
cure reign  of  Cromwell,  were  in  utter 
consternation.  The  moneyed  portion 
of  the  community  were  seized  with  a 


panic.  The  country  was  in  danger. 
London  itself  might  be  invaded.  What 
security  was  there,  then,  for  the  money 
advanced  to  the  crown?  The  people 
flocked  to  their  debtors  ;  they  demand- 
ed their  deposits ;  and  London  now 
witnessed  the  first  run  upon  the  bank- 
ers ! 

The  fears  of  the  people,  however, 
proved  fallacious,  for  the  goldsmiths — 
as  the  bankers  v/ere  then  called — met 
all  demands  made  upon  them.  Confi- 
dence was  restored  by  a  proclamation* 
from  the  king,  stating  that  the  de- 
mands on  the  exchequer  should  be  met 
as  usual ;  and  the  run  ceased. 


Q,uoen  Anne  saving-  the  Government 
Bank  from  Pillag-e. 

HiSTOKY  shows,  in  more  than  one 
instance,  that  the  great  wealth  accumu- 
lated in  the  treasury  of  the  Bank  of 
England,  has  rendered  it  peculiarly 
liable  to  attack  in  times  of  public  ex- 
citement and  tumult.  There  are  al- 
ways idle  and  profligate  men  to  whom 
the  very  name  "  bank "  possesses  a 
charm.  In  1709  the  piety  of  the  people 
of  London  created  a  religious  riot.  One 
Dr.  Henry  Sacheverell,  an  apostate 
"Whig,  being  appointed  to  xDreach  the 
annual  sermon  at  St.  Paul's,  before  the 
Lord  Mayor  and  court  of  aldermen, 
used  the  occasion  as  an  engine  of  attack 
upon  some  of  the  Government  officials. 
The  measureless  impudence  of  the 
preacher  was  rebuked — among  others 
by  Sir  Gilbert  Heathcote,  a  director 
of  the  Bank  of  England.  The  usual 
courtesy  of  having  the  discourse  print- 
ed by  the  city  was  not  extended ;  in 
the  absence  of  which,  Sacheverell  him- 
self had  it  printed,  with  an  inflammatory 
epistle,  dedicating  it  to  Garrard,  the 
Lord  Mayor,  at  whose  instance,  he  al- 
leged, the  publication  was  made.  He 
was  arrested  and  impeached,  in  revenge 
for  the  liberties  he  had  taken  with  the 
Government.  The  populace  chose  to 
support  the  divine  ;  and  a  body  guard 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR  MONEY  RELATIONS. 


117 


of  London  butchers  accompanied  him 
to  his  trial  at  Westminster  Hall,  which 
the  queen  honored  with  her  presence. 
"  God  bless  the  Church  and  Dr.  Sach- 
everell "  was  echoed  from  mouth  to 
mouth  among  the  "pious"  populace. 
Money  was  thrown  among  them,  by- 
some  of  the  better  classes,  who  follow- 
ed in  hackney  coaches.  The  dissenting 
chapels  were  sacked.  The  queen  and 
court  were  in  the  utmost  consternation. 
Multitudes  followed  the  Doctor,  press- 
ing about  him,  and  striving  to  kiss  his 
hand.     Alarm  seized  every  bosom. 

The  anxiety  of  the  bank  directors 
during  this  period  of  tumult  was  great, 
as  every  day  rendered  them  liable  to 
attack.  At  last,  intelligence  reached 
them  that  the  rioters  were  moving  to- 
ward their  locality.  As  a  pious  mob 
was  no  more  to  be  trusted,  pecuniarily, 
than  a  political  one,  the  court,  assem- 
bled to  "  concert  measures  proper  to  be 
taken,"  and  sent  to  the  principal  Secre- 
tary of  State  for  a  guard  to  prevent  any 
attempt  they  might  make  on  the  bank. 
When  the  message  was  received  the 
Earl  of  Sunderland  made  its  tenor 
known  to  the  queen,  who  immediately 
ordered  both  horse  and  foot  out  to  quell 
the  tumult,  leaving  her  own  person 
without  jDrotection.  "  God  will  be  my 
guard,"  was  her  ready  reply,  when  re- 
minded of  her  danger.  A  detachment 
under  Captain  Horsey  was  immediately 
ordered  into  the  city  to  prevent  the 
meditated  attack  on  the  alarmed  direc- 
tors. "Am  I  to  preach  or  fight?" 
was  the  question  of  the  blunt  soldier, 
on  receiving  his  instructions.  There 
proved,  however,  to  be  no  occasion  for 
either.  The  rioters  retreated  in  alarm  ; 
the  lank  was  saved  from  pillage,  lyy  fhe 
self-sacrifice  and  desotion  of  the  queen. 


Rendering-  Bank  Notes  Serviceable. 

The  uses  of  bank  notes  are  manifold  ; 
but  the  following  is  a  novel  mode  of 
rendering  them  serviceable.  One  of 
these  for  £5  came  in  the  course  of  busi- 


ness to  a  mercantile  house  in  Liverpool. 
On  the  back  of  it  was  written  :  "  If  this 
note  gets  into  the  hands  of  John  Dean, 
of  Longhill,  near  Carlisle,  his  brother 
Andrew  is  a  prisoner  in  Algiers."  The 
circumstance  was  interesting  and  ap- 
peared in  a  newspaper,  in  which  the 
paragraph  was  perused  by  a  person  in 
Carlisle,  who  had  known  in  past  years 
one  Andrew  Dean,  and  was  still  ac- 
quainted with  his  brother  John  Dean, 
of  the  i^lace  named  in  the  note.  The 
son  of  the  latter  happened  to  be  in 
Carlisle,  and  hearing  the  intelligence, 
gave  such  a  report  of  his  uncle  that 
there  was  every  reason  to  believe  he 
was  the  Andrew  Dean  whose  captivity 
became  thus  singularly  known  to  his 
friends  in  England.  Of  these  things 
are  formed  the  romance  of  life ;  and 
the  impossibility  of  assisting  the  Alge- 
rine  slave  must  often  have  been  a 
painful  remembrance  to  the  prisoner's 
brother. 


Supposititious  "Will  of  the  Bank-of- 
Engrland  Directors. 

The  success  which  attended  the  op- 
erations of  the  Bank  of  England,  in  its 
early  history,  naturally  provoked  com- 
petition. A  bank  was  proposed  by  Dr. 
Hugh  Chamberlain,  to  advance  money 
on  the  security  of  landed  property,  and 
though  the  Bank  of  England  had  no 
occasion  to  fear  rivalry,  they  petitioned 
against  it,  and  were  heard  by  their 
counsel.  All  that  the  proj ectors  required 
was  money  ;  and  as  that  was  not  ready 
at  the  appointed  period,  "  the  roman- 
tic Land  Bank  "  failed.  A  war  of  most 
sarcastic  pamphlets  ensued  between  the 
friends  of  the  new  scheme  and  those  of 
the  old  institution,  one  of  these  pam- 
phlets being  entitled  :  "  The  Trial  and 
Condemnation  of  the  Land  Bank,  at  Ex- 
eter 'Change,  for  murdering  the  Bank  of 
England  at  Grocers'  Hall."  A  will,  by 
no  means  complimentary  to  the  Rec- 
tors of  the  latter,  is  supposed  to  be  pro- 
duced at  the  trial.    It  runs  as  follows  : 


118 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"  Know  all  our  creditors  by  these 
presents,  that  we,  the  Governor  and 
Company  of  the  Bank  of  England,  be- 
ing weak  in  body  through  the  wounds 
received  from  the  Land  Bank  at  Exeter 
Change,  to  whom  we  lay  our  death, 
but  of  as  good  sense  as  ever  we  were, 
finding  ourselves  impaired  in  our  credit 
and  reputation,  and  despairing  of  re- 
covery, do  make  our  last  will  and  testa- 
ment. 

"  1st.  We  bequeath  our  soul  to  the 
devil,  in  order  to  serve  the  public  out 
of  our  creditors'  money ;  and  as  to  the 
qualities  of  our  mind,  we  dispose  them  as 
follows,  namely,  all  our  skill  in  foreign 
exchanges,  and  our  probity  and  candor 
in  making  up  the  accounts  of  the  loss 
thereof,  we  give  to  all  and  every  of  our 
directors,  except  four  or  five,  jointly 
and  severally,  to  hold  to  them,  and 
to  their  successors,  as  heirlooms,  and 
imperishable  monuments  of  their  skill 
and  probity  forever.  All  our  obstinacy 
and  blunders  we  give  unto  our  present 
governor,  upon  trust,  that  he  shall  em- 
ploy one  equal  third  part  thereof  as  one 
of  the  lords  of  the  Admiralty,  and  the 
other  part  thereof  as  Governor  of  the 
Bank  of  England.  All  our  oaths,  im- 
pudence, &c.,  we  give  unto  our  present 
deputy  governor  and  our  dear  Sir  Hen- 
ry Furnese,  to  hold  in  joint  partner- 
ship during  their  lives,  and  the  survivor 
to  have  the  whole.  All  our  shufiling 
tricks  we  give  to  our  dear  Sir  "William 
Gore.  All  our  cynicalness  and  self- 
conceit  we  give  to  our  directors.  Sir 
John  Ward  and  Sir  Gilbert  Heathcote, 
equally  to  be  divided  betwixt  them, 
share  and  share  alike,  as  tenants  in 
common.  All  our  blindness  and  fear 
we  give  unto  our  dear  Obadiah  Sedg- 
wick, and  we  also  give  him  £5  in  mon- 
ey to  buy  him  a  new  cloth  coat,  a  new 
half-beaver  hat,  a  second-hand  periwig, 
and  an  old  black  sword  to  solicit  with 
in  the  lobby,  and  also  to  buy  him  a 
pair^f  spectacles  to  write  letters  to 
lords  with. 

"  As  to  the  residue  of  our  temporal 


estate  (besides  the  said  £5)  we  dispose 
thereof  as  followeth  :  Imprimis,  we  de- 
vise to  our  own  members  (when  they 
shall  have  paid  in  our  £100  per  cent.) 
our  fund  of  £100,000  per  annum,  charg- 
ed and  chargeable,  nevertheless,  with 
the  sum  of  £1,200,000,  for  which  it 
stands  mortgaged,  by  bank  bills,  in  full 
satisfaction  of  all  their  great  expecta- 
tions from  the  probity  and  skill  of  our 
directors,  advising  them  to  accept  a  re- 
demption thereof  by  Parliament,  when- 
ever they  can  have  it. 

"  Item — all  our  ready  moneys,  before 
any  of  our  debts  are  paid,  we  give  to 
our  executors,  hereinafter  named,  in 
trust,  that  they  shall,  from  time  to 
time,  until  1st  August,  1696,  lend  the 
same  into  the  exchequer,  upon  condi- 
tion to  defeat  the  establishment  of  the 
Land  Bank  ;  and  from  and  after  the  1st 
said  August,  then  to  lend  out  the  same 
into  the  said  exchequer,  upon  security 
of  premises  to  establish  our  executors 
the  next  session,  instead  of  the  Land 
Bank,  and  for  such  other  premiums  as 
our  said  executors  can  give  to  them- 
selves, for  doing  thereof.  And  we  do 
direct  our  said  executors  to  continue 
the  stock  and  pensions  already  allowed 
to  our  past  friends— they  know  where. 
And  after  all  our  ready  moneys  so  dis- 
posed, we  leave  the  residue  of  our  effiects 
for  payment  of  bills  and  notes,  at  such 
days  and  hours,  and  in  such  manner  and 
proportion,  and  with  such  preferences, 
as  our  said  executors  shall  see  fit.  And 
we  do  hereby  constitute  our  directors 
executors  of  this  our  will,  giving  each 
of  them  power,  out  of  our  cash,  to 
discount  their  own  tallies,  bills  and 
notes,  at  par  ;  and  the  bills  and  notes 
of  other  of  our  creditors  at  the  highest 
discount  they  can  get  for  the  same. 

"  And  our  l)ody  we  com,mit  to  he  Immed, 
with  all  privacy,  lest  our  creditors  arrest 
our  corpse.  In  witness  wherof,  we 
have  hereunto  set  our  common  seal,  4th 
May,  1696." 

The  epitaph  was  as  follows : 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  the  Bank  of 


BUSINESS  PURSUITS  IN  THEIR   MONEY  RELATIONS. 


119 


England,  who  was  born  in  the  year 
1694,  died  May  5th,  1696,  in  the  third 
year  of  its  age.  They  had  issue  legiti- 
mate by  their  common  seal,  1,200,000, 
called  bank  bills,  and  by  their  cashier 

two  million  sons  of called  Speed's 

notes."    ^  ^ 

Immense  Consig:nm.ent  of  Gold  to  a 
New  York  House. 

The  great  business  crash  in  1837  was 
attended  by  a  universal  suspension  of 
specie  payments  by  the  banks  through- 
out the  country.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, and  in  view  of  the  extensive 
business  relations  between  the  United 
States  and  England,  application  was 
made  to  the  bankers  and  capitalists  of 
the  latter  country,  for  such  aid  as  would 
encourage  Americans  then  struggling 
to  extricate  themselves  from  embarrass- 
ments, and  enable  them  to  return  to 
specie  payments.  To  effect  this,  Mr. 
James  G.  King,  of  the  house  of  Prime, 
Ward  &  King,  New  York,  proceeded 
to  England,  and  was  warmly  received 
and  eagerly  consulted  by  bankers  and 
merchants  in  London.  His  calm  and 
assured  tone  and  judgment  did  much 
to  allay  the  apprehension  which  panic 
and  ignorance  of  the  extent  of  resources 
possessed  by  the  American  commercial 
community  and  banks,  had  produced. 

He  startled  the  bank-parlor  in 
Threadneedle-street  by  a  suggestion, 
that  instead  of  embarrassing  American 
merchants  by  discrediting,  as  they  had 
been  doing,  paper  connected  with  the 
American  trade,  it  nearly  concerned  the 
solvency  of  many  of  their  own  cus- 
tomers, and  thtis  their  own  interests, 
that  liberal  aid  should  rather  be  ex- 
tended to  that  trade.  He  finally 
brought  them  over  to  these  views,  and 
proposed  that  the  Bank  of  England  at 
once  send  over  several  million  dollars 
in  coin,  to  strengthen  the  American 
banks  and  enable  them  to  resume.  In 
conformity  with  Mr.  King's  opinions 
and  plan,  the  bank  consigned  to  his 
firm  the  immense  sum  of  one  million 


pounds  sterling  in  gold^  upon  the  sole 
responsibility  of  that  house  and  the 
guaranty  of  Baring  Brothers  &  Ca 
The  receipt  of  this  coin  in  America  pro- 
duced at  once  a  realization  of  the  re- 
sult anticipated  by  Mr.  King,  and  the 
transaction  constitutes  one  of  the  most 
important  events  in  the  financial  his- 
tory of  the  United  States,  nor  is  it  ne- 
cessary to  state  that  Mr.  King  added 
much  to  his  already  high  renown  as  a 
merchant  and  banker,  by  the  part  he  so 
grandly  enacted.  The  affair  was  wound 
up  without  loss  and  with  great  prompt- 
ness. 


"Accommodation"  offered  at  the 
Bank. 

A  CAPITAL  example  of  what  is  often 
termed  "  taking  the  starch  out,"  hap- 
pened in  a  country  bank  in  New  Eng- 
land. A  pompous,  well-dressed  indi- 
vidual entered  the  bank,  and,  address- 
ing the  teller,  who  is  something  of  a 
wag,  inquired : 

"  Is  the  cashier  in  ? " 

"  No,  Sir,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Well,  I  am  dealing  in  pens,  supply- 
ing the  New  England  banks  pretty 
largely,  and  I  suppose  it  will  be  proper 
for  me  to  deal  with  the  cashier." 

"  I  suppose  it  will,"  said  the  teller. 

"  Very  well ;  I  will  wait." 

The  pen  peddler  took  a  chair  and  sat 
composedly  for  a  full  hour,  waiting  for 
the  cashier.  By  that  time  he  began  to 
grow  uneasy,  but  sat  twisting  in  his 
chair  for  about  twenty  minutes,  and, 
seeing  no  prospect  of  a  change  in  his 
circumstances,  asked  the  teller  how 
soon  the  cashier  would  be  in. 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  exactly,"  said 
the  waggish  teller,  "  but  I  expect  him  in 
about  eight  weeks.  He  has  just  gone  to 
Lake  Superior,  and  told  me  he  thought 
he  should  come  back  in  that  time." 

Peddler  thought  he  would  not  wait. 

"  Oh,  you  may  stay  if  you  wish,"  said 
the  teller,  very  blandly.  "  We  have  no 
objection  to  your  sitting  here  in  ^e  day- 
time, and  you  can  probably  find  some 


120 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


place  in  town  where  they  will  be  glad 
to  keep  you  nights." 

The  pompous  peddler  disappeared 
without  another  word. 


Pennsylvania  Bonds. 

At  the  time  when  Sidney  Smith,  the 
reverend  canon  of  St.  Paul's,  was  de- 
nouncing the  "  drab-coated  men  of 
Pennsylvania"  for  neglecting  to  pay 
the  interest  on  their  State  stock,  of 
which  he  held  a  considerable  amount, 


he  was  visited  by  a  young  author,  ex- 
ceedingly lavish  in  his  compliments  and 
flattery,  and  who  declared  that  if  he 
could  only  hope  to  attain  to  even  a 
small  degree  of  the  fame  and  honor 
which  he  (Sidney)  enjoyed,  he  would 
be  the  most  happy  man  on  earth.  "  My 
dear  young  friend,"  said  the  canon, 
"  I  would  that  you  were  not  only  al- 
most, but  altogether  such  as  I  am,  ex- 
cept  these  bonds,^^  laying  his  hand  at  the 
same  time  on  the  certificates  of  his 
Pennsylvania  stock  lying  on  the  desk 
before  him. 


PAUT  THIRD. 


Anecdotes  and  Illustrations  of  tee  Successful 
Business  Qualities, 


PAET  THIED. 

Anecdotes  and  Illustrations  of  the  Snccessful  Business  Qualities. 

INTEGRITY,  ENTERPRISE,  ENERGY,  PERSEYERANCE,  COURAGE,  SHREWDNESS,  PUNCTILIOUSNESS, 
PRUDENCE,  AMBITION,  GRATITUDE,  BENEVOLENCE,  GENEROSITY,  ECONOMY;  WITH  PEN- 
CILLINGS  OP  STRIKING  BUSINESS  ADVENTURES,  VICISSITUDES,  EXPLOITS,  AND  ACHIEVE- 
MENTS,   BOTH   SERIOUS  AND   COMICAL. 


'Tis  not  in  mortals  to  command  encceBS  ; 

But  we'll  do  more,  Serapronius,  we'll  deserve  it. — Addison's  "  Cato." 
In  all  nfigotiations  of  diflaculty,  a  man  may  not  look  to  bow  and  reap  at  once  ;  but  must  prepare 
business,  and  so  ripen  it  by  degrees.— Lord  Bacon. 

It  is  in  vain  to  put  wealth  within  the  reach  of  hira  who  will  not  stretch  out  his  hand  to  take 
it.— Johnson. 

A  merchant  who  always  tells  the  truth,  and  a  genius  who  never  lies,  are  synonymous  to  a 
saint. — Lavater, 

Of  plain  sound  sense  life's  current  coin  is  made  ; 

"With  that  we  drive  the  most  substantial  trade.— Young. 


Making-  Conditions— King  James  and 
the  Corn  Merchants. 

During  the  reign  of  James  the  First, 
a  great  dearth  of  corn  happened,  which 
obliged  his  majesty  to  send  for  the 
celebrated  Eastland  Company  of  mer- 
chants. He  told  them,  that  to  obviate 
the  present  scarcity,  they  must  load 
their  homeward-bomid  ships  with  com  ; 
which  they  promised  to  do,  and  so 
retired.  One  of  the  lords  of  the  coun- 
cil, however,  said  to  the  king,  that  such 
a  promise  signified  little,  unless  they 
agreed  at  wTiat  price  it  should  be  sold  ; 
on  which  they  were  all  called  back,  and 
acquainted  that  the  king  desired  a  more 
explicit  answer.  The  deputy  replied : 
"  Sir,  we  will  freight  and  buy  our 
corn  as  cheap  as  we  can,  and  sell  it 
here  as  we  can  afford  it;  but  to  be 
confined  to  any  certain  price,  wc  can- 
not." Being  still  pressed  for  a  more 
distinct  answer,  the  deputy,  who  was 
not  only  a  princely  merchant  but  a 
great    foxhunter,   said   to  the    king: 


"  Sir,  your  majesty  is  a  lover  of  the 
noble  sport  of  hunting — so  am  I,  and 
I  keep  a  few  dogs ;  but  if  my  dogs  do 
not  love  the  sport  as  well  as  we,  I 
might  as  well  hunt  with  hogs  as  with 
dogs."  The  king  replied :  "  Say  no 
more,  man,  thou  art  in  the  right;  go 
and  do  as  well  as  you  can,  but  be  sure 
you  bring  the  corn.'''' 


Shaking  One's  Business  Credit. 

A  good  story  is  told  of  old  Mr.  Ful- 
ler, once  the  famous  banker  of  Cornhill, 
London — founder  of  the  firm  now  loca- 
ted in  one  of  the  splendid  bank  palaces 
in  Moorgate  street,  shining  with  plate 
glass,  polished  mahogany,  brass  railings, 
and  bronze  candelabra,  a  glance  at 
which  would  have  half  driven  its  head 
and  originator  into  Bedlam. 

Mr.  Fuller  not  only  lived  at  his  bank, 
but  even  had  his  washing  done  on  the 
spot.  On  such  days,  for  many  a  revolv- 
ing year,  every  one  who  passed  his 
door  at  or  about  noon  might  have  seen 


124 


COMMERCIAL   AXD   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


a  single  pint  of  porter  placed  at  the 
foot  of  the  staircase;  that  was  the 
washerwoman's  allowance.  In  process 
of  time  this  constant  pint,  so  long  a 
pint,  became  a  pot,  and  forthwith  there 
was  a  sensation  at  the  bank,  in  Corn- 
hill,  and  all  along  Lombard  street ! 
The  twelve  o'clock  pint  of  beer  that 
had  stood  so  long,  at  Fuller's  bank, 
had  been  increased  to  a  pot!  Every- 
one talked  of  the  event;  and  at  last 
one  customer — ^whether  a  dull,  hard- 
hearted, unhappy  miser,  or  some  solemn 
mocker,  pleased  to  trifle  with  the  infir- 
mities of  poor  human  nature,  cannot  be 
told — drew  the  senior  partner's  atten- 
tion to  the  circumstance,  in  this  formal 
manner  :  Entering  the  bank,  one  morn- 
ing, and  finding  the  old  gentleman 
fixed,  as  usual,  woodwork-like  to  his 
desk,  as  if  he  was  a  component  part  of 
that  article,  he  drew  near  and  thus  be- 
gan: 

"  I  have  banked  with  you  now,  Mr. 
Fuller,  for  a  good  many  years." 

Mr.  Fuller  hereupon  bowed,  not  his 
head,  but  head,  shoulders,  and  half  his 
body,  smirked,  and  replied:  "Yes, 
many  thanks  for  your  favors ;  you  have, 
sir." 

"  I  have,  Mr.  Fuller,"  continued  the 
other, "  and  have  always  felt  great  satis- 
faction in  keeping  my  account  with 
you  until  lately." 

"Indeed,  sir,"  interrupted  the  old 
gentleman,  with  quick  anxiety,  laying 
down  his  pen,  and  pushing  his  spec- 
tacles from  his  eyes  up  to  his  forehead ; 
"  pray,  what  has  happened  ? — we  are 
the  same  as  ever." 

"Pardon  me,  Mr.  Fuller;  I  have 
noticed  for  many  a  year,  that  on  a  cer- 
tain day  in  the  week  a  pint  of  porter 
has  regularly  stood  at  the  foot  of  your 
stairs.  I  always  could  tell,  when  I  saw 
that  pint,  that  it  was  washing-day  with 
you,  and  greatly  pleased  I  used  to  be  at 
that  proof  of  your  economy;  for,  Mr. 
Fuller,  the  man  who  is  intrusted  with 
the  keeping  of  other  men's  money, 
should  know  how  to  take  care  of  his 


own ;  and  he  cannot  give  any  better  or 
stronger  proof  of  what  he  is  capable  of 
in  that  respect,  than  by  being  moderate 
and  abstemious  in  his  housekeeping. 
Therefore  I  was  always,  as  I  have  just 
said,  well  pleased  to  see  you  were  not 
wasteful  with  your  washerwoman.  I  felt 
sure,  while  that  continued,  that  my  de- 
posits in  this  house  were  safe— perfect- 
ly safe,  sir.  (This  was  said  with  an  em- 
phasis that  weighed  all  of  thirteen 
pounds,  and  with  a  look  that  set  the 
tips  of  Mr.  Fuller's  fingers  a-twirling, 
as  if  a  small  electric  battery  had  been 
brought  to  play  upon  his  nervous  sys- 
tem.) But  I  see  you  are  changing — you 
are  breaking  loose,  Mr.  Fuller;  you 
now  allow  your  washerwoman  not  a 
pint,  but  a  whole  pot  of  beer,  every 
washing-day ;  and  I  must  say,  sir,  that 
if  you  go  on  doubling  your  expenditures 
at  that  rate,  it  may  be  time  for  your 
customers  to  be  looking  after  their  bal- 
ances." 

Mr.  Fuller,  it  is  said,  took  this  re- 
buke quite  seriously,  and  with  humble 
thanks,  assuring  his  customers  that 
business  had  increased  —  that  more 
resident  clerks  were  now  employed 
than  formerly — and  that,  as  there  was 
more  washing  to  be  done,  helpers  had 
been  hired,  and  an  extra  allowance  of 
beer  permitted.  But  this  he  promised 
to  retrench  at  once,  and  he  kept  his 
word.  The  pot  of  beer  was  counter- 
manded, the  "  standard  "  pint  replaced, 
and  this  was  never  afterward  exceeded 
during  the  old  banker's  lifetime. 


7ankee  Shrewdness  Handsomely 
Illustrated. 

When  the  prospect  of  founding  a 
large  manufacturing  town  on  the  Merri- 
mac  River  was  in  contemplation,  some 
of  the  persons  interested  in  that  great 
commercial  enterprise  sent  up  Mr.  B.,  a 
young  gentleman  skilled  as  an  engineer, 
and  who  was  also  fond  of  sporting,  to 
view  the  water  privilege  carefully,  and 
to  make  inquiry  as  to  the  prices  of  land 
in  the  vicinity.    He  went  with  his  dog, 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


125 


gun,  and  fishing  tackle,  and  obtained 
board  in  a  farmer's  house,  a  Mr.  F.  He 
spent  his  time  in  viewing  the  falls,  the 
canal,  the  river  and  grounds,  with  occa- 
sional fowling  and  fishing. 

After  spending  some  time  there,  in 
talking  with  the  farmer,  one  evening 
he  told  him  "  that  he  liked  the  place 
very  well,  and  thought  he  should  be 
pleased  to  come  and  live  there."  The 
man  said  "  he  should  be  pleased  to 
have  him."  "  Well,  Mr.  F.,  what  will 
you  take  for  your  farm  ? "  "  Why,  I 
don't  want  to  sell  it,  Mr.  B. ;  nor  would 
I,  unless  I  can  get  twice  what  it  is 
worth,  as  I  am  satisfied  here,  and  don't 
want  to  move."  "  Well,  what  do  you 
say  it  is  worth,  Mr.  F.  ?  "  "  Why,  it  is 
worth  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  and  I 
can't  sell  it  for  less  than  three  thousand 
dollars."  "  That  is  too  much,"  said 
Mr.  B.,  "I  can't  give  that."  "Very 
well,  you  need  not."  Here  the  conver- 
sation ended. 

Mr.  B.  continued  his  sporting,  and, 
having  received  his  instructions  in  the 
course  of  a  few  days,  renewed  his  talk 
with  Mr.  F.,  and  said  to  him,  "  Well, 
Mr.  F.,  I  have  made  up  my  mind  that  I 
should  like  to  live  here  very  well,  and 
though  you  ask  so  much,  I  will  take 
up  with  your  offer,  and  give  you  three 
thousand  dollars."  "  Why,  as  to  that, 
Mr.  B.,  you  did  not  take  my  farm  when 
I  offered  it  to  you,  and  I  am  not  willing 
to  sell  it  now,  for  anything  less  than 
six  thousand  dollars."  "  You  are  jok- 
ing, Mr.  F. ! "  "  Not  so,  Mr.  B.,  I  am 
in  earnest,  and  I  shan't  continue  my 
offer  more  than  twenty-four  hours." 

B.,  finding  he  was  determined,  went 
off  for  instructions,  and  the  next  day 
told  Mr,  F.  he  would  give  him  six  thou- 
sand dollars.  The  purchase  was  made, 
deed  passed,  and  money  paid. 

Some  time  afterward,  Mr.  B.  asked 
the  farmer  what  reason  he  had  in  the 
course  of  a  few  days  to  double  the  price 
for  his  farm,  and  to  insist  upon  it. 
"  Why,  Mr.  B.,  I  will  tell  you ;  a  day 
or  two  after  I  offered  you  the  farm  for 


three  thousand  dollars,  I  saw  two  men 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Merrimac 
River,  sitting  on  a  rock,  and  talking 
for  some  time ;  then  they  got  up,  and 
one  went  up  the  river,  and  the  other 
down,  and  after  some  time  they  re- 
turned, seemed  in  earnest  conversation 
for  half  an  hour  or  more,  when  they 
arose  and  went  away.  I  did  not  know 
what  it  meant,  but  I  thought  something 
was  in  the  wind,  and  I  determined,  if 
you  asked  me  again  to  sell  my  farm, 
I  would  demand  double  the  price." 
Thus  began  the  purchase,  by  Boston 
merchants,  of  the  land  upon  which  the 
city  of  Lowell  has  been  erected. 


Q,ueen  Jan3's  Opinion  of  Merchants. 

Jane,  of  France,  wife  of  Philip  the 
Fair,  while  residing  a  few  days  at 
Bruges,  was  mortified  at  the  splendor 
of  the  appearance  of  the  merchants' 
wives,  judging  by  that  of  her  own. 
"  I  thought,"  said  the  elegant  and  royal 
visitor,  "  I  had  been  the  only  queen 
here;  but  I  find  there  are  above  six 
hundred  queens  in  this  city  ! " 


Boyhood  Struggles  of  a  Merchant. 

"  I  KEMEMBER,"  Said  Gidcon  Lee,  in 
after  life,  "  when  I  was  a  lad  living 
with  my  uncle,  it  was  my  business  to 
feed  and  milk  the  cows.  .  And  many  a 
time,  long  before  light  in  the  morning, 
I  was  started  off,  in  the  cold  and  show, 
without  shoes,  to  my  work,  and  used 
to  think  it  a  luxury  to  warm  my  frozen 
feet  on  the  spot  just  before  occupied  by 
the  animal  I  had  roused.  It  taught  me  t^ 
reflect,  and  to  consider  possibilities ;  and 
I  remember  asking  myself,  "Is  it  not 
possible  for  me  to  better  my  condition  ?  " 


Lee  and  His  Travelling-  Companion. 

Before  establishing  himself  perma- 
nently as  a  leather  merchant  in  Kew 
York,  Gideon  Lee  made  a  voyage  to 
St.  Mary's,  Georgia,  taking  with  him 


126 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


some  small  ventures  of  leather.  On 
returning  to  New  York,  the  vessel  in 
which  he  took  passage  was  wrecked 
oflf  Cape  Fear,  and  he  barely  saved  him- 
self, with  the  few  clothes  he  had  on. 
Accompanied  by  a  faithful  friend, 
named  Smith,  who  had  nursed  him 
while  sick  at  St.  Mary's,  he  had  no 
other  means  of  getting  to  the.  North 
than  to  trudge  it  on  foot.  The  journey 
was  a  most  tedious  and  dismal  one  ; 
several  days  of  it  were  through  the 
pine  barrens  of  North  Carolina,  not 
meeting  with  a  house  in  a  day's  travel. 
Smith  was  a  brother  Yankee,  and  bore 
the  hardships  with  great  courage  and 
good  humor.  Mr.  Lee  used  to  relate 
an  anecdote  of  him,  illustrating  this 
latter  trait,  as  well  as  the  dismal  char- 
acter of  the  country  through  which 
they  were  travelling.  "  One  day,"  said 
he,  "  we  had  been  trudging  along, 
nothing  to  be  seen  but  the  pitch-pine 
forests,  before  and  behind,  and  on  both 
sides  of  us ;  shoes  worn  out,  and  our 
feet  bleeding,  myself  before,  and  Smith 
following  after ;  neither  of  us  had  ex- 
changed a  word  for  some  time,  when 
Smith  suddenly  spoke  out  in  his  nasal 
twang— "Mr.  Lee!"  "Well,  Smith, 
well,  what  about  it?"  "I  wish  I 
could  hear  it  thunder ! "  "  Hear  it 
thunder !  why  do  you  wish  so  ? "  "  Be- 
cause they  say  thunder  is  God's  voice, 
and  if  I  could  only  hear  it  thunder  I 
should  know  I  was  on  God's  earth  ;  as 
it  is  now,  I  don't  know  where  I  am." 


First  Penny  Gained  by  a  Millionnaire. 

^  An  eminent  English  millionnaire,  who 
rose — as  most  of  that  class  have — from 
obscurity,  says  that  the  first  money  he 
ever  recollects  possessing,  was  gained 
in  the  following  manner :  I  went,  he 
says,  to  school,  a  distance  of  three 
miles.  One  day,  on  my  way,  I  picked 
up  a  horse-shoe,  carried  it  about  three 
miles,  and  sold  it  to  a  blacksmith  for  a 
penny.  That  was  the  first  penny  I  ever 
recollect  possessing ;   and  1  kept  it  for 


some  time.  A  few  weeks  after,  the 
same  man  called  my  attention  to  a  boy 
who  was  carrying  oflf  some  dirt  oppo- 
site his  door ;  and  offered,  if  I  would 
beat  the  boy,  who  w^as  somewhat  big- 
ger than  myself,  to  give  me  a  penny.  I 
did  so  ;  he  made  a  mark  upon  the  pen- 
ny, and  promised  that  if  I  would  bring 
it  to  him  that  day  fortnight,  he  would 
give  me  another.  I  took  it  to  him  at 
the  appointed  time,  when  he  at  once 
fulfilled  his  promise,  and  I  thus  became 
possessed  of  three  pence ;  since  which 
I  have  never  been  without  money,  ex- 
cept when  I  gave  it  all  away.  It  is 
hard  to  tell  which  point  involves  the 
most  difficulty — the  art  of  first  obtain- 
ing a  little  "  nest  egg^''''  or  the  use  and 
management  of  it  when  once  possessed. 


Benevolence  of  Goldschmid,  the  Old 
Jew  Banker. 

Goldschmid's  wealth  seemed,  on 
some  occasions,  hardly  greater  than 
his  pure-minded  benevolence.  It  is 
related  that  at  one  time  a  clergyman 
of  the  Church  of  England,  who  with  a 
family  had  met  with  some  unforeseen 
misfortunes,  was  in  debt  the  sum  of 
four  hundred  and  sixty  pounds.  From 
the  good  character  and  conduct  of  the 
poor  debtor,  a  number  of  friends  and 
parishioners  were  induced  to  open  a 
subscription  for  making  up  the  amount ; 
but  being  unable  amongst  themselves 
to  raise  more  than  one  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds,  the  collectors  were  advised 
to  try  their  success  by  applying  to  the 
benevolent  Jew  banker;  this  was  ac- 
cordingly done.  On  application,  the 
collectors  were  ordered  to  call  in  the 
course  of  a  day  or  two,  when  Mr.  Gold- 
schmid  promised  to  inquire  itito  the 
state  of  the  facts.  He  did  so  without 
delay,  and  finding  it  a  truly  worthy 
case,  on  their  second  application,  he 
presented  them  with  a  check  for  the 
whole  amount  of  the  debt,  desiring 
them,  at  the  same  time,  to  return  the 
amount  of   subscriptions  raised    else- 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


127 


where   to  the  poor   debtor,  to  begin 
the  world  with  afresh. 


Beynolds,  the  Charitable  Quaker  Mer- 
chant. 

The  late  venerated  Richard  Rey- 
nolds, a  Quaker  merchant  in  Bristol, 
Eng.,  who  amassed  a  princely  fortune, 
was  accustomed  to  speak  of  himself,  in 
connection  with  his  wealth  and  the  use 
of  it,  as  merely  a  steward  of  the  Al- 
mighty. Thus,  his  entire  income,  after 
deducting  the  moderate  expenses  of  his 
family,  was  devoted  to  charitable  pur- 
poses;  and  he  thought  his  round  of 
duty  still  incomplete,  unless  he  devoted 
his  time  likewise.  He  often  deprived 
himself  of  the  slumber  which  his  years 
craved,  to  watch  beside  the  bed  of  sick- 
ness and  pain,  and  to  administer  conso- 
lation to  those  in  trouble.  On  one  oc- 
casion, he  wrote  to  a  friend  in  London, 
requesting  to  know  what  object  of  char- 
ity presented  itself,  stating  that  he  had 
not  spent  the  whole  of  his  income.  His 
friend  informed  him  of  a  number  of 
persons  confined  in  prison  for  small 
debts.  He  paid  the  loTiole^  and  swept  that 
miserable  abode  of  its  distressed  tenants. 
Most  of  his  donations  were  inclosed  in 
blank  covers,  bearing  the  modest  signa- 
ture of  "  A  Friend."  A  lady  once  ap- 
plied to  him  in  behalf  of  an  orphan, 
saying,  "  When  he  is  old  enough,  I  will 
teach  him  to  name  and  thank  his  bene- 
factor." "Nay,"  replied  the  Quaker, 
"thou  art  wrong.  We  do  not  thank 
the  clouds  for  rain.  Teach  him  to  look 
higher,  and  thank  Him  who  giveth  both 
the  clouds  and  the  rain.  My  talent  is 
the  meanest  of  all  talents— a  little  sor- 
did dust ;  but  as  the  man  in  the  para- 
ble was  accountable  for  his  talent,  so 
am  I  accountable  to  the  great  Lord  of 
all." 


Iiiberality  of  Yakooleff,  the  Russian 
Merchant. 

The  rich  sheet  iron  merchant,  Ivan 
Alexevitch  Yakooleff,  at  one  time  most 
generously    presented    to    the    Czar, 


through  Count  Orloflf,  an  order  on  the 
bank  for  one  million  of  silver  rubles, 
equal  to  nearly  eight  hundred  thousand 
dollars^  to  make  good  the  defalcation  of 
Politkofisky  in  the  Invalid  Fund,  thus 
saving  present  and  former  members  of 
the  commission,  with  their  families,  from 
ruin,  as  their  estates  and  other  prop- 
erty were  all  to  be  taken  to  indemnify 
the  government. 

Politkofisky  was  president  of  the 
commission  for  the  management  of  the 
Invalid  Fund,  and  possessed  the  un- 
bounded confidence  of  his  associates  in 
the  commission.  His  death  revealed 
the  defalcation,  which  probably  had 
been  increasing  for  years  until  raised 
to  above  a  million  of  silver  rubles ;  for 
all  which  the  emperor  held  the  com- 
mission individually  responsible.  This 
would  have  involved  most  of  them  in 
ruin,  but  from  which  the  noble  deed  of 
Yakooleff  rescued  them. 


French  Mercantile  Independence. 

Soon  after  Colbert  came  into  the 
management  of  the  finances  of  France, 
he  sent  for  the  principal  merchants  of 
that  kingdom ;  and  in  order  to  ingra- 
tiate himself  with  them,  and  to  acquire 
their  confidence,  he  asked  what  he 
could  do  for  them  ?     They  unanimous- 


ly answered,  "Pray,  sir. 


Laissez  nous  faired 
ourselves." 


"Let  us  do  for 


Patriotic  Merchants  of  the  Revolution. 

In  that  immortal  Congress  that 
adopted  the  Declaration  of  American 
Independence,  sat  many  merchants. 
It  was  the  merchant  John  Hancock, 
that  presided  over  its  deliberations 
and  that  first  put  a  bold  and  unshrink- 
ing mercantile  signature  to  that  peri- 
lous Declaration.  With  him,  in  glory 
and  in  danger,  were  the  merchants, 
Robert  Morris  and  George  Clymer,  of 
Pennsylvania ;  Elbridge  Gerry  and 
Samuel  Adams,  of  Massachusetts ;  Wil- 


128 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


> 


liam  WhiiDple,  of  New  HampsMre; 
Philip  Livingston  and  Francis  Lewis, 
of  New  York ;  Joseph  Hewes,  of  North 
Carolina ;  and  Barton  Gwinnett,  of 
Georgia. 


Old-fashioned  Shopkeepers. 

Formerly,  the  English  shopkeeper 
took  short  turns  before  his  door,  cry- 
ing, "  What  d'ye  lack,  sir  ?  What  d'ye 
lack,  madam  ? "  and  then  he  rehearsed 
a  list  of  the  commodities  he  dealt  in. 
When  he  became  weary,  this  task  w^as 
assumed  by  his  apprentice  ;  and  thus  a 
London  street  was  a  Babel  of  strange 
sounds,  by  which  the  wayferer  was 
dinned  at  every  step.  The  articles  of 
shopkeei)er  were  often  of  a  very  hetero- 
geneous description  in  those  days  of 
"  auld  lang  syne."  They  were  huddled 
in  bales  within  the  proprietor's  little 
shop,  and  in  the  midst  of  them  the 
wife  and  daughter  of  the  master  were 
ensconced,  plying  the  needle  or  knit- 
ting wires,  and  eyeing  the  passing  crowd. 

In  one  of  the  plays  of  the  time,  the 
merchant  thus  explains  to  his  idle  ap- 
prentice the  way  in  which  he  grew  rich : 
*'  Did  I  gain  my  wealth  by  ordinaries  ? 
No.  By  exchanging  gold?  No.  By 
keeping  of  goldsmiths'  company  ?  No. 
I  hired  me  a  little  shop,  bought  low, 
took  small  gains,  kept  no  debt-book, 
garnished  my  shop — for  want  of  plate 
— with  good,  thrifty,  wholesome  sen- 
tences, as  :  '  Keep  thy  shop,  and  thy 
shop  will  keep  thee  ; '  '  Light  gains 
make  heavy  purses ; ' '  'Tis  good  to  be 
meiTy  and  wise.'  "  But,  although  the 
shops  and  warehouses  of  the  London 
traffickers  were  so  humble,  their  houses 
were  of  a  very  dijQferent  description ;  so 
that,  even  as  early  as  the  reign  of 
James,  the  dwelling  of  a  chief  mer- 
chant rivalled  the  palace  of  a  noble- 
man in  the  splendor  of  its  furniture, 
among  which  cushions  and  window 
pillows  of  velvet  and  damask  had 
become  common. 

At  the  hour  of  nine,  the  Bow  hell 


rang,  which  was  a  signal  for  the  em- 
ployed to  leave  off  work,  and  repair  to 
supper  and  to  bed — a  bell  which  the 
master  thought  too  soon,  and  the  ap- 
prentice too  late.  Only  a  great  mag- 
nifico,  or  royal  merchant,  was  thought 
worthy  the  honor  and  privilege  of  pre- 
fixing "  Master  "  or  "  Mr."  to  his  name, 
in  those  times— the  addition  of  gentle- 
man^ or  esquire,  would  have  thrown 
everybody  in  such  a  man's  circle  into 
an  uproar  indeed. 


Locking-  up  Foreign  Merchants  in 
England. 

London  is  mentioned  by  Tacitus  as 
the  chief  residence  of  merchants,  and 
the  great  mart  of  trade  and  commerce. 
Yet,  before  the  charter  of  Kunnymede, 
foreign  merchants  were  permitted  to 
visit  England  only  during  the  period 
of  public  fairs,  and  were  restricted  to 
a  residence  of  forty  days.  Afterward 
a  German  comjDany  monopolized  the 
trade  of  the  country  for  several  centu- 
ries, and  its  members  were  regularly 
locked  up  at  night — getting  comfort, 
however,  from  this  species  of  indignity, 
by  keeping  the  whole  foreign  commerce 
of  the  realm  to  themselves.  Singularly 
enough,  long  after  the  importance  of 
commerce  had  been  recognized  in  other 
countries,  the  people  of  England,  now 
the  most  mercantile  on  the  face  of  the 
globe,  neglected  the  occupation  which 
has  mainly  contributed  to  their  great- 


Merchants  of  the  Golden  Fleece. 

There  was  formerly,  and  for  many 
years  resident  in  London,  a  company 
of  Dutch  traders,  located  at  a  place 
called  the  Stilyard;  it  was  granted 
many  privileges  by  Henry  the  Eighth, 
in  return  for  its  occasional  loans 
which  enabled  him  to  carry  on  his 
wars.  Its  profits  and  wealth  be- 
came so  immense  that  a  rival  company 
of  traders  and  merchants  was  finally 
created,  under  the  patronage  of  Queen 


•  *    "-.^^ 


:  :  -7  ^    flUTATIONS  OF  A  MERCHANTS  LIFE. 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


129 


Elizabeth,  and  its  title  was  that  of 
"The  Company  of  English  Merchant 
Adventurers."  This  company  had  for 
many  years  the  principal  trade  to 
Germany,  the  Netherlands,  and  the 
adjacent  countries  —  establishing  its 
marts  in  all  the  principal  cities  of 
western  Europe,  and  doing  an  immense 
business,  especially  in  the  exporta- 
tion of  English  woollens.  It  became 
abroad  what  the  Stilyard  merchants 
had  been  in  England ;  its  credit  was 
in  repute,  and  its  wealth  famous 
throughout  Europe.  The  general  esti- 
mation in  which  it  was  held  abroad 
may  be  judged  of  from  the  fact  that 
Philip  of  Burgundy,  because  of  the 
great  revenue  ensuing  to  his  treasury 
from  the  duties  on  English  woollen, 
adopted  as  the  name  and  emblem  of 
his  favorite  order  of  knighthood,  that 
of  "  The  Golden  Fleece." 


Who  were  the  First  Whalemen  ? 

The  interesting  question  has  often 
been  discussed — "  Who  were  the  first 
whalemen  ? "  In  answer  to  this  it  is 
stated,  not  the  sea-ruling  Briton,  not 
the  hardy  Dane,  not  the  steadily  endur- 
ing, amphibious  Dutchman,  not  the 
bold  Norwegian,  child  of  the  sea  kings. 
No  :  the  Spaniards  —  Biscayans  and 
Bosques — first  dared  attack  the  Levia- 
than on  the  high  seas,  so  early  as  1575. 
True,  some  have  tried  to  prove  the 
Norwegians  were  the  first  in  the  field, 
but  they  have  not  made  out  a  clear 
case.  It  was  probably  the  narwhal, 
grampus,  and  other  small  versions  of 
the  great  whale,  they  hunted.  The  old 
ninth  century  navigator,  Olithore  the 
Norwegian,  whose  wonderful  adven- 
tures were  taken  down  from  his  own  lips 
by  no  less  a  man  than  King  Alfred,  often 
speaks  of  having  slain  sixty  whales  in 
two  days — flatly  impossible,  if  right 
whales  had  been  in  question.  Thus 
much  is  certain :  the  first  whalebone 
which  ever  found  its  way  into  England, 
was  picked  up  from  the  wreck  of  a  Bis- 
9 


cayan  ship,  in  1594  ;  and  when,  at  the 
close  of  the  sixteenth  century,  the  Eng- 
lish first  began  to  fit  out  whaleships, 
they  were  obliged  to  call  on  Biscayans 
to  direct  them  in  their  preparations, 
and  to  fill  the  more  important  offices  in 
the  ship. 

♦ 

Mutations  of  a  Merchant's  Life  :  the 
New  Orleans  Sockseller. 

A  STRANGE  old  man  is  he,  who  may 
be  seen  any  day,  be  it  cold  or  hot,  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  Poydras  Mar- 
ket, New  Orleans,  with  a  bundle  of 
socks  in  his  hand  or  on  the  banquette 
beside  him.  Selling  socks  is  now  his 
only  business;  yet  time  was  when  it 
was  not  so.  Of  the  multiform  muta- 
tions of  human  life,  fliat  old  man  has 
experienced  more  than  mortal's  share. 
See  how  he  mutters  to  himself,  and 
smiles,  half  insanely,  as  he  praises  his 
wares  to  his  real  or  pretended  custom- 
ers !  One  eye  is  closed,  and  the  lid  is 
swollen,  and  the  face  of  the  sockseller 
is  covered  with  scars.  These  are  the 
traces  left  in  the  old  man's  face  by 
assassin  bui^lars,  who  once  robbed  him 
of  his  goods,  and  left  him  as  one  dead, 
in  his  house  on  Circus  street.  It  was 
long  before  this  old  man  recovered,  and 
when  he  did,  his  intellect  was  a  wreck, 
and  nothing  save  his  business  habits 
was  left  to  keep  him  from  total  insan- 
ity. Since  then  he  has  followed  the 
business  of  selling  socks. 

But  it  were  unjust  to  the  old  man  to 
give  so  imperfect  an  abstract  of  his  his- 
tory. Let  us  roll  back  the  tide  of  time 
sojne  quarter  of  a  century,  and  a  tall, 
fine-looking  gentleman  may  be  ob- 
served walking  down  Broadway,  in 
New  York.  Fair  ladies  ogle  him  as 
he  passes,  and  feel  flattered  when  he 
smiles  on  them.  And  is  it  strange? 
for  the  smiler  of  that  day  is  a  wholesale 
merchant,  of  priifcely  fortune.  After 
that  changes  come.  The  merchant, 
broken  in  fortune,  removed  to  New  Or- 
leans, and  his  remains  may  now  be 
found  in  the  muttering  sockseller  of 


130 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


the  Poydras  Market.  There  is  a 
strange  tale  of  love  connected  with 
the  old  man;  but  here  let  the  veil 
drop. 


Becovering:  a  Wasted  Fortune. 

It  is  related  of  a  young  man,  that, 
having  fallen  heir  to  a  large  estate,  he 
engaged  in  a  career  of  profligacy  and 
wasteful  expenditures,  until  he  found 
himself  utterly  impoverished  and  desti- 
tute, cast  off  by  his  former  associates, 
and  having  no  resource  to  which  to 
look  for  relief.  His  misery  was  so 
great  that  he  resolved  upon  self-de- 
struction, and  wandering  forth  to  find 
some  suitable  place  for  the  execution 
of  his  desperate  purpose,  found  him- 
self on  an  eminence  which  overlooked 
the  estates  that  once  belonged  to  liim. 
He  sat  down  and  thought  of  his  folly. 
A  long  time  he  mused  in  silence. 
When  he  arose,  a  new  purpose  had 
taken  possession  of  him.  He  said  to 
himself,  "  Those  estates  shall  again  be 
mine,"  and  at  once  he  set  about  carry- 
ing out  the  plan  he  had  thtls  cogitated 
in  silence. 

As  he  passed  along,  he  saw  some  coal 
lying  before  a  door,  and  he  asked  to  be 
employed  to  carry  it  into  the  l^DUse. 
His  wish  was  gratified,  and  after  finish- 
ing his  task,  he  was  master  of  a  shil- 
ling. He  soon  earned  another  by  a 
similar  process,  and  when  hungry  he 
satisfied  his:  cravings  in  the  uiost  frugal 
manner.  Month  after  month,  year  after 
year,  he  pursued  his  plan,  and  in  pro- 
cess of  time  achieved  his  end.  The 
estates  once  forfeited  by  his  prodigality 
were  regained  by  decision,  energy,  con- 
centration of  purpose  upon  a  single 
end. 


Fortunes  at  a  ging-le  Blow. 

"I  FEND,"  said  a  shrewd  merchant, 
"  I  make  most  money  when  I  am  least 
anxious  about  it."  There  is  practical 
philosophy  in  this  remark.    Caution, 


prudence,  sagacity,  and  deliberation 
are  all  necessary  to  business  success. 
Some  men,  it  is  true,  get  rich  suddenly, 
but  the  great  majority  do  not,  and  can- 
not. Bonaparte  once  said,  "  I  have  no 
idea  of  a  merchant's  acquiring  a  for- 
tune as  a  general  wins  a  battle — at  a 
single  blow."  Such  fortunes  too  often 
vanish  suddenly. 

Merchant  Patrons  of  Literature. 

There  are  honored  names,  and  not  a 
few— such  as  Peabody,  Bates,  Girard, 
Lawrence,  Perkins,  Cooper,  Astor,  &c. 
— that  might  be  dwelt  upon  in  proof 
of  the  connection  that  may  and  does 
exist  between  trade  and  letters.  Prom- 
inent among  those  of  a  former  day,  were 
Cosmo  and  Lorenzo  de  Medici,  the 
wealthiest  men  of  Europe  in  their  day. 
And  yet  they  were  merchants  and 
bankers,  and  were  preeminent  still  for 
their  generosity  and  devotion  to  letters. 
To  this  merchant  family  belongs  the 
lasting  honor  of  having  restored  the 
empire  of  science  and  true  taste  to 
EurojDe,  after  a  dreary  night  of  dark- 
ness. By  their  efforts,  many  valuable 
manuscripts  were  saved  from  total  de- 
struction. The  Medici  thought  the  dis- 
covery of  a  manuscript  equivalent  to 
the  conquest  of  a  kingdom.  It  is 
doubtful,  indeed,  if  we  are  not  indebt- 
ed to  them  for  most  of  the  perfect 
copies  now  known  of  the  Greek  and 
Roman  classics.  It  is  remarkable,  too, 
that  they  lived  at  a  time  when  they 
were  enabled  to  find  and  preserve  so 
many  valuable  manuscripts  just  before 
the  invention  of  printing,  and  previous- 
ly to  the  wonderful  extension  of  trade 
and  commerce.  The  Medici  were  by 
education  and  pursuit  merchants,  yet 
they  devoted  their  energies  for  a  long 
lifetime,  not  only  to  extend  their  vast 
commercial  relations,  but  also  to  col- 
lect and  found  great  libraries,  establish 
galleries,  and  encourage  the  fine  arts. 
The  names  of  Cooper,  Astor,  Perkins, 
Lawrence,  Corcoran,  Peabody,  «fec.,  of 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


131 


the    present   day,   rank    in    the  same 
noble  category. 


Napoleon  and  Byron  on  Trading-. 

Napoleon  openly  expressed  his  aver- 
sion to  commerce  and  those  engaged  in 
it.  When  a  deputation  of  commercial 
men  came  out  from  Antwerp  to  wel- 
come him  on  his  approach  to  that  city, 
he  met  them  with  the  words,  "  I  don't 
like  merchants  !  A  merchant  is  a  man 
who  would  sell  his  country  for  a  shil- 
ling ! " — "  Je  n'aime  pas  les  negociants  ? 
Un  negociant  est  un  homme  qui  ven- 
drait  sa  patrie  pour  un  petit  ecu  !  "  He 
despised  the  walks  of  trade,  and  in  one 
of  his  consultations  with  the  banker 
Ouvrard,  uttered  the  reproach  that  he 
had  degraded  loyalty  to  the  level  of 
trade. 

The  curious  opinion  that  there  is 
something  derogatory  in  trade,  was 
exemplified,  too,  even  in  a  distin- 
guished British  statesman,  at  the  Con- 
gress of  Vienna,  who  asserted,  in  the 
presence  of  the  representatives  of  Eu- 
rope, that  England  was  not  dependent 
on  commerce.  This  was  intended  as 
an  offset  to  the  sneer  of  Napoleon 
against  the  "nation  of  traders,"  and 
arose  from  a  desire  to  "  sink  the  shop  " 
before  the  plumed  and  epauletted  array 
which  dazzled  and  bewildered  the  civi- 
lian into  an  ungrateful  forgetfulness  of 
the  very  class,  without  whose  aid  em- 
perors and  kings,  if  sujffered  to  retain 
power  at  all,  would  have  dwindled  to 
provincial  governors. 

Byron  said,  "  If  Commerce  fills  the 
purse,  she  clogs  the  brain  ;  "  and  yet  he 
himself  bravely  encountered  that  peril 
by  trafficking  his  own  verses  with  a  thrift 
that  would  have  done  credit  to  Baillie 
Nicol  Jarvie,  and  a  shrewd  attention  to 
detail  which  might  have  won  the  heart 
of  Tim  Linkinwater.  His  practice  re- 
futed his  theory,  and  his  driving  a  sharp 
bargain,  at  the  highest  market  rates,  for 
the  proceeds  of  his  genius,  resulted  in 
no  apparent  diminution  of  his  acuteness. 


Mercantile  Character  Comparatively 
Estimated. 

A  SHOPKEEPER  at  Doucastcr  had  for 
his  trading  virtues  obtained  the  name  of 
the  little  rascal.  A  stranger  once  frank- 
ly asked  him  why  this  appellation  had 
been  given  to  him,  "  To  distinguish 
me  from  the  rest  of  my  trade,"  quoth 
he,  "  who  are  all  great  rascals  ! " 


Money  Enough  to  Break  On. 

One  of  the  richest  men  in  the  weal- 
thy town  of  Zanesville,  O.,  is  Mr.  S., 
who  acquired  some  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  dollars  by  his  industry  and 
business  tact.  He  is  a  pleasant  sort  of 
a  man,  very  nervous,  and  somewhat 
eccentric.  Being  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers, he  has  not  brought  around  his 
family  those  ruinous  influences  that  so 
frequently  destroy  rich  families.  When 
his  son  William  came  of  maturity,  he 
asked  the  "  old  man "  for  capital  to 
start  on.  The  father  gave  the  son 
110,000,  saying  that  it  was  enough 
for  him  to  l)rea7c  on.  "  Bill  "  took  the 
$10,000,  and  instead  of  breaking,  ac- 
quired a  fortune  in  ten  years,  equal  to 
that  of  his  father.  He  is  an  extensive 
private  banker,  engaged  in  milling,  &c. 
Occasionally  the  youth  ventures  into 
deep  water,  and  the  father  undertakes 
to  restrain  him;  but  Bill's  reply  is, 
"  Perhaps  you  want  the  ten  thousand 
dollars ;  if  so,  the  chinks  are  ready  for 
you,  principal  and  interest." 


Mohammedan's  Reason  for  not  Storing- 
Goods. 

Some  years  a^o,  a  Philadelphia  mer- 
chant sent  a  cargo  of  goods  to  Constan- 
tinople. After  the  supercargo  saw  the 
bales  and  boxes  safely  landed,  he  in- 
quired where  they  could  be  stored. 

"  Leave  them  here — it  won't  rain  to- 
night," was  the  reply. 

"  But  I  dare  not  leave  them  thus  ex- 
posed ;  some  of  the  goods  might  be 
stolen,"  said  the  supercargo. 


132 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


The  Mohammedan  merchant  burst 
into  a  loud  laugh,  as  he  replied — 

"Don't  be  alarmed,  there  ain't  a 
Christian  within  fifty  miles  of  here." 


Value  of  a  Good  Credit. 
A  CELEBRATED  gambler,  of  great  ad- 
dress, but  notorious  bad  character, 
meeting  with  a  mercantile  gentleman 
of  the  highest  reputation  for  honor  and 
veracity — one  of  that  exalted  class, 
whose  "  word  is  as  good  -as  their 
bond,"  observed  to  him,  "  Sir,  I  would 
give  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  your 
good  name."  "  Why  so  ?  "  demanded 
the  wondering  merchant.  "  Because," 
replied  the  gambler,  "  I  could  make  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars  out  of  it." 


Merchants  and  Ijeg-islators. 

That  the  East  India  Company,  at  an 
early  age  of  its  existence,  entertained  a 
due  consideration  of  the  dignity  of 
commerce,  is  evident  from  the  bearing 
of  Sir  Josiah  Child,  the  able  manager 
of  the  affairs  of  the  company  at  home, 
during  part  of  the  reigns  of  Charles  II. 
and  James  n.  Mr.  Yaux,  the  manager 
in  India,  on  being  exhorted  to  "  act 
with  vigor,  and  to  carry  whatever  in- 
structions he  might  receive  from  home 
into  immediate  effect,"  answered—"  that 
he  should  endeavor  to  acquit  himself 
with  integrity  and  justice,  and  would 
make  the  laws  of  his  country  the  rule 
of  his  conduct."  Sir  Josiah  replied, 
telling  Mr.  Yaux  roundly  that  he  ex- 
pected his  orders  were  to  be  his  rules, 
and  not  the  laws  of  England,  which 
were  a  heap  of  nonsense,  compiled  by  a 
few  ignorant  country  gentlemen,  w^ho 
hardly  knew  how  to  make  laws  for  the 
good  government  of  their  own  private 
families,  much  less  for  the  regulating 
of  companies  and  foreign  commerce  ! 


Quaker  Merchant's  Idea  of  Priva- 
teering-. 

DuRmG  the  war  between  France  and 

England,  in  1780,  Mr.  Fox,  a  merchant 


of  Falmouth,  Eng.,  had  a  share  in  a 
ship,  which  the  other  owners  deter- 
mined to  fit  out  as  a  letter  of  marque, 
very  much  against  the  wishes  of  ]Mr.  F., 
who  was  a  consistent  Quaker.  The 
shij^'s  fortune  resulted  in  the  ca^Dture 
of  two  French  merchantmen,  and  the 
share  of  the  prize-money  which  fell  to 
Mr.  F.,  was  about  eight  thousand  dol- 
lars. At  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Fox 
sent  his  son  to  Paris,  with  the  eight 
thousand  dollars,  which  he  faithfully 
refunded  to  the  owners  of  the  vessels 
captured.  The  young  merchant,  to 
discover  the  owners,  was  obliged  to 
advertise  for  them  in  the  Paris  pajpers. 
In  consequence  of  this  advertisement, 
he  received  a  letter  from  a  small  village 
near  Nismes,  in  the  province  of  Lan- 
guedoc,  acquainting  him  that  a  society 
of  Quakers  was  established  in  that  re- 
mote i)art  of  France,  consisting  of  about 
one  hundred  families ;  that  they  were 
so  much  struck  with  this  rare  instance 
of  generosity  in  one  of  their  sect,  that 
they  were  desirous  to  open  a  correspond- 
ence with  him  in  England;  which 
immediately  commenced — the  first  cor- 
respondence of  the  kind  which  the 
Society  had  initiated  for  u]pward  of  a 
century. 


Indian's  Mode  of  Judg-ingr  a  Trader. 

An  old  trader  among  the  Northern 
Indians,  who  had  some  years  ago  estab- 
lished himself  on  the  Wisseoa,  tells  a 
good  story,  with  a  mercantile  moral 
worth  remembering,  about  his  first 
trials  of  trading  with  his  red  custom- 
ers. The  Indians,  who  evidently  want- 
ed goods,  and  had  both  money  (which 
they  called  shune  ah)  and  furs,  flocked 
about  his  store,  and  examined  his 
goods,  but  for  some  time  bought  noth- 
ing. Finally,  their  chief,  with  a  large 
body  of  his  followers,  visited  him,  and 
accosting  him  with,  "  How  do,  Thom- 
as ?  Show  me  goods ;  I  take  four  yard 
calico,  three  coonskins  for  yard,  pay 
you  by'm  by — to-morrow,"  received  his 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


133 


goods  and  left.  Next  day  he  returned 
with  his  whole  band,  his  blankets 
stuffed  with  coonskins.  "American 
man,  I  pay  now ;  with  this  he  began 
counting  out  the  skins  until  he'  had 
handed  him  over  twelve.  Then  after 
a  moment's  pause  he  offered  the  trader 
one  more,  remarking,  as  he  did  so, 
"  That's  it."  I  handed  it  back,  said 
the  trader,  telling  him  he  owed  me  but 
twelve,  and  I  would  not  cheat  him. 
We  continued  to  pass  it  back  and 
forth,  each  one  asserting  that  it  be- 
longed to  the  other.  At  last,  he  ap- 
peared to  be  satisfied,  gave  me  a  scru- 
tinizing look,  placed  the  skin  in  the 
folds  of  his  blanket,  stepped  to  the 
door,  and  gave  a  yell,  and  cried  at  the 
top  of  his  voice,  "  Come,  come,  and 
trade  with  the  pale  face,  he  no  cheat 
Indian  ;  his  heart  big."  He  then 
turned  to  me  and  said :  "  You  take 
that  skin ;  I  tell  Indian  no  trade  with 
you — drive  you  off  like  a  dog;  but 
now  you  Indian's  friend,  and  me  yours." 
Before  sundown  I  was  waist  deep  in 
furs,  and  loaded  down  with  cash. 


Merchants' getting:  to  be  Gentlemen. 

By  a  statute  of  King  Athelstane, 
grandson  of  Alfred,  it  was  provided 
that  any  merchant  who  made  three 
voyages,  on  his  own  account,  beyond 
the  British  Channel,  should  be  entitled 
to  the  privilege  of  a  thane — that  is,  be 
regarded  as  a  gentleman. 


Not  ashamed  of  "Work— Aster's  Dili- 
grence. 

Some  one  has  said,  that  the  secret  of 
success  in  business  is  to  be  beforehand 
with  your  affairs.  No  one  was  better 
able  to  fulfil  this  condition  than  Astor. 
Always  an  early  riser,  he  generally  left 
business  at  two  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon. He  was  never  at  rest,  but  sel- 
dom in  haste.  His  forces,  his  resour- 
ces, were  always  marshalled  and  in 
order.  An  enthusiastic  critic  of  this 
great  business    genius,   declared    that 


Mr.  Astor  could  command  an  army  of 
half  a  million  men. 

His  unresting  industry  was  not  ham- 
pered by  false  pride.  He  would  work 
with  his  own  hands,  and  he  was  not 
ashamed  of  workmen's  garb.  He  knew 
that  the  master's  example  must  guide, 
that  the  master's  eye  must  be  on  the 
work  if  it  is  to  be  well  done.  If  his 
furs  required  sorting  and  beating,  he 
would  do  it  himself  with  the  best  of 
his  men,  and  was  as  ready  to  work 
when  worth  millions  as  when  strug- 
gling for  success.  No  humble  disciple 
of  poor  Richard  was  ever  more  plod- 
dingly diligent  in  the  practice  of  fru- 
gality and  thrift,  which  the  spirit  of 
mere  speculation  is  prone  to  overlook, 
than  he. 


Opulent  Nevr  York  MerchantsI 

Preserved  Fish  commenced  life  as 
an  apprentice  to  a  blacksmith,  and  his 
next  situation  was  that  of  a  seaman  on 
board  a  whaling  ship.  From  being  a 
hand  before  the  mast,  he  rose  to  be  a 
mate,  and  finally  commander,  and  in 
this  hazardous  pursuit  amassed  the 
foundation  of  his  great  fortune. 

Saul  Alley  was  bound,  when  a  small 
boy,  apprentice  to  a  coachmaker,  and 
during  his  apprenticeship  his  father 
died,  leaving  him  totally  dependent  on 
his  own  exertions,  so  that  the  very 
clothes  he  wore  he  was  obliged  to  earn 
by  toiling  extra  hours,  after  the  regular 
time  of  leaving  off  work  had  passed ;. 
the  foundation  of  his  fortune  he  ac- 
quired by  the  exercise  of  frugality  and 
prudence,  while  a  journeyman  me- 
chanic. 

Cornelius  "W.  Lawrence  was  a  far- 
mer's boy,  and  worked  many  a  long  day 
in  rain  and  sunshine  on  Long  Island ; 
there  were  few  lads,  within  twenty  miles 
of  him,  that  could  mow  a  wider  swath, 
or  turn  a  better  furrow. 


134 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Great  Deeds  of  European  Merchants. 

The  tact  and  generosity  of  an  Eng- 
lish merchant,  Thomas  Sutton,  are  said 
to  have  materially  aided  in  the  defeat 
of  the  Spanish  Armada,  and  thereby 
saved  British  liberty  from  torture  and 
thumbscrews. 

A  fear  of  the  power  of  merchants 
stopped  Charles  the  Fifth  from  estab- 
lishing the  inquisition  in  Antwerp ; 
while  a  merchant  of  that  city  lent  this 
king  a  million  of  money,  and,  at  an 
entertainment  which  he  gave  them, 
burnt  the  bond  in  a  fire  of  cinnamon — 
at  that  time  a  most  costly  spice. 

A  merchant  of  France  raised  an  army 
at  his  own  expense,  and  lent  millions  to 
his  country. 

A  Georgian  of  low  birth  was  able,  by 
the  quiet  arts  of  commerce,  to  obtain  an 
immense  revenue,  and  to  keep  six  thou- 
sand troops  in  his  pay. 

Russia,  with  all  her  extent  of  land, 
was  as  nothing,  until  that  half  Goth, 
Peter,  surnamed  by  his  countrymen, 
"  the  Great,"  promoted  the  advance- 
ment of  commerce.  He  gave  his  per- 
sonal attention  to  the  building  of  ships, 
training  of  seamen,  opening  of  harbors, 
the  establishment  of  ports,  and  the  fur- 
therance of  commercial  enterprise. 


Peremptory  Refusal  of  Hope  &  Co.  to 
do  Business  with  Girard. 

GiRARD  learned  one  of  the  most 
trenchant  lessons  in  his  eventful  mer- 
cantile life,  from  his  favorite  correspond- 
ents in  Europe,  Messrs.  Hope  &  Co., 
of  Amsterdam. 

Notwithstanding  the  reliance  he 
placed  in  them,  he  had  sent  a  Quaker, 
by  the  name  of  Hutchinson,  to  Am- 
sterdam, with  explicit  instructions  to 
watch  those  gentlemen  closely,  and  see 
that  they  accounted  for  the  real  prices 
received  by  them  for  his  consignments, 
etc.,  etc. 

It  vfas  a  rule  in  the  house  of  Messrs. 
Hope,  to  compute  one  eighth  per  cent, 
more  than  the  daily  noted  rate  of  ex- 


change, when  sending  the  regular  re- 
ceipts to  bank,  and  this  was  done  to 
cover  a  variety  of  minute  office  expen- 
ses, which  could  not  be  brought  into  a 
stated  account.  Thus,  for  instance, 
Mr.  Hutchinson  was  informed  that  they 
had  sold  a  thousand  bags  of  coiFee,  at 
so-and-so  much  per  cent.  Hereupon, 
that  gentleman  came,  next  day,  to  the 
counting  room,  interrupted  Mr.  Labou- 
chere  in  his  meditations,  and,  running 
his  finger  along  the  printed  price  cur- 
rent he  held  in  his  hand,  pointed  out 
to  him  that  the  rate  must  be  put  at  one 
eighth  per  cent.  less.  The  oft-repeated 
hints  Mr.  Labouchcire  had  given  the 
young  Quaker,  who  invariably  came  in 
with  his  hat  on  his  head,  and,  without 
permission,  marched  directly  up  to  the 
door,  and  pushed  on  into  the  private 
counting  room— that  sanctum  sanctorum^ 
of  Dutch  merchants — had  all  proved  of 
no  avail ;  at  last  they  got  to  let  him 
stand  there,  without  paying  any  atten- 
tion to  what  he  had  to  say. 

Under  these  circumstances,  Hutchin- 
son wrote  to  Girard,  who,  in  response, 
at  once  dictated,  for  his  benefit,  the 
most  ofi'ensive  letter  to  Messrs.  Hope, 
which  finally  decided  the  latter  to  let 
him  know,  unmistakably,  that  there 
existed  so  wide  a  difference  between 
their  ways  of  doing  business  and  his, 
and  all  attempts  to  teach  him  better 
had  so  signally  failed,  that,  for  the  sake 
of  their  own  comfort  and  tranquillity, 
they  ^ould  be  compelled  to  decline 
any  further  transactions  with  him. 
Then  there  came  from  Girard  a  sort 
of  apology,  a  promise  to  manage  dif- 
ferently in  future,  etc.,  etc.  But  the 
house  in  Amsterdam  remained  firm  in 
the  resolution  they  had  taken,  offering, 
however,  to  do  him  the  favor  of  recom- 
mending to  him,  as  his  future  corre- 
spondents, Messrs.  Daniel  Crammelin  & 
Sons,  their  neighbors. 

The  astonishment  of  the  latter  gentle- 
men themselves,  when  the  first  impor- 
tant consignments  began  to  reach  them 
from  Girard,  and  the  surprise  of  the 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


135 


wliole  Amsterdam  Bourse,  that  any  one 
sliould  reject  such  business  as  his,  re- 


quirmg  no 
conceived. 


advances,  may  be  readily 


Mohammedan  Mercantile  Morality. 

In  some  of  its  phases,  Mohammedan 
mercantile  morality  exceeds  in  its  scru- 
pulousness that  of  any  other  people, 
whatever  their  religious  character  or 
creed.  A  mercantile  firm  in  Salonica 
had  bills  to  a  large  amount  on  the  prin- 
cipal inhabitants  and  merchants  of  the 
place,  which,  with  their  books  and  pa- 
pers, were  destroyed  by  fire.  On  the 
day  following,  a  prominent  Turk,  who 
was  largely  in  their  debt,  went  in  per- 
son and  told  them  that,  having  heard 
that  their  papers  had  been  destroyed, 
he  had  brought  a  copy  of  his  account 
with  them  and  fresh  bills  for  the 
amount  which  was  their  due.  This 
example  was  followed  by  all  the  Turk- 
ish debtors  to  them.  It  does  not  ap- 
pear to  be  intimated  that  this  course 
was  one  that  they  had  ever  learned 
from  the  Christian  traders  in  their 
country. 


Commencing:  in  the  Sutocellar. 

One  of  the  wealthiest  merchants  of 
New  York  relates  how  he  commenced 
business  in  that  city.  He  says :  I  en- 
tered a  store,  and  asked  if  a  clerk  was 
not  wanted.  "  No  !  "  in  a  rough  -tone, 
was  the  answer,  all  being  too  busy  to 
bother  with  me — ^when  I  reflected,  that 
if  they  did  not  want  a  clerk,  they  might 
want  a  laborer ;  but  I  was  dressed  too 
fine  for  that.  I  went  to  my  lodgings, 
put  on  a  rough  garb,  and  the  next  day 
went  into  the  same  store  and  demand- 
ed if  they  did  not  want  a  porter,  and 
again,  "  No,  sir,"  was  the  response — 
when  I  exclaimed,  in  despair,  almost, 
"  a  laborer  ?  Sir,  I  will  work  at  any 
wages.  Wages  is  not  my  object — I 
must  have  employ,  and  I  want  to  be 
useful  in  business." 


These  last  remarks  attracted  their 
attention ;  and  in  the  end  I  was  hired 
as  a  laborer  in  the  basement  and  sub- 
cellar  at  a  very  low  pay,  scarcely  enough 
to  keep  body  and  soul  together. 

In  the  basement  and  subcellar,  I 
soon  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
counting  house  and '  chief  clerk.  I 
saved  enough  for  my  employers  in 
little  things  usually  wasted,  to  pay 
my  wages  ten  times  over,  and  they 
soon  found  it  out.  I  did  not  let  any- 
body about  commit  petty  larcenies, 
without  remonstrance  and  threats  of 
exposure,  and  real  exposure  if  remon- 
strance would  not  do.  I  did  not  ask 
for  any  ten-hour  law.  If  I  was  wanted 
at  three  in  the  morning,  I  never  growl- 
ed, but  told  everybody  to  go  home, 
"  and  I  will  see  everything  right."  I 
loaded  off  at  daybreak  packages  for 
the  morning  boats,  or  carried  them  my- 
self. In  short,  I  soon  became — as  I 
meant  to  be — indispensable  to  my  em- 
ployers, and  I  rose,  and  rose,  until  I 
became  head  of  the  house,  with  money 
enough  for  any  luxury  or  any  position 
a  mercantile  man  may  desire  for  him- 
self and  family  in  a  great  city. 


Bomance  of  Trade— "  Blackguard 
Snufif." 

LuNDY  Foot,  the  celebrated  snuff- 
manufacturer  of  Dublin,  originally  kept 
a  small  tobacconist's  shop  at  Limerick, 
Ireland.  One  night  his  house,  which 
was  uninsured,  was  bm-nt  to  the  ground. 
As  he  contemplated  the  smoking  ruins 
on  the  following  morning,  in  a  state 
bordering  on  despair,  some  of  the  poor 
neighbors,  groping  among  the  embers 
for  what  they  could  find,  stumbled 
upon  several  canisters  of  un  consumed 
but  half-baked  snuff,  which  they  tried, 
and  found  so  grateful  to  their  noses, 
that  they  loaded  their  waistcoat  pock- 
ets with  the  spoil. 

Lundy  Foot,  roused  from  his  stupor, 
at  length  imitated  their  example,  and 
took  a  pinch  of  his  own  property,  when 
he  was  instantly  struck  by  the  superior 


136 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


pungency  and  flavor  it  had  acquired 
from  the  great  heat  to  -which  it  had 
been  exposed.  Treasuring  up  this 
valuable  hint,  he  took  another  house, 
in  a  place  called  "  Black  Yard,"  and 
preparing  a  large  oveu  for  the  purpose, 
set  diligently  about  the  manufacture  of 
that  high-dried  commodity,  which  soon 
became  known  as  "  Black  Yard  Snuff" 
— a  term  subsequently  corrupted  into 
the  more  familiar  word  "  Blackguard." 
Making  his  customers  pay  liberally 
through  the  nose  for  one  of  the  most 
"  distinguished  "  kinds  of  snuff  in  the 
world,  he  soon  raised  the  price  of  his 
production,  took  a  larger  house  in  the 
city  of  Dublin,  and  was  often  heard  to 
say — "I  made  a  very  handsome  for- 
tune by  being,  as  I  supposed,  utterly 
ruined!"  "When  he  was  rich  enough 
to  own  and  use  a  carriage,  he  applied 
to  Lord  Norbury  for  an  appropriate 
motto  for  his  panels.  The  witty  judge 
suggested  the  phrase — Latin  or  Eng- 
lish as  you  please — "  Quid  rides  ?  " 


" EveryiiMng  by  Turns"— Girard's 
Example. 

KoTwiTHSTANDiNG  the  common 
adage,  that  a  business  man  who 
puts  too  many  irons  in  the  fire,  is 
not  likely  to  get  any  one  of  them 
red  hot,  it  seems  to  have  been  other- 
wise in  the  career  of  Stephen  Girard. 
Thus,  if  one  operation  miscarried,  with 
that  versatility  so  peculiar  to  his  coun- 
trymen he  tried  another,  and  another, 
until  he  tried  the  right  one.  This 
change  of  business  gave  rise  to  the 
story  that  he  was  at  one  time  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  hair  powder,  as 
a  partner  of  Boldasky  &  Co.,  who, 
about  the  year  1786,  carried  on  that 
business,  near  Germantown,  Pa.  But 
whether  or  not  Mr.  G.  had  a  concern 
in  that  establishment,  the  books  of 
the  latter  show  large  accounts  with 
Stephen  and  John  Girard  for  that  arti- 
cle, which  they  purchased  for  exporta- 
tion to  St.  Domingo  and  the  Southern 
markets. 


It  is  certain  that  Girard  left  nothing 
untried,  by  which  to  make  his  fortune. 
Even  the  occupation  of  a  merchant  at 
length  began  to  lose  some  of  its  charms 
for  Girard,  and  failed  to  satisfy  that 
boundless  craving  of  his  mind,  which 
is  so  peculiar  a  faculty  of  genius.  Thus 
it  was  that  he  turned  banker ;  and  then, 
this  failing  to  yield  him  full  satisfac- 
tion, he  becomes  a  great  builder,  fill- 
ing up  streets,  and  skirting  whole 
squares  with  his  mansions,  palaces 
and  stores,  careful  to  learn  something 
as  he  went  along,  of  the  arts  of  those 
several  professions,  from  the  construc- 
tion of  a  ship  and  the  building  of  a 
palace,  down  to  the  erection  of  a 
wharf,  the  paving  of  a  street,  or  the 
setting  of  a  curb  stone ;  adding  to  all 
this,  that  of  being  one  of  the  first  fann- 
ers, graziers,  and  butchers,  in  the 
State.  A  gentleman  once  went  to  him 
on  business,  but  was  refused  an  inter- 
view, because  he  was  cutting  up  his 
hogs  for  his  winter  provisions — this 
job,  however,  being  but  small  game 
for  Girard ;  for,  when  he  assisted  to 
butcher  on  his  farm,  fifty  oxen  at  a 
time  sometimes  smoked  beneath  his 
knife ;  or  he  slew  a  whole  hecatomb, 
glorying,  like  a  hero,  in  the  gore 
around  him.  When  to  these  varied 
occupations  are  added  his  knowledge 
of  horticulture,  his  skill  in  planting  and 
gardening,  his  extensive  aviaries,  to- 
gether with  the  fact  that  he  was  an  ex- 
cellent nurse,  and  prided  himself  on  his 
success  as  a  doctor, — perhaps  few  men 
have  ever  lived,  who  could  be  quoted 
as  his  equal,  or  superior,  for  the  variety 
as  well  as  excellence  and  success  of  his 
pursuits,  nor  would  it  be  safe  for  men 
in  general  thus  to  diversify  their  occu- 
pations. Girard  was  a  man  of  such  re- 
markable executive  capacity,  that  it 
seemed  almost  impossible  for  him  to 
touch  anything  without  its  turning  into 
gold. 


^ 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


137 


"  Stick  to  YoTir  Last." 

This  phrase,  though  seemingly  re- 
ferring to  the  disciples  of  St.  Crispin, 
is  of  general  application,  and  is  accept- 
ed as  such.  Zadock  Pratt  was  origin- 
ally a  tanner  by  trade, — a  man  of  quaint 
manners  and  speech,  and  of  very  strong 
common  sense.  A  speculator  was  once 
showing  him  a  new  method  of  tanning, 
by  the  use  of  y^hich,  he  argued,  great 
quantities  of  money  might  be  made. 
Pratt  told  him  he  ha  1  no  reason  to  doubt 
his  assertion,  but  he  Avas  maldng  money 
enough ;  and  that  he — the  speculator — 
would  better  find  some  one  who  was 
not  doing  so  well.  He  made  it  an  in- 
variable rule  to  resist  all  attempts  to 
allure  him  from  his  legitimate  business, 
and  by  this  undeviating  application 
rolled  up  a  splendid  fortune.  The  well 
known  story  of  Plautus,  the  Roman 
comic  writer,  is  an  apt  though  ancient 
illustration  of  this  principle  of  "  stick- 
ing to  your  business."  He  acquired  a 
very  handsome  fortune  by  his  comedies. 
He  was  afterward  tempted  to  embark 
in  trade,  and  met  with  such  severe 
losses  that  he  was  in  consequence  re- 
duced to  the  necessity  of  working  in  a 
mill,  as  a  day  laborer,  in  order  to  obtain 
a  support. 


Controversy  among  Wine  Dealers. 

The  question,  whether  the  wines  of 
Champagne  or  Burgundy  were  entitled 
to  the  preference,  was,  during  the  reign 
of  Lotiis  the  Fourteenth,  a  matter  of 
sharp  controversy  among  the  wine 
dealers  and  their  friends  of  that  day. 
The  celebrated  Charles  Coffin,  head  of 
the  University  of  Beauvais,  published, 
during  this  controversy,  a  pungent  clas- 
sical ode,  in  which  Champagne  is  ex- 
tolled, and  its  superiority  vindicated, 
with  a  spirit,  vivacity,  and  delicacy 
worthy  of  the  most  important  theme. 
For  this,  the  citizens  of  Rheims  were 
not  ungrateful  to  the  poet,  but  liberally 
rewarded  him  with  an  appropriate  and 


munificent  donation  of  the  wine  he  had 
so  happily  panegyrized.  Greneau  wrote 
an  ode  in  praise  of  Burgundy  ;  but,  un- 
like the  subject  which  it  treated,  it 
was  flat  and  insipid,  and  failed  to  pro- 
cure any  recompense  to  its  author. 
The  dififerent  pieces  in  this  amusing 
controversy  were  collected  and  pub- 
lished in  octavo,  at  Paris,  in  1712. 
Erasmus  attributes  the  restoration  of 
his  health  to  his  having  drunk  liberally 
of  Burgundy,  and  has  eulogized  it  in  the 
most  extravagant  terms.  An  epistle  of 
his,  quoted  by  Le  Grand  d'Aussy,  shows 
that  Falstaflf  and  he  would  have  spent 
an  evening  together  more  agreeably 
than  might  have  been  supposed. 


liittle  Too  Candid. 

DuEOG  a  political  campaign  in  Vir- 
ginia, a  democratic  speaker  was  ad- 
dressing a  large  audience,  and  descant- 
ing with  great  vehemence  upon  the 
proscriptive  tenets  of  know-nothingism 
with  regard  to  foreigners,  when  his  eye 
fell  upon  a  little  German  Jew,  a  peddler 
of  ready-made  clothing,  who  seemed  to 
be  very  much  impressed  with  the  argu- 
ment of  the  orator,  and  greedily  swal- 
lowing everything  he  uttered.  This 
was  too  good  an  opportunity  not  to  be 
made  the  most  of.  Looking  the  peddler 
in  the  eye,  he  exclaimed  : 

"  Furriner,  didn't  you  come  to  this 
country  to  escape  from  tyrannical, 
downtrodden,  and  oppressed  Europe  ? 
Didn't  you  flee  to  these  happy  shores 
to  live  in  a  land  of  freedom,  where  the 
great  right  of  suffrage  is  guaranteed  to 
all  ?    DidnH  you,  furriner  ? " 

He  i)aused  for  a  reply ;  when  the  lit- 
tle peddler  squeaked  out — 

*'  No,  sur  ;  I  comes  to  dis  countrie  to 
sell  sheap  ready-made  clothes." 

The  astonishment  of  the  orator,  the 
shouts  and  roars  of  the  multitude,  can- 
not be  described.  The  speech  was  fin- 
ished, and  the  orator  quit  the  rostrum, 
heartily  cursing  all  "  furriners  "  gener- 
ally, and  clothes  peddlers  in  particular. 


138 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Hing-es  tipon  which  Trade  Swings. 

A  GRAVE  discussion  was  once  oyer- 
hearcl,  concerning  sliop-door  steps,  in 
which  a  young  beginner  was  solemnly 
recommended  not  to  adopt  more  than 
one  step  into  his  shop.  People,  it  was 
said, — that  is,  commercial  human  na- 
ture,— wouldn't  talie  the  trouble  to 
mount  up  two  or  three  steps,  when,  by 
going  a  little  farther  on,  a  more  easily 
accessible  establishment  might  invite 
them  in. 

The  same  idea  is  involved  in  the 
widely-opened,  easily-revolving  door 
of  our  modern  shops.  Be  the  winter's 
frost  ever  so  sharp,  or  the  cold  wind 
ever  so  keen,  it  is  a  standing  rule  with 
certain  dealers,  that  the  shop-entrance 
be  never  hindered  by  a  closed  door,  or 
only  upon  the  condition  that  a  porter 
stand  in  continued  readiness  to  bow  in 
or  bow  out  the  purchasers. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that,  upon  a 
hinge  as  slight  even  as  this,  many  a 
man's  fortune  or  ill-fortune  has  swung. 


Expectations  ag-ainst  Kesnlts. 

A  GOOD  an-ecdote  is  told  by  an  "  old 
hand,"  illustrating  the  probability  of 
business  sales : 

A  young  friend  of  ours  called  on  us 
the  other  day  in  high  glee ;  he  was 
about  concluding  arrangements  with 
two  others  to  embark  in  the  jobbing 
trade,  and  was  quite  sanguine  in  his 
expectation  of  brilliant  results.  As  we 
did  not  express  full  faith  in  his  antici- 
pations, he  rather  chided  us  for  our 
doubts,  whereupon  we  questioned  him 
a  little  as  to  his  prospects.  At  our 
suggestion,  he  took  pen  and  paper,  and 
put  down  first  of  all  his  proposed  ex- 
penses. We  could  see  that  he  had  not 
done  this  before,  as  he  seemed  quite 
startled  to  find  that,  even  at  the  mod- 
erate estimates  he  had  made,  the  total 
expenses  for  rent,  clerk  hire,  and  living 
of  the  several  partners,  amounted  to  the 
snug  sum  of  $8,200. 


"  Now  for  the  amount  of  business  I  '* 
said  we. 

"  Oh,  as  to  that,"  he  replied,  "  we 
Jiojpe  to  sell  $300,000  worth  of  goods 
per  annum." 

"  But  what  amount  of  trade  do  all 
of  you  at  present  influence  ? "  we  asked. 
"  Make  now  a  careful  estimate  of  the 
business  you  can  rely  upon  with  some 
degree  of  certainty."  He  did  so,  and, 
to  his  sui-prise,  it  did  not  quite  reach 
$125,000. 

"  Now,  what  profit  can  you  average 
upon  this  ?  "  After  some  debate,  this 
was  set  down  at  seven  and  one-half  per 
cent.     This  gave  the  sum  of  $9,375. 

"  Now,  what  shall  we  call  the  losses  ? " 

The  latter  was  settled  at  two  and  one 
half  per  cent,  on  sales,  amounting  to 
$3,125,  leaving  the  net  income  at  $6,250, 
or  $1,950  less  than  enough  to  pay  his 
estimated  expenses.  He  left  us,  pro- 
posing to  show  the  estimate  to  his  col- 
leagues. He  did  so,  and  after  figuring 
awhile  without  arriving  at  any  more 
satisfactory  result,  they  finally  aban- 
doned the  undertaking.  There  is  no 
doubt  that,  if  all,  when  about  to  em- 
bark in  trade,  would  thus  boldly  look 
at  the  figures,  instead  of  closing  their 
eyes  and  hoping  for  the  best,  there 
would  be  fewer  failures  among  busi- 
ness men,  and  there  would  be  less  com- 
plaint that  "  trade  is  overdone." 


Getting  the  Hang  of  Mercantile  Trans- 
actions. 
An  amusing  account  of  the  manner 
in  which  Vincent  Nolte  got  "  posted  " 
in  certain  mercantile  transactions,  wliile 
holding  a  certain  relation  to  the  great 
banker  Labouch^re,  is  thus  given  by 
himself:  This  canvassing  for  consign- 
ments from  the  United  States,  and  the 
kind  of  uneasiness  which  Mr.  Labou- 
clitire  betrayed,  whenever  his  neighbors, 
Messrs.  Hottinguers  &  Co.,  a  branch  of 
the  Paris  banking  house,  received  im- 
portant consignments  from  tlie  United 
States — frequently  whole  fleets  at  a 
time — ^were  to  me  inex2)licable ;   bo  I 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


139 


asked  my  chief,  what  the  real  cause  of 
this  anxiety  could  be.  His  reply  in- 
variably was,  "  Large  advances,  proba- 
bly !  "  My  next  question  was  :  "  And 
who  makes  these  advances  ?  how  are 
they  made  ? "  His  answer :  "  I  am  ig- 
norant of  that ! "  or,  "  I  do  not  know." 
At  length,  however,  I  learned  from  one 
of  the  Hottinguer  clerks,  with  whom  I 
had  struck  up  a  friendship,  that  the 
house  of  Messrs.  Baring  accepted  bills 
drawn  as  an  advance,  in  the  United 
States,  took  out  the  insurance,  and  after 
sale  took  charge  of  the  remittances  for 
the  merchandise.  From  this  informa- 
tion, I  for  the  first  time  got  a  key  to 
this  whole  system,  so  universally  under- 
stood at  the  present  day. 


Sabbath  Experiences  of  a  Shipmaster. 

I  WAS  in  command  of  a  vessel,  says 
Capt.  G.,  of  W — ,  Mass.,  engaged  in  the 

hide  trade,  between  N and  a  port 

in  Brazil. 

The  custom  of  the  Brazilian  port, 
was  to  load  vessels  on  the  Sabbath. 
This  labor  was  performed  by  gangs  of 
negroes,  under  the  direction  of  steve- 
dores. These  stevedores  were  few  in 
number,  and,  in  times  of  great  hurry 
of  business,  in  order  to  an  equitable 
division  of  their  services,  the  vessels 
were  accustomed  to  take  their  turns 
in  the  order  in  which  they  were  report- 
ed as  ready  to  receive  cargo.  If,  when 
the  time  came  round  for  a  particular 
vessel  to  load,  she  was  not  ready,  her 
name  was  transferred  to  the  bottom  of 
the  list.  It  was  my  lot  to  experience 
some  of  the  effects  of  this  custom. 

My  turn  came  to  load.  The  work 
commenced  and  ^continued  till  Satur- 
day night,  when  i  ordered  the  hatches 
closed,  and  forbid  any  work  being  done 
on  board  till  Monday  morning.  The 
stevedore  and  his  gang,  muttering 
curses,  left  the  vessel,  threatening  to 
do  no  more  work  on  board. 

Monday  came.  I  made  application 
to  the  commission  merchant,  and  was 


informed  that  I  had  lost  my  turn  in 
loading,  and  must  wait  until  it  came 
round  again,  and  that  the  stevedore 
and  his  gang  had  gone  on  board  an- 
other vessel. 

To  aggravate  my  disappointment,  I 
found  that  a  hostile  feeling  had  sprung 
up  against  me,  and  was  participated  in 
by  all  around.  The  merchant  was  stu- 
diously polite  and  respectful  as  before, 
but  no  longer  familiar.  Masters  of  ves- 
sels avoided  my  society.  Evil  disposed 
persons  busied  themselves  in  secretly 
doing  me  injuries,  such  as  cutting  my 
rigging  in  the  night  time,  and  the  like. 
And  thus  things  went  on,  until  our 
turn  came  round  again,  when,  there 
being  no  other  vessel  ready  to  load,  we 
were  left  to  do  our  own  work  in  our 
own  way.  The  loss  of  time,  occasioned 
by  the  refusal  to  load  on  the  Sabbath, 
amounted  to  several  weeks.  Whether 
it  was  actually  a  loss,  or  not,  the  result 
will  show. 

It  was  now  Saturday  night  again,  the 
loading  of  the  ship  was  completed,  and 
we  were  ready  for  sea.  With  the  Sab- 
bath came  a  fresh  and  fair  wind ;  but 
instead  of  sailing,  the  Bethel  flag  was 
hoisted,  as  an  invitation  for  all  the 
shipmates  to  come  on  board  and  ob- 
serve the  day  in  the  good  old  way. 

Monday  morning,  early,  we  were  un- 
der sail  for  the  lower  harbor,  several 
miles  distant.  On  our  way,  we  passed 
two  brigs  aground,  with  lighters  along- 
side discharging  their  hides,  in  order 
to  lighten  them  and  get  them  off. 
They  left  the  harbor  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  here  they  were.  On  reaching  the 
lower  harbor  we  found,  to  our  surprise, 
lying  at  anchor,  upward  of  forty  sail 
of  shipping  waiting  for  a  wind.  Among 
them  were  all  the  vessels  that  had  clear- 
ed for  the  last  month  or  more,  includ- 
ing every  vessel  that  had  obtained  an 
advantage  over  us  in  respect  to  loading. 

We  had  now  to  obtain  a  pilot  and 
get  to  sea,  when  the  wind  came  fair 
and  before  it  had  spent  itself.  These 
were  by  no  means  matters  easy  to  be 


140 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


accomplislied.  Pilots  were  few,  and 
vessels  many,  and  here,  too,  the  prin- 
ciple of  rotation  was  rigidly  enforced. 
The  winds,  meanwhile,  when  fair,  were 
shortlived  and  feeble,  and  the  bar  at 
the  entrance  of  the  harbor  was  too  dan- 
gerous to  pass  without  a  pilot.  A  pilot 
who  had  been  on  a  long  visit  to  the  in- 
terior, returned  to  the  seaboard  and  re- 
sumed his  duties  on  the  very  day  when 
we  reached  the  outer  harbor,  and  pre- 
senting himself  on  board,  offered  to 
pilot  us  to  sea. 

Tuesday  morning  found  us,  with  a 
fair  wind,  a  pilot  on  board,  and  under 
way  at  daylight.  We  were  the  second 
vessel  over  the  bar,  and  among  the  first 
to  arrive  in  the  United  States.  The 
getting  out  of  cargo,  its  exposure  and 
sale,  were  matters  of  no  little  interest. 
Our  own  cargo,  owing  to  the  delay  in 
getting  it  on  board,  received  unusual 
attention  at  our  hands  and  was  in  per- 
fect shipping  order  when  stowed  away, 
and  came  out  in  the  same  good  condi- 
tion. The  cargoes  of  the  other  vessels 
came  out  very  differently,  with  a  loss  in 
some  cases  of  twenty,  thirty,  and  even 
fifty  per  cent.  This  loss  was  occasion- 
ed in  part  by  hurrying  the  hides  on 
board  in  the  first  instance  without  their 
being  thoroughly  dried,  in  order  to 
greater  despatch,  and  in  part  to  the 
unusual  detention  of  the  vessels  at  the 
port  of  loading.  From  these  two 
causes  combined,  and  the  activity  of 
the  vermin  that  took  possession  of  the 
hides,  and  riddled  them  through  and 
through,  several  of  those  voyages  turn- 
ed out  disastrous  failures. 


Celebrated  Question  of  Conscience  in 
Commerce  put  by  Cicero. 

One  of  the  most  celebrated  points  as 
affecting  the  obligations  of  one  person 
or  party  toward  another,  in  trade,  is 
that  put  by  Cicero,  as  follows  :  A  com 
merchant  of  Alexandria,  he  says,  ar- 
rived at  Rhodes  in  a  time  of  great 
scarcity,  with  a  cargo  of  grain,  and 
with  knowledge  that  a  number  of  other 


vessels  laden  with  corn,  had  already  j 

sailed   from  Alexandria    for    Rhodes,  ; 

and  which  he  had  passed  on  the  -pas-  \ 

sage — was  he  bound  in  conscience  to  ; 

inform  the  buyers  of  that  fact  ?    Cicero  i 

decides  that  he  was.     Other  writers  on  : 

the  morals  of  trade  decide  in  the  nega-  ' 
tive. 


Arab  Honesty  in  Business  Trans- 
actions. 

When  Mr.  Layard,  the  traveller,  was 
at  some  brackish  springs  called  Belaisse, 
he  was  awakened  by  the  alarm  that  two 
of  his  horses  were  stolen.  Sabuman, 
under  whose  escort  he  was  travelling, 
felt  his  honor  so  much  concerned,  that 
he  wandered  till  daybreak  in  search  of 
the  thieves.  Finally,  having  tracked 
them,  and  pronounced  with  unerring 
sagacity  of  what  tribe  they  were,  he 
made  an  oath  that  the  missing  prop- 
erty should  be  returned.  After  six 
weeks'  search  and  extensive  joumey- 
ings,  he  fulfilled  his  vow  and  brought 
back  the  animals,  without  asking — ap- 
parently without  permitting,  any  re- 
ward. 

Suthun,  another  companion  of  Mr. 
Layard,  was  often  sent  across  the  des- 
ert, with  perhaps  three  thousand  dol- 
lars in  money,  and  always  with  perfect 
confidence — his  only  reward  being  an 
occasional  silk  dress,  or  a  few  camel- 
loads  of  com  for  his  family. 

In  commercial  or  business  transac- 
tions the  same  holds  true.  Of  late 
years,  the  wool  of  the  Bedouin  sheep 
has  been  in  demand  in  the  European 
market,  and  a  large  trade  is  even  now 
going  on  in  the  region  of  the  explora- 
tions. Money  is  generally  advanced  by 
the  English  representative,  mostly  be- 
fore sheep-shearing,  without  any  writ- 
ten or  other  guaranty,  to  tribes  of 
whom  nothing  is  heard  after  the  pay- 
ment until  the  receipt  of  the  produce, 
amounting  sometimes  to  thousands  of 
doUal-s  in  value.  And  on  the  part  of 
the  Arabs  such  scrupulous  honesty  is 
observed,  that  one  Bedouin  made  the 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


141 


I 


whole  journey  from  Bagdad  to  Mosul, 
solely  to  pay  the  balance  of  an  old 
wool  account  not  amounting  to  so 
much  as  one  dollar. 


Business  versus  Disease. 
A  TRADESMAN    who    had    acquired 


from  business,  and  went  to  reside  in 
Worcester.  His  mind,  without  its 
usual  occupation,  and  having  nothing 
else  to  supply  its  j^lace,  preyed  upon 
itself,  so  that  existence  became  a  tor- 
ment to  him.  At  last  he  was  seized 
with  the  stone ;  and  a  friend,  who 
found  him  in  one  of  its  severest  at- 
tacks, having  expressed  his  condo- 
lence— "  No,  no,  sir,"  said  he,  "  do  not 
pity  me ;  for  I  assure  you  what  I  now 
suffer  is  ease  compared  witli  the  tor- 
ment of  mind  from  which  it  relieves 
me." 

Betiring:  from  Business— Eng-aging-  to 
Blow  the  Bellows. 

The  misery  of  having  "  nothing  to 
do "  is  oftentimes  greater  than  that 
which  comes  from  having  "  nothing  to 
wear  " — poetry  to  the  contrary  notwith- 
standing. A  London  tradesman,  who 
had  risen  to  wealth  from  the  humble 
ranks  of  life,  resolved  to  retire  to  the 
country  to  enjoy,  undisturbed,  the  re- 
maining years  of  his  life.  For  this  pur- 
pose, he  purchased  an  estate  and  man- 
sion in  a  sequestered  corner  in  the 
country,  and  took  possession  of  it. 
While  the  alterations  and  improve- 
ments which  he  directed  to  be  made 
were  going  on,  the  noise  of  hammers, 
saws,  chisels,  etc.,  around  him,  kept 
him  in  good  spirits.  But  when  his  im- 
provements were  finished,  and  his  work- 
men discharged,  the  stillness  everywhere 
disconcerted  him,  and  he  felt  quite  mis- 
erable. He  was  obliged  to  have  re- 
course to  a  smith  upon  his  estate,  for 
relief  to  his  mind,  and  he  actually  en- 
gaged to  blow  the  bellows  for  a  certain 
number  of  hours  in  the  day.    In  a  short 


time,  however,  even  this  ceased  to  afford 
him  the  relief  he  desired  ;  he  returned 
to  London,  and  acted  as  a  gratuitous 
assistant  to  his  own  clerk,  to  whom  he 
had  given  up  his  business. 


Too  Close  Application  to  Business. 

Mr.  Eippon,  late  chief  cashier  of  the 
Bank  of  England,  furnishes  an  extraor- 
dinary instance  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  mind  becomes  warped  by  continual 
and  close  application  to  business.  He 
always  declared  he  felt  himself  nowhere 
so  happy  as  in  his  business,  and,  though 
for  upward  of  fifty  years  in  the  bank, 
he  never  solicited  but  one  holiday,  and 
that  was  on  the  recommendation  of  his 
medical  adviser,  on  account  of  ill  health. 
The  permission  for  leave  was  instantly 
granted,  and  he  left  London  with  the 
intention  of  being  absent  a  fortnight ; 
but  the  ennui  of  an  idle  life  and  the 
want  of  his  usual  occupation  so  preyed 
upon  his  sj)irits,  that  he  actually  re- 
turned to  his  post  at  the  expiration  of 
three  days,  stating  as  a  reason,  that 
green  fields  and  country  scenery  had 
no  charms  for  him.  Mr.  R.  was  always 
remarkable  for  his  sound  judgment, 
preciseness,  and  extreme  punctuality ; 
and  his  long  services  and  habits  of 
economy  enabled  him  to  leave  behind 
him  a  very  large  fortune. 


Lending  a  Helping  Hand :  Abbott 
Lawrence. 

The  genial  nature  and  courteous 
manners  of  Abbott  Lawrence  were  car- 
ried with  him  in  the  marts  of  trade. 
His  unselfishness  exhibited  itself  in  his 
readiness  to  share  with  his  contempo- 
raries in  trade  the  benefits  of  honorable 
enterprise.  An  anecdote  in  point  will 
illustrate  this,  though  only  one  of 
scores  of  the  same  kind  that  might  be 
told  of  that  noble  and  elegant  mer- 
chant. A  trader  called  at  his  counting 
room  one  day,  and  remarked  to  him 
that  flannels  were  selling  low,  very 
low.     "  Buy,  then,"  said  Mr.  Lawrence. 


142 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"  I  am  afraid  to ;  besides,  I  have  not 
the  money,"  said  the  other.  "  Go  huy 
them  !  I  will  back  you  and  share  with 
you  in  the  speculation  " — was  the  ready 
and  accommodating  reply. 


Agrreement  for  a  Loan. 

A  MAN  in  the  town  of  D.,  years  ago, 
went  to  a  merchant  in  Portsmouth, 
N.  H.,  who  was  also  president  of  a 
bank,  and  stated  that  he  lived  on  a 
farm,  the  home  of  his  father,  which  had 
descended  to  him  by  right  of  inherit- 
ance ;  that  this,  his  only  property,  was 
mortgaged  for  one  thousand  dollars  to 
a  merciless  creditor,  and  that  the  time 
of  redemption  would  be  out  in  a  week. 
He  closed  by  asking  for  a  loan  to  the 
amount  of  his  debt,  for  which  he  offered 
to  re-mortgage  his  farm. 

Merchant :  I  have  no  money  to  spare ; 
and  if  I  could  relieve  you  now,  a  similar 
difficulty  w^ould  probably  arise  in  a  year 
or  two. 

Applicant :  iNo ;  I  would  make  every 
exertion — ^I  think  I  could  clear  it. 

Merchant :  Well,  if  you  will  obey  my 
directions,  I  can  put  you  in  a  way  to 
get  the  money  ;  but  it  will  require  the 
greatest  prudence  and  resolution.  If 
you  can  get  a  good  endorser  on  a  note, 
you  shall  have  money  from  the  bank, 
and  you  can  mortgage  your  farm  to  the 
endorser,  for  his  security.  You  must 
pay  in  one  hundred  dollars  every  sixty 
days.     Can  you  do  it  ? 

Applicant :    I  can  get  Mr. for 

endorser,  and  I  can  raise  the  one  hun- 
dred dollars  for  eveiy  payment  but  the 
first. 

Merchant :  Then  borrow  one  hundred 
dollars  more  than  you  -vt^ant,  and  let  it 
lie  in  the  bank ;  you  will  lose  only  one 
dollar  interest.  But  mind,  in  order  to 
get  along,  you  must  spend  nothing,  buy 
nothing;  make  a  box  to  hold  all  the 
money  you  get,  as  a  sacred  deposit. 

The  applicant  departed.  The  note 
was  discounted,  and  the  payment  punc- 
tually made.     In  something  more  than 


two  years,  he  came  again  into  the  store 
of  the  merchant,  and  exclaimed,  "  I  am 
a  free  man — I  don't  owe  any  man  ten 
dollars— but  look  at  me  ! "  He  was  in- 
deed embrowned  with  labor;  and  his 
clothes,  from  head  to  foot,  were  a  tissue 
of  darns  and  patches.  "  My  wife  looks 
worse  than  I  do."  "  So  you  have  clear- 
ed your  farm,"  said  the  merchant. 
"  Yes,''  answered  the  other,  "  and  now 
I  Icnow  Jiow  to  get  another  one^ 


Late  at  a  Dinner  Party— Gsorere 
Hudson. 

On  a  certain  occasion,  George  Hud- 
son was  engaged  to  preside  at  a  dinner 
of  fellow  railway  magnates  ;  the  guests 
were  assembled,  but  Mr.  Hudson  was 
wanting — and,  as  he  was  always  the 
most  important  pers'on  wherever  he 
went,  great  was  the  concern  felt  lest  he 
should  not  come  at  all.  The  explana- 
tion was  simple,  and  much  to  the  credit 
of  his  business  qualities.  It  appears 
that  as  the  railway  chief  drove  to  his 
appointment,  his  route  lay  by  a  new 
line,  at  the  various  posts  of  which  the 
employes  were  ordered  to  be  present. 
Unhappily,  one  of  these  was  away ; 
and,  incensed  at  this  neglect,  Mr.  Hud- 
son ordered  his  instant  dismissal.  As 
he  proceeded,  it  occurred  to  him  that 
the  punishment  was  harsh,  that  the 
man  was  a  poor  man,  that  he  had  a 
large  family,  and  he  determined  to 
annul  the  sentence  at  some  future 
period.  He  proceeded  along  yet  fur- 
ther ;  and  when  he  thought  of  the  dis- 
tress which  the  man  would  bear  to  Jiis 
house,  he  drove  back  many  miles  to  re- 
voke his  order— and  he  did  revoke  it, 
though  he  kept  his  courtiers  waiting 
at  the  magnificent  feast  given  in  honor 
of  himself. 


Girard  Trying  to  Raise  Five  Dollars. 

At  the  age  of  •  about  thirty  years, 
Girard's  occupation  is  supposed  to  have 
alternated  between  that  of  captain  and 
merchant,  occasionally  making  a  voy- 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


143 


age  to  New  Orleans  or  St.  Domingo, 
and  then  remaining  at  home  to  dispose 
of  his  cargo  and  adjust  his  accounts  for 
a  second  voyage.  It  was  while  prose- 
cuting one  of  these  adventures,  that  he 
was  met  at  the  capes  of  Delaware,  by 
Capt.  James  King,  of  Philadelphia,  and 
who  has  given  the  following  carious 
and  remarkable  account  of  Girard's 
condition  at  that  time : 

On  the  first  day  of  May,  1776  (says 
Capt.  King),  I  was  chased  by  a  British 
man-of-war.  I  ran  my  vessel  ashore, 
all  sails  standing,  about  eight  miles 
southwest  of  Cape  Henlopen.  Whilst 
waiting  at  Lewistown  for  an  opportu- 
nity to  come  up,  the  men-of-war  were 
coming  in  and  out  every  day,  so  as  to 
prevent  us  from  sailing.  One  morning 
I  saw  a  sloop  at  anchor,  within  the 
cape,  with  a  white  flag  flying.  I  ap- 
plied to  Major  Fisher,  who  was  then 
commandant,  to  send  a  pilot  aboard  of 
her.  "No,  no.  King,"  said  he,  "that 
is  only  a  British  decoy  to  get  a  pilot ; 
I  shall  not  trust  them."  I  then  went 
over  the  cape,  opposite  to  where  the 
sloop  lay  at  anchor.  I  hailed  her, 
waved  my  hat,  and  did  everything 
that  I  could,  in  order  to  attract  their 
attention  ;  they  answered  me  in  the 
same  manner,  but  the  surf  made  such 
a  noise  as  to  prevent  us  from  under- 
standing each  other,  from  which  I  con- 
cluded to  turn  back,  but,  as  I  was  re- 
turning, discovered  a  boat  rowing  to- 
ward me  with  a  flag  on  a  staff.  I  wait- 
ed till  they  came  up,  when  they  told 
me  that  they  had  orders  from  Major 
Fisher,  that  if  I  would  risk  myself  with 
them,  to  go  alongside  of  the  sloop,  they 
would  convey  me ;  and  if  not,  to  re- 
turn. I  immediately  stepped  into  their 
boat,  and  we  proceeded  to  the  sloop. 
On  inquiring  where  she  was  from,  they 
informed  me  (in  French)  that  they  were 
from  New  Orleans  and  bound  to  St. 
Pierres,  but  that  they  had  lost  them- 
selves. I  explained  to  the  captain, 
whose  name  was  Girard,  the  dangerous 
situation  they  were  in,  and  that  if  he 


attempted  to  go  out  he  certainly  would 
be  captured,  as  the  men-of-war  were  in 
and  out  every  day. 

"  My  God,  what  shall  I  do  ? "  said 
Girard. 

"  You  have  no  chance  but  to  push 
right  ujD  to  Philadelphia,"  I  replied. 

"  How  shall  I  do  to  get  there  ?  I 
have  no  pilot  and  don't  know  the 
v/ay." 

"  These  men  are  all  pilots,"  I  an- 
swered. 

"  Oh,  my  good  friend,"  said  he, 
"  can't  you  get  one  of  them  to  take 
charge  of  me  ? " 

I  said  that  I  would  try,  and  accord- 
ingly spoke  to  them.  They  were  will- 
ing, but  insisted  tliey  must  have  Jive 
dollars  to  give  to  the  men  for  rowing 
them  off. 

"  Oh,  my  good  friend,"  exclaimed 
Girard,  "  what  shall  I  do  ?  I  have  not 
got  Jive  dollars  aboard^ 

"  Darn  the  Frenc^^man,"  was  the  re- 
ply, "  we  don't  believe  him,  he  hasn't 
come  to  sea  without  being  able  to  mus- 
ter five  dollars." 

I  informed  him  what  the  men  had 
said,  and  he  replied — 

"  It  is  really  the  case — it  is  out  of  my 
'power  to  muster  it — and  what  shall  1 
do  ?  " 

"Well,"  said  I,  "I  cannot  stay  with 
you  any  longer,  for  I  am  going  up  to 
Philadelphia  myself,  and  I  see  one  of 
my  shallops  coming  out  of  the  Lewis- 
town  creek  at  this  moment." 

"  Oh,  you  are  going  up  to  Philadel- 
phia yourself,  are  you  ? "  observed  Gi- 
rard.; "  can  you  not  stand  security  to 
these  men  for  the  five  dollars,  and  I 
will  pay  you  as  soon  as  I  get  up  to  the 
city  ? " 

I  told  him  that  I  would,  and  one  of 
the  pilots  then  took  charge  of  his  sloop, 
and  commenced  heaving  the  anchor  im- 
mediately. I  jumped  into  the  boat  and 
parted  with  them.  The  boat  put  me  on 
board  of  the  shallop  that  was  coming 
out  of  Lewistown  with  my  goods,  and 
both  sloop  and  shallop  proceeded  up. 


144 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Before  we  had  got  out  of  sight  of  the 
spot  where  the  s1oo]d  had  cast  anchor, 
we  saw  a  British  man-of-war  coming 
in,  and  had  we  not  started  at  the  time, 
in  less  than  an  hour  Stephen  Girard 
would  have  been  a  prisoner  to  the  Brit- 
ish. We  both  arrived  safe  in  Philadel- 
phia. 

The  foregoing  account  certainly  shows 
Girard's  knowledge  of  navigation  to 
have  been  very  limited,  and  his  circum- 
stances far  from  being  prosperous.  For, 
although  even  a  rich  merchant  might 
have  been  without  five  dollars  in  cash, 
under  certain  circumstances,  yet  the 
general  description  of  the  little  sloop 
and  her  commander  bespeak  a  consider- 
able depreciation  from  his  former  con- 
dition. But  the  story  of  his  actually 
having  lost  himself  may  very  reason- 
ably be  supposed  to  have  been  some 
trick,  or  manoeuvre,  in  Girard,  to  obtain 
a  pilot,  knowing,  as  he  must  have  done, 
the  extreme  peril  of  his  situation,  owing 
to  the  constant  visits  of  the  British 
sloops  of  war ;  and  this  supposition  is 
strengthened,  when  taking  into  account 
the  close  observation  and  uncommon 
sagacity  of  this  singular  man — who  thus 
readily  invented  a  si^ecious  fiction,  in 
order  to  accomplish  his  purpose. 


Confidence  in  Mercantile  Success. 

BuDGETT,  the  successful  English  mer- 
chant, not  long  before  his  death,  heard 
some  one  saying  he  wished  for  more 
money  :  "  Do  you  ? "  said  he,  "  then  I 
do  not ;  I  have  got  quite  enough.  But 
if  I  did  wish  for  more,  I  should  get  it." 
He  would  often  say  that,  place  him  in 
what  position  you  might,  he  would 
work  his  way  on — ay,  leave  him  with- 
out a  shilling,  still  he  could  rise.  His 
faith  in  the  power  of  ^perseverance  was 
unbounded.  In  speaking  to  some  of 
the  poorest  young  men  in  his  neighbor- 
hood, and  urging  them  to  self-improve- 
ment, he  declared  that  there  was  no 
reason  why  they  miglit  not — though  the 
reason  was  manifest  why  they  would 


not — every  one  of  them  be  worth  ten 
thousand  pounds.  He  placed  his  confi- 
dence simply  in  "  enduring  powers  and 
extraordinary  application." 


Aster's  Early  Prediction. 

While  yet  almost  a  stranger  in  New 
York,  and  in  very  narrow  circumstan- 
ces, Mr.  Astor  was  one  day  passing  by 
a  row  of  houses  which  had  just  been 
erected  in  Broadway,  and  which,  from 
the  superior  style  of  their  architecture 
were  the  talk  and  the  boast  of  the  city. 
"  I'll  build,  one  day  or  other,  a  greater 
house  than  any  of  these,  in  this  very 
street,"  said  he  to  himself; — a  predic- 
tion which  all  will  acknowledge  has 
been  most  amply  fulfilled  in  the  stately 
and  magnificent-  "  Astor  House  " — one 
of  the  most  impressive  structures  on 
this  continent,  and  exceeded  by  only  a 
few  in  Europe,  of  its  class. 


Erastus  B.  Bigelow's  Boyhood  Bargrain. 

The  name  of  Erastus  B.  Bigelow  is 
a  notable  one  among  the  many  sons  of 
New  England  who  have  risen  from  the 
smallest  beginnings  to  the  highest  pin- 
nacle of  business  success  and  renown.   • 

In  Erastus's  youth,  good  John  Tem- 
ple was  his  neighbor — a  substantial 
farmer.  The  latter  had  noticed  the 
lad's  capacity,  and  sometimes  jokingly 
asked  him  to  come  and  live  with  him, 
and  learn  his  occupation.  Erastus  re- 
garded this  proposition  as  a  business 
matter.  With  him,  an  offer  was  an 
offer.  Accordingly,  one  Monday  morn- 
ing, in  early  spring,  this  boy  of  ten 
years  presented  himself  at  Mr.  T.'s 
door,  and  demanded  employment.  It 
was  given  him,  with  no  expectation 
that  he  would  continue  through  the 
day.  He  worked  on,  however,  and  at 
the  end  of  the  week  suggested  to  Mr. 
T.  that  it  would  be  proper  to  come  to 
some  understanding  in  regard  lo  wages. 
On  being  asked  his  terms,  he  offered  to 
work  six  months,  on  condition  of  re- 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


145 


ceiving  at  the  close,  a  cosset  lamb 
called  "  Dolly,"  to  which  he  had  taken 
a  strong  liking.  The  moderate  demand 
was  of  course  acceded  to.  But  scarcely 
had  a  month  elapsed,  ere  a  difficulty 
arose.  Dolly  could  not  live  without 
eating,  and  how  was  he  to  provide  for 
her?  His  fellow  laborers  discovered 
the  cause  of  his  anxiety,  and  tcasingly 
aggravated  it.  At  length  he  proposed 
and  effected  an  alteration  in  the  con- 
tract. He  relinquished  his  claim  to 
Dolly,  and  Mr.  T.  agreed  to  furnish,  in- 
stead, a  i^air  of  cowhide  boots,  and 
sheep's  gray  cloth  sufficient  for  a  suit 
of  clothes.  The  agreement  was  fully 
carried  out  on  both  sides.  At  the  close 
of  the  period,  an  oifer  of  four  dollars  a 
month  for  the  ensuing  summer  was 
offered  and  accepted.  The  kind-heart- 
ed man,  at  parting,  gave  the  young  far- 
mer and  future  capitalist,  a  silver  dollar. 


General  Jackson's  Interview  with 
Samuel  Slater. 

When  making  his  Northern  tour. 
President  Jackson  visited  the  town  of 
Pawtucket.  After  he  and  his  suite  had 
been  duly  conducted  through  the  town, 
and  were  expressing  themselves  as  de- 
lighted with  its  appearance — its  numer- 
ous and  well  regulated  establishments 
of  business,  its  ample  and  commodious 
churches,  and  especially  its  intelligent 
and  well-ordered  citizens — they  repair- 
ed to  the  house  of  Mr.  Slater,  then  con- 
fined by  a  rheumatic  disorder,  to  pay 
their  respects  to  a  man  whose  business 
enterprise  had  thus  produced  such  great 
results. 

With  the  aflEability  and  complaisance 
so  peculiar  to  General  Jackson,  he  ad- 
dressed Mr.  Slater  as  the  father  of 
American  manufactures,  as  the  man 
who  had  erected  the  first  valuable  ma- 
chinery, and  who  spun  yarn  to  make 
the  first  cotton  cloth  in  America ;  and 
who  had,  by  his  superintendence  and 
direction,  as  well  as  by  intense  labor, 
erected  the  first  cotton  mill  in  Rhode 
10 


Island,  which  was  the  first  in  the  land 
of  the  Pilgrims. 

General  Jackson,  who  had  been  in- 
formed of  the  particulars  referred  to, 
entered  into  familiar  conversation  on 
the  subject.  "  I  understand,"  said  the 
President,  "  you  taught  us  how  to  spin, 
so  as  to  rival  Great  Britain  in  her  man- 
ufactures ;  you  set  all  these  thousands 
of  spindles  at  work,  which  I  have  been 
delighted  in  viewing,  and  which  have 
made  so  many  happy  by  a  lucrative  em- 
ployment." "Yes,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Sla- 
ter, "I  suppose  that  I  gave  out  the 
Psalm,  and  they  have  been  singing  to 
the  tune  ever  since."  "  We  are  glad  to 
hear  also  that  you  have  realized  some- 
thing for  yourself  and  family,"  said  the 
Vice-President.  "  So  am  I  glad  to 
know  it,"  said  Mr.  Slater,  "  for  I  should 
not  like  to  be  a  pauper  in  this  country, 
where  they  are  put  up  at  auction  to  the 
lowest  bidder." 


A.  T.  Stewart's  Success. 

"  Ireland,"  says  that  genial  writer, 
Walter  Barrett,  "has  been  the  birth- 
place of  many  remarkable  men,  but 
never  has  she  sent  from  her  shore  a 
more  sagacious  one  than  A.  T.  Stewart. 
Our  land  has  fostered  the  Frenchman 
Girard,  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  Ger- 
man Astor,  and  they  died  worth  mil- 
lions ;  but  they  never,  even  at  a  great 
age,  reached  the  wealth  of  the  mer- 
chant Stewart.  He  is  yet  in  the  gristle 
of  his  success,  and  not  hardened  into 
the  bone  of  mammoth,  overgrown 
wealth.  Stewart  is  this  day  worth 
fourteen  to  twenty  millions  of  dollars. 
He  owns  more  real  estate  than  Astor, 
and  if  he  lives  ten  years  longer,  Mr. 
Stewart  will  probably  be  worth  from 
twenty  to  thirty  millions  of  dollars. 
In  1848,  he  moved  to  his  present  mar- 
ble palace.  He  had  bought  Washing- 
ton Hall  of  young  John  Coster  for  sixty 
thousand  dollars,  and  for  a  few  thou- 
sand dollars  more  two  additional  build- 
ings and  lots  on  Broadway,  corner  of 


146 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Chambers  street.  Upon  this  magnifi- 
cent site  he  erected  the  present  store. 
The  whole  cost  of  the  ground  and  the 
palace  erected  did  not  reach  three  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars.  To-day  it 
would  sell  at  auction  for  from  eight 
hundred  thousand  to  one  million  dol- 
lars. He  paid  patroon  Van  Rensselaer 
five  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  dol- 
lars for  the  Metropolitan  Hotel  and 
outbuildings.  It  is  now  worth  and 
pays  an  interest  of  ten  per  cent,  on  one 
million  dollars,  and  would  bring  at 
auction  eight  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars. He  owns  more  real  estate  than 
any  other  man  in  New  York." 


What  John  IUcDonogrh  said  to  a 
Lawyer. 

The  following  reminiscence  of  a  fa- 
miliar personal  interview  between  the 
great  millionnaire  of  New  Orleans  and 
a  lawyer  of  that  city — as  narrated  by 
the  latter,  is  one  of  the  rarest  things  of 
the  kind  to  be  found  in  mercantile  an- 
nals : 

I  said  to  3Ir.  McDonogh,  "  You  are 
a  very  rich  man,  and  I  know  that  you 
intend  to  leave  all  your  property  to  be 
expended  in  charitable  purposes.  I 
have  been  thinking  over  your  singular 
life,  and  I  want  you  to  give  me  some 
advice  in  regard  to  the  success  which 
has  attended  you,  for  I,  too,  would  like 
to  become  very  rich,  having  a  family,  so 
as  to  leave  my  heirs  wealthy."  "  Well," 
said  he,  "get  up,  sir;"  and  as  I  rose 
from  my  arm-chair,  he  took  my  seat, 
and,  turning  to  me,  as  if  he  was  the 
proprietor  and  I  his  clerk,  said,-r-point- 
ing  to  a  common  chair  in  which  he  had 
been  sitting, — "  sit  down,  sir,  and  I 
vdll  tell  you  how  I  became  a  rich  man, 
and  how,  ly  following  three  rules,  you 
can  become  as  rich  as  myself: 

"  I  first  came  to  Louisiana,"  con- 
tinued Mr,  McDonogh,  "  when  it  was  a 
Spanish  colony,  as  the  agent  for  a 
house  in  Baltimore  and  a  house  in  Bos- 
ton, to  dispose  of  certain  cargoes  of 
goods.     After  I  had  settled  up  their 


accounts  and  finished  their  agency,  I  set 
up  to  do  business  for  myself.  I  had  be- 
come acquainted  with  the  Spanish  gov- 
ernor, who  had  taken  a  fancy  to  me, 
although  I  had  never  so  much  as  flat- 
tered him,  and  through  his  influence  I 
obtained  a  contract  for  the  army,  by 
which  I  made  ten  thousand  dollars. 
After  this,  I  gave  a  splendid  dinner  to 
the  principal  officers  of  the  army  and 
the  governor,  and  by  it  obtained  an- 
other contract,  by  which  I  made  thirty 
thousand  dollars. 

"  This  is  what  the  French  and  the 
Creoles  do  not  understand.  I  mean 
the  spending  of  money  judiciously. 
They  are  afraid  of  spending  money. 
A  man  who  wishes  to  make  a  fortune 
must  first  make  a  show  of  liberality, 
and  spend  money  in  order  to  obtain  it. 
By  that  dinner  which  I  gave  to  the 
Spanish  authorities,  I  obtained  their 
good  will  and  esteem,  and  by  this  I 
was  enabled  to  make  a  large  sum  of 
money.  To  succeed  in  life,  then,  you 
must  obtain  the  favor  and  influence  of 
the  opulent,  and  the  authorities  of  the 
country  in  which  you  live.  This  is  the 
Jirst  rule. 

"  The  natural  span  of  a  man's  life," 
observed  Mr.  McDonogh,  "  is  too  short, 
if  he  is  abandoned  to  his  own  resources, 
to  acquire  great  wealth,  and,  therefore, 
m  order  to  realize  a  fortune,  you  must 
exercise  your  influence  and  power  over 
those  who,  in  point  of  wealth,  are  in- 
ferior to  you,  and,  by  availing  yourself 
of  their  talents,  knowledge  and  infor- 
mation, turn  them  to  your  own  advan- 
tage.   This  is  the  second  rule." 

Here  Mr.  McDonogh  made  a  long 
pause,  as  if  lost  in  thought ;  and  seeing 
him  remain  silent,  I  asked,  "  Is  that  all  ? " 
"  No,"  said  he,  "  there  is  a  tJdrd  and  last 
rule,  which  it  is  all  essential  for  you  to 
observe,  in  order  that  success  may  attend 
your  efibrts."  "  And  what  is  that  ? "  I 
inquired.  "  Why,  sir,"  said  he,  "  it  is 
prayer.  You  must  pray  to  the  Almigh- 
ty with  fervor  and  zeal,  and  you  will 
be  sustained  in  all  your  doings,  for  I 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


147 


never  prayed  sincerely  to  God,  in  all 
my  life,  without  having  my  prayers 
answered  satisfactorily."  He  stopped  ; 
and  I  said,  "  Is  this  all  ? "  He  an- 
swered, "  Yes,  sir ;  follow  my  advice, 
and  you  will  become  a  rich  man." 
And  he  arose  and  left. 

Day  and  Martin,  the  Millionnaires  of 
"  High  Holbom." 

The  lucky  incident  which  made  mil- 
lionnaires of  Day  and  Martin,  of  "  High 
Holbom,"  by  the  sale  of  their  famous 
blacking,  is  as  follows :  Day  was  a  hair- 
dresser in  a  humble  way,  and  was  be- 
nificent  and  charitable  in  the  extreme. 
One  day,  a  soldier  entered  his  shop,  and 
stated  that  he  had  a  long  march  before 
him  to  reach  his  regiment;  that  his 
money  was  gone,  and  nothing  but  sick- 
ness, fatigue,  and  punishment  awaited 
him,  unless  he  could  get  a  lift  on  a 
coach.  The  worthy  barber  presented 
him  with  a  guinea,  at  which  exhibition 
of  kindness  the  grateful  soldier  ex- 
claimed, "  God  bless  you,  sir, — ^how 
can  I  ever  repay  you  this?  I  have 
nothing  in  the  world  except " — pulling 
a  dirty  piece  of  paper  from  his  pocket 
— "  a  receipt  for  blacking ;  it  is  the 
best  ever  was  seen ;  many  a  half  guinea 
have  I  had  for  it  from  the  officers,  and 
many  bottles  have  I  sold — may  you  be 
able  to  get  something  for  it,  to  repay 
this  you  have  given  to  a  poor  soldier ; 
your  kindness  I  never  can  repay  or  for- 
get." 

Mr.  Day,  who  was  a  shrewd  man, 
inquired  into  the  truth  of  the  story, 
tried  the  blacking,  and  finding  it  good, 
commenced  the  manufacture  and  sale 
of  it — with  what  results,  the  magnifi- 
cent fortunes  of  the  partners  amply  at- 
test. 


Jacob  Barker's  Success  when  a  Youth. 

During  Mr.  Barker's  minority  the 
whaling  business  of  Nantucket  became 
very  much  depressed,  insomuch  that 
many  merchants  wished  to  sell  their 


vessels.  This  being  made  known  by 
him  to  Robert  Mott,  a  gentleman  of 
great  merit,  he  proposed  to  his  friends, 
Messrs.  Robinson  and  Hartshorn,  to 
join  him  in  the  purchase  of  a  ship  at 
Nantucket,  and  to  employ  young  Bark- 
er for  the  purpose.  They  offered  to  be 
concerned  in  such  a  speculation,  but  re- 
fused to  intrust  a  loy  with  the  mission, 
saying  that  their  Mr.  Robinson  would 
go.  Mr.  Mott  declined  unless  young 
Barker  was  employed.  They  finally 
compromised  by  agreeing  that  both 
should  go.  Application  was  made  to 
Hicks  (young  Barker's  employer)  for 
permission,  to  which  he  consented  on 
condition  that  he  be  paid  a  full  com- 
mission of  two  and  one  half  per  cent., 
if  a  purchase  was  made. 

They  both  went,  Barker  not  appear- 
ing to  have  anything  to  do  with  the 
purchase.  Robinson  offered  nine  thou- 
sand dollars  for  the  ship  Portland  ;  ten 
thousand  was  demanded.  After  sev- 
eral days'  unsuccessful  negotiation,  he 
determined  to  offer  five  hundred  dollars 
more  ;  had  a  meeting  with  the  owners, 
of  whom  an  inquiry  was  made  if  they 
were  disposed  to  divide  the  difierence. 
They  replied  that  "not  a  dollar  less 
than  ten  thousand  would  be  accepted." 
They  separated,  Robinson  deliberating 
how  far  it  would  be  best  to  yield  to  the 
demand  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  when 
young  Barker  prevailed  on  him  to  re- 
pair to  New  Bedford  for  a  ^ew  days, 
leaving  him  to  make  the  purchase.  He 
did  so,  and  Barker  succeeded— pur- 
chased the  ship  for  nine  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  this,  too,  in  season  to  notify 
Robinson  by  the  first  mail,  when  he 
returned  to  Nantucket  to  attend  to 
her  dispatch.  On  arrival  at  New  York, 
she  was  sold  to  George  M.  Woolsey,  for 
thirteen  thousand  five  hundred  dollars, 
and  young  Barker  employed  to  return 
immediately  to  Nantucket  to  purchase 
a  ship  for  James  Lyon,  of  New  York, 
and  John  James,  of  Philadelphia,  and 
another  for  Jacob  Valentine,  Samuel 
Hicks,  and  Samuel  Robinson.    He  did 


148 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BTJSINT:SS  ANECDOTES. 


so  ;  the  ship  Rose  for  the  former  gentle- 
men, and  the  ship  Beaver  for  the  latter, 
for  which  service  Mr.  Hicks  also  re- 
ceived a  full  commission  of  two  and 
one  half  per  cent,  on  the  amount  of 
purchase. 

In  relation  to  the  Rose:  when  that 
Tessel  was  ready  for  sea  the  vendors  re- 
fused to  let  her  go  without  an  indorser 
on  the  bills  of  exchange  to  be  given  in 
payment,  amounting  to  ten  thousand 
dollars,  although  it  had  not  been  be- 
fore mentioned ;  this  was  very  incon- 
venient. Barker,  not  having  the  means 
on  the  island  to  give  a  satisfactory  in- 
dorser, had  to  proceed  to  New  Bedford 
therefor.  As  there  were  not  any  steam- 
boats running,  and  the  mail-packet  had 
been  detained  some  days  by  a  north- 
west wind,  a  change  seemed  probable, 
and  in  the  afternoon  it  came  round  to 
west  south-west — too  scant,  however, 
for  the  captain  of  the  mail-packet  to  be 
induced  to  leave.  Barker,  impatient 
at  the  delay,  took  passage  on  a  lumber- 
loaded  vessel  that  had  put  in  for  a  har- 
bor, bound  to  the  neighborhood  of 
New  Bedford,  which  he  discovered 
making  sail  to  leave,  late  in  the  after- 
noon. She  proceeded  twenty-five  miles, 
when  the  wind  turned  back  to  north- 
west, which  obliged  the  vessel  to  come 
to  anchor  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  even- 
ing. At  daylight  the  next  morning  a 
signal  was  set  for  a  pilot ;  a  boat  soon 
appeared  from  the  Vineyard,  and  was 
chartered  to  proceed  to  New  Bedford. 

On  reaching  Wood's  Hole,  the  cur- 
rent was  found  running  east  too  swift 
for  the  boat  to  encounter  that  passage 
with  an  unfavorable  wind;  she  there- 
fore beat  up  the  Vineyard  sound  and 
passed  through  Quicksi's  Hole,  and  ar- 
rived at  New  Bedford  as  the  bells,  ac- 
cording to  the  custom  of  the  place, 
were  ringing  for  twelve  o'clock.  The 
indorsement  of  "William  Rotch,  jr.,  was 
procured. 


"  Walter  Barrett's"  Cotton  Mission. 
The  following  well-told  story  be- 
longs, of  course,  to  a  period  when  elec- 
tric telegraphs  did  not,  like  a  cobweb, 
cover  our  land:  Goodhue  &  Co.  (the 
great  New  York  firm  then  and  now) 
had  many  rivals  to  their  line  of  packets, 
but  none  were  successful.  Robert  Ker- 
mit  once  started  a  line  of  "  Saint " 
ships.  He  owned  the  ship  St.  George, 
and  he  persuaded  Stephen  Whitney 
and  old  Nat  Prime  to  become  owners 
in  a  new  ship  called  the  St.  Andrew. 
The  line  never  succeeded,  although  the 
latter  once  made  a  very  short  passage 
in  the  year  1834,  and  brought  the  intel- 
ligence of  an  advance  in  the  price  of 
cotton  in  Liverpool.  She  came  in  late, 
one  Christmas  eve.  Old  Mr.  Prime 
lived  at  that  time  at  the  corner  of 
Broadway  and  Marketfield  street  (now 
Battery  Place).  Mr.  Whitney  lived 
only  a  few  steps'  distance  on  the  cor- 
ner of  State  street  and  Bowling  Green 
Row,  where  he  lived  until  he  died  very 
recently.  These  old  heads  and  two  or 
three  younger  ones  had  the  exclusive 
news,  and  they  intended  to  make  the 
most  of  it.  It  was  certain  not  to  be 
made  public  until  the  day  after  Christ- 
mas. Letters  of  credit  were  prepared 
in  the  front  parlor  of  No.  1  Broadway 
for  one  million  of  dollars.  Walter  Bar- 
rett was  selected  to  leave  next  morning 
for  New  Orleans,  by  way  of  Wheeling, 
hoping  that  he  would  outstrip  the 
great  Southern  mail,  leaving  two  days 
ahead,  carrying  these  credits  in  favor 
of  Thomas  Barrett  and  John  Hagan,  of 
New  Orleans,  both  eminent  merchants 
in  those  days.  The  letters  ordered  cot- 
ton to  be  bought  so  long  as  there  was 
a  bale  in  Jirst  hands  in  New  Orleans. 
Mr.  Barrett,  the  bearer  of  credits  and 
orders,  was  told  to  spare  no  expense  in 
order  to  beat  the  mail.  It  was  now 
eleven  o'clock,  Christmas  eve.  No  one 
had  thought  about  money  for  the  ex- 
pense of  the  messenger  to  New  Orleans. 
Banks  were  all  shut — brokers  too.    Mr. 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


149 


Prime  seized  a  blank  check,  and  went 
up  witli  it  to  the  City  Hotel. , 

"  Willard,  for  what  amount  can  you 
cash  my  check  to-night  ? " 

"  How  much  do  you  wish,  Mr. 
Prime  ? " 

"  One  thousand  dollars." 

Mr.  Willard  had  the  money,  and 
gave  it  to  Mr.  Prime.  It  was  in  the 
pocket  of  Mr.  Walter  Barrett,  the  next 
morning,  when  he  embarked  at  six 
o'clock  in  the  boat  for  Amboy,  com- 
manded then  by  the  since  famous  Capt. 
Alexander  Schultz. 

The  messenger,  by  bribing  stage  dri- 
vers, paying  Mississippi  boat  captains 
$50  or  $75 — not  to  stop  and  receive 
freight,  reached  New  Orleans  in  eleven 
days.  It  was  daylight  when  he  got 
into  the  old  City  Hotel,  in  New  Or- 
leans, kept  then  by  Mr,  Bishop.  Two 
hours  after,  John  Hagan  and  Thomas 
Barrett  had  the  letters  of  credit  and 
orders  to  purchase  cotton.  The  South- 
ern mail  did  not  arrive  for  three  days. 
Before  night,  over  fifty  thousand  bales 
of  cotton  had  been  purchased  at  eleven 
to  twelve  cents,  or  about  sixty  dollars 
per  bale.  That  cotton  was  sold  at  sev- 
enteen and  eighteen  cents  when  cotton 
went  up  a  few  days  after.  Some  was 
sent  to  Liveipool.  The  profit  was  on 
some  lots  over  thirty  dollars  a  bale,  and 
was  divided  up  among  the  New  Orleans 
houses  of  Barrett  &  Co.,  John  Hagan 
&  Co.,  and  the  New  York  operators. 
The  messenger  had  the  profits  of  two 
hundred  bales  awarded  him,  and  his 
expenses  paid.  This  operation  was  a 
lucky  one  for  some  of  the  owners  of 
the  St.  Andrew,  but  it  did  not  aid  Cap- 
tain Robert  Kermit  particularly,  and 
the  "  Saint"  line  went  down. 

We  venture  to  say  that  that  same 
Walter  Barrett  can  "do"  a  good  job 
now! 


Privateering:  Exploit  of  a  Salem  Mer- 
chant. 

Joseph  Peabody,  the  merchant-sov- 
ereign   of   Salem,  left  that   place  in 


1781-'3,  in  the  letter-of-marque  Ranger, 
he  being  second  officer.  Proceeding  to 
Richmond,  they  disposed  of  their  cargo 
of  salt,  and  then  went  to  Alexandria, 
where  they  loaded  with  flour  for  Hava- 
na, and  arrived  safe.  The  Ranger  re- 
turned to  Alexandria,  and  after  receiv- 
ing on  board  another  cargo  of  flour,  on 
the  5th  of  July,  1783,  dropped  down 
the  Potomac  to  near  its  mouth,  where 
encountering  head  winds,  she  was 
obliged  to  anchor,  and,  after  making 
the  ordinary  aiTangements  for  the 
night,  the  officers  and  crew  retired  to ' 
their  berths. 

About  eleven  o'clock  the  watch  ran 
aft  for  a  speaking-trumpet,  and  an- 
nounced to  the  officers  the  unwelcome 
news  that  boats  were  making  for  the 
ship.  The  captain,  Simmons,  directed 
Mr.  Peabody  not  to  let  them  come 
alongside ;  but  they  both  rushed  up 
the  companion-way,  and  as  they  reach- 
ed the  deck,  received  a  discharge  of 
musketry,  by  which  Capt.  Simmons  fell, 
badly  wounded,  and  entirely  disabled 
from  further  action.  Mr.  Peabody, 
having  no  time  to  dress  himself,  ran 
forward  in  his  night-clothes,  calling  on 
the  crew  to  seize  the  boarding-pikes, 
and  grasping  one  himself,  accompanied 
by  a  man  named  Kent,  armed  in  the  like 
manner,  sprang  to  the  bows,  where  they 
had  a  fierce  encounter  with  several  of 
the  enemy  already  on  the  gunwale. 
The  crew  having  armed  themselves,  a 
desperate  conflict  ensued,  in  the  midst 
of  which  another  boat  came  alongside 
and  began  a  heavy  fire  on  the  other 
quarter. 

The  first  officer  being  employed  at 
the  magazine  in  procuring  ammunition 
for  those  who  were  armed  with  mus- 
kets, the  command  of  the  deck  devolved 
on  Mr.  Peabody,  who,  wearing  a  shirt, 
was  a  conspicuous  mark,  even  in  a  dark 
night.  He  now  ordered  cold  shot  to 
be  thrown  into  the  boats,  and  it  was 
done  with  such  effect  that  one  of  them 
gave  way ;  both  had  been  grappled  to 
the  Ranger  before  receiving  any  damage. 


150 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSIXESS  ANECDOTES. 


Perceiving  the  advantage  thus  obtain- 
ed, he  applied  his  entire  force  to  the 
other  boat,  and  cheering  his  men  with 
the  cry  of  "  we  have  sunk  one,  my  boys, 
now  let  us  sink  the  other,"  the  re- 
sponding cheers  of  the  crew  so  alarmed 
the  assailants,  that  they  dropped  astern, 
and  both  were  soon  lost  in  the  darkness 
of  the  night. 

When  the  confusion  was  over,  one  of 
the  crew  only  was  found  to  be  dead, 
and  three  wounded.  Mr.  Peabody  was 
not  aware,  during  the  action,  that  he 
had  received  any  wounds,  but  after- 
ward found  his  arms  stiff,  and  a  ball 
lodged  in  his  left  wrist,  that  the  bone 
of  his  right  elbow  was  laid  bare,  and  a 
ball  had  grazed  his  left  shoulder.  The 
Ranger  was  armed  with  seven  guns,  and 
had  a  crew  of  twenty,  while  the  barges 
of  the  enemy  contained  sixty  men.  The 
assailants,  a  band  of  tories  headed  by 
two  desperate  characters,  lost  fifteen 
killed,  and  had  thirty-eight  wounded. 


Patriotism  and  Prowess  of  French. 
Merchants. 

One  of  the  chief  merchants  of  Mar- 
seilles, M.  de  Corse,  carried  his  patri- 
otic zeal  to  such  an  extent,  that  in  1760 
he  published  a  manifesto,  declaring  war 
in  his  own  private  name  against  the 
king  of  England,  and  put  to  sea  no  less 
than  twenty  frigates,  to  cruise  against 
British  commerce ! 

This  merchant,  however,  had  a  rival 
in  M.  Gredis,  a  famous  Jewish  merchant 
at  Bordeaux.  He  fitted  out,  in  17G1, 
the  Prothee,  of  sixty-four  guns,  which 
captured  the  merchant  ship  Ajax,  an 
Indiaman,  worth  about  a  million  and  a 
half  dollars.  He  had  also  several  frig- 
ates of  thirty-six  guns  cruising  at  the 
same  time,  on  his  own  account. 

In  both  these  cases,  it  may  perhaps 
be  doubted  if,  with  a  strong  jDatriotic 
feeling,  there  was  not  some  motive  of 
commercial  gain ;  for  it  has  occurred 
in  England,  as  well  as  in  France,  and 
our  own  country,  that  vessels  thus  fitted 
out  by  merchants  have  done  much  in- 


jury to  the  enemy,  and  no  small  service 
to  their  owners. 


Thomas  H.  Perkins's  Deliberate 
Habits. 

Thomas  H.  Perkiiss's  self-possession 
and  tranquillity  seldom  forsook  him 
in  any  of  his  multifarious  business 
or  private  cares.  At  one  time,  when 
he  had  decided  to  leave  Boston  in 
order  to  take  a  long  journey  of  sev- 
eral thousand  miles  to  the  South  and 
West,  application  had  been  made  to 
him  to  give  his  guaranty  for  a  consid- 
erable sum,  to  enable  one  whose  wel- 
fare he  wished  to  promote  to  engage  in 
a  commercial  connection  that  seemed 
to  offer  great  advantages. 

As  the  magnitude  of  the  affair  re- 
quired caution,  it  was  expected,  of 
course,  that  when  he  had  considered 
the  subject,  explanations  on  various 
points  would  be  necessary  before  he 
could  decide  to  give  it ;  and  it  was  in- 
tended to  take  some  favorable  oppor- 
tunity, when  he  might  be  entirely  at 
leisure,  to  explain  everything  fully. 
Suddenly,  however,  he  found  it  best  to 
commence  the  journey  a  week  or  two 
sooner  than  had  been  mentioned,  and 
engagements  of  various  kinds,  previous- 
ly made,  so  occupied  him  in  the  short 
interval  left,  that  there  seemed  to  be  no 
time  for  offering  such  explanation  with- 
out danger  of  intruding,  and  the  hope 
of  obtaining  his  aid  at  that  time,  in  an 
affair  that  required  prompt  action,  was 
given  up.  The  applicant  called  at  his 
house  half  an  hour  before  he  was  to  go, 
merely  to  take  leave,  knowing  that  the 
haste  of  departure  in  such  cases  usually 
precludes  attention  to  any  matter  re- 
quiring deliberation.  On  entering  the 
room,  however,  he  found  there  was  no 
appearance  of  haste.  All  preparations 
for  the  journey  had  been  entirely  com- 
pleted in  such  good  season  that  the  last 
half-hour  seemed  to  be  one  entirely  of 
leisure  for  anything  that  might  occur. 

After  a  little  chat,  Col.  Perkins  intro- 
duced the  subject  himself,  and  made 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


151 


pertinent  inquiries;  which,  being  an- 
swered satisfactorily,  he  gave  the  guar- 
anty and  very  kindly  added  a  further 
facility  by  allowing,  until  his  return, 
the  use  of  a  considerable  sum  of  money 
which  he  was  leaving  in  the  bank. 
The  arrangements  were,  in  consequence, 
completed  the  next  day ;  they  proved 
in  the  result  to  be  eminently  successful, 
all  pledges  were  redeemed,  his  guaran- 
ty w^as  cancelled  in  due  course,  without 
the  slightest  cost  or  inconvenience  to 
him  ;  and  the  person  whom  he  wished 
to  oblige  received  very  large  profits, 
which  happily  influenced  the  remain- 
der of  his  life,  but  which,  perhaps,  he 
might  never  have  enjoyed,  if  that  last 
half-hour  before  the  journey  had  been 
hurried. 


Rothschild  and  Astor  Compared. 

The  elder  Rothschild  was  perhaps  a 
richer  man  than  Mr.  Astor,  but  in  other 
respects  his  inferior.  Rothschild  was  a 
good  arithmetician  and  a  good  banker. 
He  wrought  out,  skilfully  and  success- 
fully, the  materials  offered  to  his  hand 
by  the  social  condition  of  his  time; 
but  his  was  not  an  original,  an  inven- 
tive, a  creative  mind.  That  of  Mr.  As- 
tor, on  the  contrary,  was  strongly 
marked  by  such  characteristics.  All 
his  bold  and  grand  operations  were  in 
scenes  before  untried;  carrying  out 
combinations  before  unthought  of; 
opening  up  mines  of  hitherto  undis- 
covered wealth;  and  all  tending  not 
more  to  his  own  advantage  than  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  country,  in  its  mate- 
rial and  commercial  interests.  Surely, 
the  stock  operations  of  Rothschild 
never  partook  of  these  characteristics. 


Ijaboucliere  and  Vincent  Nolte. 

Vincent  Nolte  became  the  Amer- 
ican agent  of  the  renowned  Amsterdam 
house  of  Hope  &  Co.,  under  the  follow- 
ing curious  circumstances,  as  narrated  by 
himself:  One  day,  after  the  close  of  the 
Bourse,  Mr.  L.  placed  his  arm  confiden- 


tially in  mine  and  said,  "  Let  us  take  a 
walk ;  we  will  be  able  to  converse  un- 
disturbed, and  to  better  purpose,  than 
in  the  counting  room.  I  have  very 
often  been  pressed,  by  my  brother,  to 
give  him  permission  to  send  an  agent 
to  the  United  States,  but  would  never 
listen  to  his  request,  until  he  made  men- 
tion of  you  and  your  wishes.  I  think 
that  I  have  a  perfect  knowledge  of  you, 
and  understand  you,  from  your  corre- 
spondence, and  that  you  may  be  useful 
to  him,  to  yourself,  and  to  us  all." 

The  "  us  all  "  sounded  very  pleasant- 
ly in  my  ears,  for  under  the  word  us  I 
was  given  to  understand  a  mission  for 
the  important  house  of  Messrs.  Hope 
itself.  I  instantly  said,  "  How  is  that  ? 
Us  all  ? " 

"I  will  tell  you,"  he  continued: 
"  To  make  your  first  appearance  as 
agent  for  the  house  of  my  brother  is  a 
very  good  preliminary  introduction  to 
the  United  States,  and  you  can,  accord- 
ing to  the  directions  and  hints  I  will 
give  you,  carefully  look  about  you  a 
couple  of  months,  until  we  shall  have 
some  further  additional  need  of  your 
services.  Even  were  you  not  to  make 
one  single  bargain,  I  should  still  be 
well  enough  satisfied ;  but  I  have  some- 
thing better  in  store  for  you.  You  will 
be  intrusted  with  a  mission  that  will 
make  you  catch  your  breath  to  hear  of 
it.  You  will  feel  the  ground  heaving 
under  your  feet." 

And  here  he  began  to  sketch  for  me 
the  outline  of  a  really  colossal  under- 
taking he  was  then  planning  in  his  own 
mind.  He  then  pointed  out  the  posi- 
tion he  had  in  view,  and  the  heavy  re- 
sponsibility that  would  rest  upon  my 
shoulders.  He  was  right.  I  did  catch 
my  breath  at  the  magnificence  of  his 
project.  Ere  I  had  put  a  hand  to  it,  I 
at  once  declared  to  Mr.  L.  that  I  was 
too  young  and  inexperienced  to  assume 
such  a  responsibility,  and  that  I  should 
only  in  a  moderate  degree  equal  his 
expectations.     His  answer  was  : 

"  That  is  my  business,  and  not  yours. 


152 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


I  have  but  one  thing  to  recommend  to 
you :  never  commit  any  action  -which 
may  one  day  cause  you  to  blush  before 
me,  or  in  the  presence  of  your  own  con- 
science I " 

I  was  now  placed  upon  the  right 
ground.  He  had  correctly  judged  me, 
and  I  had  understood  him  perfectly. 
At  length  we  touched  upon  the  ques- 
tion, how  much  salary  I  was  to  receive 
for  all  this  :  He  replied  : 

"Nothing!  Your  expenses  will  be 
liberally  paid !  That  is  all.  If  you  can- 
not foresee  what  a  position  such  a  mis- 
sion may  secure  for  you  in  the  commer- 
cial world,  and  the  facilities  which  it 
cannot  fail  to  open  for  you  in  the  fu- 
ture, you  had  better  stay  at  home." 

My  reply  was,  that  his  extreme  con- 
fidence honored  me,  and  that  I  would 
unconditionally  agree  to  all  that  he  saw 
fit  to  point  out  to  me. 

"In  order  to  progress,"  he  added, 
"  you  must  renounce  all  impatience  to 
succeed." 

The  business,  of  which  Mr.  Labou- 
chere  thus  communicated  only  a  rough 
outline,  and  which  Mr.  Nolte  got  to 
understand  and  form  an  opinion  of,  in 
its  whole  extent,  only  several  months 
later,  in  the  autumn  of  1805,  originated 
in  one  of  the  many  conceptions  and 
combinations  of  Ouvrard,  the  once  cele- 
brated French  banker. 


Scene  in  a  Merchant's  Counting  Room, 
after  the  Peace  in  1815. 

The  promptness  and  energy  of  Amer- 
ican merchants  is  established  as  char- 
acteristic of  them  wherever  American 
commerce  is  known.  Here  is  an  illus- 
tration— the  like  of  which  it  would  be 
no  difficult  labor  to  find  in  every  city 
and  town  in  the  country. 

At  the  time  of  peace,  in  the  winter 
of  1815,  Mr.  A.,  a  New  York  merchant, 
proceeded  to  his  office.  The  clerks, 
four  in  number,  were  already  at  their 
posts,  and  met  their  employer  with  a 
smile  each.  "Well,  boys,"  said  he, 
"  this  is  good  news — now  ijoe  must  be 


up  and  doing."  He  seldom  used  the 
first  person,  I,  but  spoke  to  his  clerks, 
and  of  them,  as  being  part  and  parcel 
with  himself.  "  We  shall  have  our 
hands  full  now,"  he  continued,  "but 
we  can  do  as  much  as  anybody." 

Mr.  A.  w^as  the  owner  and  part  owner 
of  several  ships,  which  during  the  war 
had  been  hauled  ashore  three  miles  up 
the  river,  and  dismantled,  and  they 
were  now  inclosed  by  a  bay  of  solid  ice, 
for  the  whole  distance,  from  one  to  two 
feet  thick,  while  the  weather  was  so 
cold  that,  when  broken  up,  the  pieces 
would  unite  and  congeal  again  in  an 
hour  or  two  ;  but  this  proved  no  dis- 
couragement in  the  present  case.  It 
would  be  a  month  before  the  ice  would 
yield  to  the  season,  and  that  would 
give  time  for  merchants  in  other  places, 
where  the  harbors  were  open,  to  be  in 
the  markets  abroad,  before  him.  The 
decision  was  therefore  made  on  the  in- 
stant. 

"  Reuben,"  said  Mr.  A.  to  one  of  the 
clerks,  as  soon  as  the  "  peace  "  greeting 
was  past,  and  he  had  told  them  his  in- 
tentions, "  go  out,  and  collect  as  many 
laborers  as  possible  to  go  up  the  river ; 

Charles,  do  you  go  and  find  Mr. , 

the  rigger,  and  Mr. ,  the  sail  maker, 

and  tell  them  I  want  to  see  them  imme- 
diately ;  John,  go  and  engage  half  a 
dozen  truckmen  for  to-day  and  to- 
morrow; Stephen,  hunt  up  as  many 
caulkers  and  gravers  as  you  can  find, 
and  engage  them  to  work ; "  and  Mr.  A. 
then  sallied  out  himself  to  provide  the 
imi)lements  for  ice  breaking,  and  before 
twelve  o'clock,  more  than  one  hundred 
men  were  three  miles  up  the  river,  clear- 
ing away  the  ships  and  cutting  ice,  which 
they  sawed  out  in  large  squares,  and 
then  shoved  them  under  the  main  body, 
to  open  the  channel.  The  roofing  over 
the  ships  was  torn  ofi",  and  the  clatter 
of  caulkers'  mallets  was  like  the  rattling 
of  a  hail  storm — ^loads  of  rigging  were 
passing  up  on  the  ice — triggers  had 
buckled  on  their  belt  and  knife — sail 
makers  were  plying  their  needles,  and 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


153 


the  whole  was  such  a  busy  scene  as  had 
not  been  witnessed  there  for  years. 
Before  night  the  ships  were  afioat^  and 
moved  some  distance  in  the  channel, 
and  by  the  time  they  had  reached  the 
wharf,  which  was  eight  or  ten  days, 
their  rigging  and  spars  were  aloft,  their 
upper  works  caulked,  and  everything 
in  a  great  state  of  forwardness  for  sea. 

It  would  not  be  safe  to  doubt  that 
energy  like  this  met  with  its  reward. 


Strong:  Point  in  Mercantile  Success— 
Girard's  Silence. 

^  A  POINT  in  the  character  of  Girarcl, 
the  Napoleon  of  commerce,  gives  a 
strong  insight  into  the  cause  of  his 
business  success.  No  man  ever  heard 
him  boast  of  what  he  could  do.  He  re- 
mained quiet  and  silent  until  the  time 
came  for  action,  and  then  he  struck  the 
blow  with  an  unerring  aim  which  in- 
sured him  success.  He  was  studious  to 
learn  all  he  could  from  others,  and  as 
careful  to  impart  nothing  in  return. 


Tudor,  the  Original  Ice  Merchant. 

To  Mr.  Frederick  Tudor,  of  Boston,  is 
due  the  very  creditable  honor  of  origi- 
nating the  ice  trade  of  our  country, 
now  so  extensive  and  important.  This 
gentleman,  having  previously  sent 
agents  to  the  West  Indies  to  pro- 
cure information,  determined  to  make 
his  first  experiment  in  that  region. 
Finding  no  one  willing  to  receive  so 
strange  an  article  on  shipboard,  he  was 
compelled  to  purchase  a  vessel,  the 
brig  Favorite^  of  about  one  hundred 
and  thirty  tons,  which  he  loaded  with 
ice  from  a  pond  in  Saugus,  Massachu- 
setts, belonging  to  his  father,  and  sent 
to  St.  Pierre,  Martinique.  This  first 
enterprise  resulted  in  a  loss  of  about 
$4,500,  but  was,  nevertheless,  followed 
up  until  the  embargo  and  war  put  an 
end  to  the  foreign  trade,  up  to  which 
period  it  had  yielded  no  profit  to  its 
projector.  Its  operations  had  been 
confined  to  Martinique  and  Jamaica. 


After  the  close  of  the  war  with  Eng- 
land, in  1815,  Mr.  Tudor  recommenced 
his  operations  by  shipments  to  Havana, 
under  a  contract  with  the  Government 
of  Cuba,  w^hich  enabled  him  to  pursue 
his  undertaking  without  loss,  and  ex- 
tend it  in  a  short  time  to  Charleston, 
S.  C,  Savannah,  Ga.,  and  New  Orleans. 
In  the  mean  time  it  had  been  tried 
again,  by  other  parties,  at  Martinique 
and  St.  Thomas,  and  failed,  and  by 
Mr.  Tudor  at  St.  Jago  de  Cuba,  where 
it  also  failed,  after  a  trial  of  some  three 
years.  In  1833,  the  first  shipment  of 
ice  was  made  to  the  East  Indies  by  Mr. 
Tudor,  in  the  ship  Tuscany ,  for  Calcut- 
ta, and  shipments  were  subsequently 
made  to  Madras  and  Bombay.  Up  to 
this  time  the  ice  business  was  of  a  very 
complicated  nature,  and  shipowners 
objected  to  receive  it  on  freight,  fear- 
ing its  effect  on  the  durability  of  their 
vessels  and  the  safety  of  their  voyages. 
It  is  now,  however,  one  of  the  most  con- 
veniently conducted,  extensive,  and 
profitable  kinds  of  mercantile  business, 
and  many  parties  are  engaged  in  it. 


First  Greek  Adventure  to  America. 

The  first  Greek  ship  that  ever  touch- 
ed at  an  American  port,  arrived  there 
in  1811.  She  was  called  the  Jerusalem^ 
and  had  a  cargo  of  wines ;  but  in  en- 
tering the  port  of  Boston,  she  ran 
aground,  and  sustained  so  much  dam- 
age, that  it  took  some  months  to  repair 
her.  The  captain,  having  in  vain  en- 
deavored to  sell  his  cargo,  proceeded 
to  Havana,  where  he  was  not  more  suc- 
cessful. He  then  returned  to  Boston, 
and  having  become  involved  in  law- 
suits, liis  ship  was  seized,  his  cargo  sold 
at  great  sacrifice,  and  himself  reduced 
to  such  distress,  that  he  was  obliged  to 
beg  for  subsistence,  until  a  subscription 
was  opened  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
his  return  to  his  own  country.  All  his 
crew  died  in  prison. 


154 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Roman  Idea  of  Merch.ants. 

Among  the  Romans,  the  deity  who 
presided  over  commerce  and  banking 
was  Mercury,  who,  by  a  strange  associa- 
tion, was  also  the  god  of  thieves  and 
of  orators.  The  Romans,  who  looked 
upon  merchants  with  contempt,  fancied 
there  was  a  resemblance  between  theft 
and  merchandise,  and  they  easily  found 
a  figurative  connection  between  theft 
and  eloquence ;  hence,  thieves,  mer- 
chants, and  orators,  were  placed  under 
the  superintendence  of  the  same  deity. 
On  the  seventeenth  of  May,  in  each 
year,  the  merchants  held  a  public  festi- 
val, and  walked  in  procession  to  the 
temple  of  Mercury,  for  the  purpose,  as 
the  satirists  said,  of  begging  pardon  of 
that  deity  for  all  the  lying  and  cheat- 
ing they  had  found  it  convenient  to 
practise,  in  the  way  of  business,  during 
the  preceding  year. 


*'  MonsieTir  Smith,"  Girard's  Man. 

It  is  known  that  Girard  admired  in- 
dustry as  much  as  he  despised  sloth, 
and  there  was  never,  it  is  related,  an 
instance  where  he  did  not  furnish  em- 
ployment or  money  to  an  industrious 
and  worthy  man  in  distress. 

Early  one  morning,  while  Mr.  Girard 
was  walking  around  the  square  where 
the  millionnaire's  well-known  houses 
now  stand,  John  Smith,  who  h^d 
worked  on  his  buildings  in  the  hum- 
ble capacity  of  a  laborer,  and  whom 
Mr.  G.  had  noted  for  his  unusual  activ- 
ity, applied  to  him  for  assistance,  when 
something  like  the  following  dialogue 
took  place : 

"  Assistance — work— ha  ?  You  want 
to  work  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  it's  a  long  time  since  I've 
had  anything  to  do." 

"  Very  well,  I  shall  give  yon  some. 
You  see  dem  stone  yondare  ?  '* 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Very  well,  you  shall  fetch  and  put 
them  in  this  place.    You  see  ? " 


"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  when  you  done,  come  to  me  at 
my  bank." 

Smith  diligently  performed  his  task, 
which  he  accomplished  about  one 
o'clock,  when  he  repaired  to  Mr.  Gir- 
ard, and  informed  him  that  it  was  fin- 
ished, at  the  same  time  asking  if  he 
would  not  give  him  some  more  work. 

"  Ah,  ha !  oui.  You  want  more 
work  ?  Very  well ;  you  shall  go  place 
dem  stone  where  you  got  him.  XJnder- 
standez  ?    You  take  him  back." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

Away  went  Smith  to  his  work,  which 
having  got  through  with  about  sunset, 
he  waited  on  Mr.  Girard  for  his  pay. 

"  Ah,  ha  !  you  all  finish  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Very  well,  how  much  money  shall 
I  give  you  ? " 

"  One  dollar,  sir." 

"Dat  is  honest.  You  take  no  ad- 
vantage.    Dare  is  your  dollar." 

"  Can  I  do  anything  else  for  you  ? " 

"  Oui.  Come  here  when  you  get  up 
to-morrow.  You  shall  have  some 
work." 

Next  morning,  on  calling,  Smith  was 
not  a  little  astonished  when  told  that 
he  must  "  take  dem  stone  back  again," 
nor  was  his  astonishment  diminished 
when  the  order  was  repeated  for  the 
fourth  and  last  time.  However,  he  was 
one  of  that  happy  kind  of  persons  who 
mind  their  own  business,  and  he  went 
on  with  his  job,  with  all  the  indif- 
ference imaginable.  When  he  called 
on  Mr.  Girard,  in  the  evening,  and  in- 
formed him  that  the  stones  "  were  as 
they  were,"  he  was  saluted  thus  in  the 
most  cordial  manner : 

"  Ah,  Monsieur  Smithy  you  shall  be 
my  man;  you  mind  your  own  business ; 
you  do  what  is  told  you ;  you  ask  no 
questions ;  you  no  interfere.  You  got 
one  vife  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Ah,  dat  is  bad.  Von  wife  is  bad. 
Any  de  little  chicks  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  five  living." 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


155 


"  Five  ?  dat  is  good ;  I  like  five  ;  I 
like  you,  Monsieur  Smith  ;  you  like  to 
work ;  you  mind  your  business.  Now 
I  do  something  for  your  five  little 
chicks.  There,  take  these  five  pieces 
of  paper  for  your  five  little  chicks  ;  you 
shall  work  for  them ;  you  shall  mind 
your  business,  and  your  little  chicks 
shall  never  want  five  more.  Good 
bye." 

The  feelings  of  the  grateful  man 
being  too  much  overcome  to  allow  him 
to  reply,  he  departed  in  silence ;  and 
by  minding  his  own  business,  he  be- 
came one  of  the  wealthiest  of  his  name 
in  Philadelphia. 


Thomas  P.  Cope's  Integrity. 

A  PERSON  highly  recommended  ap- 
proached Mr.  Cope,  the  Philadelphia 
merchant,  one  day,  and  invited  him  to 
embark  in  a  certain  joint-stock  enter- 
prise. In  a  careful  exposition  of  the 
matter,  he  made  it  appear  that  the 
scheme  was  likely  to  succeed,  and  that 
the  stock  would  instantly  run  up  to  a 
liberal  premium,  on  being  put  into  the 
market.  "Well,"  said  Mr.  Cope,  "I 
am  satisfied  on  that  point ;  I  believe  it 
would  be  as  thou  sayest.  But  what 
will  be  the  real  value  of  the  stock  ? " 
"  Why,  as  to  that,"  answered  the  specu- 
lator, "  I  cannot  say  (implying  by  his 
manner  what  he  thouglit)  ;  but  that  is 
of  no  account,  for  all  we  have  to  do  is 
to  sell  out,  and  make  our  thirty  or  for- 
ty per  cent,  profit."  "  I'll  have  nothing 
to  do  with  it — I'll  have  nothing  to  do 
with  it,"  was  the  prompt  and  indignant 
reply.  "  And  from  that  day,"  he  used 
to  say,  in  relating  the  occurrence,  "  I 
marTced  that  man,  and  shunned  all  trans- 
actions with  him." 


Second  Thought  on  a  Trade. 

A  MAN  had  bought  a  pair  of  shoes 
from  a  dealer  in  that  article,  for  which 
he  promised  to  pay  him  on  a  future 
day.    He  went  with  his  money  on  the 


day  appointed,  but  found  that  the  deal- 
er had  in  the  interval  departed  this  life. 
Without  saying  anything  of  his  errand, 
he  withdrew  from  the  place,  secretly 
rejoicing  at  the  opportunity  thus  unex- 
pectedly afforded  him  of  gaining  a  pair 
of  shoes  for  nothing.  His  conscience, 
however,  would  not  suffer  him  to  remain 
at  ease  under  such  an  act  of  injustice ; 
so,  taking  the  money,  he  returned  to 
the  shop,  and  casting  in  the  money, 
said,  "  Go  thy  ways,  for  though  he  is 
dead  to  all  the  world  besides,  yet  he  is 
alive  to  me." 


Three  Merchant  Voyages,  and  their 
Kesults. 

A  New  York  paper  makes  the  fol- 
lowing statement :  Several  years  ago, 
there  lived  in  one  of  our  seaports,  three 
merchants,  whom  we  will  designate  as 
A,  B,  and  C,  and  all  of  whom  were 
owners  of  freight  ships.  Each  of  these 
men  loaded  a  ship  at  the  same  time, 
which  were  to  go  first  to  Egypt,  and 
to  the  Baltic,  to  one  of  the  Kussian 
ports.  All  being  loaded,  they  waited 
for  a  favorable  wind.  The  harbor  was 
so  situated,  that  there  was  no  egress  for 
ships  unless  the  wind  blew  in  a  particu- 
lar direction.  One  Sabbath  morning, 
the  wind  was  fair.  The  masters  of  the 
vessels  went  to  their  respective  owners 
for  sailing  orders.  A  and  B  imme- 
diately had  their  ships  put  to  sea ;  but 
C  told  the  master  that  he  must  remain 
in  port  until  the  next  day.  Before 
Monday  morning,  however,  the  wind 
had  changed,  and  remained  contrary 
until  the  next  Sunday,  when  it  again 
came  round  fair.  The  master  of  the 
vessel  again  repaired  to  the  house  of  C, 
to  procure  the  ship's  papers  and  orders. 
But,  to  his  astonishment,  C  remarked 
that  his  ship  must  not  leave  the  port 
on  the  Sabbatli.  The  captain  attempt- 
ed to  reason  the  point  with  him,  but 
all  in  vain.  He  said  if  his  ship  never 
sailed,  it  should  not  put  to  sea  on  that 
day  of  the  week ;  and  he  was  willing 


156 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


to  run  all  the  risks  of  maintaining  his 
principle. 

Some  time  during  the  folio  wing  week, 
the  ship  sailed  with  a  fair  breeze,  and 
arrived  in  Egypt  just  as  the  ships  of  A 
and  B  were  about  to  sail  for  the  Baltic. 
In  the  mean  time,  information  had  cir- 
culated through  the  country,  that 
American  vessels  were  in  port,  washing 
to  sell  their  cargoes,  and  purchase  a 
certain  kind  of  their  produce,  namely, 
rice.  The  desired  article  was  brought 
in  such  abundance  that  the  market  was 
glutted  by  the  time  C's  ship  arrived. 
In  consequence  of  this,  his  cargo  was 
sold  at  an  advanced  price,  and  his  ship 
loaded  at  a  much  better  rate  than  the 
others.  Cs  vessel  proceeded  then  on 
her  voyage  up  the  Baltic.  The  ships 
were  to  dispose  of  their  rice  in  the  Rus- 
sian ports,  and  load  for  home  w  ith  iron. 
Cs  ship  anived  in  the  Baltic  after 
those  of  A  and  B  had  purchased  their 
freight  and  nearly  loaded;  and  good 
success  continued  to  attend  the  former, 
as  it  did  in  the  Mediterranean.  Abun- 
dance of  iron  was  brought  to  the  market, 
and  there  were  enough  purchasers  for 
the  lice.  All  these  ships  reached  Amer- 
ica about  the  same  time,  that  of  C  hav- 
ing actually  earned  as  much  by  the  voy- 
age as  both  the  others. 


Sharing  in  a  Good  Operation. 

With  the  foibles  generally  attendant 
upon  an  aspiring,  money-seeking  man, 
Mr.  Fordyce,  the  celebrated  English 
banker,  had  many  generous  qualities. 
A  young,  intelligent  merchant,  who 
kept  cash  at  his  banking  house,  one 
morning  making  a  small  deposit,  he 
happened  to  say  in  the  oflBce,  that  if  he 
could  command  some  thousands  at 
present,  there  was  a  certain  speculation 
to  be  pursued,  which  in  all  probablity 
would  turn  out  fortun^e.  This  was 
said  carelessly,  without  Fordyce  appear- 
ing to  notice  it. 

A  few  months  afterward,  when  the 
same  merchant  was  settling  his  book 


with  the  house,  he  was  very  much  sur. 
prised  to  see  the  sum  of  £500  placed  to 
his  credit,  more  than  he  knew  he  pos- 
sessed. Thinking  it  a  mistake,  he 
pointed  it  out  to  the  clerk,  who  seeing 
the  entry  in  Mr.  Fordyce's  handwriting, 
said  he  must  have  paid  it  to  him.  The 
merchant  knew  he  had  not,  and  begged 
to  see  Mr.  Fordyce — who,  on  appear- 
ing, said,  "  It  is  all  right  enough,  for  as 
I  made  £5,000  by  the  hint  you  careless- 
ly threw  out,  I  think  you  fairly  entitled 
to  £500."  Mr.  Fordyce  did  not  stop 
here ;  for  when,  some  years  afterward, 
the  merchant  became  embarrassed,  he 
found  a  liberal  friend  in  his  previous 
benefactor. 

Secrecy  in  Business  Transactions 
Practised  by  Rotlischild. 

One  cause  of  Rothschild's  great  ad- 
vantage in  his  business  transactions  was 
the  secrecy  with  which  he  shrouded 
them,  and  the  tortuous  policy  with 
which  he  misled  those  the  most  who 
watched  him  the  keenest.  If  he  pos- 
sessed news  calculated  to  make  the 
funds  rise,  he  would  commission  the 
broker  who  acted  on  his  behalf  to  sell 
half  a  million.  The  shoal  of  men  who 
usually  follow  the  movements  of  others 
sold  with  him.  The  news  soon  passed 
through  the  monetary  circle  that  Roth- 
schild was  "  bearing  "  the  market,  and 
the  funds  fell.  Men  looked  doubtingly 
at  one  another ;  a  general  panic  spread ; 
bad  news  was  looked  for;  and  these 
united  agencies  sunk  the  price  two  or 
three  per  cent.  This  was  the  result 
expected ;  and  other  brokers,  not  usu- 
ally employed  by  him,  bought  all  that 
they  could  at  the  reduced  rates.  By 
the  time  this  was  accomplished,  the 
good  news  had  arrived;  the  pressure 
ceased;  the  funds  rose  instantly;  and 
Mr.  Rothschild  reaped  his  reward. 
There  were,  however,  periods  when  his 
gigantic  capital  seemed  likely  to  be 
scattered  to  the  four  quarters  of  the 
globe.  He  lost  half  a  million  in  one 
English  operation;   when  the  French 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


157 


entered  Spain  in  1823,  he  was  also  in 
the  utmost  jeopardy  ;  but  perhaps  the 
most  perilous  position  in  which  he  was 
placed  was  with  the  famous  Polignac 
loan,  although  his  vast  intelligence 
saved  him,  and  placed  the  burden  on 
the  shoulders  of  others.  With  this, 
nevertheless,  he  suffered  greatly,  as  the 
price  fell  thirty  per  cent. 


Ladder  of  Commercial  Success. 

James  Halford  rose  step  by  step  up 
the  ladder  of  fortune  until  he  stood  se- 
curely at  the  summit,  with  fame,  wealth, 
and  honors  surrounding  him.  Some 
twenty  jeata  back,  this  same  James 
Halford  was  at  the  very  foot  of  the  lad- 
der, pondering  how  he  should  rise. 
The  ladder  was  very  curious  to  contem- 
plate, and  still  more  curious  was  it  to 
hear  what  the  world  said  about  it. 

"  It  is  all  luck,  sir,"  cried  one,  "  noth- 
ing but  luck  ;  why,  sir,  I  have  managed 
at  times  to  get  up  a  step  or  two,  but 
have  always  fallen  down  ere  long,  and 
now  I  have  given  up  striving,  for  luck 
is  against  me." 

''  No,  sir,"  cried  another,  "  it  is  not 
so  much  luck  as  scheming ;  the  selfish 
schemer  gets  up,  while  more  honest 
folks  remain  at  the  foot." 

"  Patronage  does  it  all,"  said  a  third ; 
"  you  must  have  somebody  to  take  you 
by  the  hand  and  help  you  up,  or  you 
have  no  chance." 

James  Halford  heard  all  these  varied 
opinions  of  the  world,  but  still  persisted 
in  looking  upward,  for  he  had  faith  in 
himself. 

"  The  cry  of  '  luck's  all,' — what  does 
it  amount  to  in  reality,"  thought  he, 
*'  but  that  some  people  are  surrounded 
by  better  circumstances  than  others? 
They  must  still,  however,  take  advan- 
tage of  these  circumstances  permanent- 
ly to  succeed ;  and  I,  having  very  in- 
different circumstances  around  me,  have 
the  more  need  to  use  great  exertion  in 
order  to  better  them;  and  when  re- 
verses come,  I  will  not  despair,  as  some 


do,  but  persevere  on  to  fortune.  I 
want  no  friend  to  take  me  by  the  hand 
and  do  that  for  me  which  every  healthy 
man  can  do  better  for  himself.  No,  I 
will  rise  by  myself  alone." 

The  resolution  was  earnestly  made, 
and  faithfully  carried  out.  From  the 
humblest  capacity  in  a  store,  to  the 
post  of  highest  trust,  James  Halford 
rose  in  a  few  years.  He  became  a 
trader  for  himself,  and  amassed  a  heavy 
fortune. 


Six  days  for  Business  and  One  for  Rest. 

A  DISTINGUISHED  Capitalist  and  finan- 
cier, charged  with  an  immense  amount 
of  property  during  the  great  pecuniary 
pressure  of  1836  and  1837,  said:  I 
should  have  been  a  dead  man,  had  it 
not  been  for  the  Sabbath.  Obliged  to 
work  from  morning  to  night,  to  a  de- 
gree that  no  hired  day-laborer  would 
submit  to,  through  the  whole  week,  I 
felt  on  Saturday,  especially  on  Satur- 
day afternoon,  as  if  I  must  have  rest. 
It  was  like  going  into  a  dense  fog. 
Everything  looked  dark  and  gloomy, 
as  if  nothing  could  be  saved.  I  dis- 
missed all  from  my  mind,  and  kept  the 
Sabbath  in  the  "  good  old  way."  On 
Monday  it  was  all  bright  sunshine.  I 
could  see  through — and  I  got  through. 
But  had  it  not  been  for  the  Sabbath,  I 
have  no  doubt  I  should  have  been  in 

the  grave, 

—  ♦ 

Boston  Merclaant's  Opinion  of  Business 
Men's  Honesty. 

It  is  said  of  Mr.  Samuel  Appleton,  a 
"  merchant  prince  "  of  Boston,  that  he 
was  himself  so  thoroughly  upright,  that 
it  w^as  hard  for  him  to  doubt  the  hon- 
esty of  other  men — and,  as  is  often  the 
case,  men  were  really  to  him  what  he 
expected  them  to  be.  On  a  certain  oc- 
casion he  was  asked— and  the  answer 
threw  light  alike  on  his  own  character 
and  on  the  character  of  merchants  gen- 
erally— "  You  have  been  long  engaged 
in  business,  under  a  great  variety  of  cir- 


158 


COMMERCIAL  AM)  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


cumstances,  and  in  different  countries  : 
what  is  your  opinion  in  regard  to  the 
honesty  of  mankind  ? "  "  Very  favora- 
ble," he  replied;  "very  generally,  I 
think,  they  mean  to  be  honest.  I  have 
never  in  my  life  met  with  more  than 
three  or  four  cases  in  which  I  thought 
a  man  intended  to  be  dishonest  in  deal- 
ing with  me." 


Philadelphia  Young-  Merchant  who  was 
not  Afraid  of  Girard. 

A  MAN  who  had  just  set  up  in  the 
hardware  business,  and  who  had  been 
a  clerk  where  Girard  had  traded,  ap- 
plied to  him  for  a  share  of  his  patron- 
age. Girard  bought  of  him,  and  when 
he  brought  in  the  bill,  found  fault  and 
marked  down  the  prices.  "  Cask  of 
nails,"  said  he,  ^'  which  I  was  offered 
for  so  and  so,  you  have  charged  so  and 
so,  and  you  must  take  it  off."  "I  can- 
not do  it,"  said  the  young  merchant. 
"You  must  do  it,"  said  Girard.  "I 
cannot  and  will  not,"  said  the  mer- 
chant. Girard  bolted  out  of  the  door, 
apparently  in  a  rage,  but  soon  after 
sent  a  check  for  the  whole  bill.  The 
young  man  began  to  relent  and  say  to 
himself:  "  Perhaps  he  was  offered  them 
at  that  price.  But  it  is  all  over  now  ; 
I  am  sorry  I  did  not  reduce  the  bill, 
and  get  it  out  of  him  on  something 
else.  His  trade  would  have  been  worth 
a  good  deal  to  me."  By-and-by,  Girard 
came  again  and  gave  him  another  job. 
The  young  man  was  very  courteous,  and 
said,  "  I  was  almost  sorry  I  did  not  re- 
duce your  former  bill."  ^'■Reduce  a 
mi!''''  said  Girard,  "  had  you  done  it,  I 
would  never  trade  with  you  again.  I 
meant  to  see  if  you  had  cheated  me." 


Hiding:  the  Dollar  with  a  Dime. 

Buckley,  in  one  of  his  lectures,  made 
use  of  an  illustration  that  will  bear  re- 
peating :  Holding  a  dime  close  to  his 
eyes  with  one  hand,  and  a  half  dollar  at 
some  distance  with  the  other,  said  he : 
"  Now,  I  cannot  see  the  half  dollar  with 


this  eye,  for  the  dime  is  so  near  it,  it 
obscures  my  vision.  So  it  is  with  men 
of  business ;  in  their  eagerness  to  save 
a  dollar,  they  often  lose  sight  of  the 
fifty  within  their  reach." 


Mercantile  Defalcation  made  grood  after 
Sixty  Years. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1821,  a 
man  of  respectable  appearance  entered 
the  Corn  Exchange,  in  Mark  Lane,  Lon- 
don, and  advancing  to  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal factors,  asked  him  if  he  was  the 
legal,  descendant  of  the  head  of  a  very 
ancient  firm  in  that  line,  long  since  ex- 
tinct ?  Being  answered  in  the  afiirma- 
tive,  he  made  some  further  inquiries, 
confirmatory  of  the  first  question,  and 
departed.  On  the  same  day  in  the  fol- 
lowing week,  he  again  made  his  appear- 
ance with  a  bag,  which  he  presented  to 
the  factor,  and  containing  three  hun- 
dred and  seventy  sovereigns.  The  fac- 
tor, of  course,  surprised  at  the  transac- 
tion, began  to  make  some  inquiries ; 
but  the  person  refused  to  answer  any 
questions,  observing,  that  the  property 
was  now  returned  to  its  rightful  owner 
— that  he  wanted  no  receipt,  and  that 
it  was  a  matter  of  no  consequence  who 
he  was.  On  referring  to  some  very  old 
business  accounts,  it  appeared  that  in 
the  year  1762,  the  firm  alluded  to  had 
a  very  extensive  business  contract,  in 
the  course  of  which  a  defalcation  to 
nearly  that  amount  occurred. 


Mysterious  Benefactor— Incident  of  the 
South  Sea  Bubble. 

One  day,  late  in  the  evening,  in  1720 
— a  year  celebrated  for  the  bursting  of 
the  South  Sea  Bubble — a  gentleman 
called  at  the  banking  house  of  Messrs. 
Hankey  &  Co.,  one  of  the  heaviest  in  the 
British  kingdom.  He  was  in  a  coach, 
but  refused  to  get  out,  and  desired 
that  one  of  the  partners  of  the  house 
w^ould  come  to  him  ;  into  the  hands  of 
this  banker,  when  he  appeared,  he  put  a 
parcel,  very  carefully  sealed  up,  and  de- 
sired that  it  might  be  taken  care  of  till 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


159 


he  should  return  again,  which  would 
be  in  the  course  of  a  few  days.  A  few 
days  passed  away,  a  few  weeks,  a  few 
months  ;  but  the  stranger  never  return- 
ed. At  the  end  of  the  second  or  third 
year,  the  partners  agreed  to  open  this 
mysterious  parcel,  when  they  found  it 
to  contain  the  large  sum  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  with  a 
letter,  stating  that  it  had  been  obtained 
by  the  South  Sea  speculation ;  and  di- 
recting that  it  should  be  put  in  the 
hands  of  three  trustees,  whose  names 
were  mentioned,  and  the  interest  to  be 
appropriated  to  the  relief  of  the  poor. 


Touro's  Great  Gift  to  a  Beg-g-ar. 

A  POOR  widow  once  called  upon  Mr. 
Touro,  the  benevolent  Hebrew  merchant 
of  New  Orleans,  and  opened  to  him  a 
very  moving  budget  of  griefs — she  had 
several  children,  her  rent  was  due,  and 
her  landlord  threatened  to  eject  her, 
nor  had  she  a  cent  with  which  to  buy 
food  or  clothes.  Long  before  she  had 
concluded  her  affecting  jeremiad,  Mr. 
Touro  had  filled  up  a  check  and  begged 
her  to  go  and  draw  it  at  once.  The 
poor  woman  proceeded  accordingly  to 
the  bank,  and  eagerly  presented  the 
check  at  the  counter.  The  teller  care- 
fully examined  the  check,  and  then  sur- 
veying the  poor,  scantily  dressed,  woe- 
begone looking  woman,  shook  his  head, 
and  informed  her  that  the  check  could 
not  be  paid.  With  a  heavy  heart,  and 
a  sense  of  mingled  shame  and  indigna- 
tion, that  she  should  have  been  thus 
"  cruelly  trifled  with,  "  she  returned  to 
Mr.  Touro's  store,  and  handing  him  the 
check,  remarked  that  it  ill  became  a 
rich  man  to  subject  a  poor  widow  to 
insult  and  mockery.  "  My  dear  mad- 
am," exclaimed  the  astonished  and 
philanthropic  merchant,  "  it  is  all  I  can 
give  you  to-day ;  it  is,  I  know,  a  small 
sum,  but  it  is  all  I  can  spare  now." 
"  But  the  bank  officer  refuses  to  give 
me  anything  for  it,"  replied  the  dis- 
tressed widow.     "  Oh,  yes  I    I  see  it  all 


— ^he  requires  proof  of  your  identity. 
Here,"  turning  to  his  clerk,  "  go  down 
to  the  bank  with  this  lady,  and  tell 
them  to  pay  that  check."  No  wonder 
that  the  teller  refused  to  pay  a  chechfor 
fifteen  hundred  dollars  to  so  poor  and 
forlorn  looking  a  holder  I 


Generosity  of  Chickering-,  the  Piano- 
forte Maker. 

Many  years  since,  a  boy,  who  thought 
and  dreamed  of  nothing  but  music,  wan- 
dered into  a  certain  large  establishment 
in  Boston,  where  his  favorite  instru- 
ments were  manufactured.  Passing 
into  the  extensive  saloons  where  these 
instruments  were  displayed,  he  sought 
out  a  quiet  corner,  and  seating  himself 
at  one  of  those  magnificent  pianos,  he 
first  looked  around,  to  be  sure  that  no 
one  was  listening,  and  then  began  to 
play  some  of  those  beautiful  waltzes  of 
Beethoven,  which,  at  that  time,  so  suit- 
ed his  capacity,  and  suited  his  heart. 
Borne  away  in  a  delicious  musical  rev- 
erie, he  did  not  for  some  time  observe 
that  a  figure  had  stolen  up  to  him  and 
was  listening  as  he  played.  A  benevo- 
lent face  was  over  him,  and  a  kind 
voice  addressed  words  of  commenda- 
tion and  praise,  which,  being  the  first 
the  boy  had  received,  sent  the  blood 
tingling  to  his  cheeks.  The  proprietor 
of  the  establishment,  for  it  was  he,  then 
asked  the  boy  if  he  would  like  to  come 
and  live  among  those  pianos,  discours- 
ing just  such  music  to  purchasers — 
thus  forming,  in  a  word,  a  connection 
with  his  establishment.  But  books  and 
college  were  before  the  boy  ;  and  won- 
dering at  the  proposition,  he  timidly 
thanked  the  proprietor  and  declined. 

Years  passed  away.  School  and  col- 
lege were  done  with,  and  the  books 
thrown  aside.  The  boy  had  reached 
manhood  ;  but  still  the  spirit  of  music 
haunted  him,  and  again  he  found  him- 
self in  those  spacious  saloons.  He  had 
just  ceased  playing  upon  one  of  those 
magnificent  instruments  again,  and 
stood  looking  dreamily  out  of  the  win- 


160 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


dow,  and  down  upon  the  crowded 
"  Washington  street "  below.  Again  a 
quiet  figure  stole  up  to  him,  and  a 
most  musical  and  pleasant  voice  began 
to  speak.  The  person  before  him  was 
of  small  stature,  had  the  manners  and 
garb  of  a  gentleman,  was  dressed  in 
black,  with  a  single  magnificent  dia- 
mond pin  in  his  bosom  ;  the  only  con- 
trast in  his  appearance  was  the  clean 
white  apron  of  a  workman,  which  he 
wore.  It  was  the  proprietor  of  the 
establishment  again;  who,  wealthy  as 
he  was,  had  his  own  little  working 
cabinet,  with  an  exquisite  set  of  tools, 
and  there  put  the  finishing  touch  to 
each  of  his  beautiful  instruments — a 
touch  he  intrusted  to  no  one  else.  The 
proprietor  inquired  kindly  of  the  young 
man  as  to  his  plans  for  life.  These, 
alas!  were  undetermined.  The  voice 
of  music  was  more  fascinating  than 
ever;  but  a  learned  profession  of  some 
kind  seemed  to  be  the  wish  and  ex- 
pectation of  his  friends.  Music,  how- 
ever, was  his  first  and  strongest  love, 
and  he  had  sometimes  thought,  if  he 
could  but  go  abroad  to  study,  he  would 
decide  for  that.  His  father  had  given 
him  his  college  education  and  his  bless- 
ing, as  capital  for  life.  A  harsh  strug- 
gle with  the  world  was  before  him ; 
music,  therefore,  was  hardly  to  be 
thought  of. 

In  the  quietest  tone  of  that  low, 
pleasant  voice,  the  proprietor,  as 
though  making  an  ordinary  remark, 
rejoined,  "  Well,  but  then,  if  the  sum 
of  five  hundred  dollars  a  year  for  a 
period  of  four  years  would  suit  your 
purpose,  I  could  easily  supply  you 
with  that." 

The  world  grew  dim  before  him,  and 
the  young  man  almost  staggered  with 
surprise ;  but  when  he  recovered  him- 
self, there  was  the  same  quiet  gentle- 
man standing  beside  him,  and  looking 
pleasantly  out  of  the  window.  Two 
months  afterward  the  young  man  sailed 
for  Europe,  where  he  passed  the  allot- 
ted time  and  longer,  from  means  with 


which  his  own  compositions  in  the 
mean  time  furnished  him.  And  what- 
ever of  knowledge,  and  whatever  of 
artistic  culture,  and  whatever  of  suc- 
cess in  life,  as  connected  with  art,  have 
since  been  his, — and  he  has  long  been 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  among 
American  musical  composers, — he  as- 
cribes entirely  to  that  most  generous 
and  noble-hearted  Macaenas  of  art,  Jonas 
Chickering. 


Whale  Fishery  Enterprise  by  Amer- 
icans. 

The  first  attempts  at  the  whale  fish- 
ery, in  Massachusetts,  were  made  from 
the  south  shore  and  the  island  of  Nan- 
tucket, by  persons  who  went  out  in 
small  boats,  killed  their  whale,  and  re- 
turned the  same  day.  But  the  whales 
were  in  this  way  soon  driven  from  the 
coast,  the  population  increased,  and  the 
demand  for  the  product  of  the  fisheries 
proportionably  augmented.  It  became 
necessary  to  apply  larger  capitals  to  the 
business.  Whaleships  were  now  fitted 
out  at  considerable  expense,  which  pur- 
sued the  adventurous  occupation  from 
Greenland  to  Brazil.  The  enterprise 
thus  manifested,  awoke  the  admira- 
tion of  Europe,  and  is  immortalized  in 
the  well-known  description  by  Burke. 
But  the  business  has  gro^vTi,  until  the 
ancient  fishing  grounds  have  become 
the  first  stations  on  a  modern  whaling 
voyage  ;  and  capitals  are  now  required 
sufficient  to  fit  out  a  vessel  for  an  ab- 
sence of  forty  months,  and  a  voyage  of 
circumnavigation.  Fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars are  invested  in  a  single  vessel ;  she 
doubles  Cape  Horn,  ranges  from  New 
South  Shetland  to  the  coasts  of  Japan, 
cruises  in  unexplored  latitudes,  stops  for 
refreshments  at  islands  before  undiscov- 
ered, and  on  the  basis,  perhaps,  of  an 
individual  house,  in  New  Bedford  or 
Nantucket,  performs  an  exploit  which, 
eighty  or  ninety  years  ago,  was  thought 
a  great  object  to  be  effected  by  the  re- 
sources of  the  British  government. 
The  "  overgrown  capitalist "  employed 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


161 


in  this  business  may  be  said  to  be  an 
"  overgrown  lampliglater." 


Enterprise  of  Yankees  and  Enssians 
'Cutely  Illustrated. 
A  GOOD  anecdote  is  told,  illustrating 
the  ratlier  superior  enterprise  of  the 
Yankees  over  the  Kussians.  The  squad- 
rons sent  out  by  the  Russians  to  explore 
the  South  Seas,  had  attained  a  degree 
of  latitude  which  it  was  supposed  had 
never  before  been  reached,  w^hen  land 
was  descried.  The  commander  was  con- 
gratulating himself  upon  a  discovery 
which  was  thus  to  immortalize  his 
name,  when,  standing  out  from  the 
land,  a  simple  schooner  was  observed, 
which  proved  to  be  a  sealing  vessel  of 
thirty  tons.  Hoisting  the  stars  and 
stripes,  the  captain  of  the  Yankee  craft, 
for  such  she  proved,  ran  alongside  of 
the  commodore,  and  politely  offered  to 
pilot  him  in  !  The  Russian  was  aston- 
ished "  some,"  to  find  such  a  rig  and 
such  a  crew  at  a  spot  which,  in  Europe, 
was  not  known  to  exist — though,  in- 
deed, it  would  be  really  more  astonish- 
ing to  find  a  place  where  Yankee  trad- 
ing enterprise  had  not  penetrated. 
Working  a  gold  mine  on  the  top  of 
Himmaleh,  or  speculating  in  dead  horse 
flesh  among  the  Usbecs — heading  a 
caravan  across  the  Siberia,  or  trapping 
bears  at  the  Korth  Pole — ^bartering  yel- 
low buttons  for  goats'  hair  in  the  capi- 
tal of  the  Grand  Lama,  or  exchanging 
fez-caps  and  coral  for  Soudan  ingots,  in 
the  stalls  of  Timbuctoo — in  any  and  all 
of  these  places  and  employments,  the 
Yankee  might  be  expected  to  be  found. 


t 


Tempting:  Business  Paragrraph. 

"  We  are  well  acquainted,"  says  the 
editor  of  a  city  journal,  "  with  a  young 
and  very  handsome  girl,  who  has  the 
principal  management  of  a  large  mer- 
cantile establishment  in  a  flourishing 
country  town,  who  visits  different  cities 
alone,  stops  at  hotels,  purchases  sup- 
plies of  dry  goods,  dimity,  hardware, 
11 


china,  groceries,  shoes,  nick-nacks,  and 
all  the  multifarious  saleables  which  make 
up  '  a  stock '  in  a  miscellaneous  store. 
She  gives  notes,  makes  contracts,  and 
attends  to  all  such  business  as  belongs 
to  her  ;  and  we  have  never  yet  learned 
that  she  has  sacrificed  one  iota  of  the 
dignity,  admiration  and  respect,  which 
are  her  just  due  as  a  young,  amiable, 
and  very  pretty  woman.     There  !  " 


Bone  and  Offal  Millionnaire. 

Some  years  ago,  a  poor  French  wom- 
an, residing  at  Buenos  Ayres,  being  ex- 
ceedingly perplexed  with  regard  to  the 
"ways  and  means,"  set  her  inventive 
genius  to  work,  and  hit  upon  the  fol- 
lowing expedient : 

Observing  a  vast  quantity  of  bones 
and  animal  offal  thrown  away  from  the 
slaughter  houses  with  which  Buenos 
Ayres  abounds,  a  thought  struck  her 
that  she  might  turn  this  waste  to  a 
profitable  account.  Having  procured 
a  large  iron  pot,  and  collected  a  quan- 
tity of  bones,  etc.,  she  commenced  oper- 
ations by  boiling  them,  and  skimming 
off  the  fat,  which  she  then  sold  at  the 
stores.  Finding  the  proceeds  of  her 
industry  amply  rewarded  her  labor,  she 
persevered,  advancing  from  a  pot  to  a 
boiler,  and  from  a  boiler  to  a  steaming 
vat,  until  she  possessed  a  magnificent 
apparatus,  capable  of  reducing  a  hun- 
dred head  of  cattle  to  tallow,  at  one 
steaming.  In  course  of  time  she  sold 
her  manufactory,  and  retired  from  busi- 
ness wdth  a  large  fortune,  rolling  through 
the  streets  in  one  of  the  most  sumptu- 
ous carriages  in  Buenos  Ayres.  There 
is  now  scarcely  a  respectable  merchant 
in  that  place,  or  in  Montevideo,  who  is 
not  in  some  way  connected  with  cattle- 
steaming. 

♦ 

"Five  Years  of  Privation  and  a  For- 
ttme." 

Undek  the  arcades  near  the  markets, 
in  Havana,  may  be  seen  a  number  of 
shops,  not  ten  feet  square,  with  a  show- 


162 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


case  in  front,  before  which  a  restless 
being  is  constantly  walking;  remind- 
ing one  of  a  caged  wild  animal  that 
chafes  for  a  wider  range.  At  night, 
the  showcase  is  carried  into  his  little 
cabin,  which  serves  him  for  a  shop, 
dormitory,  and  kitchen, — and  where  he 
may  be  often  seen  preparing  his  frugal 
meal  over  a  chafing  dish  of  live  char- 
coal. "  Five  years  of  privation  and  a 
fortune^''  is  his  motto ;  and  not  a  few 
of  the  wealthiest  Spanish  residents  in 
Cuba  are  said  to  date  the  commence- 
ment of  their  prosperity  from  so  hum- 
ble a  source.  These  are  the  Catalans — 
an  industrious,  shrewd,  economical 
class,  who  have  received  the  sobriquet 
of  Spanish  Jews.  A  large  portion  of 
the  commerce  of  the  island  is  in  their 
hands,  as  well  as  a  very  great  part  of 
its  wealth.  In  the  interior  of  the 
island  they  appear  to  monopolize  every 
branch  of  trading,  from  the  pack  of  the 
humblest  jDcddler  to  the  country  tienda 
with  its  varied  contents ;  and,  in  the 
maritime  towns,  many  a  commercial 
house,  whose  ships  cover  the  sea,  is 
theirs. 


McDonogh's  Greatest  Victory.  . 

One  of  John  McDonogh's  favorite 
plans  of  operation,  to  increase  his  for- 
tune, was  to  purchase  the  back  lands 
of  plantations  on  the  river,  the  value 
of  which  would  be  increased  enormous- 
ly by  the  improvements  in  front  of 
them.  So  he  eagerly  pounced  upon  all 
the  lands  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
towns  and  villages  in  the  State.  One 
of  the  most  brilliant  of  his  feats  in  this 
sphere  was  the  completion  of  his  lines 
of  circumvallation  around  the  city  of 
New  Orleans.  For  many  years  he  pur- 
sued this  object  with  the  greatest  ardor 
and  intensity.  Commencing  at  the  up- 
per end  of  the  city,  he  stole  gradually 
around  through  the  swamps,  i)urchas- 
ing  large  belts  of  land,  until  at  last,  a 
few  years  before  his  death,  meeting 
one  of  his  old  friends  in  the  street,  he 


slapped  him  on  the  shoulder,  and  with 
his  face  full  of  enthusiasm  and  joy,  ex- 
claimed, "  Congratulate  me,  my  friend ; 
I  have  achieved  the  greatest  mctory  of 
my  life,  I  have  drawn  my  lines  around 
the  city,  and  now  entirely  embrace  it 
in  my  arms — all  for  the  glory  of  God 
and  the  good  of  my  race." 


James  G-.  Elingr's  Treatment  of  Resent- 
ments. 

An  incident  in  the  life  of  James  Gore 
King  aflfords  a  pleasing  illustration  of 
the  tenderness  of  heart  which  not  un- 
frequently  accompanies  high  mercantile 
character.  A  misunderstanding  had 
for  some  years  existed,  and  comjDara- 
tive  estrangement  between  him  and  one 
w^ho  had  been  early  connected  with  him 
by  family  ties.  This  state  of  things 
grieved  him,  for  having  no  resent- 
ment or  unkindness  in  his  own  heart, 
he  was  uneasy  even  under  the  appear- 
ance of  cherishing  any.  A  casual  and 
most  improbable  meeting  in  a  city  omni- 
bus, only  four  days  before  his  death,  with 
the  person  thus  estranged,  the  inhabit- 
ant of  another  State,  afforded  him  the 
opportunity  of  reconciliation.  After 
exchanging  friendly  salutations  in  the 
omnibus,  when  the  person  alighted  he 
too  got  out,  and  when  alone  together 
said,  extending  his  hand,  "  If,  without 
asking  or  giving  any  explanation,  you 
are  willing  that  we  should  be  friends, 
let  it  be  so ;"  adding,  with  that  thought- 
ful prescience  which  sometimes  goes 
before  the  event,  "  I  want,  before  I  die, 
to  be  at  peace  with  all."  The  extend- 
ed hand  was  taken ;  and  the  particulars 
of  this  interview  comprised  one  of  the 
last  subjects  upon  which  Mr.  King  con- 
versed, and  with  much  happiness,  just 
before  his  death. 


Noble  Mercantile  Trait  of  Jonathan 
Goodliue. 

The  late  IVIr.  Jonathan  Goodhue  was 
noted  for  the  ready-flowing  sympathy 
and  fellow  feeling  which  marked  his 
character.    It  was  especially  manifested 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS   QUALITIES. 


163 


toward  those  in  dependent  situations 
and  in  the  more  humble  walks  of  life. 
No  laboring  man,  however  low  his  con- 
dition, could  be  engaged  in  his  service 
without  perceiving  that  he  had  a  con- 
siderate regard  for  his  feelings  and  for 
his  rights.  No  domestic  ever  lived  in 
his  family  without  being  impressed  by 
his  condescension  and  kindness.  This 
feeling  made  him  reluctant  to  part  with 
those  who  had  faithfully  served  him, 
and  few  men  have  ever  made  so  few 
changes  in  those  who  have  held  subor- 
dinate situations  under  them.  The 
cartman  who,  on  his  first  arrival  in 
New  York,  took  his  baggage  to  his 
lodgings,  was  employed  by  him  until 
old  age  obliged  him  to  retire  from  ac- 
tive life.  A  principal  book-keeper, 
well  worthy  of  his  confidence  and 
esteem,  remained  with  him  for  fifteen 
years,  and  then  withdrew  because  of  a 
change  in  his  mode  of  life.  A  con- 
fidential counting-room  porter,  after 
being  in  his  service  for  twenty-five 
years,  still  holds  his  place  in  the  house 
of  Goodhue  &  Co.  These  incidents 
show  a  trait  of  character  indicating 
true  nobility. 


Bedeemingr  Lost  Time. 

The  diligence  and  application  dis- 
played by  Gideon  Lee  were  remark- 
able ;  he  usually  worked  sixteen  hours 
out  of  the  twenty-four.  An  anecdote 
which  he  used  to  relate  of  himself  in 
this  connection,  is  worthy  of  being  told, 
as  illustrating  two  traits  in  his  charac- 
ter, which  adhered  to  him  through  life 
— his  great  industry  and  his  resolution. 
He  had  "  made  a  bargain  with  himself," 
as  he  expressed  it,  to  "  labor  each  day 
a  certain  number  of  hours,  and  nothing 
but  sickness  or  inability  should  make 
him  break  the  contract.  It  was  known 
to  my  young  friends  in  the  neighbor- 

Ihood,  and  on  some  convivial  occasion, 
I  a  quilting  frolic,  I  believe,  they  came 
to  my  shop  and  compelled  me  to  leave 


being  girls  also  in  the  deputation,  my 
gallantry  could  not  resist.  I  lost  my 
night's  rest  in  consequence,  for  the 
morning  sun  found  me  at  work,  redeem- 
ing the  lost  timey  After  gratifying  his 
friends  by  spending  the  evening  in 
their  society,  he  returned  to  the  shop 
to  gratify  himself  by  not  violating  his 
faith. 


Bestitution  "by  a  Shopkeeper. 

A  GENTLEMAN,  passing  througli  the 
streets  of  Newcastle,  was  called  in  by  a 
well  known  and  extensive  shopkeeper, 
who  acknowledged  himself  indebted  to 
him  to  the  amount  of  a  guinea.  The 
gentleman,  much  astonished,  inquired 
how  this  was,  as  he  had  no  recollection 
of  the  circumstance.  The  shopkeeper 
replied,  that  about  twenty  years  before, 
as  the  gentleman's  wife  was  crossing 
the  river  Tyne  in  a  boat  which  he  was 
in,  she  accidentally  dropped  half  a 
guinea,  as  she  took  out  her  money  to 
pay  the  fare.  The  now  well-oflf  shop- 
keeper, who  had  then  a  family  at  home 
literally  starving,  snatched  up  the  half 
guinea.  He  had  since  been  prosperous 
in  his  business,  and  now  seized  the  first 
opportunity  since  his  good  fortune,  of 
paying  the  money,  with  interest. 


Spanish  Mercantile  Dealing-. 

The  Spanish  galleons  destined  to 
supply  Terra  Firma,  and  the  kingdoms 
of  Peru  and  Chili,  with  almost  every 
article  of  necessary  consumption,  used 
to  touch  first  at  Carthagena,  and  then  at 
Porto  Bello.  In  the  latter  place  a  fair 
was  opened;  the  wealth  of  America 
was  exchanged  for  the  manufactures  of 
Europe ;  and  during  its  prescribed  term 
of  forty  days  the  richest  traffic  on  the 
face  of  the  earth  was  begun  and  finished 
with  unbounded  confidence  and  the 
utmost  simplicity  of  transaction.  No 
bale  of  goods  was  ever  opened,  no  chest 
of  treasure  examined ;  both  were  re- 
ceived on  the  credit  of  the  persons  to 


164 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


whom  they  belonged — only  one  in- 
stance of  fraud  being  recorded,  during 
the  long  period  in  which  trade  was 
carried  on  with  this  liberal  and  unsus- 
pecting confidence.  It  seems  that  all 
the  coined  silver  which  was  brought 
from  Peru  to  Porto  Bello,  in  the  year 
1654,  was  found  to  be  adulterated,  and 
to  be  mingled  with  a  fifth  part  of  base 
metal.  The  Spanish  merchants,  with 
their  usual  integrity,  sustained  the 
whole  loss,  and  indemnified  the  for- 
eigners by  whom  they  were  employed. 
The  fraud  was  detected,  and  the  treas- 
urer of  the  revenue  in  Peru,  the  author 
of  it,  was  publicly  burnt. 


Not  Disposed  to  Lie. 

"When  that  model  merchant,  Abbott 
Lawrence,  was  at  the  height  of  his  mer- 
cantile prosperity,  he  was  offered  the 
post  of  ambassador  to  the  English 
Court — an  elegant  compliment  to  him- 
self personally,  and  to  the  honorable 
and  influential  class  of  whom  he  might 
almost  be  said  to  be  the  head.  Before 
accepting,  he  asked  Mr.  Everett,  who 
had  already  occupied  the  post,  "  wheth- 
er there  was  really  any  foundation  in 
truth  for  the  ancient  epigrammatic  jest, 
that  an  ambassador  is  a  person  sent  to 
a  foreign  government  to  tell  lies  for  his 
own,"  adding  that,  "  if  such  was  the 
case,  his  mind  was  made  up ;  he  had 
never  yet  told  a  lie,  and  was  not  going 
to  begin  at  the  age  of  fifty-six."  Mr. 
Everett  told  him  he  could  answer  for 
himself  as  a  foreign  minister,  that  he 
had  never  said  a  word  or  written  a  line 
which,  as  far  as  his  own  character  or 
that  of  his  government  was  concerned, 
he  should  have  been  unwilling  to  see  in 
the  newspaper  the  next  day.  This  ex- 
planation, the  upright  merchant  re- 
plied, removed  one  of  his  scruples. 


Polly  Kenton's  Lard  Speculation. 

"When  IVIiss  Kenton  first  came  into 
Girard's  employ,  as  his  housekeeper  or 


attendant,  which  was  nearly  four  score 
years  ago,  he  was  making  large  ship- 
ments to  the  West  Indies,  and  he  or- 
dered her  to  procure  some  fifty  kegs  of 
lard  from  her  father,  who  was  a  farmer, 
and  ship  them  upon  her  own  account. 
She  did  so  ;  and  the  product,  from  some 
unusual  state  of  the  market  at  that  time 
was  immense.  This  product  remained 
on  her  hands  until  her  death,  and  was 
afterward  recovered  from  his  executors. 


Handful  ofWool  and  a  Bank  of  Money. 

A  Marseilles  merchant  had  a 
daughter  named  Eugenie,  who  early 
married  a  Catalan  officer,  in  the  service 
of  Don  Carlos.  He  fell  in  battle,  and 
after  burying  him  in  a  grave  dug  with 
her  own  hands,  this  widow  with  her 
two  children,  wretched,  and  utterly  pen- 
niless, fled  to  the  solitude  of  the  Span- 
ish mountains,  taking  refuge  in  a  ruined 
convent.  There,  by  various  little  ser- 
vices to  the  shepherds  and  peasants, 
she  obtained  a  scanty  crust  and  milk 
for  her  infants.  Becoming  thus  more 
and  more  acquainted  with  the  women 
who  visited  the  mountains  to  carry 
food  to  their  husbands,  she  invited 
them  to  bring  with  them  their  wheels 
and  spin  together  in  her  place  of 
abode,  as  more  convenient  and  less 
lonely  than  for  each  to  labor  by  herself. 
This  they  did  in  great  numbers,  and  at 
the  end  of  every  week  the  grateful 
peasants  presented  her  a  handful  of 
spun  wool  each.  Out  of  this  handful 
of  wool  she  in  due  time  made  a  bank 
of  money  and  a  vast  estate. 

Descending  occasionally  to  the  near- 
est town,  she  sold  these  little  wool 
gatherings,  and  had  in  a  few  months 
accumulated,  through  this  means,  suf- 
ficient money  to  purchase  the  shep- 
herds' raw  wool,  and  to  beg  for  an 
hour's  labor,  instead  of  the  handful  of 
material  from  her  guests.  Before  the 
summer  season  was  over,  and  its  occu- 
pations, she  collecterl,  by  management 
and  industry,   enough  funds    to    pay 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


165 


them  for  their  work ;  and,  at  the  next 
sheep-shearing,  she  became  the  pur- 
chaser of  more  than  half  the  wool. 

Encouraged  by  the  rewards  of  her 
business  skill  thus  far,  she  proceeded, 
the  second  spring  following,  under  the 
escort  of  some  of  her  shepherd  friends, 
to  the  frontier,  where  she  contracted 
with  one  of  the  greatest  wool-buyers 
in  the  country,  for  the  produce  of  the 
next  winter's  spinning.  In  the  space 
of  three  years  the  old  convent  was  con- 
verted into  a  spinning  factory ;  became 
renowned  throughout  the  north  of 
Spain  for  the  fineness  of  its  produce ; 
and  proved  both  a  source  of  social  com- 
fort and  pecuniary  prosperity  to  the 
poor  peasants  who  had  once,  out  of 
their  humble  means,  exercised  charity 
toward  its  then  desolate  and  necessi- 
tous inmate. 

Madame  L 's  web  of  good  fortune 

waxed  after  this  agreeable  fashion  every 
year,  until  she  became  an  exceedingly 
wealthy  capitalist,  with  literally  a  bank 
of  money,  and  credit  unlimited.  She 
has  four  factories  in  Spain,  and  seven 
in  France,  besides  cotton  and  flax  mills 
in  Belgium.  And  all  this  great  fortune 
has  been  extracted  or  irradiated  from 
that  handful  of  wool  I 


Jolinsoii's  Prejudice  agrainst  Mer> 
chants. 

Dr.  Johnson  was  bitterly  prejudiced 
against  the  mercantile  classes,  whether 
of  humble  or  high  degree.  At  break- 
fast, says  his  entertaining  jackal,  Bos- 
well,  I  asked : 

"  What  is  the  reason  that  we  are  an- 
gry at  a  trader's  having  opulence  ?  " 

"  Why,  sir,"  said  Johnson,  "  the  rea- 
son is,  though  I  do  not  undertake  to 
prove  there  is  a  reason,  we  see  no  quali- 
ties in  trade  that  should  entitle  such  a 
;inan  to  superiority.  We  are  not  angry 
at  a  soldier's  getting  riches,  because  we 
see  that  he  possesses  qualities  which  we 
have  not.  If  a  man  returns  from  battle, 
having  lost  one  hand,  with  the  other 


full  of  gold,  we  feel  that  he  deserves  the 
gold ;  but  we  cannot  think  that  a  fel- 
low sitting  all  day  at  a  desk  is  entitled 
to  get  above  us." 

"  But,"  responded  Boswell,  "  may  we 
not  suppose  a  merchant  to  be  a  man  of 
an  enlarged  mind,  such  as  Addison  in 
the  Spectator  describes  Sir  Andrew 
Freeport  to  have  been  ?  " 

"  Why,  sir,"  quoth  Johnson,  "  we 
may  swppose  any  fictitious  character. 
We  may  suppose  a  philosophical  day 
laborer,  who  is  happy  in  reflecting  that, 
by  his  labor,  he  contributes  to  the  fer- 
tility of  the  earth,  and  the  support  of 
his  fellow  creatures ;  but  we  Jind  no 
such  philosophical  day  laborer.  A 
merchant  may,  perhaps,  be  a  man 
of  an  enlarged  mind,  but  there  is  noth- 
ing in  trade  connected  with  an  enlarged 
mind." 

Johnson's  opinion — he  who  could  say 
that  Americans  ought  to  be  thankful 
for  anything  "  short  of  hanging," — will 
not  have  much  weight  at  the  present 
day. 


Business  Habits  of  A.  T.  Stewart. 

It  is  said  of  A.  T.  Stewart,  that  so 
accurate  is  his  comprehension  of  all  the 
departments  of  his  great  establishment, 
that  his  clerks  have  sometimes  imagined 
that  he  has  an  invisible  telegraph  gird- 
ling the  whole  building.  They  also 
have  a  saying,  that  if  any  one  of  them 
is  absent  he  is  the  one  to  be  first  called 
for. 

But  few  of  the  thousands  who  trade 
at  Stewart's  ever  get  sight  of  the  pro- 
prietor. He  is  only  to  be  found  at  his 
oflace,  which  is  situated  on  the  second 
story,  on  the  side  of  the  house  looking 
into  Chambers  street.  Here  he  sits  at 
his  desk,  absorbed  by  his  responsibili- 
ties, directing  the  various  energies  of 
the  great  body  of  which  he  is  the  head. 
None,  except  a  man  of  the  highest  exe- 
cutive ability,  could  endure  the  con- 
stant care,  the  earnest  effort.  He  is  the 
hardest  worker  in  the  concern.    It  is 


166 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


not  generally  known  that  during  these 
hours  of  application,  and  while  en- 
grossed in  the  management  of  his  im- 
mense operations,  no  one  is  allowed  to 
address  him  personally  until  his  errand 
or  business  shall  have  been  first  laid  be- 
fore a  subordinate.  If  it  is  of  such  a 
character  that  that  gentleman  can  at- 
tend to  it,  it  goes  no  farther,  and  hence 
it  rests  with  him  to  communicate  it  to 
Ms  principal.  In  illustration  of  this 
system,  the  following  incident  is  re- 
lated :  One  day  a  person  entered  the 
wholesale  department,  with  an  air  of 
great  importance,  and  demanded  to  see 
the  proprietor.  That  proprietor  could 
be  very  easily  seen,  as  he  was  sitting  in 
his  ofl3ce,  but  the  stranger  was  cour- 
teously met  by  the  assistant,  with  the 
usual  inquiry  as  to  the  nature  of  his 
business.  The  stranger,  who  was  a 
Government  man,  bristled  up  and  ex- 
claimed, indignantly,  "  Sir,  I  come 
from  Mr.  L ,  and  shall  tell  my  busi- 
ness to  no  one  but  Mr.  Stewart." 
"  Sir,"     replied    the    inevitable     Mr. 

Brown,   "  if  Mr.  L himself,  were 

to  come  here,  he  would  not  see  Mr. 
Stewart  until  he  should  have  first  told 
me  his  business." 


Thorbum's  Flowery  Path  to  Fortune. 

One  of  the  pleasantest  stories  of  the 
casual  manner  in  which  a  business  was 
commenced  which  led  on  to  fortune,  is 
that  given  by  Grant  Thorbum,  former- 
ly the  keeper  of  a  small  grocery,  after- 
ward the  leading  and  most  wealthy 
American  seedsman  and  florist,  his 
business  relations  extending  to  almost 
all  parts.  Here  it  is,  in  the  easy  and 
simple  style  of  that  remarkable  man : 

On  the  east  comer  of  Nassau  and 
Liberty  streets,  New  York,  there  lived 
the  venerable  old  gentleman,  Mr.  Isaac 
Van  Hook,  so  well  known  as  the  sexton 
of  the  New  Dutch  church  opposite  his 
house,  for  nearly  fifty  years.  In  course 
of  time,  J.  L.  and  W.  S.,  both  cabinet 
makers,  and  carrying  on  a  respectable 


business,  having  in  their  employment 
ten  or  twelve  journeymen  and  appren- 
tices, took  a  mad  resolution,  gave  up 
their  business,  sold  their  stock,  hired 
the  comer  house  over  the  head  of  poor 
old  Van  Hook,  turning  him  and  his  to- 
bacco pipes  out  of  doors,  and  com- 
menced the  grocery  business.  Theirs 
being  a  corner,  took  away  the  most  of 
my  customers;  insomuch  that  I  was 
obliged  to  look  round  for  some  other 
mode  to  support  my  family.  This,  you 
may  be  sure,  I  considered  a  great  mis- 
fortune ;  but,  in  the  sequel,  prepared 
the  way  to  put  me  into  a  more  agree- 
able and  profitable  business. 

About  this  time  the  ladies  in  New 
York  were  beginning  to  show  their 
taste  for  flowers,  and  it  was  customary 
to  sell  the  empty  flower  pots  in  the 
grocery  stores ;  these  articles  also  com- 
posed part  of  my  stock. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year,  when  the  plants 
wanted  shifting,  preparatory  to  their 
being  placed  in  the  parlor,  I  was  often 
asked  for  pots  of  a  handsomer  quality, 
or  better  made.  As  stated  above,  I  was 
looking  round  for  some  other  means  to 
support  my  family.  All  at  once  it  came 
into  my  mind  to  take  and  paint  some 
of  my  common  flower  pots  with  green 
vamish  paint,  thinking  it  would  bet- 
ter suit  the  taste  of  the  ladies  than 
the  common  brickbat-colored  ones.  I 
painted  two  pair,  and  exposed  them  in 
front  of  my  window ;  they  soon  drew 
attention,  and  were  sold.  I  painted  six 
pair;  they  soon  went  the  same  way. 
Being  thus  encouraged,  I  continued 
painting  and  selling  to  good  advantage. 
This  was  in  the  fall  of  1802.  One  day, 
in  the  month  of  April  following,  I  ob- 
served a  man,  for  the  first  time,  selling 
flower  plants  in  the  Fly  market,  which 
then  stood  at  the  foot  of  Maiden  lane. 
As  I  carelessly  passed  along,  I  took  a 
leaf,  and  rubbing  it  between  my  finger 
and  thumb,  asked  him  what  was  the 
name  of  it.  He  answered,  a  geranium. 
This,  as  far  as  I  can  recollect,  was  the 
first  time  I  ever  heard  that  the  flower  in 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


167 


question  was  a  geranium;  as,  before 
this,  I  had  no  taste  for,  nor  paid  any 
attention  to  plants.  I  looked  a  few 
minutes  at  the  plant,  thought  it  had  a 
pleasant  smell,  and  that  it  would  look 
well  if  removed  into  one  of  my  green 
flower  pots,  to  stand  on  my  counter  and 
thus  draw  attention. 

Observe,  I  did  not  purchase  this 
plant  with,  the  intention  of  selling  it 
again,  but  merely  to  draw  attention  to 
my  green  joots,  and  let  the  people  see 
bow  well  the  pots  looked  when  the 
plant  was  in  them.  Next  day,  some 
one  fancied  and  purchased  both  plant 
and  pot.  The  day  following,  I  went 
when  the  market  was  nearly  over,  judg- 
ing the  man  would  sell  cheaper,  rather 
than  have  the  trouble  of  carrying  them 
over  the  river,  as  he  lived  at  Brooklyn 
— and  in  those  days  there  were  neither 
steam  nor  horse  boats.  Accordingly,  I 
purchased  two  plants,  and  having  sold 
them,  I  began  to  think  that  something 
might  be  done  in  this  way ;  and  so  I 
continued  to  go,  at  the  close  of  the 
market,  and  always  bargained  for  the 
unsold  plants.  The  man,  finding  me  a 
useful  customer,  would  assist  me  to 
carry  them  home,  and  show  me  how  to 
shift  the  plants  out  of  his  pots  and  put 
them  into  the  green  pots,  if  any  cus- 
tomers wished  it.  I  soon  found,  by  his 
tongue,  that  he  was  a  Scotchman,  and 
being  countrymen,  we  wrought  into  one 
another's  hands,  and  thus,  from  having 
one  plant,  in  a  short  time  I  had  fifty. 
The  thing  being  a  novelty,  began  to 
draAV  attention;  people  carrying  their 
country  friends  to  see  the  curiosities  of 
the  city,  would  step  in  to  see  my  plants. 
In  some  of  these  visits  the  strangers 
would  express  a  wish  to  have  some  of 
these  plants,  but,  having  so  far  to  go, 
could  not  carry  them.  Then  they 
would  ask  if  I  had  no  seed  of  such 
plants ;  then,  again,  others  would  ask 
for  cabbage,  turnip,  or  radish  seed,  etc. 
These  frequent  inquiries  at  length  set 
me  to  thinking  that,  if  I  could  get 
seeds,  I  would  be  able  to  sell  them ; 


but  here  lay  the  difficulty.  As  no  one 
sold  seed  in  New  York,  none  of  the 
farmers  or  gardeners  saved  more  than 
what  they  wanted  for  their  own  use, 
there  being  no  market  for  an  overplus. 
In  this  dilemma,  I  told  my  situation  to 
G.  I.,  the  man  from  whom  I  had  always 
bought  the  plants  in  the  Fly  market. 
He  said  he  was  now  raising  seeds,  with 
the  intention  of  selling  them  next  spring 
along  with  his  plants  in  the  market ; 
but  added,  that  if  I  would  take  his 
seeds,  he  would  quit  the  market,  and 
stay  at  home  and  raise  plants  and  seeds 
for  me  to  sell.  A  bargain  was  imme- 
diately struck ;  I  purchased  his  stock 
of  seeds,  amounting  to  fifteen  dollars, 
and  thus  commenced  a  business,  on  the 
17th  of  September,  1805,  that  became 
the  most  extensive  establishment  of  the 
kind  in  the  western  world. 


Bruised,  but  not  Crushed— the  Messrs. 
Brown,  of  Liverpool. 

The  transactions  of  the  eminent  firm 
of  the  Browns,  in  Liverpool,  are  said  to 
have  amounted,  in  the  year  1836,  to 
fifty  millions  of  dollars.  Li  1837,  the 
American  banks  all  over  the  country 
went  down  one  after  the  other,  and 
many  together,  almost  with  a  universal 
crash.  They  fell,  and  their  fall  involv- 
ed the  Messrs.  Brown.  The  latter, 
though  bruised,  were  not  crushed. 
American  commerce  was  at  that  time  a 
towering  pile  in  course  of  erection — 
bank  credit  was  the  scaffolding.  It 
fell ;  and  the  Browns  were  not  far  from 
being  smothered  in  the  rubbish.  Had 
they  possessed  less  than  the  strength  of 
giants,  they  could  not  have  extricated 
themselves — and,  giants  though  they 
were,  they  would  have  struggled  in 
vain,  had  not  a  powerful  hand  assisted 
them.  The  British  government  saw, 
and  looked  with  apprehension  as  it 
saw,  the  struggles  of  this  colossal  mer- 
cantile house.  From  Inverness  to  Pen- 
zance, there  was  not  a  single  town  but 
would  have  felt  its  fall.  In  Sheffield 
and  Birmingham,  and  the  towns  sur- 


168 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


rounding  them,  and  in  Manchester, 
Leeds,  and  all  the  great  factory  com- 
munities, a  large  number  of  the  mer- 
chants and  employers — and,  as  a  matter 
of  course,  every  man  and  woman  em- 
ployed— were  more  or  less  involved  in 
the  fate  of  this  establishment.  The 
government  of  that  day  saw  the  immi- 
nent peril,  and  so  did  the  directors  of 
the  Bank  of  England.  The  latter  met, 
and  passed  a  resolution  to  give  assist- 
ance to  the  extent  of  some  two  million 
pounds  to  Mr.  Brown ;  the  exact  sum 
which  he  was  authorized  to  draw — a 
loan  of  money,  to  a  single  individual, 
unparalleled  in  the  history  of  the  world, 
unless  it  be  the  case  of  George  Peabody 
— was  one  million  and  nine  hundred 
and  fifty-nine  thousand  pounds,  or 
nearly  ten  million  dollars.  Of  this 
loan,  Mr.  Brown  took  advantage  to  the 
extent  of  between  eight  and  nine  hun- 
dred thousand  pounds,  which  he  after- 
ward repaid,  besides  clearing  up  all 
other  embarrassments,  and  ultimately 
possessing  one  of  the  greatest  personal 
fortunes  ever  accumulated  in  the  world. 
The  solid  romance  of  this  page  in  the 
history  of  so  world-renowned  a  firm  is 
rarely  surpassed  in  interest. 


Wealthy  Men  of  Cincinnati. 

There  is  a  man  doing  business  on 
Main  street,  Cincinnati,  who  was  re- 
fused credit  in  1850  for  a  stove  worth 
twelve  dollars.  He  is  now  a  director  in 
one  of  the  banks,  and  is  worth  $150,000, 
every  cent  of  which  has  been  made  in 
Cincinnati  during  that  period.  There 
is  another  business  man  on  the  same 
street,  who  was  refused  credit  in  1850, 
by  a  firm  in  the-  drug  line  for  the 
amount  of  five  dollars;  eight  years 
after,  the  same  firm  lent  that  very  man 
five  thousand  dollars  upon  his  endorsed 
note.  An  extensive  dealer  in  Cincin- 
nati, now  worth  $100,000,  and  who,  it 
is  said,  can  command  more  money  on 
short  notice  for  sixty,  ninety,  or  one 
hundred  and  twenty  days,  than  almost 


any  man  in  Cincinnati,  went  to  a  gro- 
cery store  in  1850  to  purchase  a  hogs- 
head of  sugar ;  it  was  sold  to  him  with 
many  misgivings  as  to  getting  the  pay 
when  it  became  due.  A  man  whose 
credit  in  1850  was  such  that  when 
trusted  by  a  clerk  for  a  keg  of  salt- 
petre, the  employer  remarked  that  it 
might  as  well  have  been  rolled  into  the 
Ohio,  was  worth,  in  1857,  $100,000, 
again  a  bankrupt  in  1860,  and  now 
worth  $20,000.  A  man,  now  good  for 
$300,000,  was  ten  years  ago  exhibiting 
a  monkey  in  the  streets  of  the  city,  for 
a  living.  Another  heavy  business  man, 
a  bank  director,  sold  apples  in  a  basket 
when  a  boy,  through  the  streets.  One 
of  the  first  merchants  in  the  place,  in 
1845,  and  who  could  at  that  time  have 
bought  entire  blocks  of  houses  on  cred- 
it, and  who  was  a  bank  director,  subse- 
quently died  intemperate  and  insolvent. 
Another,  who  in  1837  was  rated  at  half 
a  million  of  dollars,  has  since  died,  leav- 
ing his  estate  insolvent. 


Heverses  of  Mercantile  Fortune. 

The  array  of  agents,  brokers,  book- 
keepers, and  decayed  gentlemen,  who 
were  but  lately  numbered  among  the 
merchants,  bankers,  and  ship  owners 
of  New  York,  is  quite  a  moving  specta- 
cle.   Thus  A.  B ,  for  thirty  years 

connected  with  trade,  during  most  of 
which  period  he  was  a  leading  member 

of  the  great  cloth  house  of ,  has 

been  worth  $200,000,  but  is  now  a 
bookkeeper  for  a  concern  in  John 
^t^eet.  J.  S.  has  been  forty  years  in 
trade,  and  was  considered  successful 
beyond  all  liability  to  future  risk,  being 
for  many  years  ranked  among  the  rich 
men  of  the  street,  failed,  and  is  now 

poor.    B and  M.,  princes  in  the 

dry  goods  line,  built  two  palatial  stores 
in  Broadway,  and  have  been  immensely 
rich,  but  after  battling  honorably  with 
adverse  fortune,  failed.  J.  R ,  a  re- 
tired merchant,  estimated  at  $500,000, 
holding  at  one  time  $50,000  in  Dela- 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


169 


ware  and  Hudson  Canal  stock,  subse- 
quently got  involved  and  lost  all.  In- 
stances like  these  might  be  multiplied 
to  any  extent. 


William  Boscoe,  the  Poet  Banker. 

After  Mr.  Eoscoe  had  retired  to  pri- 
vate life,  he  was  earnestly  solicited  to 
enter  a  banking  house,  the  officers  of 
which  desired  the  attention  of  a  person 
possessed  of  a  great  business  capacity 
and  talent.  He  had  already  acted  as 
the  confidential  adviser  of  the  house 
when  in  difficulty,  and  had  rendered  it 
valuable  assistance.  Yielding  to  the 
earnest  request  of  his  friends,  he  became 
a  partner  in  said  house,  and  for  a  time 
devoted  himself  exclusively  to  its  con- 
cerns. Some  seven  years  after,  owing  to 
the  demands  of  the  time  and  the  scarcity 
of  specie,  the  house  was  forced  to  sus- 
pend. At  his  solicitation,  the  creditors 
of  the  firm  allowed  them  six  years  in 
which  to  discharge  their  debts.  Dur- 
ing all  this  period  Mr.  Roscoe's  labors 
were  unremitted.  To  meet  their  obli- 
gations, however,  the  private  property 
of  the  members  of  the  firm  had  to  be 
sold,  and  under  the  most  unfavorable 
circumstances.  It  was  during  this  sea- 
son of  trial,  that  Mr.  Roscoe  wrote  the 
celebrated  and  immortal  sonnet,  so  well 
known  to  all  who  read  the  English  lan- 
guage, and  so  evincive  of  his  resigna- 
tion during  trials  so  severe. 


Chinese  Merchant's  Gratitude. 

A  MERCHANT  resided  many  years, 
highly  respected,  at  Canton  and  Macao, 
when  a  sudden  reserve  of  fortune  re- 
duced him  from  a  state  of  affluence  to 
the  greatest  necessity. 

A  Chinese  merchant,  to  whom  he  had 
formerly  rendered  service,  gratefully 
ofiered  him  an  immediate  loan  of  ten 
thousand  dollars,  which  the  gentleman 
accepted,  and  gave  his  bond  for  the 
amount ;  this  the  Chinese  immediately 
threw  into  the  fire,  saying,  "  When  you, 


my  friend,  first  came  to  China,  I  was  a 
poor  man.  You  took  me  by  the  hand, 
and,  assisting  my  honest  endeavors, 
made  me  rich.  Our  circumstances  are 
now  reversed — I  see  you  poor,  while  I 
have  affluence." 

The  bystanders  had  snatched  the 
bond  from  the  flames ;  and  the  mer- 
chant, sensibly  aficcted  by  such  gen- 
erosity, pressed  his  Chinese  friend  to 
take  the  security,  which  he  did,  and 
then  effectually  destroyed  it. 

But  the  disciple  of  Confucius,  ob- 
serving the  renewed  distress  this  act  oc- 
casioned the  merchant,  said  he  would 
accept  the  latter's  watch,  or  any  littlo 
valuable  as  a  memorial  of  their  friend- 
ship. The  merchant  immediately  pre- 
sented his  watch,  and  the  Chinese,  in 
return,  gave  him  an  old  iron  seal,  say- 
ing :  "  Take  this  seal — it  is  one  I  have 
long  used,  and  possesses  no  intrinsic 
value ;  but  as  you  are  going  to  India, 
to  look  after  your  outstanding  con- 
cerns, should  misfortune  further  attend 
you,  di'aw  upon  me  for  any  sum  of 
money  you  may  stand  in  need  of,  seal 
it  with  this  signet,  sign  it  with  your 
own  hand,  and  I  will  pay  the  money." 


Father  Taylor  and  the  Banker's  Ex- 
hortation. 

An  eminent  banker  fiV/m  the  West 
End,  Boston,  once  vibited  Father  Tay- 
lor's church  during  a  warm  revival,  and 
somewhat  varied  the  usual  character  of 
the  prayer  meeting,  by  an  address  set- 
ting forth  the  beneficence  of  the  mer- 
chant princes,  the  goodness  of  the  Port 
Society,  and  above  all  the  duty  of  sea- 
men to  show  their  gratitude  to  the  mer- 
chants. He  was  somewhat  taken  aback 
when  Father  Taylor  arose,  at  the  close 
of  this  rather  presumptuous  exhorta- 
tion, .and  simply  inquired,  "  Is  there 
any  other  old  sinner  from  up-town  that 
would  like  to  say  a  word  ? " 


lYO 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


**  An  Error  in  Shipping  tlie  Goods." 

Toward  the  close  of  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  the  owners  of  the  North 
Church  in  New  Haven,  Ct.,  sent  to  a 
Boston  merchant  for  some  nails,  to 
make  repairs  with,  when  one  of  the 
kegs  sent  in  return  for  the  order  was 
found  to  contain  Spanish  silver  dollars. 
The  deacons  wrote  to  the  merchant  in 
Boston,  that  there  was  "  an  error  in  ship- 
ping the  goods ;"  but  he  answered  that 
the  goods  were  sold  as  he  bought  them 
of  a  privateersman,  and  "  he  couldn't 
rectify  mistakes."  So  the  silver  was 
melted  up  into  a  service  of  plate  for 
the  church,  which  is  in  use  at  the  pres- 
ent day.  Had  the  deacons  been  less 
shrewd,  and  stated  the  nature  of  the 
"  error "  to  the  merchant,  that  service 
of  plato  would  never  have  turned  up. 
As  it  was,  they  realized  the  full  benefit 
of  what  is  so  much  esteemed  in  busi- 
correspondence — brevity. 


however,  he  sent  for  a  painter,  and  had 
the  following  addition  made  to  his  an- 
nouncement: "Nor  at  the  window 
either." 


Persevering:  Traders. 

An  old  bachelor  who  resided  in  Brix- 
ton, in  order  to  prevent  itinerant  trad- 
ers annoying  him  by  knocking  at  his 
door  to  dispose  of  their  v/ares,  affixed 
to  his  knocker  a  label  to  this  effect : 
'The  inhabitant  of  this  house  never 
buys  anything  at  the  door— Hawkers, 
beware  ! "  He  was  dreadfully  annoyed 
shortly  after  by  a  loud  knock  at  the  par- 
lor window,  from  which  he  saw  two  fel- 
lows with  clothes-lines,  mats,  and  pegs 
to  sell.  Throwing  uj)  the  sash  in  a 
pretty  considerable  rage,  he  accosted 
them  thus  :  "  Can  you  read  ? "  "  Yes, 
master,"  answered  the  hawker.  "  Then 
don't  you  see  a  notice  affixed  to  my 
knocker,  that  I  never  buy  anything  at 
the  door  ?  "  ".  To  be  sure  we  do  ;  so 
we  thought  we  would  make  bold  and 
try  to  do  a  little  something  at  the  par- 
lor window."  The  fellow's  wit  pacified 
the  old  bachelor,  who  straightway  (he 
had  a  good  vein  in  him,  after  all)  made 
a   purchase.      Immediately  afterward, 


Aptness  and  Nicety  in  Business  Illus- 
trated 

On  a  certain  Saturday  night,  the 
clerks  of  the  Bank  of  England  could 
not  make  the  balance  come  out  right 
by  just  one  hundred  pounds.  This  is  a 
serious  matter  in  that  little  establish- 
ment— not  the  cash,  but  the  mistake  in 
arithmetic ;  for  it  necessitates  a  world 
of  scrutiny.  An  error  in  the  balancing 
has  been  known  to  keep  a  delegation 
of  clerks  from  each  department  at 
work,  sometimes,  through  the  whole 
night.  A  hue  and  cry,  therefore,  was 
made  after  this  one  hundred  pounds, 
as  if  the  old  lady  in  Threadneedle  street 
would  be  in  the  Gazette,  as  an  insol- 
vent, for  want  of  it.  Luckily  on  the 
Sunday  morning  following,  the  clerk — 
in  the  middle  of  the  sermon,  perhaps, 
if  the  truth  were  knowTi, — felt  a  suspi- 
cion of  the  truth  dart  through  his  mind 
quicker  than  any  flash  of  the  telegraph 
itself.  He  told  the  chief  cashier,  on 
Monday  morning,  that  perhaps  the  mis- 
take might  have  occurred  in  packing 
some  boxes  of  specie  for  the  West  In- 
dies which  had  been  sent  to  Southamp- 
ton for  shipment.  The  suggestion  was 
immediately  acted  upon.  Here  was  a 
race  —  lightning  against  steam,  and 
steam  with  eight  and  forty  hours  the 
start  given.  Instantly  the  wires  asked, 
"whether  such  a  vessel  had  left-, the 
harbor?"  "Just  weighing  anclfor," 
was  the  reply.  "  Stop  her  ! "  frantical- 
ly shouted  the  telegraph.  It  was  done. 
"  Have  up  on  deck  certain  boxes  mark- 
ed so  and  so ;  weigh  them  carefully." 
They  were  weighed ;  and  one,  the  de- 
linquent, was  found  heavier  by  just  one 
packet  of  a  hundred  sovereigns  than  it 
ought  to  be."  "  Let  her  go,"  says  the 
mysterious  telegraph.  The  West  India 
folks  were  debited  with  just  one  hun- 
dred pounds  more,  and  the  error  was 


A 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


m 


1.-W 


corrected  without  even  looking  into 
the  boxes,  or  delaying  the  voyage  an 
hour. 


European  and  American  Modes  of 
Doing  Business. 

The  loose  and  careless  manner  in 
which  business  is  done  in  this  country 
— at  least  in  these  latter  days  of  hurry 
and  venture — as  compared  with  the 
practice  among  European  merchants — 
was  a  subject  frequently  commented 
upon  by  the  late  John  Bromfield,  well 
known  as  one  of  the  "prince  mer- 
chants" of  Boston.  In  his  familiar 
style,  Mr.  Bromfield  used  to  say, 
"  Here,  if  a  purchaser  is  about  to  buy 
a  cargo  of  box  sugars,  he  will  bore  into 
one  box,  look  at  a  second,  kick  a  third 
— and  take  the  lot ;  but  in  Europe,  they 
thrust  an  iron  searcher  through  and 
through  every  box,  and  carefully  exam- 
ine every  layer." 


Minding  One's  Own  Business. 

"  During  my  long  commercial  expe- 
rience," says  Girard,  "  I  have  noticed 
that  no  advantage  results  from  telling 
one's  business  to  others,  except  to  create 
jealousy  or  competitors  when  we  are 
fortunate,  and  to  gratify  our  enemies 
when  otherwise."  He  was  never  known 
to  disregard  this  theory  in  all  his  pro- 
tracted career  as  one  of  the  greatest  and 
most  successful  of  merchants. 

Hon.  Peter  C.  Brooks,  of  Boston,  who 
left  one  of  the  largest  fortunes  ever 
amassed  in  this  country,  on  being  asked 
what  rule  he  would  recommend  to  a 
young  man  as  most  likely  to  ensure  suc- 
cess, answered:  "Let  him  mind  his 
own  business ;"  and  to  a  similar  in- 
quiry, it  has  been  said  that  Robert 
Lenox,  of  New  York,  well  remembered 
as  one  of  the  most  distinguished  mer- 
chants ever  known  in  that  great  city, 
and  for  his  wide  hospitality,  once  an- 
swered :  "  Let  him  be  beforehand  with 
his  business."  One  answer  seems  to  in- 
clude the  other,  as  no  man  can  be  de- 


forehand  with  his  business,  unless  he 
minds  it  unremittingly,  instead  of  spend- 
ing his  time  and  wits  in  looking  after 
others. 


John  Jacob  Aster's  '*  Highway  to  For- 
tune." 

"  It's  what  thee'll  spend,  my  son," 
said  a  sage  old  Quaker,  "not  what 
thee'll  make,  which  will  decide  whether 
thee's  to  be  rich  or  not," — Franklin's 
advice,  only  in  another  shape,  "  Take 
care  of  the  pennies,  and  the  pounds 
will  take  care  of  themselves." 

John  Jacob  Astor  used  to  say,  that 
a  man  who  wishes  to  be  rich  and  has 
saved  ten  thousand  dollars,  has  won 
half  the  battle — is  on  the  highway  to 
fortune.  Not  that  Astor  thought  ten 
thousand  much.  But  he  knew  that  in 
making  and  saving  such  a  sum,  a  man 
acquired  habits  of  prudent  economy, 
which  would  constantly  keep  him  ad- 
vancing in  wealth.  The  habitual  small 
expenses,  which  are  designated  as 
"  only  a  trifle,"  amount,  in  the  aggre- 
gate, like  the  sands  of  the  shore,  to 
something  pretty  serious.  Ten  cents  a 
day,  even,  is  thirty-six  dollars  and  a 
half  a  year,  and  that  is  the  interest  on 
a  capital  of  six  hundred  dollars;  so 
that  the  man  who  saves  ten  cents  a  day 
only,  is  so  much  richer  than  him  who 
does  not,  as  if  he  owned  a  life  estate  in 
a  property  worth  six  hundred  dollars. 


Gideon  Lee  carrsnug  the  liapstone. 

In  the  year  1834,  the  memorable 
panic  year,  a  report  was  put  in  circula- 
tion among  the  New  York  business 
men,  that  the  house  of  Gideon  Lee, 
long  so  eminent  and  stable,  had  failed. 
In  allusion  to  the  report,  Mr.  Lee  re- 
marked :  "  I  commenced  business,  when 
poor,  on  credit ;  I  thrived  by  credit.; 
and  I  hold  it  to  be  my  duty  to  sacrifice 
my  property  down  to  twenty  shillings 
in  the  pound,  before  that  credit  shall 
be  dishonored.  /  have  carried  the  lap- 
stone,  and  I  can  do  it  again ;  but  I  will 


•  172 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


never  sufler  a  promise  of  mine  to  be 
broken,  while  I  have  a  shilling  left  that 
I  can  call  my  own." 


Usurious  Interest  on  Money— Peter  C. 
Brooks's  Bule. 

One  of  the  undeviating  principles 
upon  which  Peter  C.  Brooks  conducted 
his  great  business  was  that  of  never, 
either  directly  or  indirectly,  taking 
more  than  legal  interest.  Had  he  been 
willing  to  violate  this  rule,  and  that  in 
modes  not  condemned  by  the  letter  of 
the  law,  nor  by  public  opiDion,  he 
might  easily  have  doubled  his  fortune. 
But  many  considerations  led  him  to 
adopt  and  adhere  to  his  rule  on  this 
subject.  It  was  contrary  to  law  to 
take  more  than  legal  interest,  and  he 
held  it  to  be  eminently  dangerous  to 
tamper  with  the  duty  of  a  good  citizen, 
and  break  the  law,  because  he  might 
think  the  thing  forbidden  not  morally 
wrong.  This  consideration  was  entire- 
ly irrespective  of  the  fact,  that  at  one 
period,  by  the  law  of  Massachusetts,  the 
contract  was  wholly  violated  by  the 
demand  of  usurious  interest,  and  the 
creditor  placed  in  the  debtor's  power. 
But  after  the  mitigation  of  the  law  in 
this  respect,  Mr.  Brooks's  practice  re- 
mained unaltered.  He  believed  and 
often  said,  that,  in  the  long  run,  six  per 
cent,  is  as  much  as  the  bare  use  of 
money  is  worth  in  this  country  ;  that  to 
demand  more  was  for  the  capitalist  to 
claim  the  benefit  of  the  borrower's  skill 
in  some  particular  business,  or  of  his 
courage  and  energy ;  or  else  it  was  to 
take  advantage  of  his  neighbor's  need. 
He  frequently  said  that  he  would  never 
put  it  in  the  power  of  any  one,  in  a  re- 
verse of  fortune,  to  ascribe  his  ruin  to 
the  payment  of  usurious  interest  to 
him.  On  more  than  one  occasion, 
when  some  beneficial  public  object  was 
to  be  promoted,  he  lent  large  sums  at 
an  interest  below  the  legal  and  current 
rate. 


Benevolence  of  Shai-kingr-qua,  a  Chi- 
nese Merchant. 

An  interesting  instance  of  generosity 
is  given  of  a  Chinese  merchant,  of  the 
name  of  Shai-king-qua,  who  had  long 
known  a  Mr.  Anderson,  an  English 
trader,  and  had  large  business  transac- 
tions with  him.  It  appears  that  IVIr. 
Anderson  met  with  heavy  losses,  be- 
came insolvent,  and  at  the  time,  of  his 
failure  owed  his  Chinese  friend  upward 
of  eighty  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  A. 
wished  to  go  to  England,  in  the  hope 
of  being  able  to  retrieve  his  affairs  ;  he 
called  on  the  Hong  merchant,  and  in 
the  utmost  distress,  explained  his  situa- 
tion, his  wishes,  and  his  plans.  The 
Chinese  listened  with  anxious  atten- 
tion, and  having  heard  his  story,  thus 
addressed  him : 

"  My  friend  Anderson,  you  have  been 
very  unfortunate ;  you  lose  all — I  very 
sorry ;  you  go  to  England ;  if  you  more 
fortunate  there,  you  come  back  and 
pay  ;  but  that  you  no  forget  Chinaman 
friend,  you  take  this,  and  when  you 
look  on  this,  you  will  remember  Shai- 
king-qua."  In  saying  these  words,  he 
pulled  out  a  valuable  gold  watch,  and 
gave  it  to  Anderson. 

Mr.  Anderson  took  leave  of  his 
friend,  but  he  did  not  live  to  retrieve 
his  affairs,  or  to  return  to  China. 
When  the  account  of  his  death,  and 
of  the  distress  in  which  he  had  left  his 
family,  reached  Canton,  the  Hong  mer- 
chant called  on  one  of  the  merchants 
of  the  factory  who  was  about  to  return 
to  Europe,  and  addressed  him  in  the 
following  manner  :  "  Poor  Mr.  Ander- 
son dead!  I  very  sorry;  he  good 
man;  he  friend,  and  he  leave  two 
childs ;  they  poor— they  have  nothing 
—they  childs  of  my  friend ;  you  take 
this  for  them;  tell  them  Chinaman 
friend  send  it ! "  And  he  put  into  the 
returning  merchant's  hands  several 
thousand  dollars  for  Mr.  A.'s  children. 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


173 


Money-getting  Tact  of  Jews. 

That  the  Jews  are  more  successful 
in  money-getting  than  any  other  people 
is  a  generally  admitted  fact.  "  As  rich 
as  a  Jew,"  is  a  proverb.  How  to  ac- 
count for  it — to  what  cause  to  ascribe 
it — has  long  been  a  puzzle.  If  the  fol- 
lowing be  matter-of-fact,  instead  of  ro- 
mancing, it  may  be  considered  a  partial 
solution  of  the  puzzle :  "  The  politest 
people  in  the  world  are  not  the  French, 
the  English,  the  American,  the  Italian, 
nor  the  German,  but  the  Jewish.  For 
the  Jews  are  maltreated,  and  reviled, 
and  despoiled  of  their  civil  privileges, 
and  their  social  rights ;  yet  are  they 
everywhere  polite,  affable,  insinuating, 
and  condescending.  They  are  remark- 
able for  their  industry  and  persever- 
ance ; .  indulge  in  few  or  no  recrimina- 
tions ;  are  faithful  to  old  associations ; 
more  respectful  of  the  prejudices  of 
others  than  those  are  of  theirs;  not 
more  worldly-minded  and  money-lov- 
ing than  people  generally  are ;  and, 
everything  considered,  they  surpass  all 
nations  in  courtesy,  affability,  and  for- 
bearance. Few  persons  excel  in  ad- 
dress a  bright  and  polished  Jew. 
There  is  no  rusticity  among  that  peo- 
ple." Whether  this  representation  be 
correct  or  not,  we  scarcely  know,  as  the 
majority  of  the  reputed  Jews  in  this 
country,  especially  those  in  the  cloth- 
ing trade,  are  a  mongrel  race.  But  it 
is  certain  that  much  of  business  success 
depends  on  courtesy. 


V. 


Sole  dualiflcation  of  a  Bill  Broker. 

An  ancient  writer  on  money  affairs 
compressed  a  good  deal  of  shrewd 
truth  in  his  brief  description  of  what 
a  bill  broker  should  be  :  A  bill  broker 
ought  to  be  a  man  of  honor,  and  know 
his  business ;  he  should  avoid  babbling, 
and  be  prudent  in  his  oflSce,  which  con- 
sists in  one  sole  point — to  hear  all  and 
my  nothing  ;  so  that  he  ought  never  to 
speak  of  the  negotiations  transacted  by 
means  of  his  intervention. 


Peculiar  Feature  in  Rothschild's  Busi- 
ness Character. 

Rothschild's  management  of  the 
business  of  exchanges  was  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  features  in  his  char- 
acter. He  never  hesitated  for  a  moment 
in  fixing  a  rate  either  as  a  drawer  or  pur- 
chaser of  a  foreign  bill  of  exchange  on 
any  part  of  the  world  ;  and  his  memory 
was  so  retentive,  that,  notwithstanding 
the  multifarious  and  immense  transac- 
tions into  which  he  entered  on  every 
foreign  post-day  on  the  Exchange,  he 
never  took  a  memorandum  of  them, 
but,  on  his  return  to  his  office,  could 
dictate  to  his  clerks  the  whole  of  the 
bargains  he  had  made,  with  the  various 
rates  of  exchange,  and  the  names  of  the 
several  parties  with  whom  he  had  dealt, 
with  the  most  perfect  exactness. 


Commercial  Fortune  of  a  Peer. 

One  of  the  most  popular  members 
of  the  British  House  of  Lords  is  said  to 
have  purchased  his  peerage  with  a  mil- 
lion of  dollars  in  gold.  One  of  the 
methods  by  which  that  mercantile 
house,  of  which  he  was  the  leading 
member,  amassed  the  large  fortune 
which  they  now  enjoy,  was  this  :  they 
saw  that  the  stock  of  a  certain  article, 
necessary  for  culinary  purposes,  was 
becoming  scarce,  and  that  the  supply 
would  be  limited  ;  they  forthwith  sent 
orders  and  agents  to  buy  up  that  parti- 
cular article,  and  thus  swejjt  the  mar- 
ket. The  demand  for  the  article  in- 
creased— as  is  usual— in  proportion  to 
its  scarcity,  the  rice  went  up,  and  the 
house  cleared  within  one  week,  at  the 
expense  of  tens  of  thousands  of  con- 
sumers in  very  humble  circumstances, 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars. 


Half-a-Million  Profit  by  One  of  Gi- 
rard's  Operations. 

In  the  year  1813,  an  interesting  cir- 
cumstance occurred  in  the  business 
operations  of  Girard,  through  his  bank, 
by  which  he  accomplished  an  enter- 


174 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


prise  of  great  importance  to  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  by  the  increase  of  its 
trade,  as  well  as  to  his  own  funds  in 
its  profits,  besides  the  advantages  which 
were  furnished  to  the  Government  by 
the  duties  which  accrued  to  the  nation- 
al treasury.  It  happened  that  his  ship, 
the  Montesquieu,  was  captured  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Delaware  river,  as  was 
alleged,  by  a  British  frigate,  and  as 
this  vessel  had  an  invoice  cargo  of  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars — consisting 
of  teas,  nankeens  and  silks — from  Can- 
ton, it  was  determined  by  the  captors, 
in  preference  to  the  hazard  of  being  re- 
captured by  an  American  ship  in  any 
attempt  to  carry  their  prize  to  a  British 
port,  to  send  a  flag  of  truce  to  Mr.  Gi- 
rard,  in  order  to  give  him  the  offer  of  a 
ransom.  Applying  to  his  well-stored 
vaults,  the  banker  drew  from  them  the 
sum  of  ninety-three  thousand  dollars  in 
doubloons,  which  was  transmitted  to 
the  British  commander,  and  his  vessel 
was  soon  seen  coming  into  port  with 
her  rich  cargo, — and  which,  notwith- 
standing the  price  of  the  ransom,  is 
supposed,  by  the  advanced  value  of 
every  article  on  board,  to  have  added 
a  half  a  million  of  dollars  to  his  for- 
tune. 


American  Merchants  of  the  Olden  Time 
—Joseph  Peahody. 

Joseph  Peabody,  of  Salem,  Mass.,  a 
name  known  wherever  American  com- 
mercial enterprise  has  been  heard  of, 
built  and  owned  eighty-three  ahips^ 
which,  in  every  instance,  he  freighted 
himself;  and  for  the  navigation  of 
which  he  shipped,  at  different  times, 
upward  of  seven  thousand  seamen.  From 
the  year  1811,  he  had  advanced  thirty- 
five  to  the  rank  of  shipmaster,  who  en- 
tered his  employ  as  boys.  He  had  per- 
formed by  these  vessels  the  following 
voyages,  viz. :  to  Calcutta,  thirty-eight ; 
Canton,  seventeen ;  Sumatra,  thirty- 
two  ;  St.  Petersburg,  forty-seven ; 
other  ports  in  the  north  of  Europe, 
ten ;  the  Mediterranean,  twenty,  before 


the  war  of  1812.  The  voyages  per- 
formed by  his  vessels  to  the  West  In- 
dies, Spanish  Main,  and  along  our  wide 
extended  coast,  are  unnumbered.  The 
aggregate  of  his  annual  state,  county, 
and  city  taxes  paid  into  the  treasury, 
amounted  to  about  two  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars.  A  business  of  such  vast 
magnitude  and  enterprise  has  rarely, 
for  so  long  a  period,  been  conducted  by 
the  energy  and  industry  of  £\n  indi- 
vidual. 


Gresham's  Fortunate  Letter. 

Thomas  Gresham,  as  is  recorded  in 
history,  was  one  of  the  first  English 
merchants  that  traded  to  the  East 
Indies;  and,  having  fitted  out  several 
ships,  he  miscalculated  the  time  at 
which  they  would  return — a  circum- 
stance that  caused  him  much  embar- 
rassment. He,  however,  soon  recovered 
from  this  temporary  disquietude.  One 
day,  while  despondingly  walking  about 
the  Bourse,  or  Exchange,  which  then 
had  its  location  in  Lombard  street,  a 
sailor  came  up  and  presented  him  with 
a  letter  from  the  captain  of  one  of  his 
ships,  which  contained  j;he  gratifying 
information  that  two  of  his  ships  had 
arrived  safe  from  the  East  Indies ;  and 
that  the  box,  which  the  bearer  would 
deliver,  contained  some  diamonds  and 
pearls  of  great  value,  as  a  sample  of  the 
immense  riches  the  ships  had  brought 
home.  This  peculiar  and  somewhat 
romantic  incident  is  said  to  be  an  ex- 
planation of  the  statue  of  Gresham,  in 
the  old  Royal  Exchange  of  London, 
which  represents  him  as  holding  an 
open  letter  in  his  hand. 


Private  Mercantile  Finances  and 

Royal  Fleets. 
A  SINGLE  merchant  secured  Queen 
Elizabeth  against  all  the  danger  with 
which  she  was  threatened  by  the  soi- 
disant  invincible  armada  of  Spain. 
When  the  queen  was  apprised  of  the 
designs  of  Spain,  she  had  no  ships  ca- 


SIE  THOMAS  GllESHAM^S  FORTUNATE   LETTER. 


C  •         r  „  c 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


175 


pable  of  being  opposed  to  tlie  Spanisli 
fleet ;  as  a  part  of  those  which  were 
lying  in  the  ports  and  docks  could  only 
be  used  after  twelve  mouths.  Mr. 
Thomas  Sutton,  however,  the  distin- 
guished merchant  who  founded  the 
Charter  House,  being  well  acquainted 
with  the  state  of  the  French  finances, 
knew  that  the  Spanish  fleet  could  not 
set  sail,  but  through  the  medium  of  bills 
which  were  to  be  drawn  upon  the  Ge- 
noese Bank.  He  therefore  conceived 
the  idea  of  buying  up  all  the  paper  or 
bills  that  could  be  met  with  in  every 
commercial  town  in  Europe,  and  to 
deposit  them  in  the  Bank  of  Genoa, 
that  by  his  large  remittances  he  might 
have  that  bank  so  in  his  power,  as  to 
incapacitate  it,  whenever  he  chose,  from 
giving  any  aid  to  the  Spaniards.  Being 
well  aware  that  it  only  required  to  let 
those  remittances  remain  at  Genoa,  un- 
til the  season  should  obstruct  the  sail- 
ing of  the  fleet,  he  calculated  that  these 
exchange  operations  would  cost  about 
forty  tljousand  pounds  sterling,  and  he 
proposed  to  the  queen  to  extricate  her 
at  this  price  from  the  dilemma.  The 
proposal  was  accepted,  and  carried  into 
efibct  with  so  much  secresy,  that  Phil- 
ip's hands  were  tied,  and  he  could  not 
send  out  the  fleet  until  the  following- 
year. 

♦ 

Poxtugruese  Pilgrim  in  the  Streets  of 
Venice. 

Ox  a  morning  of  summer,  in  the  year 
1498,  a  poor  Portuguese  pilgrim,  clothed 
in  rags,  and  who  had  wandered  on  foot 
from  his  native  hills,  appeared  in  the 
streets  of  Venice,  and  announced  to  its 
citizens  that  one  of  those  daring  naviga- 
tors sent  out  by  his  king,  had  doubled 
the  Cape  of  Storms,  and  discovered  a  new 
route  to  India.  He  was  surrounded  and 
eagerly  questioned  by  a  throng  of  prin- 
ces, merchants,  and  artizans.  His  an- 
swers struck  terror  in  every  heart.  They 
saw  at  once  that  the  partition  wall  of 
their  commercial  monopoly  was  broken 
down ;  they  saw  the  lucrative  trade  of 


the  east  transferred  frcm  the  Lagoon  to 
Lisbon  and  the  Tagus ;  they  saw  that 
the  rich  merchandise  which  they  gath- 
ered and  dispersed  throughout  Europe, 
was  destined  to  pass  through  other 
hands  ;  they  saw  their  ships  rotting  in 
their  docks,  and  their  sailors  wander- 
ing idly  about  the  streets ;  they  heard 
the  last  motion  of  those  looms  which 
had  produced  the  choice  silken  and 
woollen  fabrics  in  which  the  nobles 
of  Europe  clothed  themselves  ;  in  a 
word,  they  rightly  fancied  they  saw 
the  destruction  of  that  commerce 
whence  came  all  their  wealth,  their 
luxury,  and  their  pride ;  that  com- 
merce which  had  sent  forth  with  the 
third  army  of  the  Crusaders,  two  hun- 
dred ships,  and  with  the  fourth,  five 
hundred  ;  that  commerce  whose  migh- 
ty "pulsations  had  been  felt  at  the  far- 
thest extremities  of  the  earth.  Here 
was  the  remote,  but  the  chief  cause  of 
the  Commercial  Fall  of  Venice  ! 


Shopkeepers  and  "Warriors. 

When  Napoleon  applied  to  England 
the  contemptuous  epithet  of  a  "  nation 
of  shopkeepers,"  he  paid  her  a  higher 
compliment  than  he  intended ;  it  was 
an  unintentional  tribute  to  the  power 
she  had  acquired  by  trade,  an  extorted 
homage  to  that  commercial  policy  by 
which  her  merchants  had  become  the 
arbiters  of  Europe — of  those  elements 
of  strength  which  the  shopkeepers  of 
the  Royal  Exchange  and  Threadneedle 
street  had  furnished  to  her  rulers,  by 
which  she  alone  was  enabled  to  pre- 
scribe boundaries  to  the  ambition  of 
the  great  Captain,  and  say  to  the  migh- 
ty wave  of  Gallic  usuqjation,  "  Thus 
far  shalt  thou  go,  and  no  farther." 
Military  prowess  was  held  in  check  by 
mercantile  combinations,  and  the  shop- 
keepers proved  an  overmatch  for  the 
warrior. 


176 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Murdered  Merchant  Watclied  by  his 
Dog-. 
An  account,  well  attested,  is  related 
of  two  French  merchants,  who  were 
travelling  to  a  fair,  and,  while  passing 
through  a  wood,  one  of  them  murdered 
the  other,  and  robbed  him  of  his  money. 
After  burying  him,  so  as  to  prevent  dis- 
covery, he  proceeded  on  his  journey. 
The  dog  of  the  person  remained,  how- 
ever, by  the  grave  of  his  master ;  and, 
by  his  long  and  continued  howling, 
attracted  the  notice  of  several  persons 
in  the  neighborhood,  who,  by  this 
means,  discovered  the  murder.  The 
fair  being  ended,  they  watched  the  re- 
turn of  the  merchant.  The  murderer 
no  sooner  appeared  in  view,  than  the 
dog  sprung  furiously  upon  him.  He 
was  apprehended,  confessed  the  crime, 
and  was  executed.  The  kindness  of 
the  merchant  had  secured  even  the  at- 
tachment of  his  dog  to  such  a  degree, 
that  not  even  death  could  sunder  the 
noble  animal  from  the  loved  form  of 
his  master. 


Agred  Merchant  Saved  from  Eobbery 
by  the  Weather. 

An  aged  merchant  was  one  day  re- 
turning from  market.  He  was  on 
horseback,  and  behind  him  was  a  valise 
filled  with  money.  The  rain  began  to 
fall  with  violence,  and  the  good  old 
man  was  soon  wet  to  his  skin.  At  this 
he  was  vexed,  and  indulged  in  some 
pretty  audible  murmurings  that  the 
weather  should  prove  so  bad  while  he 
was  journeying. 

He  soon  reached  the  borders  of  a 
thick  forest.  What  was  his  terror  on 
beholding,  on  one  side  of  the  road,  a 
robber,  with  leveled  gun,  aiming  at 
him  and  attempting  to  fire !  But  the 
powder  being  wet  by  the  rain,  the  gun 
did  not  go  off,  and  the  merchant,  giv- 
ing spurs  to  his  horse,  fortunately  had 
time  to  escape. 

As  soon  as  he  found  himself  safe,  he 
said  to  himself,  "  How  wrong  was  I, 
not  to  endure  the  rain  patiently,  as  sent 


by  Providence.  If  the  weather  had 
been  dry  and  fair,  I  should  not,  proba- 
bly, have  been  alive  at  this  hour,  and 
my  children  would  have  expected  my 
return  in  vain.  The  rain  which  caused 
me  to  murmur,  came  at  a  fortunate  mo- 
ment to  save  my  life  and  preserve  my 
property."  It  is  almost  needless  to 
add,  that  thereafter  the  good  merchant 
made  the  best  of  the  weather,  which- 
ever way  it  turned  up,  indorsing  with 
a  good  will  the  old  adage,  that  it  is  an 
ill  wind  indeed  that  blows  no  good  to 
80ine  one. 


English  Merchant  and  Spanish  Beggar. 
It  is  related  that  an  English  mer- 
chant in  the  neighborhood  of  Madrid, 
having  no  money  in  his  pocket,  gener- 
ously gave  a  handful  of  choice  cigars 
to  a  beggar  who  approached  him  :  the 
poorest  Spaniard  will  be  more  gratified 
with  a  cigar  than  with  money,  so  far  as 
his  personal  feelings  are  concerned,  as 
it  is  a  compliment.  Three  years  after- 
ward, this  merchant  was  seized  iiear  his 
country  house  by  a  band  of  robbers. 
While  they  were  settling  his  ransom 
they  were  joined  by  an  absent  comrade, 
who  instantly  dismounted,  and,  ap- 
proaching the  Englishman,  whom  he 
had  at  once  recognized,  saluted  him, 
and  asked  if  he  did  not  remember  hav- 
ing given,  at  such  a  place  and  time,  a 
handful  of  cigars  to  a  beggar;  then, 
turning  to  his  comrades,  he  said,  "  This 
is  my  benefactor — whoever  lays  a  hand 
on  him  lays  it  on  me." 


Good  Word  for  Girard. 

One  of  the  most  ingenious  and  plau- 
sible estimates  of  Mr.  Girard's  character 
as  a  business  man — and  the  most  favor- 
able— which  has  ever  appeared,  is  that 
uttered  by  Mr.  Everett:  He  told  me 
himself  (says  Mr.  E.),  that  at  the  age 
of  forty,  his  circumstances  were  so  nar- 
row, that  he  was  employed  as  the  com- 
mander of  his  own  sloop,  engaged  in 
the  coasting  trade  between  New  York 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


177 


or  Philadelphia  and  New  Orleans; 
adding  that  on  a  certain  occasion  he 
was  forty-five  days  in  working  his  way 
up  from  the  Balize  to  the  city.  Few 
persons  enjoyed  less  personal  popularity 
in  the  community  in  which  he  lived, 
and  to  which  he  bequeathed  his  prince- 
ly fortune.  If  this  proceeded  from  de- 
fects of  personal  character,  it  is  a  topic 
to  be  discussed  only  in  its  proper  place. 
Of  the  effect  upon  the  public  welfare  of 
the  community  of  such  a  fortune  in 
one's  hands,  freedom  of  speech  may  of 
course  be  indulged  in.  While  I  am  far 
from  saying  that  it  might  not  have 
been  abused  by  being  made  the  instru- 
ment of  a  corrupt  and  dangerous  influ- 
ence in  the  community,  I  have  never 
heard  that  it  was  so  abused  by  Mr. 
Girard ;  and,  on  general  principles,  it 
may  perhaps  be  safely  said,  that  the 
class  of  men  qualified  to  amass  large 
fortunes  by  perseverance  and  exclusive 
dedication  to  business,  by  frugality  and 
thrift,  are  not  at  all  likely  to  apply  this 
wealth  to  ambitious  or  corrupt  designs. 
As  to  the  effect  in  all  other  points  of 
view,  I  confess  I  see  nothing  but  public 
benefit  in  such  capital,  managed  with 
unrelaxing  economy ;  one-half  judi- 
ciously employed  by  the  proprietor 
himself  in  commerce — the  other  half 
loaned  to  the  business  community. 
What  better  use  could  have  been  made 
of  it  ?  Will  it  be  said,  divide  it  equal- 
ly among  the  community;  give  each 
individual  in  the  United  States  a 
share  ?  It  would  have  amounted  to 
half  a  dollar  each  for  man,  woman,  and 
child;  and,  of  course,  might  as  well 
have  been  sunk  in  the  middle  of  the 
sea.  Such  a  distribution  would  have 
been  another  name  for  annihilation. 
How  many  ships  would  have  furled 
their  sails,  how  many  warehouses  would 
have  closed  their  shutters,  how  many 
wheels,  heavily  laden  with  the  products 
of  industry,  would  have  stood  still,  how 
many  families  would  have  been  reduced 
to  want,  and  without  any  advantage 
resulting  from  distribution  ? 
12 


In  a  country  like  this,  where  the  laws 
forbid  hereditary  transmission,  and  en- 
courage equality  of  fortune,  accumula- 
tions of  capital,  made  by  industry,  en- 
terprise, and  prudence,  and  employed 
in  active  investments,  without  minis- 
tering to  extravagance  and  luxury,  are 
beneficial  to  the  public.  Their  posses- 
sor becomes,  whether  he  wills  it  or  not, 
the  steward  of  others ;  not  merely,  as 
in  Mr.  Girard's  case,  because  he  may 
destine  a  colossal  fortune  after  his  de- 
cease for  public  objects,  but  because, 
while  he  lives,  every  dollar  of  it  must 
be  employed  in  giving  life  to  industry 
and  employment  to  labor. 

Had  Mr.  Girard  lived  in  a  fashion- 
able part  of  the  city,  in  a  magnificent 
house;  had  he  dazzled  the  passer-by 
with  his  splendid  equipages,  and  spread 
a  sumptuous  table  for  his  "  dear  five 
hundred  friends,"  he  would  no  doubt 
have  been  a  more  popular  man.  But 
in  my  apprehension  he  appears  to  far 
greater  advantage,  as  a  citizen  and  a 
patriot,  in  his  modest  dwelling  and 
plain  garb;  appropriating  to  his  per- 
sonal wants  the  smallest  pittance  from 
his  princely  income ;  living  to  the  last 
in  the  dark  and  narrow  street  in  which 
he  made  his  fortune,  and,  when  he  died, 
bequeathing  it  for  the  education  of  or- 
phan children.  For  the  public,  I  do 
not  know  that  he  could  have  done  bet- 
ter :  of  all  men  in  the  world,  he  proba- 
bly derived  the  least  enjoyment  from 
his  property  himself. 


The  Banker's  Seven-Shilling:  Piece. 

It  was  during  one  of  the  great  na- 
tional panics,  that  a  gentleman — who 
may  be  called  Mr.  Thompson — was 
seated,  with  something  of  a  melancholy 
look,  in  his  dreary  back  room,  watch- 
ing his  clerks  pay  away  thousands  of 
pounds  hourly.  Thompson  was  a  bank- 
er of  excellent  credit — there  existed, 
perhaps,  in  the  city  of  London,  no  safer 
concern  than  that  of  Messrs.  Thomp- 
son &  Co. :  but  at  a  moment  like  the 


178^ 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


one  referred  to,  no  rational  reflection 
was  admitted,  no  former  stability  was 
looked  to.  A  general  distrust  was  felt, 
and  every  one  rushed  to  his  banker's  to 
withdraw  his  hoard,  fearing  that  the 
next  instant  would  be  too  late — forget- 
ting entirely  that  this  step  was  that  of 
all  others  most  likely  to  insure  the  ruin 
that  was  sought  to  be  avoided.  The 
wealthy  citizen  named  sat  gloomily 
watching  the  outpouring  of  his  gold, 
and  with  a  grim  smile  listening  to  the 
<^lamorous  demands  on  his  cashier; 
/or  although  he  felt  perfectly  easy  and 
secure  as  to  the  ultimate  strength  of  his 
resources,  yet  he  could  not  altogether 
suppress  a  feeling  of  bitterness  as  he 
saw  constituent  after  constituent  rush 
in,  and  those  whom  he  fondly  imagined 
to  be  his  dearest  friends  eagerly  assist- 
ing in  the  run  upon  his  strong  box. 

Presently  the  door  opened,  and  a 
stranger  was  ushered  in,  who,  after  gaz- 
ing for  a  moment  at  the  bewildered 
banker,  coolly  drew  a  chair,  and  ab- 
ruptly addressed  him : 

"  You  will  pardon  me,  sir,  for  asking 
a  strange  question,  but  I  am  a  plain 
man,  and  like  to  come  straight  to  the 
point." 

"  Well,  sir,"  impatiently  interrupted 
the  other. 

"  I  have  heard  that  you  have  a  run 
on  your  bank,  sir." 

"Well?" 

"  Is  it— true  ? " 

"  Really,  sir,  I  must  decline  to  reply 
to  your  most  extraordinary  query.  If, 
however,  you  have  any  money  in  the 
bank,  you  had  better  at  once  draw  it 
out,  and  so  satisfy  yourself;  our  cashier 
will  instantly  pay  you," — and  the  bank- 
er rose,  as  a  hint  to  the  stranger  to 
withdraw. 

"Far  from  it,  sir;  I  have  not  one 
sixpence  in  your  hands." 

"  Then  may  I  ask  what  is  your  busi- 
ness here  ? " 

"  I  vrish  to  know  if  a  small  sum 
would  aid  you  at  tliis  moment  ? " 

"  Why  do  you  ask  the  question  ? " 


"  Because  if  it  would,  I  would  gladly 
pay  in  a  small  deposit." 

The  money  dealer  started. 

"You  seem  surprised;  you  don't 
know  my  person  or  my  motive.  I'll  at 
once  explain.  Do  you  recollect  some 
twenty  years  ago  when  you  resided  in 
Essex  ? " 

"  Perfectly." 

"  Well,  then,  sir,  perhaps  you  have 
not  forgotten  the  turnpike  gate  through 
which  you  passed  daily  ?  My  father 
kept  that  gate,  and  was  often  honored 
by  a  few  minutes'  talk  with  you.  One 
Christmas  morning,  my  father  was  sick, 
and  I  attended  the  toll  bar.  On  that 
day  you  passed  through,  and  I  opened 
the  gate  for  you.  Do  you  recollect  it, 
sir?" 

"  Not  I,  my  friend." 

"No,  sir;  few  such  men  remember 
their  kind  deeds,  but  those  who  are 
benefited  by  them  ought  not  to  forget 
them.  I  am  perhaps  prolix ;  listen, 
however,  only  a  few  moments,  and  I 
have  done." 

The  great  banker  had  become  inter- 
ested, and  at  once  assented. 

"  Well,  sir,  as  I  said  before,  I  threw 
open  the  gate  for  you,  as  I  considered 
myself  in  duty  bound — I  wished  you 
*  a  happy  Christmas.'  '  Thank  you,  my 
lad,'  replied  you — '  thank  you ;  and  the 
same  to  you ;  here  is  a  trifle  to  make  it 
so,"  and  you  threw  me  a  seven-shilling 
piece.  It  was  the  first  money  I  ever 
possessed,  and  never  shall  I  forget  my 
joy  at  receiving  it,  nor  your  kind  smile 
in  bestowing  it.  I  long  treasured  it, 
and  as  I  grew  up,  added  a  little  to  it, 
till  I  was  able  to  rent  a  toll  myself. 
You  left  that  part  of  the  country,  and  I 
lost  sight  of  you.  Yearly,  however,  I 
have  been  getting  on;  your  present 
brought  good  fortune  with  it ;  I  am 
now  comparatively  rich,  and  to  you  I 
consider  that  I  owe  all.  So  this  morn- 
ing, hearing  accidentally  that  there  was 
a  run  on  your  bank,  I  gathered  all  my 
capital,  and  brought  it  to  lodge  with 
you,  in  case  it  can  be  of  any  use  ;  here 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


179 


it  is — "  and  he  handed  a  bundle  of 
bank  notes  to  the  agitated  Thompson  ; 
"in  a  few  days  I  will  call  again." 
Snatching  up  his  hat,  and  throwing 
down  his  card,  he  walked  out  of  the 
room. 

Thompson  undid  the  roll— it  con- 
tained thirty  thousand  pounds  !  The 
stern-hearted  banker — for  all  bankers 
must  be  stern — burst  into  tears.  The 
firm  did  not  require  this  prop  ;  but  the 
motive  was  so  noble,  that  even  a  mil- 
lionnaire  sobbed  ;  he  could  not  help  it. 
This  house  is  still  one  of  the  first  in 
London. 

The  thirty  thousand  pounds  of  the 
turnpike  boy  has  now  grown  into  some 
two  hundred  thousand  pounds.  For- 
tune has  well  disposed  of  her  gifts. 


Commencing:  with  Three  Tobacco 
Boxes— Jacob  Barker. 

Jacob  Barker's  disposition  for  com- 
mercial pursuits  manifested  itself  at  a 
very  early  period — ^his  first  essay  in  this 
line  being  with  three  tobacco  boxes. 
The  history  of  the  tobacco  boxes  was 
this :  Mr.  Barker  was,  as  a  relaxation 
from  the  fatigues  of  attending  store  and 
other  matters  for  his  brother  James, 
permitted  to  go  as  cabin  boy  in  his 
packet  to  New  York  and  Boston  two 
or  three  times  a  year.  On  one  occa- 
sion, the  passengers  presented  him  with 
thirty-one  cents.  This  he  invested  in 
Boston  in  three  iron  tobacco  boxes,  and 
took  them  to  Nantucket,  where  he  sold 
two  of  them  for  a  penny  apiece  profit ; 
the  other  got  a  little  rusty,  and  was 
sold  at  first  cost.  When  at  Nantucket, 
forty  years  after  this,  he  met  a  poor  old 
man  hobbling  along  with  the  aid  of  a 
staff",  who  abruptly  observed,  "  Jacob, 
will  you  take  a  piece  of  tobacco  ? "  at 
the  same  time  presenting  the  box. 
Jacob  replied,  "  No,  I  thank  you,  I  do 
not  use  tobacco  in  that  way," — when 
the  old  man  said,  "  Do  you  know  that 
box?"  This  brought  its  sale  to  the 
recollection  of  Jacob,  who  seizing  his 
hand,  said,  "Is  this  you,  Mr.  Ellis? 


How  do  you  do  ?  I  am  glad  to  see 
you  looking  so  well  after  so  long  a 
period." 


"Washing-ton  as  a  Business  Man. 

At  the  age  of  thirteen,  Washington 
studied  the  intricate  forms  of  business 
with  great  ardor.  He  copied  out  bills 
of  exchange,  notes  of  hand,  bills  of  sale, 
receipts,  and  all  the  varieties  of  that 
class — all  being  remarkable  for  the  pre- 
cision and  elegance  with  which  they 
were  executed.  His  manuscripts,  even 
then,  were  of  the  utmost  neatness  and 
uniformity,  the  diagrams  always  beauti- 
ful, the  columns  and  tables  of  figures 
exact ;  and  all  in  unstained  and  unblot- 
ted  order.  His  business  papers,  ledg- 
ers, and  daybooks,  in  which  no  one 
wrote  but  himself,  were  models  of  exact- 
ness. Every  fact  had  its  place,  and 
was  recorded  in  a  plain,  clear  hand- 
writing, and  there  was  neither  inter- 
lineation, blot,  or  blemish.  One  of  his 
rules,  at  this  immature  age,  was,  "  Let 
your  discourse  with  men  of  business  be 
short  and  comprehensive." 

From  1759  to  1764,  Washington  was, 
in  some  measure,  an  active  merchant ; 
for,  in  that  calmest  period  of  his  event- 
ful life,  he  regularly  exported  to  Lon- 
don the  product  of  his  large  estate  on 
the  Potomac.  The  shipments  were 
made  in  his  own  name,  and  to  his  cor- 
respondents in  Bristol  and  Liverpool, 
to  which  places  his  tobacco  was  con- 
signed. In  return  for  the  articles  ex- 
ported, it  was  his  custom,  twice  in  each 
year,  to  import  from  London  the  goods 
which  he  desired  to  use  ;  and  as  an  in- 
stance of  the  accurateness  with  which 
he  conducted  his  commercial  transac- 
tions as  an  importer,  it  is  stated  that 
he  required  his  agent  to  send  him,  in 
addition  to  a  general  bill  of  the  whole, 
the  original  vouchers  of  the  shopkeep- 
ers and  mechanics,  from  whom  pur- 
chases had  been  made.  So  particular 
was  he  in  these  concerns,  that  he 
recorded,  with  his  own  hand,  in  books 


180 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


prepared  for  the  purpose,  all  tlie  long 
lists  of  orders,  and  copies  of  the  multi- 
farious receipts  from  the  different  mer- 
chants and  tradesmen  who  had  sup- 
plied the  goods.  In  this  way  he  kept 
a  perfect  oversight  of  the  business ; 
ascertained  the  prices;  could  detect 
any  imposition,  mismanagement,  or 
carelessness,  and  tell  when  any  advan- 
tage was  taken  of  him — of  which,  if  he 
discovered  any,  he  did  not  fail  to  re- 
mind his  correspondents. 


Present  Prosperity  of  the  Rothscliilds. 

He  who  does  not  delay  for  casual- 
ties, and  has  knowledge  enough  to  per- 
ceive that  in  all  great  affairs  the  success 
not  only  depends  on  the  choice  and  use 
of  the  most  favorable  moment,  but  eape- 
cially  on  the  pursuit  of  an  acknowledged 
fundamental  maxim^  has  the  two  prin- 
ciples which  are  never  neglected  by 
this  banking  house,  and  to  which — be- 
sides to  a  prudent  performance  of  its 
business  and  to  advantageous  conjunc- 
tures— it  owes  the  greatest  part  of  its 
present  wealth  and  renown. 

The  first  of  these  principles  was  that 
which  caused  the  five  brothers  to  carry 
on  their  business  in  a  perpetual  and  un- 
interrupted communion.  This  was  the 
golden  rule  bequeathed  to  them  by 
their  dying  father.  Since  his  death, 
every  proposition,  let  it  come  from 
whom  it  may,  is  the  object  of  their 
common  deliberations.  Every  impor- 
tant undertaking  was  carried  on  by  a 
combined  effort,  after  a  plan  agreed 
upon,  and  all  had  an  equal  share  in  the 
result.  Though  for  several  years  their 
customary  residences,  being  in  the 
great  capitals  of  Europe,  were  very 
remote,  this  circumstance  could  never 
interrupt  their  harmony ;  it  rather 
gave  them  this  advantage,  that  they 
were  always  perfectly  well  instructed 
as  to  the  condition  of  things  in  every 
metropolis,  and  thus  each  of  them,  on 
his  part,  could  the  better  prepare  and 
initiate  the  affairs  to  be  undertaken  by 


the  firm.  The  second  principle  in  per- 
petual view  of  this  house  is,  not  to  seek 
an  excessive  profit  in  any  undertaking ; 
to  assign  certain  limits — though,  of 
course,  proportioned  to  their  vast  means 
— to  every  enterprise  ;  and,  as  much  as 
human  caution  and  prudence  will  per- 
mit, to  make  themselves  independent 
of  the  play  of  accidents. 


Mr.  Everett  and  the  Hindoo  Merchant. 

The  far-reaching  influence  which 
American  commercial  enterprise  has 
abroad,  is  illustrated  by  the  follow- 
ing anecdote  told  by  Mr.  Everett : 
"When  I  had  the  honor  to  represent 
the  country  at  London,"  says  Mr.  E.,  "  I 
was  a  little  struck  one  day,  at  the  royal 
drawingroom,  to  see  the  President  of 
the  Board  of  Control  (the  board  charg- 
ed with  the  supervision  of  the  Govern- 
ment of  India)  approaching  me  with  a 
stranger,  at  that  time  much  talked  of 
in  London — the  Babu  Dwarkananth 
Tagore.  This  person,  who  is  now  liv- 
ing, was  a  Hindoo  of  great  wealth, 
liberality,  and  intelligence.  He  was 
dressed  with  oriental  magnificence — he 
had  on  his  head,  by  way  of  turban,  a 
rich  Cashmere  shawl,  held  together  by 
a  large  diamond  brooch  ;  another  Cash- 
mere around  his  body ;  his  countenance 
and  manners  were  those  of  a  highly  in- 
telligent and  remarkable  person,  as  he 
was.  After  the  ceremony  of  introduc- 
tion was  over,  he  said  he  wished  to 
make  his  acknowledgments  to  me,  as 
the  American  minister,  for  the  benefits 
which  my  countrymen  had  conferred 
upon  his  countrymen.  I  did  not  at 
first  know  what  he  referred  to ;  I 
thought  he  might  have  in  view  the 
mission  schools,  knowing,  as  I  did, 
that  he  himself  had  done  a  great  deal 
for  education.  He  immediately  said 
that  he  referred  to  the  cargoes  of  ice 
sent  from  America  to  India,  conducing 
not  only  to  comfort  but  health.  He 
asked  me  if  I  knew  from  what  part  of 
America  it  came.    It  gave  me  great 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


181 


pleasure  to  tell  him  that  I  lived,  when 
at  home,  within  a  short  distance  of  the 
spot  from  which  it  was  brought." 


Earliest  American  Whaleship  in  Eng- 
land. 

The  following  interesting  scrap  is 
from  Barnerd's  History  of  England: 
"  1783.  On  the  third  of  February,  the 
ship  Bedford,  Capt.  Moores,  belonging 
to  Massachusetts,  arrived  in  the  Downs, 
passed  Gravesend  on  the  4th,  and  was 
reported  at  the  custom  house  on  the 
6th.  She  was  not  allowed  regular  en- 
try until  some  consultation  had  taken 
place  between  the  commissioners  of  the 
custom  house  and  the  lords  of  the  coun- 
cil, on  account  of  the  many  acts  of  par- 
liament yet  in  force  against  the  rebels 
of  America.  She  was  loaded  with  five 
hundred  and  eighty-seven  butts  of 
whale  oil,  manned  wholly  with  Amer- 
ican seamen,  and  belonged  to  the  island 
of  Nantucket,  Mass.  The  vessel  lay  at 
the  Horsley  Down,  a  little  below  the 
river,  and  was  the  first  which  displayed 
the  stars  and  stripes  in  any  British 
port." 


Explaining-  his  Business. 

There  is  an  ancient  volume  of 
"  Saxon  Dialogues,"  preserved  in  the 
British  Museum,  in  which  the  mer- 
chant, as  one  of  the  characters  intro- 
duced, gives  the  why  and  wherefore  of 
his  occupation : 

"  I  say  that  I  am  useful  to  the  king, 
and  to  aldermen,  and  to  the  rich,  and  to 
all  people.  I  ascend  my  ship  with  my 
merchandise,  and  sail  over  the  sea-like 
places,  and  sell  my  things,  and  buy 
dear  things  which  are  not  produced  in 
this  land,  and  I  bring  them  to  you 
here,  with  great  danger  over  the  sea ; 
and  sometimes  I  suffer  shipwreck,  with 
the  loss  of  all  my  things,  scarcely  escap- 
ing myself."  He  is  then  asked,  "  What 
do  you  bring  to  us  ?"  to  which  he  an- 
swers, "  Skins,  silks,  costly  gems,  and 
gold ;  various  garments,  pigment,  wine, 


oil,  ivory ;  brass,  copper  and  tin,  silver, 
glass,  and  such  like." 

The  principle  of  all  commercial  deal- 
ings is  distinctly  enough  stated  in  the 
answer  to  the  next  question :  "  Will 
you  sell  your  things  here  as  you  bought 
them  there?"  "I  will  not;  because 
what  would  my  labor  benefit  me?  I 
will  sell  them  here  dearer  than  I  bought 
them  there,  that  I  may  get  some  profit 
to  feed  me,  my  wife,  and  children." 


Aztec  Merchants. 

The  Aztec  merchant  was  a  sort  of 
itinerant  trader,  who  made  his  jour- 
neys to  the  remotest  borders  of  Ana- 
huac,  and  to  the  countries  beyond, 
carrying  with  him  merchandise  of  rich 
stuffs,  jewelry,  slaves,  and  other  valu- 
able '  commodities.' 

With  this  rich  freight  the  merchant 
visited  the  different  provinces,  always 
bearing  some  present  of  value  from  his 
own  sovereign  to  their  chiefs,  and  usu- 
ally receiving  others  in  return,  with  a 
permission  to  trade.  Should  this  be 
denied  him,  or  should  he  meet  with  in- 
dignity or  violence,  he  had  the  means 
of  resistance  in  his  power.  He  per- 
formed his  journeys  with  a  number  of 
companions  of  his  own  rank,  and  a 
large  body  of  inferior  attendants,  who 
were  employed  to  transport  the  goods. 
The  whole  caravan  went  armed,  and  so 
well  provided  against  sudden  hostili- 
ties, that  they  could  make  good  their 
defence,  if  necessary,  till  reinforced  from 
home. 

It  was  not  unusual  for  government 
to  allow  the  merchants  to  raise  levies 
themselves,  for  warlike  purposes,  and 
which  were  placed  under  their  com- 
mand. It  was,  moreover,  very  common 
for  the  prince  to  employ  the  merchants 
as  a  sort  of  spies,  to  furnish  him  in- 
formation of  the  state  of  the  country 
through  which  they  passed,  and  the 
disposition  of  the  inhabitants  toward 
himself. 

Thus  their  sphere  of  action  was  much 


182 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


enlarged  beyond  that  of  a  humble  tra- 
der, and  they  acquired  a  high  consider- 
ation in  the  body  politic.  They  were 
allowed  to  assume  insignia  and  devices 
of  their  own.  Some  of  their  number 
composed  what  is  called  by  the  Span- 
ish writers  a  council  of  finance.  They 
were  much  consulted  by  the  monarch, 
•who  had  some  of  them  constantly  near 
his  person,  addressing  them  by  the  title 
of  "  uncle." 


ScTirces  of  "Wealth  of  the  Medici  Mer- 
chants. 

The  two  brothers,  Lorenzo  and  Cos- 
mo de  Medici,  were  in  conjunction  in 
their  great  mercantile  affairs,  until  the 
death  of  the  former,  when  his  propor- 
tion of  the  riches  they  obtained,  amount- 
ing to  hundreds  of  thousands  of  florins, 
•was  inherited  by  his  son  Pier  Francesco 
de  Medici,  for  whose  use  it  was  retained 
by  Cosmo  until  the  year  1451,  when  a 
distribution  took  place  among  the  two 
families.  From  that  time  it  was  agreed 
that  the  traffic  of  the  family  should  be 
carried  on  for  the  joint  benefit  of  Pier 
Francesco,  and  of  Piero  and  Giovanni, 
the  sons  of  Cosmo,  who  •were  to  divide 
the  profits  in  equal  shares  of  one  third 
to  each — and  immense  riches  w^ere  by 
them  thus  acquired. 

Of  the  particular  branch  of  traffic  by 
which  the  Medici  family  acquired  their 
enormous  wealth,  there  is  little  doubt 
but  that  a  considerable  portion  of  it 
arose  from  the  trade  which  the  Floren- 
tines, in  the  early  part  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  began  to  carry  on  to  Alexan- 
dria for  the  productions  of  the  East,  in 
which  they  attempted  to  rival  the  states 
of  Genoa  and  Venice.  To  this  they 
■were  induced  by  the  representations  of 
Taddeo  di  Cenni,  who  having  resided 
at  Venice,  and  being  apprised  of  the 
advantages  which  that  city  derived 
from  the  traffic  in  spices  and  other 
Eastern  merchandise,  prevailed  upon 
his  countrymen  to  aim  at  a  participa- 
tion in  the  new  trade.  The  initiative 
was  consequently  made,  and,  in  1422, 


the  Florentines  entered  on  their  new 
commerce  with  the  most  imposing  pub- 
lic pageant. 

But  perhaps  the  principal  sources  of 
the  riches  of  this  family  arose  from  the 
commercial  baiiks  "which  they  had 
established  in  almost  all  the  trading 
cities  of  Europe,  and  which  -were  con- 
ducted by  agents  in  whom  they  placed 
great  confidence.  At  a  time  -vNhen  the 
rate  of  interest  principally  depended  on 
the  necessities  of  the  borrower,  and  was 
in  most  cases  very  exorbitant,  an  incon- 
ceivable profit  must  have  been  derived 
from  those  establishments,  especially  as 
they  were  at  times  resorted  to  for  pe- 
cuniary assistance  by  the  most  power- 
ful sovereigns  of  Europe. 


Heiaarkable   Case  of  Conscience  in  a 
Business  Man. 

An  old  Dutchman,  named  S ,  who 

lived  in  one  of  the  wretched  hovels  that 
stand  in  the  rear  of  Sheriff"  street,  and 
whose  apparent  poverty  and  sufi'erings 
from  a  dreadful  case  of  hernia  had  long 
excited  the  sympathy  of  his  humane 
neighbors,  died  of  asthma  and  a  com- 
bination of  other  diseases.  He  was 
well  known  to  be  of  a  very  obstinate 
and  eccentric  disposition;  and,  al- 
though he  had  been  confined  to  his 
bed  for  some  weeks,  he  not  only  reject- 
ed all  medical  aid,  but  persisted  to  the 
last  in  sleeping  in  the  whole  of  his 
wardrobe,  which  consisted  chiefly  in  a 
pair  of  breeches  that  at  some  remote  era 
had  been  constructed  of  blue  velvet, 
and  a  sailor's  jacket,  and  a  frieze  over- 
coat, all  of  which  exhibited  accumu- 
lated proofs  of  the  old  man's  attach- 
ment. He  sent  for  Mr.  Van  D.,  a  re- 
spectable countryman  of  his,  residing 
in  the  neighborhood,  who  had  given 
him  charitable  relief,  and  privately  re- 
quested him  to  make  his  will !  To 
this  gentleman's  great  surprise,  he  be- 
queathed various  sums  of  money, 
amounting  altogether  to  several  thou- 
sand dollars,  to  children  and  grand- 
children residing  at  Newark  and  Al- 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


183 


bany,  and  confidentially  informed  him 
where  his  property  was  deposited.  He 
then  narrated  to  Mr.  V.  D.  the  follow- 
ing remarkable  facts  in  his  history  : 

He  stated  that  about  twenty-five 
years  ago,  he  was  a  porter  to  a  mercan- 
tile house  in  Hamburg,  and  having 
been  long  in  its  employ,  was  frequently 
intrusted  with  considerable  sums  of 
money  for  conveyance  to  other  estab- 
lishments. In  an  hour  of  evil  influence 
he  was  induced  to  violate  his  trust,  and 
abscond  to  this  country.  Having  ar- 
rived, he  invested  the  greater  part  of  it 
in  the  purchase  of  two  houses,  which 
adjoined  each  other,  and  which,  before 
he  had  efiected  an  insurance  upon  them, 
were  burned  to  the  ground.  Consider- 
ing this  a  judgment  of  heaven  upon  his 
dishonesty,  he  determined  to  devote 
the  remainder  of  his  life  to  a  severe 
course  of  industry  and  parsimony,  with 
the  single  object  in  view  of  making  full 
restitution  to  the  persons  whom  he  had 
injured,  or  to  their  descendants. 

He  adopted  another  name,  and,  with 
the  means  he  had  left,  commenced  busi- 
ness as  a  tobacconist,  and,  although  his 
trade  was  a  retail  one,  and  he  had  again 
suffered  a  heavy  loss  from  fire,  he  had 
succeeded,  five  years  since,  in  acquiring 
sufficient  property  to  accomplish  his 
just  and  elevated  purpose.  He  then, 
accordingly,  sold  his  stock  in  trade, 
and  was  preparing  to  transmit  the  ne- 
cessary amount  to  Hamburg,  where  the 
mercantile  firm  he  had  defrauded  still 
continues,  when  he  ascertained  that  it 
had  a  branch  establishment  or  agency 
counting  house  in  Philadelphia.  Thith- 
er he  went,  and  paid  the  sum  of  four- 
teen thousand  dollars^  being  equivalent 
to  the  original  sum  he  had  embezzled, 
with  a  certain  rate  of  interest.  The 
latter,  however,  was  generously  re- 
turned to  him  by  a  son  of  one  of  the 
partners,  and  this,  together  with  some 
surplus  money,  he  bequeathed  as  above 
stated.  This  money  was  found  by  his 
executor,  principally  in  doubloons,  and 
curiously  concealed  in  a  certain  private 


department  of  the  tenacious  breeches 
before  specified  ;  and  it  was  thus  ascer- 
tained, at  last,  that  the  old  man's  dread- 
ful case  of  hernia^  on  account  of  which 
he  had  received  so  much  sympathy, 
was  a  '  case '  of  something  far  less  ob- 
jectionable, and  hardly  coming  within 
the  category  of  those  dreaded  "  ills  to 
which  human  flesh  is  heir." 


Mr.  Grinnell's  Liberality. 

The  name  of  Henry  Grinnell  will 
have  an  enduring  place  in  American, 
mercantile  history,  as  that  of  the  au- 
thor, advocate,  and  patron  of  the 
United  States'  expedition  in  search  of 
Sir  John  Franklin  and  his  gallant  party. 
With  that  enterprise  and  liberality  so 
characteristic  of  his  profession — and  of 
Mr.  Grinnell  in  particular— he  promptly 
came  forward  at  a  time  when  that 
much  talked  of  undertaking  was  in 
special  need  of  influential  countenance 
as  well  as  of  pecuniary  aid.  The  vari- 
ous expeditions  which  Great  Britain 
had  sent  out  in  search  of  the  illustrious 
pioneer  party,  though  well  devised, 
seemed  to  suffer  from  various  and  pecu- 
liar drawbacks,  so  that,  before  the  be- 
ginning of  1850,  all  further  attempts 
were  abandoned — almost  without  at- 
taining the  first  threshold  of  inquiry. 
Their  failure  aroused  everywhere  the 
generous  sympathies  of  men.  Science 
felt  for  its  votaries,  humanity  mourned 
its  fellows,  and  an  impulse,  holier  and 
more  energetic  than  either,  invoked  a 
crusade  of  rescue.  That  admirable 
woman,  the  wife  of  Sir  John  Franklin, 
not  content  with  stimulating  the  re- 
newed efforts  of  her  own  countrymen, 
claimed  the  cooperation  of  the  world. 
In  letters  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  full  of  the  eloquence  of  feeling, 
she  called  on  us,  as  a  "  kindred  people, 
to  join  heart  and  hand  in  the  enter- 
prise of  snatching  the  lost  navigators 
from  a  dreary  grave."  The  delays  inci- 
dent to  much  of  our  national  legisla- 
tion menaced  the  defeat  of  her  appeal. 


184 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


The  bill  making  appropriations  for  the 
outfit  of  an  expedition  lingered  on  its 
passage,  and  the  season  for  commencing 
operations  had  nearly  gone  by.  At  this 
juncture,  that  noble- spirited  merchant 
of  New  York,  Henry  Grinnell,  fitted 
out  two  of  his  own  vessels,  and  proffered 
them  gratuitously  to  the  Government. 
Prompted  by  such  munificent  private 
liberality,  Congress  hastened  to  take 
the  expedition  under  its  charge,  and 
authorized  the  necessary  proceedings  to 
that  end. — Moses  H.  GrinneU,  a  broth- 
er of  Henry,  is  also  distinguished  for 
his  merchant-like  love  of  "  doing  a 
good  thing." 


A  Good  Besrinuinir— Old  Moses  Both- 
scMld. 

An  account  is  given,  on  another  page 
of  this  work,  of  the  circumstances  un- 
der which  the  Prince  of  Hesse  Cassel, 
in  his  flight  from  the  French  republican 
army,  passed  through  the  city  of  Frank- 
fort-on-the-Main,  and  paid  a  hasty 
visit  to  one  Moses  Rothschild,  a  Jewish 
banker  of  limited  means,  but  of  good 
repute,  both  for  integrity  and  ability 
in  the  management  of  his  business. 
As  is  well  known,  the  Prince's  purpose 
in  visiting  Moses  was  to  request  him  to 
take  charge  of  a  large  sum  in  money 
and  jewels,  amounting  in  value  to  sev- 
eral millions  of  dollars.  The  Jew  at 
first  point  blank  refused  so  dangerous 
a  charge;  but,  upon  being  earnestly 
pressed  to  take  it,  at  the  prince's  own 
sole  risk — nay,  that  even  a  receipt 
should  not  be  required — he  at  length 
consented.  The  money  and  jewels  were 
speedily  but  privately  conveyed  from 
the  prince's  treasury  to  the  Jew's  resi- 
dence ;  and,  just  as  the  advanced  corps 
of  the  French  army  had  entered  through 
the  gates  of  Frankfort,  Moses  had  suc- 
ceeded in  burying  it  in  a  comer  of  his 
garden.  He,  of  course,  received  a  visit 
from  the  republicans ;  but,  true  to  his 
trust,  he  hit  upon  the  following  means 
of  saving  the  treasure  of  the  fugitive 
prince,  who  had  placed  such  implicit 


confidence  in  his  honor.  He  therefore 
did  not  attempt  to  conceal  any  of  his 
own  i^roperty  (the  value  of  his  cash  and 
stock  consisting  of  only  forty  thousand 
thalers,  or  about  $30,000),  but,  after 
the  necessary  remonstrances  and  grum- 
bling with  his  unwelcome  visitors, 
and  a  threat  or  two  that  he  should  re- 
port them  to  the  general-in-chief— from 
whom  he  had  no  doubt  of  obtaining 
redress — he  sufiered  them  to  carry  it 
all  off". 

As  soon  as  the  republicans  had  evac- 
uated the  city,  Moses  Rothschild  re- 
sumed his  business  as  banker  and  money 
changer ;  at  first,  indeed,  in  an  humble 
way,  but  daily  increasing  and  extend- 
ing it  by  the  aid  of  the  Prince  of  Hesse 
Cassel's  money.  In  the  course  of  a 
comparatively  short  space  of  time,  he 
was  considered  the  most  stable  and 
opulent  banker  in  all  Germany. 

In  the  year  1802,  the  prince  return- 
ing to  his  dominions,  visited  Frankfort 
in  his  route.  He  w^as  almost  afraid  to 
call  on  his  Jewish  banker ;  apprehend- 
ing that  if  the  French  had  left  any- 
thing, the  honesty  of  Moses  had  not 
been  proof  against  so  strong  a  tempta- 
tion as  he  had  been  compelled  from 
dire  necessity  to  put  in  his  way.  On 
being  introduced  into  Rothschild's  sanc- 
tum, he,  in  a  tone  of  despairing  care- 
lessness, said : 

"  I  have  called  on  you,  Moses,  as  a 
matter  of  course ;  but  I  fear  the  result. 
Did  the  rascals  take  all  ? " 

^^  Not  a  thaler^''^  replied  the  Jew, 
gravely. 

"  "WTiat  say  you  ? "  returned  his  high- 
ness. "  Not  a  thaler  I  Why,  I  was  in- 
formed that  the  sans-culottes  had  emp- 
tied all  your  cofiers,  and  made  you  a 
beggar.  I  even  read  so  in  the  ga- 
zettes." 

"Why,  so  they  did,  may  it  please 
your  serene  highness,"  replied  Moses ; 
"  but  I  was  too  cunning  for  them. 
By  letting  them  take  my  own  little 
stock,  I  saved  your  great  one.  I  knew 
that  as  I  was  reputed  wealthy,  although 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


185 


by  no  means  so,  if  I  should  remove  any 
of  my  own  gold  and  silver  from  their 
appropriate  bags  or  coffers,  the  robbers 
would  be  sure  to  search  for  it,  and,  in 
doing  so,  would  not  forget  to  dig  in 
the  garden.  It  is  wonderful  what  a 
keen  sense  these  fellows  have  got !  they 
actually  poured  buckets  of  water  over 
some  of  my  neighbors'  kitchen  and 
cellar  floors,  in  order  to  discover,  by 
the  rapid  sinking  of  the  fluid,  whether 
the  tiles  and  earth  had  been  recently 
dug  up !  Well,  as  I  was  saying,  I 
buried  your  treasure  in  the  garden; 
and  it  remained  untouched  until  the 
robbers  left  Frankfort,  to  go  in  search 
of  plunder  elsewhere.  Now,  then,  to 
the  point :  as  the  sans-culottes  left  me 
not  a  kreutzer  to  carry  on  my  business ; 
as  several  good  opportunities  offered 
of  making  a  very  handsome  profit ;  and 
as  I  thought  it  a  pity  that  so  much 
good  money  should  lie  idle,  while  the 
merchants  were  both  ready  and  willing 
to  give  large  interest;  the  temptation 
of  converting  your  highness's  florins  to 
present  use  haunted  my  thoughts  by 
day  and  my  dreams  by  night.  Not  to 
detain  your  highness  with  a  long  story, 
I  dug  up  the  treasure,  and  deposited 
your  jewels  in  a  strong  box,  from 
which  they  have  never  since  been 
moved;  I  employed  your  gold  and 
silver  in  my  business ;  my  speculations 
were  profitable ;  and  I  am  now  able  to 
restore  your  deposit,  with  five  per  cent, 
interest  since  the  day  on  which  you  left 
it  under  my  care." 

"I  thank  you  heartily,  my  good 
friend,"  said  his  highness,  "for  the 
great  care  you  have  taken  and  the 
sacrifice  you  have  made.  As  to  the  in- 
terest of  five  per  cent.,  let  that  replace 
the  sum  which  the  French  took  from 
you ;  I  beg  you  will  add  to  it  whatever 
other  profits  you  may  have  made.  As 
a  reward  for  your  singular  honesty,  I 
shall  still  leave  my  cash  in  your  hands 
for  twenty  years  longer,  at  a  low  rate 
of  two  per  cent,  interest  per  annum, 
the  same  being  more  as  an  acknowledg- 


ment of  the  deposit  in  case  of  the  death 
of  either  of  us,  than  with  a  view  of 
making  a  profit  by  you.  I  trust  that 
this  will  enable  you  to  use  my  florins 
with  advantage  in  any  way  which  may 
appear  most  beneficial  to  your  own  in- 
terests." 


Perseverance  Badly  Rewarded. 

Many  years  ago,  when  Texas  was 
first  admitted  into  the  Union,  George 
Ford,  a  well-known  hardware  merchant 
in  Boston,  visited  that  State  on  busi- 
ness. He  had  occasion  to  travel  in  dis- 
tant and  thinly-settled  parts  of  the 
State  on  horseback,  where  sometimes 
he  would  not  see  a  habitation  for  thirty 
or  forty  miles.  He  was  told'  that  on 
reaching  the  Brazos  River,  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  wide  at  a  certain  point  in 
Washington  County,  he  would  find  a 
bridge ;  but,  on  reaching  the  river, 
there  were  no  signs  of  a  bridge.  The 
persevering  merchant  dismounted,  un- 
dressed, and  tying  his  clothes  in  his 
handkerchief,  he  fastened  the  bundle 
to  the  headstall  of  the  horse,  and  drove 
him  into  the  river.  Ford  swimming 
after  him.  Both  arrived  safely  on  the 
other  side ;  and  after  dressing,  he  was 
very  much  perplexed  to  find  three  forks 
to  the  road  or  trail,  and  the  question 
was  now  which  one  to  take  to  reach 
his  destination — a  town  some  fifty  miles 
distant.  While  pondering  on  the  prob- 
abilities, he  cast  his  eyes  back  over  the 
river,  and  saw  a  signboard  nailed  to  a 
tree.  He  resolved  to  swim  back  and 
read  it.  Undressing  again,  in  he  went, 
and  reached  the  other  side,  and  read 
these  words :  "  Five  dollars  fine  for 
crossing  this  bridge  faster  than  a  walk." 
It  appeared  the  bridge  had  been  car- 
ried away  during  a  great  fi-eshet,  some 
months  previous,  the  only  vestige  re- 
maining being  the  sign  above  on  the 
tree.  George  said  it  was  the  only  time 
he  ever  was  "  sold  "  in  Texas. 


186 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Correct  Appreciation  of  Mercantile 
Character  by  Mr.  Astor. 

"While  in  Liverpool,  England,  Mr. 
James  G.  King  was  brought  into  rela- 
tions of  business  and  much  personal  in- 
timacy with  Mr.  John  Jacob  Astor, 
who  was  on  a  brief  sojourn  in  Europe  ; 
and  such  was  the  impression  made 
upon  that  sagacious  observer  and  al- 
most unerring  judge  of  character,  by 
the  business  tact  and  promptness  of  Mr. 
King,  and  his  general  character,  that, 
upon  his  return  to  the  United  States, 
Mr.  Astor  invited  him  to  come  to  New 
York  and  take  the  chief  direction  of 
the  American  Fur  Company,  with  a 
very  liberal  salary.  The  offer  was  a 
tempting  one,  and  made  at  a  time 
when,  owing  to  the  mercantile  disas- 
ters which  had  been  battled  with,  the 
prospects  of  Mr.  King's  house  in  Liver- 
pool were  not  very  promising.  But  the 
business  to  which  he  was  invited  was 
wholly  new  to  him  ;  and,  moreover,  it 
was  in  his  character  to  prefer  an  inde- 
pendent position — though  it  might  be 
less  lucrative — to  any,  however  advan- 
tageous, of  which  the  tenure  was  at  the 
pleasure  of  others.  Mr.  King,  there- 
fore, declined,  but  with  such  expres- 
sion of  his  sense  of  the  liberal  kindness 
of  Mr.  Astor  as  was  both  natural  and 
fitting;  and  Mr.  Astor  continued  his 
fast  friend  always,  and  had  another 
occasion  of  proving  his  friendship 
about  the  close  of  1823.  Consulted  by 
Mr.  Prime,  then  at  the  head  of  the 
house  of  Prime,  Ward,  Sands  &  Co.,  as 
to  his  knowledge  of  some  fitting  person 
upon  whom  Mr.  Prime  might  safely 
devolve  a  portion  of  the  business  of  his 
prosperous  house,  Mr.  Astor  at  once 
suggested  the  name  of  James  G.  King, 
and  accompanied  it  with  such  eulogies 
as  to  determine  Mr.  Prime,  who,  it 
seems,  from  some  business  intercourse 
between  their  houses,  had  himself 
thought  of  Mr.  King,  to  invite  him  to 
become  a  partner  in  his  house ;  and  this 
arrangement  was  in  due  time  consum- 


mated. The  brilliant  commercial  re- 
sults of  this  copartnership,  and  the 
whole  subsequent  career  of  Mr.  King, 
showed  that  Mr.  Astor  was  not  mis- 
taken in  his  appreciation  of  the  man. 


Search  for  a  New  Route  to  China. 

Sir  Hugh  Willoughby's  famous 
commercial  exploring  expedition  in 
the  fifteenth  century — to  discover  a 
near  route  to  China — met  with  a  sad 
fate.  By  the  sudden  approach  of  win- 
ter he  was  compelled  to  seek  refuge 
within  an  obscure  harbor  in  Russian 
Lapland,  where,  with  the  crew  of  two 
of  his  vessels,  he  was  frozen  to  death ; 
and  when  the  Laplanders,  in  pursuance 
of  their  annual  custom,  sought  the  sea- 
coast  in  summer,  for  the  sake  of  its  fish- 
ery, they  found  the  remains  of  the  un- 
happy adventurer,  who,  meditating  a 
great  discovery,  had  met  with  an  ob- 
scure death.  It  is  a  touching  picture 
to  contemplate  him  as  he  was  found, 
sitting  with  his  diary  and  papers  before 
him  as  in  life,  and  to  think  how  little 
his  aspiring  but  noble  ambition  medi- 
tated so  melancholy  a  fate.  The  expe- 
dition, however,  was  not  without  its 
benefit,  as  one  vessel  escaped.  Richard 
Chancellor,  its  commander,  landed  near 
Archangel,  and  inclined  the  Czar,  Ivan 
Bazilowitz,  then  engaged  in  the  Livo- 
nian  war,  to  grant  considerable  com- 
mercial privileges  to  the  English. 


Extension  and  Profits  of  Mr.  Astor's 
Fur  Business. 

If  there  was  anything  left  undone  by 
Mr.  Astor  to  extend  and  give  success 
to  his  early  and  favorite  trade  iu  furs, 
then  it  was  something  which  mortal 
shrewdness  could  not  compass.  He 
made  himself  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  the  nature  of  that  trade,  coming 
in  contact  with  the  agents,  and  obtain- 
ing a  complete  knowledge  of  the  meth- 
ods and  profits  of  the  trafiic.  His  great 
enterprise  induced  him  to  reach  for 


SUCCESSFUL  BUSINESS  QUALITIES. 


18^ 


ward  to  what  others  would  have  shrunk 
from. 

When  the  revolutionary  war  closed, 
Oswego,  Detroit,  Niagara,  and  other 
posts,  were  in  the  hands  of  the  British ; 
and  as  these  were  the  entrepots  of  the 
western  and  northern  countries,  the 
fur  trade  had  languished  after  their 
capture  and  during  their  detention 
The  traders  had  been  either  driven 
away  or  drafted  into  the  armies;  the 
trappers  had  ranged  themselves  on 
either  side  of  the  political  contention ; 
and  the  Indians  obtained  more  fire- 
water and  calico  for  the  use  of  their 
mercenary  rifles  and  tomahawks  from 
Great  Britain,  in  this  her  domestic 
quarrel  with  the  colonies,  than  if  they 
had  employed  them  on  beavers  and 
squirrels.  After  much  negotiation  and 
surveying,  and  the  advancement  and 
consideration  of  claims,  these  posts 
were  conceded  to  the  United  States, 
and  Canada  was  opened  to  the  fur 
trade.  Shortly  afterward  the  British 
retired  from  the  west  side  of  St.  Clair, 
opening  up  to  the  enterprising  mer- 
chants of  America  the  great  fur  trade 
of  the  West. 

Mr.  Astor  saw  that  the  posts  thus 
made  free  would  soon  be  thronged  by 
Indians  eager  to  dispose  of  the  accumu- 
lated produce  of  several  years'  hunting, 
and  that  the  time  had  now  come  when 
he  was  certain  to  amass  a  large  fortune 
by  the  traffic.  He  immediately  estab- 
lished agencies,  over  which  he  exer- 
cised a  sort  of  personal  superintendence, 
visiting  the  stations  sometimes,  but 
chiefly  devoting  himself  to  the  New 
York  business.  The  results  verified 
the  sagacious  predictions  of  Mr.  Astor, 
for  in  a  few  years  his  gains  from  this 
source  were  very  large. 

The  British  fur  companies  had,  how- 
ever, built  their  block  forts  at  almost 
every  eligible  site  on  the  rivers  of  the 
northern  and  southwestern  parts  of  the 
American  continent,  and  were  soon  like- 
ly to  acquire  a  monopoly  of  the  whole  of 
the  fur  trade,  unless  some  bold  measures 


were  adopted  to  rescue  it  from  them. 
This  Astor  attempted  in  1803,  by  estab- 
lishing the  American  Fur  Company. 
The  hardy  adventurers  who  entered 
into  this  project,  boldly  pushed  their 
outposts  far  into  the  hitherto  unknown 
prairie,  and  raised  their  forts  upon  the 
banks  of  yet  unexplored  rivers.  Tribes 
unused  to  see  the  white  man,  and  who 
only  knew  him  through  vague  tradi- 
tion, or  by  a  passing  tale  from  some 
visitor  of  another  tribe,  now  saw  and 
knew  him,  and  brought  their  abund- 
ance of  beaver,  otter,  and  buffalo  skins, 
and  laid-  them  at  his  feet  for  muskets, 
powder,  and  fire-water. 

No  sooner  was  the  American  Fur 
Company  established  and  in  operation 
than  Mr.  Astor  cast  his  shrewd  eyes 
toward  the  region  stretching  from  the 
Kocky  Mountains  to  the  ocean.  He 
proposed  to  the  United  States'  Govern- 
ment the  establishment  of  a  line  of 
forts  along  the  shores  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean  and  on  the  Columbia  Kiver,  in 
order  to  take  from  the  hands  of  the 
British  all  facilities  for  establishing  a 
trade  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
The  project  was  agreed  to ;  and  in 
1810  sixty  men,  under  the  command  of 
a  hardy  and  adventurous  leader,  es- 
tablished the  first  post  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Columbia,  which  took  its  designa- 
tion of  Astoria  from  the  projector  of 
the  scheme.  This  became  the  germ  of 
the  budding  State  of  Oregon.  Then 
commenced  a  series  of  operations  on  a 
scale  altogether  beyond  anything  hith- 
erto attempted  by  individual  enter- 
prise. The  history  is  fiill  of  wildest 
romance.  The  whole  scheme  was  the 
offspring  of  a  capacious  mind;  and 
had  the  plans  of  Mr.  Astor  been  faith- 
fully carried  out  by  his  associates,  it 
would,  no  doubt,  have  been  eminently 
successful.  But  the  enterprise  soon 
failed.  During  the  war  a  British  armed 
sloop  captured  Astoria,  and  the  British 
fur  traders  entered  upon  the  rich  field 
which  Mr.  Astor  had  planted,  and 
reaped  the  golden  harvest. 


188 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Honorable  Distinction  attained  by 
Mr.  Perit. 

Pelatiah  Perit  had  at  an  early  age 
marked  out  for  himself  a  professional 
life,  intending  to  devote  himself  to  the 
ministry,  and  possessing  a  fine  collegi- 
ate education  and  an  unspotted  relig- 
ious character  as  the  basis  of  such  a  ca- 
reer. But  a  partial  failure  of  his  health, 
and  especially  of  his  voice,  required  a 
reconsideration  of  his  purpose.  Com- 
pelled thus  to  relinquish  the  profession 
to  which  he  viras  led  by  religious  sym- 
pathies and  aspirations,  he  chose  the 
mercantile  profession  as  better  for  him 
than  any  other  secular  employment. 

He  was  in  his  nineteenth  year  when 
he  began  as  a  clerk  in  one  of  the  large 
importing  houses  at  Philadelphia, 
which  had  not  then  ceased  to  be  the 
foremost  of  our  American  cities.  Nor 
was  he  long  in  demonstrating  that  all 
his  talents  and  attainments  might  be 
made  serviceable  to  him  in  his  chosen 
employment.  After  remaining  about 
five  years  in  connection  with  the  house 
which  he  had  entered  as  a  clerk,  and 
for  which  he  had  made  several  voyages 
to  the  West  Indies  and  to  South  Amer- 
ica, he  returned  to  New  York  in  1809, 


the 


just  when  all  the  commercial  interests 
of  our  country  were  imperilled,  and 
were  coming  to  the  brink  of  annihila- 
tion, by  that  series  of  measures  which 
terminated  in  the  war  of  1813.  When 
however,  peace  was  restored,  and 
business  of  the  country  had  revived,  and 
its  foreign  commerce  once  more  began 
to  traverse  freely  every  ocean,  he  be- 
came a  partner  in  the  house  of  Good- 
hue &  Co.,  and,  through  all  the  changes 
which  time  and  death  made  in  the 
partnership,  he  remained  a  member  of 
that  firm  more  than  forty  years.  All 
commercial  men  know  the  character 
and  standing  of  that  house,  and  how 
much  of  it  was  the  character  and  stand- 
ing of  Pelatiah  Perit. 

His  place  among  his  fellow  mer- 
chants of  the  great  metropolis  was  rec- 
ognized by  his  election,  eleven  years 
ago,  to  the  Presidency  of  the  New 
York  Chamber  of  Commerce.  The 
rules  of  that  body  provide  that  no 
president  shall  be  reelected  for  more 
than  three  years  in  succession  without 
a  unanimous  vote.  Yet  for  ten  succes- 
sive years  he  held  that  place  of  honor, 
being  nine  times  reelected  by  the  unan- 
imous vote  of  his  distinguished  associ- 
ates—a rare  and  honorable  distinction. 


PART  FOURTH. 


Anecdotes  of  Tbabe  and  Business  Immoralities. 


PAET  FOUETH. 

Anecdotes  of  Trade  and  Business  Immoralities. 

THE  RAREST  INSTANCES  OF  INGENIOUS  FRAUD,  FORGERY,  COUNTERFEITING,  AND  SMUGGLING ; 
USURY,  ARTIFICE,  TRICKS,  AND  MALPRACTICE  ;  WITH  EXAMPLES,  EXTRAORDINARY  AND 
AMUSING,  OP  AVARICE,  COVETOUSNESS,  PARSIMONY,  EXTORTION,  PRIDE,  RUDENESS,  TIO- 
LENCE,    AND   EXTRAVAGANCE   OF   BUSINESS    MEN. 


A  man  of  sense  can  artifice  disdain, 
As  men  of  wealth  may  venture  to  go  plain. —YocNO. 
A  knave  is  like  a  tooth  drawer,  that  maintains  his  own  teeth  in  constant  eating  hy  pulling  (iut 
those  of  other  men. — Botler. 

Lands  mortgaged  may  return,  and  more  esteemed  ; 

But  lionesty  once  pawned,  is  ne'er  redeemed. — Middletok. 

For  a  good  old  gentlemanly  vice, 

I  think  I  must  t;ike  up  with  avarice.— Byron's  "  Don  Juan." 
He  is  rich  whose  income  is  more  than  his  expenses  ;  and  he  is  poor  whose  expenses  exceed  his 
income.— Bbutkre. 


Selling:  Salt  by  a  Chalk  Line. 

At  one  period  in  the  changeful  com- 
mercial life  of  Girard,  he  sold  salt  by 
the  bushel ;  and,  conceiving  one  day 
that  his  measure,  or  half  bushel,  was 
too  large,  he  determined  to  regulate  or 
readjust  it  himself.  For  this  purpose 
he  took  a  half-gallon  liquid  measure, 
and  repairing  to  the  wharf,  which  was 
at  that  time  constructed  with  steps,  for 
the  convenience  of  supplying  citizens 
with  water  from  the  river,  he  deposited 
the  requisite  number  of  half  gallons 
into  his  half  bushel,  and  then  drawing 
a  chalk  line  round  the  water  mark,  he 
found  it  was  too  large  by  an  inch  or 
more ;  on  discovering  this  to  be  the 
case,  he  forthwith  went  to  a  neighbor- 
ing cooper's  shop,  and  borrowing  a  saw 
for  the  purpose,  reduced  the  measure 
of  his  half  bushel  accordingly,  thus 
making  it  what  he  conceived  it  ought 
to  be.  This  gave  rise  to  the  saying, 
"  that  Mr.  Girard  was  a  just  man,  but 


it  was  according  to  his  own  measure  of 

justice." 

♦ 

Rothschild  and  Lucas— Stratag-em  to 
learn  the  Former's  Secrets. 

When  the  great  Hebrew  financier  lived 
on  Stamford  Hill,  there  resided  oppo- 
site to  him  another  very  wealthy  deal- 
er in  stock  exchange,  Lucas  by  name. 
The  latter  returned  one  night  very  late 
from  a  convivial  party;  he  observed 
a  carriage  and  four  standing  before 
Rothschild's  gate,  upon  which  he  or- 
dered his  own  carriage  to  go  out  of 
the  way,  and  commanded  his  coachman 
to  await  his  return. 

Lucas  now  went  stealthily  and 
watched  the  movements  at  Roths- 
child's gate.  He  did  not  lie  long  in 
ambush,  before  he  heard  a  party  leav- 
ing the  Hebrew  millionaire's  mansion, 
and  going  toward  the  carriage.  He 
saw  Rothschild,  accompanied  by  two 
muffled  figures,  step  into  the  carriage, 
and  heard  the  word  of  command,  "  To 


192 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


the  city  ! "  He  followed  Rothschild's 
carriage  very  closely.  But  when  he 
reached  the  top  of  the  street  in  which 
Rothschild's  office  was  situated,  Lucas 
ordered  his  carriage  to  stop,  from  which 
he  stepped  out,  and  proceeded,  reeling 
to  and  fro  through  the  street,  feigning 
to  be  mortally  drunk.  He  made  his 
"way  in  this  same  mood  as  far  as  Roths- 
child's office,  and  sans  ceremonie  opened 
the  door,  to  the  great  consternation  and 
terror  of  the  housekeeper,  utteiing  sun- 
dry ejaculations  in  the  broken  accents 
of  Bacchus's  votaries.  Heedless  of  the 
affi'ighted  housekeeper's  remonstrances, 
he  opened  Rothschild's  private  office, 
in  the  same  staggering  attitude,  and 
fell  down  flat  on  the  floor.  Rothschild 
and  his  friends  became  greatly  alarmed. 
Efforts  were  at  once  made  to  restore  and 
remove  the  would-be  drunkard  ;  but 
Lucas  was  too  good  an  actor,  and  w^as, 
therefore,  in  such  a  state  as  to  be  unfit 
to  be  moved  hither  or  thither.  "  Should 
a  physician  be  sent  for  ? "  asked  Roths- 
child. But  the  housekeeper  threw 
some  cold  water  into  Lucas's  face,  and 
the  patient  began  to  breathe  a  little 
more  naturally,  and  fell  into  a  sound, 
snoring  sleep.  He  was  covered,  and 
Rothschild  and  the  strangers  proceeded 
unsuspectingly  to  their  business. 
.  The  strangers  brought  the  good  in- 
telligence that  the  affairs  in  Spain  were 
all  right,  respecting  which  the  members 
of  the  exchange  were,  for  a  few  days 
previous,  very  apprehensive,  and  the 
funds  were  consequently  in  a  rapidly 
sinking  condition.  The  good  news, 
however,  could  not,  in  the  common 
course  of  dispatch,  be  publicly  known 
for  another  day.  Rothschild,  there- 
fore, planned  to  order  his  brokers  to 
buy  up,  cautiously,  all  the  stock  that 
should  be  in  market,  by  twelve  o'clock 
that  following  day.  He  sent  for  his 
principal  broker  thus  early,  in  order  to 
intrust  him  with  the  important  instruc- 
tions. The  broker  was  rather  tardier, 
however,  than  Rothschild's  patience 
could  brook;  he  therefore  determined 


to  go  himself.  As  soon  as  he  was  gone, 
Lucas  began  to  recover,  and  by  degrees 
was  able  to  get  up,  being  distracted,  as 
he  said,  "  with  a  violent  headache,"  and 
insisted,  in  spite  of  the  housekeeper's 
kind  expostulations,  upon  going  home. 
But  Lucas  also  went  to  Jiis  broker,  and 
instructed  him  to  buy  all  the  stock  he 
could  get  by  ten  o'clock  the  following 
morning.  About  eleven  o'clock,  Lucas 
met  Rothschild,  and  inquired,  in  a 
satirical  manner,  how  he,  Rothschild, 
was  off  for  stock !  Lucas  won  the 
day ;  and  Rothschild  is  said  never 
to  have  forgiven  what  he  termed 
"  that  base,  dishonest,  and  nefarious 
stratagem." 


Financiering  in  Alabama. 

In  the  times  of  1836,  there  dwelt  in 
a  pleasant  town  of  Alabama,  a  smooth, 
oily-mannered  gentleman,  who  diversi- 
fied a  common-place  pursuit  by  some 
exciting  episodes  of  finance — dealing 
occasionally  in  exchange  brokerage, 
buying  and  selling  uncurrent  money, 
&c.  His  name  may  be  supposed  to  be 
Thompson. 

It  happened  that  a  Mr.  Ripley,  of 
North  Carolina,  was  in  T.,  having  some 
$1,200  in  North  Carolina  money  ;  and, 
desiring  to  return  to  the  old  North 
State  with  his  funds,  but  not  wishing 
to  encounter  the  risk  of  robbery  through 
the  Creek  country,  in  vrhich  there  were 
rumors  of  hostilities  between  the  whites 
and  the  Indians,  he  bethought  him  of 
buying  exchange  on  Raleigh,  as  the 
safest  mode  of  transmitting  his  money. 
On  inquiry  he  was  referred  to  Mr. 
Thompson,  as  the  only  person  deal- 
ing in  exchange  in  that  place.  He 
called  on  Mr.  T.,  and  made  known  his 
washes.  With  his  characteristic  polite- 
ness, Mr.  Thompson  agreed  to  accom- 
modate him  with  a  sight  bill  on  his 
correspondent  in  Raleigh,  charging  him 
the  moderate  premium  of  five  per  cent, 
for  it.  Mr.  Thompson  retired  into  his 
counting  room,  and  in  a  few  minutes 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


193 


returned  vrifh  the  bill  and  a  letter, 
which  he  delivered  to  Mr.  Kipley,  at 
the  same  time  receiving  the  money 
from  that  gentleman,  plus  the  "  ex- 
change." As  the  interlocutors  were 
exchanging  valedictory  compliments, 
it  "  occurred  "  to  Mr.  Thompson  that 
it  would  be  a  favor  to  him  if  Mr.  Rip- 
ley would  be  so  kind  as  to  convey  to 
Mr,  T.'s  correspondent  a  package  of 
"  documents"  he  was  desirous  of  send- 
ing, which  request  Mr.  Ripley  assured 
Mr.  T.  it  would  afford  him  great  pleas- 
ure to  comply  with.  Mr.  Thompson 
then  handed  Mr.  Ripley  a  package, 
strongly  enveloiDcd  and  sealed,  ad- 
dressed to  the  Raleigh  banker,  after 
which  the  gentlemen  parted  with  many 
polite  expressions  of  regard  and  civility. 

Arriving  without  any  accident  or 
hindrance  at  Raleigh,  Mr.  Ripley's  first 
care  was  to  call  on  the  banker  and  pre- 
sent his  documents.  He  found  him  at 
his  office,  presented  the  bill  and  the 
letter  to  him,  and  requested  payment 
of  the  former.  "  That,"  said  the  bank- 
er, "  will  depend  a  good  deal  upon 
the  contents  of  the  package  ; "  opening 
which,  Mr.  Ripley  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  the  identical  banknotes,  minus 
the  premium  he  had  paid  Mr.  T.  for  his 
bill,  and  which  the  banker  now  paid 
over  to  Mr.  R.  The  latter  was  not  a 
little  surprised  to  find  that  the  expert 
Mr.  Thompson  had  thus  charged  him 
five  per  cent,  for  carrying  his  own 
money  to  Raleigh,  to  avoid  the  risk 
and  trouble  of  which  he  had  bought 
the  exchange. 

T.  used  to  remark  that  tMt  was  the 
safest  operation,  all  around,  he  ever 
knew.  He  had  got  his  exchange — the 
buyer  had  got  his  bill  and  the  money, 
too,— and  the  drawee  was  fully  pro- 
tected !  There  was  profit  without  any 
outlay  or  risk. 


Italian  Picture  Dealer  Trapping  an 
Experienced  Connoisseur. 

SiGNOR  A has  long  been  known 

9  one  of  the  most  facetious  London 
13 


dealers  in  pictures  and  other  objects  of 
art, — not  stopping  at  any  clever  ruse  by 
which  to  make  a  good  "  sell."  It  is 
related,  too,  that  one  of  his  boldest 
tricks  was  successfully  played  off  at  the 
expense  of  an  experienced  purchaser 
and  acknowledged  connoisseur,  the  la^e 

Mr.  C .    He  persuaded  the  latter  io 

look  at  a  picture  of  high  pretensions 
and  of  some  merit  in  his  house.  While 
they  were  discussing  it,  the  jingle  of 
posting  bells  was  heard  in  the  street, 
and  the  prolonged  crack  of  a  courier's 
whip    soon  echoed    in    the  doorway. 

A started,  rushed  out,  and  beheld 

an  express,  booted,  spurred,  and  splash- 
ed, who  handed  him  a  letter.  Tear- 
ing it  open,  he  appeared  struck  with 
confusion,  and  exclaimed : 

"  Well,  here  is  a  fine  scrape  I  have 
got  into  I " 

"  What  is  the  matter  ? " 

"Why,  I  am  talking  about  selling 
you  this  picture,  and  here  is  the  courier 
sent  back  from  Ancona  to  buy  it,  by  a 
Russian  gentleman,  to  whom  I  offered 
it  last  week,  for  such  a  sum." 

The  price  was  a  large  one,  and  Mr. 
C.  would  not  have  thought  of  giving  it 
for  the  picture,  which  did  not  interest 
him  much ;  but  so  ingeniously  did  Sig- 
nor  A.  contrive  to  transfer  to  it  the  im- 
portance of  this  dramatic  scene,  that,  in 
the  excitement  of  the  moment,  a  bar- 
gain was  struck,  and  the  Englishman 
went  off  chuckling  at  the  idea  of  hav- 
ing so  nicely  "  done  "  the  Russian, — the 
latter  being  an  imaginary  personage, 
and  his  courier  a  Roman  postboy,  hired 
to  gallop  up  in  the  nick  of  time  ! 


Janxes  Bolland's  Financial  Career. 

About  the  middle  of  the  last  cen- 
tury, one  of  the  most  constant  stock 
dealers  in  London,  although  in  a  small 
way,  was  James  Holland;  a  man  of 
low  extraction,  but  of  great  mind,  of 
immense  impudence,  and  unrivalled 
crime.  There  was  nothing  at  which  he 
would  hesitate  to  obtain  money  with 


194 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


which  to  carry  on  "his  stock  dealings ; 
and,  having  once  commenced,  he  soon 
found  that  the  legitimate  wants  of  his 
trade — that  of  a  butcher — were  not 
sufficient  to  support  him.  He  formed, 
therefore,  a  wooden  weight,  which,  re- 
sembling one  of  fifty  pounds,  weighed 
only  seven,  and  thus,  in  his  capacity  of 
tradesman  to  one  of  the  public  institu- 
tions, practised  his  roguery  with  great 
success. 

From  butcher  he  turned  sheriff's 
officer,  revived  every  past  iniquity,  in- 
vented new  frauds,  and  employed  his 
money  in  buying  lottery  tickets,  to 
which  pursuit  he  was  occasionally  at- 
tached. He  robbed  the  broker  with 
whom  he  dealt,  alike  of  his  mistress 
and  his  money ;  and  with  the  latter 
bought  the  place  of  city  marshal.  The 
citizens,  however,  discovered  that  his 
integrity  was  scarcely  equal  to  his  im- 
pudence, and  refused  to  maintain  their 
bargain. 

Every  moment  he  could  spare  was 
passed  at  the  stock  market,  where  his 
schemes  were  marked  by  a  singularly 
bad  fortune.  Every  speculation  went 
against  him ;  he  never  drew  a  prize  in 
the  lottery ;  and,  finding  there  was  a 
chance  of  his  becoming  penniless,  he 
added  forgery  to  his  long  list  of  crimes. 
The  fraud  was  discovered,  and  he  paid 
the  penalty  of  his  life. 


Business  Hagrg-ling-  in  Scotland. 

In  England,  when  an  article  is  offered 
for  sale,  it  is  immediately  purchased,  or 
at  once  rejected  as  being  too  dear.  But 
in  Scotland,  there  is  a  long  haggling 
and  cheapening  of  every  article  succes- 
sively offered.  The  purchaser  objects 
to  the  price.  He  will  not  buy.  The 
seller  urges  him,  but  does  not  offer  to 
make  any  reduction.  Says  he,  "  You 
are  over  dear,  sir ;  I  can  buy  the  same 
gudes  ten  per  cent,  lower ;  if  ye  like  to 
tak'  off  ten  per  cent.,  I'll  tak'  some  of 
these."  The  seller  tells  him  that  a  re- 
duction in  price  is  quite  out  of  the 


question,  and  puts  the  sample  of  the 
article  aside ;  but  the  Scotchman  wants 
it. 

"  Weel,  sir,  it's  a  terrible  price  ;  but 
as  I  am  out  o'  it  at  present,  I'll  just  tak' 
a  little  till  I  can  be  supplied  cheaper, 
but  ye  maun  tak'  off  five  per  cent." 

"But,  sir,"  says  the  seller,  "would 
you  not  think  me  an  unconscionable 
knave,  to  ask  ten  per  cent.,  or  even  five 
per  cent.,  more  than  I  intended  to 
take  ? " 

He  laughs.  "Hoot,  hoot,  man,  do 
ye  expect  to  get  what  ye  ask  ?  Gude 
Lord  !  an'  I  was  able  to  get  half  what 
I  ask,  I  would  soon  be  rich.  Come, 
come,  I'll  gie  ye  within  two  an'  a  half 
per  cent,  of  your  ain  price,  and  gude 
faith,  mon,  ye'U  be  well  paid." 

He  is  told  by  the  seller  that  he  never 
makes  any  reduction  from  the  price  he 
first  demanded,  and  that  adherence  to 
such  a  rule  "  saves  much  trouble  to  both 
parties." 

"  Weel,  weel,"  says  he,  "  since  ye 
maun  hae  it  a'  your  ain  way,  I  maun 
e'en  tak'  the  article  ;  but  really  I  think 
ye  are  over-keen." 

So  much  for  buying  and  selling — the 
settlement  is  another  affair  still,  at  a 
future  time,  as  will  now  be  seen : 

"  How  muckle  discount  do  ye  tak' 
aff,  sir  ? " 

"  Discount !  You  cannot  expect  it. 
The  account  has  been  standing  a 
twelve-month." 

"  Indeed,  but  I  do  expect  discount — 
pay  siller  without  discount !  Na,  na, 
sir,  that's  not  the  way  here ;  ye  maun 
deduct  five  per  cent." 

He  is  told  that  no  discount  at  all  is 
made.  "Weel,  sir,  I'll  gie  ye  nae 
money  at  a'." 

Rather  than  go  without  a  settlement, 
the  seller  at  last  agrees  to  take  two  and 
one  half  per  cent,  from  the  amount, 
which  is  accordingly  deducted. 

"  I  hae  ten  shillings  doon  against  ye 
for  short  measure,  and  fifteen  shillings 
for  damages." 

"Indeed,    these    are   heavy   deduc- 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


195 


tions;  but  if  you  say  that  you  shall 
lose  to  that  amount,  I  suppose  that  it 
must  be  allowed." 

"  Oh,  aye,  it's  a'  right ;  then,  sir, 
eight  shillings  and  four  pence  for  pack- 
sheet,  and  thirteen  shillings  for  car- 
riage and  postage." 

*'  These  last  items  are  astonishing. 
What,  sir,"  said  the  seller,  "  are  we  to 
pay  all  the  charges  in  your  business  ? " 

But  if  these  are  not  allowed,  he  will 
not  pay  his  account ;  so  the  seller  ac- 
quiesces, resolving  within  himself  that, 
since  these  unfair  deductions  are  made 
at  settlement,  it  would  be  quite  fair  to 
charge  an  additional  price  to  cover  the 
extortion.  He  now  congratulates  himself 
on  having  concluded  his  business  with 
such  a  customer  ;  but  is  disappointed. 

"  Hae  ye  a  stawmpe  ? "  asks  he. 

"  A  stamp, — for  what  ? " 

"  Just  to  draw  ye  a  bill,"  he  replies. 

"  A  bill,  my  good  sir !  I  took  off 
two  and  one-half  per  cent.,  on  the  faith 
of  being  paid  in  cash."  But  he  says  it 
is  the  custom  of  his  place  to  pay  in 
bills,  and  sits  down  and  draws  a  bill 
at  three  months  after  date,  payable  at 
his  own  shop. 

"  And  what  can  I  do  with  this  ?  " 

"  Oh,  ye  may  tak'  it  to  Sir  William's, 
and  he'll  discount  it  for  you,  on  paying 
him  three  months'  interest." 

"  And  what  can  I  do  with  his  notes  ? " 

"  He'll  gie  ye  a  bill  in  London,  at 
forty-five  days." 

"  So,  sir,  after  allowing  you  twelve 
months'  credit,  and  two  and  a  half  per 
cent,  discount,  and  exorbitant  charges 
which  you  have  no  claim  on  us  to  pay, 
I  must  be  content  with  a  bill  which  we 
are  not  to  cash  for  four  months  and  a 
half!" 

"  Weel,  weel — and  now,  sir,"  says  he, 
"  if  ye  are  going  to  your  inn,  I'll  gang 
wi'  ye,  and  tak'  a  glass  of  wine." 


Dutchman  Illustrating'  a  Mercantile 
Principle. 

An  anecdote  is  told  of  a  German, 

who,  after  it  was  known  that  a  certain 


bank  in  Buffalo  had  closed  its  doors, 
went  to  one  of  the  largest  furniture 
establishments,  and  purchased  articles 
amounting  to  $2.75,  for  which  he  off- 
handedly proffered  a  five  dollar  bill  of 
said  bank  in  payment.  The  clerk  re- 
fused to  take  it,  and  the  Dutchman  in- 
sisted that  it  was  all  right,  saying  : 

"It  ish  goot;  te  pank  will  open; 
deres  lots  of  beeples  dere  ;  de  pank  ish 
opening  already." 

Still  the  clerk  persisted  in  his  refusal 
to  take  the  bill.  The  proprietor,  hear- 
mg  the  discussion,  put  in  his  oar,  and 
the  Teuton  went  through  with  his  for- 
mer lingo.  Knowing  that  the  bills  are 
well  secured  against  loss  to  the  holders, 
he  finally  accepted  the  bill,  and  offered 
as  change  a  quarter  of  a  dollar  in  spe- 
cie, and  a  two  dollar  bill  on  the  same 
bank.  The  German  was  taken  aback 
for  a  moment,  but  finally  said : 

"  Ich  no  take  dat." 

"  But  you  must  take  this,  or  the  one 
you  gave  me  is  also  bad,"  said  the 
dealer. 

'■''  I  don't  TcnoiD  as  de  panic  ish  so  goot  as 
it  vas,''''  said  Diedrich. 

"Well,  you  must  take  this  bill,  or 
trade  it  out  in  those  small  chairs,"  said 
the  furniture  dealer,  pointing  to  some 
juvenile  affairs  with  round  holes  in 
their  seats,  and  at  which  the  Dutchman 
was  intently  gazing  (he  had  a  brood  of 
children). 

"Veil,  I  dink  I'll  dake  de  shairs," 
and  he  took  them. 

This  anecdote  illustrates  the  fact  of 
the  dislike  of  no  small  portion  of  man- 
kind to  swallow  their  own  arguments, 
and  illustrates  a  mercantile  principle 
that  much  is  good  to  dispose  of,  which 
it  were  quite  undesirable  to  obtain. 


Deadhead  Customer— a  Clincher. 

Years  ago,  there  dwelt  in  a  certain 
town  a  divine,  notorious  for  his  parsi- 
moniousness,  which  would  sometimes 
run  to  almost  fabulous  extremes. 

One  day,  this  doctor  of  divinity 
stepped  into  a  hat  store  in  New  York, 


196 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


and,  after  rummaging  over  the  stock, 
selected  an  ordinary  looking  hat,  put 
it  on  his  reverend  head,  ogled  himself 
in  the  glass,  then  asked  the  very  lowest 
price  of  it,  telling  the  vendor,  that  if  he 
could  get  it  cheap  enough  he  thought 
he  might  buy  it. 

"  But,"  said  the  hatter,  "  that  hat  is 
not  good  enough  for  you  to  wear — here 
is  what  you  want,"  showing  one  of  his 
best  beavers. 

"  'Tis  the  best  I  can  afford  though," 
returned  the  theologian. 

"  Well,  there,  doctor,  I'll  make  you  a 
present  of  that  best  beaver,  if  you'll 
wear  it,  and  tell  whose  store  it  came 
from ;  I'll  warrant  you'll  send  me  cus- 
tomers enough  to  get  my  money  back 
with  interest ;  you  are  pretty  extensive- 
ly acquainted." 

"  Thank  you — thank  you  I "  said  the 
doctor,  his  eyes  gleaming  with  pleasure 
at  raising  a  castor  so  cheaply;  "how 
much,  however,  may  this  be  worth  ? " 

"  We  sell  that  kind  of  hat  for  eight 
dollars,"  replied  the  man  of  the  nap. 

"And  the  other?"  continued  the 
customer. 

"  Three." 

The  man  of  sermons  put  on  the  bea- 
ver, looked  in  the  glass,  then  at  the 
three  dollar  hat. 

"  I  think,  sir,"  said  he,  taking  off  the 
beaver,  and  holding  it  in  one  hand,  as 
he  donned  the  cheap  '  tile,'  "  I  think, 
sir,  that  this  hat  will  answer  my  pur- 
pose full  as  well  as  the  best." 

"  But  you'd  better  take  the  best  one, 
sir,  it  costs  you  no  more." 

"B-u-t — bu-t,"  replied  the  parson, 
hesitatingly,  "I  didn't  know— but — 
perhaps— you  would  as  lief  I  would 
take  the  cheap  one,  and  leave  the  other 
— and,  perhaps,  you  would  not  mind 
giving  me  the  difference  in  a  five  dollar 
Ml!''' 


Determining'  the  Character  of  an  Arti- 
cle by  its  Agre. 

Quite  a  good  story  is  told — and  will 
bear  telling  again — of  old  Bunce,  who 


prided  himself  upon  never  being  mis- 
taken in  his  judgment  of  a  person's 
character  from  the  phiz.  He  was  in 
Washington  market,  New  York,  one 
day,  to  get  a  goose  for  dinner.  In 
looking  about,  he  saw  a  lot  before  a 
young  woman  w^ho  had  a  peculiarly 
fine,  open  countenance.  "  She's  hon- 
est," said  Bunce  to  himself;  and  at 
once  asked  her  if  she  had  a  nice  young 
goose.  "  Yes,"  said  she ;  "  here's  as 
fine  a  one  as  you  will  get  in  the  mar- 
ket,"— and  she  looked  up  in  his  face 
with  that  perfect  sincerity  that  would 
at  once  have  won  his  confidence,  had 
he  not  already  and  at  first  sight  made 
up  his  mind  as  to  her  character. 
"You're  sure  it's  young?"  "To  be 
sure  it  is ; "  and  Bunce  took  it  home. 
All  efforts  to  eat  it  were  fruitless,  it  was 
so  tough  ;  and  the  next  day  he  was  at 
the  market  betimes,  angry  with  him- 
self, and  more  so  with  the  honest-faced 
girl  who  had  cheated  him.  "Didn't 
you  tell  me  that  goose  was  young,  yes- 
terday ? "  he  exclaimed,  stalking  up  to 
the  girl  wrathfully.  "To  be  sure  I 
did."  "  You  cheated  me,"  said  Bunce 
as  quickly ;  "  it  was  a  tough  old  gan- 
der." "You  don't  call  me  old,  do 
you?"  she  asked.  "No — I  should 
think  not,"  he  replied.  "No — / 
should  think  not,  too.  I  am  only 
twenty,  and  mother  told  me  that  goose 
was  hatched  just  six  months  after  I 
was  born."  Bunce  had  forgotten  that 
a  goose  lives  a  hundred  years. 


"Genuine"  Wines. 

The  substitution  of  other  wines  for 
port  was,  it  seems,  practised  in  "  great- 
grandfather's day  "  quite  as  extensively 
as  at  present.  In  an  official  investiga- 
tion into  the  manufacture  of  wines  by 
the  English  authorities  a  while  ago, 
one  witness,  who  had  been  engaged  for 
many  years  in  importing  "  3Iasdeu,"  a 
red  wine  from  Roussillon,  told  the  fol- 
lowing curious  story : 

When  I  got  to  the  port  of  shipment, 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


197 


Port  Veadres,  I  found  very  extensive 
warehouses  constructed ;  and  as  it  was 
in  a  very  outlandish  place,  with  not 
more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  in- 
habitants in  the  port  of  shipment,  such 
warehouses  struck  me  as  very  remark- 
able. I  inquired  why  these  warehouses 
were  built,  and  I  was  told  that  they 
had  been  put  up  by  the  proprietor's 
father — the  age  of  the  present  proprie- 
tor was  eighty-five.  I  inquired  for 
what  purpose  the  father  had  built  them, 
and  I  ivas  informed  that  he  had  built 
them  in  connection  with  a  countryman 
of  my  own,  a  Mr.  Ireland.  *'  Had  I 
ever  heard  of  Mr.  Ireland  ? "  My  an- 
swer was,  no.  But  upon  further  in- 
quiry, I  was  told  that  Mr.  Ireland  and 
his — Mr.  Durand's  —  father  had  had 
large  transactions  in  wine,  and  that 
Mr.  I.  stated  that  he  wanted  a  wine  for 
the  supply  of  the  troops  and  the  navy, 
and  I  was  told  fine  old  wine.  Upon  my 
return  to  this  country  I  went  to  the  late 
Mr.  George  Hathorn,  than  whom  a  more 
respectable  man  never  existed  in  any 
trade :  being  a  very  old  man,  I  ques- 
tioned him  if  he  had  ever  heard  of  Mr. 
Ireland.  He  said,  "  Yes ;  he  recollect- 
ed Mr.  Ireland  had  commenced  life  at 
Bristol  in  a  very  obscure  position,  and 
died  one  of  the  richest  men  in  it." 

"  What  course  of  trade  did  he  fol- 
low ? " 

"  He  was  an  importer  of  red  wines." 

"  Port  wines  ? " 

"  Port  wines." 

"  What  reputation  had  his  wines  in 
the  market  ? " 

"  They  were  of  the  highest  class.'''' 

Yet  the  old  gentleman  could  not 
seem  to  tell  why — it  certainly  was  not 
from  any  want  of  funds — but,  all  at 
once,  the  house  suspended  its  prosperous 
operations. 

I  supplied  the  wanting  link;  he 
could  get  no  more  Roussillon  wines, 
as  the  first  French  revolution  hindered 
him ! 


Wliat  it  Means  to  be  "  Selling  Off." 

One  of  those  generous,  disinterested, 
sacrificing  men,  who  had  flaringly  stuck 
upon  every  other  pane  of  glass  in  his 
shop,  "  Selling  off — no  reasonable  offer 
refused — must  close  on  Saturday,"  once 
offered  himself  as  bail,  or  security,  in 
some  case  which  was  brought  before  a 
magistrate.  The  magistrate  asked  him 
if  he  was  worth  a  thousand  dollars  :  he 
said,  yes.  "  But  you  are  about  to  re- 
move, are  you  not  ? "  "  No."  "  Why, 
you  announce  that  you  are  '  Selling 
Off.' "  "  Yes — every  shopkeeper 's  sell- 
ing off."  "You  say,  'No  reasonable 
offer  will  be  refused.' "  "  Yes  ;  I 
should  be  very  unreasonable  if  I  did 
refuse  such  '  offers.'  "  "  But  you  say, 
'  must  close  on  Saturday.'  "  "  To  be 
sure ;  you  would  not  have  me  open  on 
Sunday,  would  you  ? " 


Espionage  Practised  by  Girard. 

Gikard's  oversight  of  his  hired 
hands  was  most  arbitrary  and  exact- 
ing. He  owned  a  farm  a  few  miles 
from  his  residence  in  Philadelphia, 
which  he  kept  under  his  own  cultiva- 
tion. It  was  superintended  by  a  farmer 
who  resided  on  the  place,  to  which  the 
owner  often  drove  out  to  see  how  affairs 
were  going  on.  He  not  unfrequently 
went  in  the  morning — before  breakfast. 
On  one  of  those  occasions,  coming  out 
perhaps  somewhat  earlier  than  usual, 
on  arriving  at  a  piece  of  stone  fence 
which  he  was  building  along  the  road- 
side, he  found  his  farmer  absent.  He 
immediately  drove  to  the  house,  fasten- 
ed his  horse,  and  went  in,  searching  the 
house  for  him,  not  overlooking  those 
parts  where  he  suspected  the  man 
might  be  found.  Disappointed  in  his 
search,  he  mounted  his  chaise  and  re- 
turned to  the  fence — and,  lo  1  the  man 
was  found  very  diligently  at  his  work. 

"  Ah  !  how  is  this  ? "  said  the  keen- 
eyed  overseer;  "you  were  too  late  at 
your  work,  this  morning.    I  have  driven 


198 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


out  of  town  already,  and  you  were  not 
here."  "  Oh,  yes,  Mr.  Girard,"  says  the 
man.  "  I  had  been  here,  but  I  had  only 
stepped  aside  for  a  few  moments,  to  get 
something  that  I  wanted,  when  you 
passed  by."  "  You  do  lie  I "  said  the 
keen-eyed  master.  *■''  I  did  go  and  put 
my  hand  in  your  led,  and  it  was  warm.''''' 
The  man  had  been  informed  by  his 
wife,  of  Girard'S  coming,  when  he 
jumped  up  in  a  hurry,  and  ran  to  his 
work.  But  Ghard  was  too  cute  for 
him. 


Quaker  Ship  Owner  Economizing  the 
Time  of  his  Men. 

There  was  once  a  wealthy  ship  owner 
in  New  Bedford,  a  member  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  and  now  deceased, 
who  was  very  remarkable  for  economiz- 
ing the  time  of  his  hired  men.  He  had 
one  of  his  ships  hove  down  to  the  wharf 
to  repair  and  copper.  It  was  a  cold 
winter's  day,  and  there  was  a  plank  ex- 
tending from  the  wharf  to  the  floating 
stages  around  the  ship,  on  which  the 
carpenters  and  caulkers  were  at  work. 
Among  the  men  was  one  by  the  name 
of  John,  a  man-of-all-work,  a  man  of 
color,  and  on  free  and  easy  terms  with 
his  master.  John  was  carrying  matters 
and  things  up  and  down  a  slippery 
plank  to  the  workmen,  when  he  slid 
of  a  sudden  and  shot,  heels  over  head, 
into  the  water.  The  old  Quaker  saw 
him,  and  as  John  came  up  to  blow, 
called  out  to  him,  "  Don't  make  a  noise, 
John,  you'll  stop  the  men  in  their  work 
— keep  quiet,  and  I'll  help  thee  out." 

As  good  or  bad  luck  would  have  it, 
the  same  day,  the  kind  Quaker  was 
coming  down  the  plank,  and  away  he 
went,  souse  into  the  briny  deep.  But 
John  was  close  by,  and  as  his  master 
rose  to  the  surface,  and  looked  the  image 
of  ghastliness  and  despair,  the  tantaliz- 
ing negro  put  on  a  long  face,  and  cried, 
"  Master,  don't  make  a  noise,  to  call  off 
the  men,  I'll  help  thee  out."  And  so 
he  did,  while  the  "  men "  would  look 
on,  laughing  at  the  fun. 


"  A  Little  More." 

A  New  England  merchant,  who  had 
accumulated  a  vast  property  by  care 
and  industry,  yet  still  was  as  busy  as 
ever,  in  adding  vessel  to  vessel  and 
store  to  store,  though  considerably  ad- 
vanced in  life  being  asked  by  a  neigh- 
bor, how  much  property  would  satisfy 
a  human  being? — after  a  short  x^ause 
replied,  "  A  little  more.'''' 


Koyal  Prize  for  Raising-  Money— Raid 
upon  the  Bankers. 

At  one  period  of  his  reign,  being 
very  much  distressed  for  money,  and 
despairing  of  obtaining  any  from  the 
House  of  Commons,  King  Charles  the 
Second  declared,  in  a  private  meeting 
with  his  ministers,  that  if  any  of  them 
would  invent  a  method  by  which  to 
raise  about  one  million  and  a  half 
pounds,  without  a  parliament,  he 
should  have  the  "White  Staff,"  or, 
in  other  words,  the  lord  treasurer's 
place.  On  the  day  following.  Lord 
Ashley  told  Sir  Thomas  Clifford,  in 
confidence^  that  there  was  a  way  to  sup- 
ply the  king  immediately  with  such  a 
sum  ;  but  that  it  was  hazardous  to  put 
it  in  practice,  and  might  draw  a  train 
of  ill  consequences  along  with  it,  by  in- 
flaming both  the  parliament  and  the 
people. 

Sir  Thomas  was  impatient  to  know 
the  secret,  being  bold  and  courageous, 
entirely  in  the  French  interest,  and 
pleased  with  anything  that  might  ren- 
der the  king  unpopular  with  the  par- 
liament. Therefore,  to  discover  the 
project,  he  plied  his  lordship  with  wine 
to  excess,  and  then  led  the  conversation 
to  the  subject  of  the  king's  wants. 
Lord  Ashley  unguardedly  dropped  the 
important  secret. 

The  hint  was  immediately  taken  by 
Sir  Thomas,  who  left  his  lordship,  went 
directly  to  the  king,  and,  falling  on  his 
knees,  he  demanded  the  white  staff, 
according  to  promise.  His  majesty 
cried  out : 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


199 


"  Odds  fish  !  I'll  be  as  good  as  my 
word,  if  you  can  find  the  money." 

Sir  Thomas  then  informed  his  royal 
master  that  tlie  'bankers  had  a  million 
and  a  half  pounds  in  his  majesty's  ex- 
chequer^ which  money  he  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  seizing,  by  closing  the  ex- 
chequer, and  refusing  to  pay  the  bank- 
ers. To  this  project  the  king  readily 
assented;  and  at  a  privy  council,  his 
majesty  being  present,  Sir  Thomas  pro- 
posed, "  That,  as  the  king  must  have 
money  to  carry  on  the  war  against  Hol- 
land, in  which  his  honor  was  staked,  he 
knew  of  no  other  means  at  present  than 
shutting  up  the  exchequer.  He  desired 
none  would  speak  against  it  without 
proposing  some  method  more  certain 
and  expeditious."  The  king,  after 
many  apologies  for  this  bold  step,  de- 
clared that  "  it  should  only  be  for  the 
space  of  one  whole  year,  and  that  then 
no  new  orders  shall  interfere  to  break 
the  course  of  such  property." 

This  conduct  filled  every  one — espe- 
cially the  business  classes — with  con- 
sternation and  dismay,  and  it  was  de- 
clared that  the  crown  had  published 
its  own  bankruptcy.  The  money  thus 
forcibly  seized  did,  in  point  of  fact,  be- 
long to  the  trading  community ;  and 
the  failure  of  the  bankers,  which  was 
the  natural  result,  caused,  for  a  time, 
a  general  suspension  of  all  monetary 
transactions.  Sir  Thomas  Clifibrd,  for 
his  services  in  the  affair,  was,  according 
to  the  promise  of  the  king,  made  lord 
high  treasurer  and  a  peer. 


Ingenious  Swindling:  of  Pawnbrokers. 

The  plundering  of  pawnbrokers  has 
been  reduced  to  quite  a  system  in  Lon- 
don by  the  "  profession."  The  parties, 
it  seems,  are  in  the  habit  of  sending  to 
auction  rooms,  for  sale,  cases  of  very- 
handsome  medals  and  coins,  finely  fin- 
ished, to  represent  gold.  On  the  day 
of  the  sale,  some  of  the  party  attend, 
bid  a  high  price  for  the  article,  and,  of 
course,  become  the  purchasers.     They 


then  request  the  auctioneer  to  give  a 
guaranty  that  they  are  gold,  and  he, 
not  having  any  suspicions,  at  once  gives 
the  necessary  certificate.  The  next  step 
of  the  swindler  is  to  go  to  a  pawnbrok- 
er's and  pledge  the  articles  for  the  price 
they  could  fetch  if  they  were  gold,  at 
the  same  time  producing  the  auc- 
tioneer's certificate,  which  completely 
thi'ows  the  pawnbroker  off  his  guard. 


Jack's  Bargain  for  Hope. 

In  one  of  our  stores  there  is  a  mis- 
chievous young  fellow  by  the  name  of 
George,  who  now  and  then  acts  as  sales- 
man. If  his  numerous  friends  ever 
make  game  of  his  short  legs,  they  at 
least  never  deny  him  the  possession  of 
a  long  head.  There  came  into  the 
store  one  day  a  roving  son  of  the  sea, 
inquiring  for  rope.  George  immediate- 
ly offered  his  services,  and  led  him  back 
to  where  the  rope,  in  snaky  folds,  lay 
coiled.  The  sailor  soon  found  the 
right  size,  and  asked  the  price.  The 
selling  price  was  twelm  cents  the 
pound;  but  George,  with  an  eye  to 
the  principles  of  merchandising  in 
general,  and  the  custom  of  Israelites 
in  particular,  was  willing  to  put  it  to 
him  at  fifteen  cents.  To  this  the  tar 
made  no  objection,  and  said  he  would 
take  sixty  fathoms ;  but  as  it  was  pret- 
ty well  buried  beneath  a  lot  of  old  and 
somewhat  heavy  "  truck,"  he  very  natu- 
rally inquired,  "  How'll  you  get  it  out  ?  " 
Just  then  a  bright  idea  shot  through 
the  aforesaid  long  head  of  George,  and 
sparkled  for  a  moment  in  his  eyes,  while 
he  drawled  out  most  innocently,  "  Well, 
if  you'll  pull  it  all  out  yo-ur-self,  you 
may  have  it  at  twelve  cents."  Whereat 
the  sailor,  economically  inclined,  com- 
menced a  half-hour's  tugging  and  haul- 
ing at  the  buried  rope ;  while  George, 
more  humorously  inclined,  enjoyed  a 
good  half-hour  s  quiet  fun. 


200 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Determined  not  to  be  overreached. 

There  lives,  not  a  thousand  miles 
from  "Gotham,"  a  dealer  in  small 
wares,  whose  greatest  fear  is  that  of 
being  overreached.  He  goes  without 
milk  in  his  coffee,  in  dread  of  buying  a 
spoonful  of  Croton,  and  never  pays  a 
newspaper  subscription,  lest  it  should 
not  be  published  to  the  end  of  the  year. 
His  little  shop  is  without  gas,  for  he 
has  no  faith  in  the  meter ;  and  he  even 
dips  his  own  candles,  to  insure  that 
they  are  all  tallow.  In  one  thing  he  is 
liberal;  he  makes  large  purchases  of 
counterfeit  detectors,  and  buys  an  "  ex- 
tra "  if  there  are  any  whisperings  of  a 
broken  bank.  A  neighbor  of  his  was 
imposed  upon  the  other  day  with  a 
bank  note  which  had  been  ingeniously 
altered  from  one  to  five ;  and  the  dealer 
had  been  sharply  on  the  watch  ever 
since,  for  fear  of  a  similar  imposition. 
The  other  day,  a  young  girl  from  the 
country  stepped  into  his  store  and  pur- 
chased a  pair  of  stockings,  offering  a 
one  dollar  note  in  payment.  The  old 
man  eyed  the  girl  so  penetratingly  that 
her  face  became  suffused  with  blushes, 
and  this  was,  to  him,  acknowledgment 
of  guilt. 

"  How  dare  you  offer  me  this  ? "  he 
asked,  in  an  angry  tone. 

"  I  thought  it  was  good,"  she  an- 
swered timidly  and  with  quivering  lip. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  it  ? "  asked 
a  bystander,  who  had  been  attracted  by 
the  dispute ;  "  it  looks  like  a  genuine 
note." 

"  Genuine  enough,"  said  the  shop- 
keeper, his  face  crimson  with  passion . 
"  but,  don't  you  see — it's  a  one  altered 
from  a  twenty  !  " 


Jemmy  Taylor,  the  Miser  Banker,  and 
the  Earl  of  Northumberland. 

One  of  the  longest,  though  not  best, 
remembered  of  the  old  English  stock- 
brokers was  Jemmy  Taylor.  So  acute 
and  cunning  did  he  become  in  all  the 
trickery  pertaining  to  that  kind  of  busi- 


ness, that  his  profits  were  immense,  and 
his  wealth  prodigious.  He  was  as  pe- 
nurious as  he  was  rich,  and  as  wretch- 
ed in  his  personal  appearance  and  his 
mode  of  living  as  a  pauper.  A  short 
time  after  the  American  war,  it  is  said 
that  the  Earl  of  Northumberland,  hav- 
ing occasion  for  about  half  a  million 
dollars,  applied  to  a  broker,  who  ac- 
cordingly appointed  a  certain  day  for 
the  transfer.  At  the  time  and  place  for 
meeting,  there  was  posted  in  waiting, 
old  Jemmy  Taylor,  who,  in  appearance, 
resembled  some  itinerant  vendor  of 
matches.  Upon  the  Duke's  arrival,  the 
broker  brought  Jemmy  the  banker  for- 
ward to  his  grace,  who,  not  knowing 
him,  thought  he  was  a  beggar,  and  was 
about  to  bestow  a  trifle  upon  him,  when 
he  was  informed  that  he  was  "  a  warm 
man."  His  grace  immediately  shook 
hands  with  the  dirty  usurer,  and  Jem- 
my accommodated  him  with  £74,000 
out  of  one  stock,  in  the  four  per  cents., 
and  from  whence,  as  it  appeared  by  the 
books,  he  could  have  sold  out  as  much 
more,  and  yet  have  had  an  abundance 
left.  He  used  to  say,  that  "  if  his  suc- 
cessors had  as  much  pleasure  in  spend- 
ing his  property,  as  he  had  in  hoarding 
it  up,  they  need  not  complain  of  their 
hard  lot  in  the  world."  It  does  not  ap- 
pear that  they  were  ever  known  to  utter 
such  a  complaint  after  Jemmy's  death. 


Accomplished  Canine  Shoplifter. 

A  gentleman  in  Edinburgh  owned 
a  handsome  spaniel,  which  he  had 
bought  from  a  dealer  in  dogs.  The 
animal  had  been  educated  to  steal  for 
the  benefit  of  its  protector ;  but  it  was 
some  time  ere  his  new  master  became 
aware  of  this  irregularity  of  morals, 
and  he  was  not  a  little  astonished  and 
teased  by  its  constantly  bringing  home 
articles  of  which  it  had  felonious- 
ly obtained  possession.  Perceiving,  at 
length,  that  the  animal  proceeded  sys- 
tematically in  this  sort  of  behavior,  he 
used  to  amuse  his  friends,  by  causing 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


201 


tlie  spaniel  to  give  proof  of  its  sagacity 
in  the  Spartan  art  of  privately  stealing, 
putting,  of  course,  the  shopkeepers, 
where  he  meant  the  dog  should  exer- 
cise this  faculty,  on  their  guard  as  to 
the  issue. 

The  process  was  curious.  As  soon 
as  the  dog's  master  entered  the  shop, 
the  animal  seemed  to  avoid  all  appear- 
ance of  recognizing  or  acknowledging 
any  connection  with  him,  but  lounged 
about  in  an  indolent,  disengaged,  and 
indifferent  sort  of  manner,  as  if  having 
come  of  its  own  accord,  into  the  shop. 
In  the  course  of  looking  over  some 
wares,  the  master  indicated  by  a  touch 
on  the  parcel  and  a  look  toward  the 
spaniel,  that  which  he  desired  the  dog 
should  appropriate,  and  then  left  the 
shop.  The  dog,  whose  watchful  eye 
caught  the  hint  in  an  instant,  instead 
of  following  his  master  out  of  the  shop, 
continued  to  sit  at  the  door  or  lie  by 
the  fire,  watching  the  counter,  until 
observing  the  attention  of  the  people 
of  the  shop  was  withdrawn  from  the 
prize  to  be  secured.  Whenever  he  saw 
an  opportunity  of  doing  so,  as  he  imag- 
ined, unobserved,  he  never  failed  to 
jump  upon  the  counter  wdth  his  fore 
feet,  possess  himself  of  the  gloves,  or 
whatever  else  had  been  pointed  out  to 
him,  and  escape  from  the  shop  to  join 
his  master. 


"No  Great  Judge  of  de  Hemp." 

It  was  one  of  Girard's  ideas  of  suc- 
cess in  business,  that  there  was  no  stage 
in  the  process  of  the  exchange  of  equiv- 
alents in  trading,  that  might  not  be 
made  to  him  an  opportunity  of  present 
profit. 

On  one  of  these  occasions,  a  merchant 
who  had  purchased  of  Girard  a  large 
quantity  of  hemp,  sent  a  black  man  to 
superintend  the  weighing  and  loading 
of  it.  Girard  was  busy  himself  in  put- 
ting it  upon  the  scales,  but  a  great  part 
of  it  being  damaged,  the  negro  man 
watched  him    closely,   and  whenever 


Girard  threw  on  a  bad  bundle,  the  ne- 
gro would  carefully  throw  it  off.  But 
this,  Girard,  of  course,  would  not  sub- 
mit to,  and  would  proceed  to  replace 
it,  whilst  the  negro,  in  his  turn,  would 
as  quickly  fling  it  off— until,  losing  his 
patience,  he  commenced  cursing  the 
negro,  and  declared  he  should  not 
touch  the  hemp,  at  the  risk  of  chastise- 
ment. But  Sambo,  nothing  intimidat- 
ed by  the  threats  of  the  rich  merchant, 
continued  to  look  after  his  master's  in- 
terest, telling  Girard  that  if  he  ventured 
to  touch  him,  he  would  knock  his  other 
eye  out.  Girard  became  pacified,  and 
seeing  the  determined  purpose  of  the 
man  not  to  suffer  his  employer  to  be 
wronged,  he  became  reconciled  to  the 
negro,  saying : 

"Well,  I  believe  you  be  one  very 
honest  fellow,  but  you  no  be  one  great 
judge  of  de  hemp." 

On  another  occasion  of  the  same 
kind,  the  purchaser  of  his  hemp  a'p- 
'peareA  to  be  somewhat  less  inflexible 
than  Sambo.  Owing  to  some  peculiar 
circumstances  existing  between  the  par- 
ties, the  damaged  hemp  was  taken  by 
a  ship  chandler,  Girard  insisting  that 
he  would  give  no  other ;  and  very  lit- 
tle, or  none  of  the  article  being  in  the 
market,  the  buyer  was  obliged  to  sub- 
mit to  his  eccentric  humor,  and  take  it 
as  he  gave  it,  or  get  none.  It  happen- 
ed, however,  that  this  ship  chandler 
manufactured  all  Mr.  Girard's  cordage, 
and  in  order  to  mete  out  to  him  mem- 
urefor  measure^  he  ordered  the  damaged 
liemp  to  be  selected  and  made  up  for 
Mr.  Girard.  This  was  done  ;  and  the 
retribution  no  doubt  proved  a  more 
serious  loss,  than  the  profit  on  the  un- 
merchantable hemp  amounted  to. 


Eraising:  the  Price  of  Bread. 

Some  years  ago,  the  bread  dealers  in 
Lyons  thought  that  they  could  prevail 
on  M.  Dugas,  the  provost  of  the  mer- 
chants in  that  city,  to  befriend  them  at 
the  expense  of  the  public.    They  wait- 


202 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


ed  upon  him  in  a  body,  and  begged 
leave  to  raise  the  price  of  bread,  which 
could  not  be  done  without  the  sanction 
of  that  magistrate.  M.  Dugas  told 
them  that  he  would  examine  their 
petition,  and  give  them  an  early  an- 
swer. The  bakers  then  retired,  having 
first  left  upon  the  table  a  good  fat 
purse  of  two  hundred  louis  d'or,  in- 
tended as  private  pocket  money  for 
the  provost. 

In  a  few  days  the  bakers  called  upon 
the  magistrate  for  an  answer,  not  in  the 
least  doubting  but  that  the  money  had 
very  effectually  pleaded  their  cause. 
"  Gentlemen,"  said  M.  Dugas,  "  I  have 
weighed  your  reasons  in  the  balance 
of  justice,  and  I  find  them  light.  I  do 
not  think  the  people  ought  to  suffer 
under  a  pretence  of  the  dearness  of 
com,  which  I  know  to  be  unfounded ; 
and  as  to  the  purse  of  money  left  vnth 
me,  I  am  sure  that  I  have  made  such  a 
generous  and  noble  use  of  it,  as  you 
yourself  intended:  I  have  distributed 
it  among  the  poor  objects  of  charity  in 
our  two  hospitals.  As  you  are  opulent 
enough  to  make  such  large  donations, 
I  cannot  possibly  think  you  are  incur- 
ring any  losses  in  your  business ;  and 
I  shall,  therefore,  continue  the  price  of 
bread  as  it  was  before  I  received  your 
petition." 


Trickery  in  the  Clothing  Trade. 

A  GENTLEMAN  from  the  country,  who 
makes  a  visit  to  Gotham  once  a  year, 
dropped  into  a  fine  looking  clothing 
establishment  in  that  city,  to  buy  a 
coat.  Seeing  one  which  pleased  him, 
he  inquired  the  price,  which  the  tailor 
stated  to  be  thirty  dollars.  Not  exact- 
ly approving  of  that  price  for  the  coat, 
the  seller  fell  to  twenty-five  dollars,  and 
finally  to  twenty,  at  which  price  the 
coat  was  knocked  down  to  him,  as  a 
bargain.  It  was  immediately  "  bundled 
up,"  and  the  money  paid  for  it,  the 
buyer  stating  it  to  be  his  intention  to 
leave  the  city  in  a  few  hours.     On  ar- 


riving at  his  hotel,  he  thought  he  would 
examine  the  bundle  he  received ;  when, 
lo  !  on  unfolding  the  same,  what  a  sight 
met  his  gaze  !  two  old  tweed  coats,  worth 
three  or  four  dollars,  looked  up  pitifully 
in  unconscious  guilt,  into  his  astonished 
face.  How  he  felt,  one  might  imagine ; 
and  mentioning  the  circumstances  to 
the  clerk  in  attendance  at  the  hotel  in 
which  he  supped  and  lodged,  he  was 
informed  that  such  a  thing  was  of  daily 
occurrence.  In  a  moment  more,  the 
buyer  was  on  his  way,  with  his  "  bar- 
gain," to  the  self-styled  fashionable 
clothing  establishment,  and,  on  enter- 
ing, accosted  the  man  who  sold  him  a 
Jine  llack  hroaddoth  coat,  with  a  "  "Well, 
how  do  you  do,  sir  ? "  This  pleasing 
salut,  instead  of  receiving  a  salutation 
in  return,  equally  as  pleasant  and  agree- 
able, together  with  a  desire  to  be  hap- 
py to  see  a  customer  return  again,  was 
met  with  an  indifference  which  showed 
to  the  customer  that  there  was  no  dis- 
position or  willingness  manifested  to  Icnow 
him  !  Calmly,  however,  he  proceeded 
to  play  his  game  upon  the  Peter  Funk, 
or  "  clo'  man,"  by  informing  that  distin- 
guished dealer  in  fine  black  broadcloth 
coats,  that  he  had  come  back  to  his 
establishment  to  inform  him  of  a  mis- 
take that  he  had  committed  a  few 
hours  before,  in  selling  him  two  coats, 
when  he  had  only  bargained  for  and 
purchased  one  (here  the  clo'  man  be- 
came twitchy  and  somewhat  uneasy) — 
that  being  a  man  who  desired  only 
what  was  right,  his  moral  scruples 
would  not  permit  him  to  go  away  with- 
out returning  and  satisfying  (here  the 
Peter  Funk  began  to  smell  a  Tartar !) 
the  error  that  had  been  committed. 
"  It  cannot  be  a  mistake ;  it  is  not  pos- 
sible ;  no,  sir ;  it  cannot  be,"  were  the 
expressions  of  the  Funk  at  the  close  of 
the  sentence  above.  "  Now,"  said  the 
customer,  energetically,  "you— yo« — 
had,  no  doubt,  thought  that  you  had 
in  your  power  a  verdant  one  (here 
Funk  thought  he  was  about  to  catch  a 
Tartar),  and  that  an  opportunity  was 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


203 


given  you  to  indulge  in  your  swindling 
operations,  expecting,  of  course,  that  I 
would  leave  tlie  city,  and  not  call  again, 
after  discovering  your  fraud  upon  my 
purse." 

The  Peter  Funk,  now  finding  that  he 
had  caught  a  Tartar,  began  making  ex- 
planations —  declaring  that  the  two 
coats  were  made  for  another  gentle- 
man, and  that  he  would  not  for  ten 
dollars  that  they  had  been  kept  out  of 
his  hands.  This  attempt  to  "  get  off," 
by  telling  a  downright  falsehood,  espe- 
cially in  face  of  the  fact  that  at  least  a 
dozen  of  bundles  were  on  the  counter, 
all  of  which,  doubtless,  were  intended 
to  be  "  changed"  for  real  purchases,  as 
was  the  case  with  the  gentleman  in 
question,  did  not  "take."  Apologies 
not  suiting  that  individual,  he  depart- 
ed with  nothing  less  than  the  fine  coat 
he  had  purchased,  and  the  money  for 
which  was  even  then  warm  in  the  sel- 
ler's pocket. 

» 

Filibustering  among:  Parisian  Jew- 
ellers. 

The  Parisian  jewellers  are  now  and 
then  the  victims  of  people  in  elevated 
stations — aristocratic,  titled,  possessed 
of  everything  to  avert  susj^icion ;  and 
even  of  ladies  in  the  highest  social  cir- 
cles. These  swindlers  in  high-born 
position  find  it  convenient  to  take 
from  jewellers  what  money  bankers  and 
usurers  refuse  to  give  them.  They 
boldly  enter  the  jewellers'  shops,  pur- 
chase and  have  delivered  to  them  many 
bracelets  and  many  diamonds,  which 
they  will  return  in  a  few  days  (so  they 
say)  if  they  find  nothing  to  suit  them. 

The  objects  thus  intrusted  to  them 
go  from  the  shop,  after  delivery,  to  the 
pawnbrokers.  Time  passes  away ;  at 
first,  the  jeweller  hesitates  to  produce 
scandal,  and  he  accepts  notes  for  the 
goods  which  have  been  taken  as  good 
as  by  force  from  the  shop.  At  last  the 
notes  fall  due ;  they  are  protested. 
The  next  step  of  such  "  patrons  "  is  to 
offer  to  return  the  goods  !    And  this  is 


at  the  end  of  ten  or  twelve  months, 
without  interest  or  damages.  So  that 
the  jewellers  become  the  bankers  of 
fashionable  ladies  and  gentlemen  press- 
ed for  money. 

As  an  example  of  this  kind  of  aristo- 
cratic filibustering,  it  is  mentioned  by 

a  dealer,  that  M.  de  took  sixty 

thousand  dollars'  worth  of  jewelry  from 
seven  or  eight  jewelry  shops  in  Paris. 
A  twelvemonth  passed  away,  and  noth- 
ing was  paid  ;  all  had  been  sent  to  the 
pawnbrokers.  Finally,  M.  de  of- 
fered to  return  the  jewels,  but  hooted 
at  the  idea  of  paying  a  single  sou  for 
merely  "  taking  time  to  examine  them 
and  make  up  his  mind."  The  dealers 
threatened  to  bring  him  before  the 
police  court ;  he  laughed  at  them,  and 
they  abandoned  it,  fearing  the  loss  of 
time  and  money.     Another  case  was 

that  of  M'me  de ,  who  took  from  a 

certain  dealer  an  immense  quantity  of 
jewels  to  "  show  to  her  mother,"  as  she 
said ;  but  really  to  carry  to  her  "  aunt " 
(the  slang  phrase  for  the  pawnbroker), 
and  they  could  not  be  got  back  but  by 
the  aid  of  the  police. 


Window  *'  Gazers"  Employed  by  Lon- 
don Shopkeepers. 

One  of  the  most  "  exquisite  "  tactics 
of  London  shopkeepers  is  the  hiring  of 
regular  window  gazers.  This  leisurely 
employ 6,  whose  very  existence  is  hardly 
known  to  one  in  a  thousand  (and  of 
course  is  not  intended  to  be),  is  a  gen- 
teelly dressed,  complacent-looking  indi- 
vidual, having  much  the  appearance  and 
manners  of  an  aristocratic  "  gentleman 
about  town."  It  is  but  rarely  that  his 
services  are  monopolized  by  a  single 
firm,  unless  they  are  the  proprietors  of 
several  shops  in  different  quarters  of 
the  city.  It  more  frequently  happens 
that  he  is  the  joint  property  of  several 
individuals  whose  occupations  and  in- 
terests do  not  at  all  clash  with  each 
other. 

These  various  traders  manage  to  rig 
him  out  in  fashionable  trim  by  general 


204 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


contribution  ;  a  hatter  takes  charge  of 
his  head  ;  a  tailor  of  his  back ;  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  "  pantaloononicon  "  con- 
tributes the  trousers;  the  bootmaker 
indues  him  in  a  pair  of  the  genteelest 
of  boots;  he  supports  a  gold-headed 
cane  or  a  handsome  umbrella,  supplied 
by  the  manufacturer  of  those  articles ; 
necktie  and  handkerchief  of  irreproach- 
able style  and  pattern  are  bestowed  by 
the  haberdasher ;  while  a  jeweller  finds 
him  a  gold  watch,  a  showy  ring,  and  a 
handsome  double  eyeglass. 

Thus  equipped,  he  "  goeth  forth  to 
his  labor,"  whenever  the  state  of  the 
weather  is  such  as  to  support  the  proba- 
bility of  his  genuineness.  All  he  has 
to  do  is  to  walk  leisurely  from  the  shop 
of  one  of  his  patrons  to  that  of  another, 
stopping  in  front  of  the  window,  and 
scrutinizing  with  much  apparent  inter- 
est and  complacency  the  various  objects 
there  displayed  to  public  view.  In 
so  doing,  he  handles  his  gold  eye-glass 
with  aristocratic  grace — taps  his  model 
boot  with  his  splendid  cane — drops  a 
monosyllabic  ejaculation  of  surprise  or 
commendation,  and  when  half  a  score 
of  simpletons  have  gathered  around  to 
admire  the  astonishing  cheapness  and 
perfection  of  the  goods,  he  pops  into 
the  shop,  already  commencing  to  give 
an  order  in  a  loud  and  pompous  tone 
for  a  dozen  of  the  article  which  the 
tradesman  wants  to  push  off— desires 
that  they  may  be  sent  to  May  Fair  be- 
fore dark,  and,  naively  leaving  his 
card  with  the  shopman,  who  bows  him 
deferentially  out,  walks  leisurely  off  to 
the  next  shop  on  his  beat,  there  to  re- 
peat the  same  automatic  ceremony.  He 
contrives  to  arrive  at  the  tailor's  at  the 
fashionable  hour,  when  that  functionary 
is  engaged  with  customers,  and  there 
he  spreads  himself  in  giving  his  concise 
and  liberal  orders :  "  You  have  my 
measure  —  no  immediate  hurry  —  this 
day  week  will  do — suppose  you  are 
driven  as  usual ;  "  and  he  is  off  again 
on  his  way  to  the  jeweller's. 

He  accomplishes  his  easy  round  in 


the  course  of  the  day,  and  betakes  him- 
self to  his  scurvy  lodging,  doffing  his 
"show-toys"  before  dark.  His  pay 
varies  from  half  a  crown  to  three  shil- 
lings and  sixpence  a  day,  according  to 
his  figure  and  effrontery ;  and  he  con- 
siders it  easily  and  pleasantly  earned, 
inasmuch  as  he  is  (according  to  his  own 
notions),  to  all  intents  and  purposes  a 
gentleman — during  the  hours  of  duty. 


One  Price,  but  not  the  Same  Article. 

A  LADY  went  into  a  drygoods  store 
to  buy  a  silk  dress,  and  after  being 
shown  several  pieces,  at  length  fixed 
on  one,  for  which,  however,  she  would 
only  give  a  certain  price,  and  that  con- 
siderably lower  than  the  one  demanded. 
But  in  accordance  with  the  "  One  price 
— no  deduction  "  rule  of  the  house,  no 
abatement  could  be  allowed  to  be  made, 
so  the  ofter  could  not  be  taken. 

The  customer  was  just  going  away, 
when  the  salesman  dexterously  put 
aside  the  piece  of  silk  in  question,  and 
replaced  it  by  another  of  an  inferior 
quality  and  lower  price,  though  simi- 
lar in  appearance  to  that  for  which  she 
had  been  offering.  "  Come  this  way, 
ma'am,  you  may  have  it  I  "  he  cried,  as 
she  was  going  out  at  the  door.  The 
dress  was  cut  off,  the  full  price  paid, 
and  the  customer  departed,  highly 
pleased  at  having  got  it  all  her  own 
way. 


Drygroods  Drummer  "  Sold." 

The  following  description,  by  the 
hero  of  a  native  romance  bearing  his 
name,  of  the  manner  and  tactics  of 
New  York  drygoods  drummers,  is  a  pic- 
ture which  the  presiding  genius  of  Har- 
per's "  Drawer  "  justly  pronounces  to  be 
one  that  Dickens  himself  has  rarely  ex- 
celled. The  scene  succeeds  the  history 
of  the  hero's  first  acquaintance  with  a 
"  drummer  "—who,  mistaking  him  for 
a  country  "  dealer,"  had  given  him  his 
card  on  board  of  a  steamboat,  taken 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


205 


him  to  his  hotel,  sent  him  his  wine, 
given  him  tickets  to  the  theatre,  and 
requested  him  to  call  at  his  store  in 
Hanover  Square,  where  (though  he 
didn't  say  so)  it  was  his  intention  to 
turn  these  courtesies  to  profitable  ac- 
count. On  a  bright,  pleasant  morning, 
accordingly,  our  hero  visits  the  store, 
where  Mr.  Lummocks,  the  drummer, 
receives  him  with  open  arms,  and  in- 
troduces him  to  his  employer. 

He  shook  me  heartily  by  the  hand, 
and  said  he  was  really  delighted  to  see 
me.  He  asked  me  how  the  times  were, 
and  offered  me  a  cigar,  which  I  took, 
for  fear  of  giving  ofience,  but  which  I 
threw  away  the  very  first  opportunity 
I  got. 

"  Buy  for  cash,  or  on  time  ? "  he 
asked. 

I  was  a  little  startled  at  the  question, 
it  was  so  abrupt ;  but  I  replied  : 

"  For  cash." 

"  Would  you  like  to  look  at  some 
prints,  major  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"I  am  much  obliged  to  you,"  I 
answered ;  "  I  am  very  fond  of  seeing 
prints." 

With  that  he  commenced  turning 
over  one  piece  after  another,  with 
amazing  rapidity. 

"  There^  major — very  desirable  arti- 
cle— splendid  style — only  two-and-six  ; 
cheapest  goods  in  the  street." 

Before  I  could  make  any  reply,  or 
even  guess  at  his  meaning,  he  was 
called  away,  and  Mr.  Lummocks 
stepped  up  and  supplied  his  place. 

"  You  had  better  buy  'em,  colonel," 
said  Mr.  Lummocks;  "they  will  sell 
like  hot  cakes.  Did  you  say  you 
bought  for  cash  ?  " 

"  Of  course,''^  I  replied,  "  if  I  buy  at 
all." 

He  took  a  memorandum  out  of  his 
pocket,  and  looked  in  it  for  a  moment. 

"  Let — me — see,"  said  he,  "  Franco, 
Franco — what  did  you  say  your  firm 
was?  Something  and  Franco,  «r 
Franco  and  Somebody?  The  name 
has  escaped  me." 


"  I  have  no  firm,"  I  replied. 

"  Oh,  you  haven't,  hain't  ye  ?  all 
alone,  eh  ?  But  I  don't  see  that  I've 
got  your  first  name  down  in  my  '  tick- 
ler.' " 

"  My  first  name  is  Harry,"  said  L 

"  Right — yes — I  remember,"  said  Mr. 
Lummocks,  making  a  memorandum, 
"  and  your  references,  colonel,  who  did 
you  say  were  your  references  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  reference,"  I  replied ; 
"  indeed,  I  know  of  no  one  to  whom  I 
could  refer,  except  my  father." 

"  What — the  old  boy  in  the  country, 
eh?" 

"My  father  is  in  the  country,"  I 
answered,  seriously,  not  very  well 
pleased  to  hear  my  parent  called  the 
"  Old  Boy." 

"  Then  you  have  no  city  references, 
eh?" 

"  None  at  all ;  I  have  no  friends 
here,  except  yourself." 

"  Me  I  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Lummocks, 
apparently  in  great  amazement.  "  Oh, 
ho  !  how  much  of  a  bill  do  you  mean 
to  make  with  us,  captain  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  I  may  buy  a  vest  pattern," 
I  replied,  "  if  you  have  got  some  gen- 
teel patterns." 

"J.  vest  pattern f^^  exclaimed  Mr. 
Lummocks ;  "  what !  haven't  you  come 
down  for  the  purpose  of  buying  goods  ? " 

"  No,  sir,"  I  replied ;  "  I  cam.e  to 
New  York  to  seek  for  employment, 
and,  as  you  have  shown  me  so  many 
kind  attentions,  I  thought  you  would  be 
glad  to  assist  me  in  finding  a  situation." 

Mr.  Lummocks's  countenance  under- 
went a  very  singular  change  when  I 
announced  my  reasons  for  calling  on 
him. 

"  Do  you  see  any  thing  that  looks 
green  in  there  ? "  he  asked,  pulling 
down  his  eyelid  with  his  forefinger. 

"  No,  sir,  I  do  not,"  I  replied,  look- 
ing very  earnestly  into  his  eye. 

"  Nor  in  there,  either  ?  "  said  he,  pull- 
ing open  his  other  eye. 

"  Nothing  at  all,  sir,"  I  replied,  after 
a  minute  examination. 


206 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"  I  guess  not! "  said  Mr.  Lummocks  ; 
and  without  making  any  other  answer, 
he  turned  smartly  on  his  heel,  and  left 
me. 

"Regularly  sucked,  eh,  Jack?" 
asked  a  young  man  who  had  been 
listening  to  our  conversation. 

"  Don't  mention  it,"  said  Mr.  Lum- 
mocks ;  "  the  man  is  a  fool." 

Harry  was  about  to  demand  an  ex- 
planation of  this  strange  conduct,  when 
the  proprietor  came  forward  and  told 
him  that  he  was  not  a  retailer,  but  a 
jobber^  and  advised  him,  "  if  he  wanted 
a  vest  pattern,  to  go  into  Chatham 
street !  "  The  drummer  was  "  sold," 
instead  of  his  goods. 


Deaconing-  both.  Ends  of  the  Barrel. 
In  preparing  and  packing  fruit  for 
the  market,  the  practice  of  "deaconing," 
as  it  is  called,  is  very  extensively  fol- 
lowed— that  is,  topping  off  a  barrel  of 
apples  with  the  best  specimens;  the 
rather  iiTeverent  term  "  deaconing " 
having  its  origin,  probably,  from  some 
one  holding  that  office  having  been  un- 
fortunately distinguished  for  his  fre- 
quent adoption  of  the  plan,  so  as  to 
put  an  inviting  show  on  his  fruit.  A 
dealer  down  East,  who  happened  to  be 
"  posted,"  sold  a  barrel  of  apples  to  a 
customer,  at  the  same  time  recommend- 
ing them  as  the  choicest  apples  that  had 
been  raised  in  the  town.  In  due  time 
the  barrel  was  opened,  and  found  to 
contain  a  very  inferior  quality  ;  where- 
upon the  customer,  feeling  that  he  had 
been  imposed  upon,  made  complaint  to 
the  seller,  who  in  turn  very  coolly  made 
answer,  that  he  guessed  he  must  have 
opened  the  barrel  at  the  wrong  end ! 
The  only  change  this  little  episode  was 
known  to  produce  in  the  seller's  prac- 
tice was  to  make  him  careful  afterward 
to  "  deacon  "  loth  ends. 


Grocers'  Baisin-Boxes  and  Nibbling- 
Customers. 

Almost  every  grocer,  it  may  be  safe 

to  assume,  is  or  has  been  infested  with 


a  customer  who  is  perpetually  infring- 
ing on  the  eighth  commandment.  This 
class  of  pilferers  are  constantly  tasting 
the  cheese,  or  munching  convenient 
lumps  of  sugar,  dried  apples,  etc.  They 
occasionally  stick  their  dirty  fingers  in- 
to the  molasses  hogshead,  and  suck  them 
with  infinite  gusto. 

A  grocer,  "not  a  thousand  miles" 
from  South  Danvers,  was  the  victim  of 

such  a    bore.     Whenever    Mr.  A 

came  to  the  store,  he  would  steer  for 
the  raisin-box,  and  deliberately  ab- 
stract a  handful ;  to  the  cheese,  and 
take  a  generous  slice ;  and,  with  a 
cracker  and  a  glass  of  water,  serve 
himself  an  excellent  lunch.'  The  gro- 
cer one  day  undid  a  box  of  nice  Malaga 
raisins  and  placed  it  on  his  counter. 

Mr.   A ,   coming    in,  made    direct 

tracks  to  them,  and  expressed  his  ap- 
probation of  their  quality  by  taking  an 
unusually  large  handful.  Our  friend, 
the  grocer,  observing  this,  gave  orders 
to  his  clerks  not  to  sell  or  allow  any 
one  to  touch  the  raisins  in  that  box, 
except  Mr.  A.  He  called  frequently. 
At  the  end  of  six  months,  the  box  of 

Malagas  was    gone;    Mr.   A had 

eaten  them  all.  His  bill  for  that  time 
amounted  to  about  forty  dollars,  the 
profits  on  which  were  three  dollars. 
The  raisins  (to  say  nothing  of  other 
nibbluigs)  amounted,  at  cost  price,  to 
$3.35.  Thus  the  grocer,  from  that 
"  customer,"  in  that  space  of  time, 
made  twenty-five  cents  out  of  pocket. 
After  that,  he  insisted  upon  having 

Mr.    A administer    firm    control 

over  his  fingers,  or  else  withdraw  his 
patronage. 

Item — to  whom  it  may  concern : 
Don't  imagine  that  when  you  purchase 
an  ounce  of  pepper,  the  grocer  can 
afford  you  the  gratuitous  privilege  of 
his  raisin  box. 


Artful  Dodg-e. 
An  ingenious  rogue  in  Berlin,  Prus- 
sia, lately  practised  one  of  the  most  art- 
ful dodges  to  be  found  in  the  records 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


207 


of  any  business.  A  member  of  the 
company  of  players,  at  Kallenbach's 
theatre  was  to  have  a  benefit  night; 
and  the  question  was,  how  to  get  to- 
gether a  good  audience,  as  the  usual 
attendance  at  that  place  of  amusement, 
even  if  doubled,  would  produce  far  too 
slender  a  sum  to  satisfy  the  expecta- 
tions of  a  benefit  night.  Accordingly, 
some  days  before  the  memorable  even- 
ing, there  appeared  in  all  the  Berlin 
papers  an  advertisement  to  the  follow- 
ing effect : 

"  A  gentleman,  who  has  a  niece  and 
ward  possessing  a  disposable  property 
of  fifteen  thousand  thalers,  together 
with  a  mercantile  establishment,  desires 
to  find  a  young  man  who  would  be  able 
to  manage  the  business  and  become  the 
husband  of  the  yoimg  lady.  The  pos- 
session of  property  or  other  qualification 
is  no  object.    Apply  to ." 

Hundreds  and  hundreds  of  letters 
poured  in,  in  reply  to  this  advertise- 
ment. On  the  morning  of  the  benefit 
day  each  person  who  had  sent  a  reply 
received  the  following  note :  "  The 
most  important  point  is,  of  course, 
that  you  should  like  one  another.  I 
and  my  niece  are  going  to  Kallenbach's 
theatre  this  evening,  and  you  can  just 
drop  in  upon  us  in  Box  No.  1." 

Of  course,  the  theatre  was  crammed. 
All  the  boxes,  all  the  best  paying  places 
in  the  house  were  filled  early  in  the 
evening  with  a  mostly  male  public,  got 
up  in  a  style  seldom  seen  at  the  royal 
opera  itself.  Glasses  were  levelled  on 
all  sides  in  the  direction  of  "  box 
No.  1,"  and  eyes  were  strained  to  catch 
tlie  first  glimpse  of  the  niece,  when  she 
should  appear  in  company  with  the 
uncle.  But  uncles  are  proverbially 
"  wicked  old  men  ;  "  and  in  the  pre  ent 
case  neither  uncle  nor  niece  was  to  be 
found,  and  the  disconsolate  lovers — of  a 
fortune — were  left  to  clear  up  the  mys- 
tery as  best  they  could.  The  theatre 
had  not  had  such  an  audience  for  years, 
and,  of  course,  the  chief  person  concern- 
ed reaped  a  rich  harvest  by  the  trick. 


Half-hour's  Experience  with.  liOndon 
Brokers. 

I  TURNED  to  the  right  (says  an  hon- 
est visitor  to  the  rendezvous  of  English 
brokers,  to  see  how  the  money-springs 
were  touched),  and  found  myself  in  a 
spacious  apartment,  which  was  nearly 
filled  with  persons  more  respectable  in 
appearance  than  the  crew  I  had  left  at 
the  door.  Curious  to  see  all  that  was 
to  be  seen,  I  began  to  scrutinize  the 
jjlace  and  the  society  into  which  I  had 
intruded.  But  I  was  prevented  from 
indulging  the  reflections  which  began 
to  suggest  themselves,  by  the  conduct 
of  those  about  me.  A  curly-haired 
Jew,  with  a  face  as  yellow  as  a  guinea, 
stepped  plump  before  me,  fixed  his 
black,  round,  leering  eyes  full  on  me, 
and  exclaimed  without  the  slightest 
anxiety  about  my  hearing  him  : 

"  So  help  me  Got,  Mo',  who  is  he  ? " 
Instead  of  replying  in  a  straightfor- 
ward way,  "  Mo "  raised  his  voice  as 
loud  as  he  could,  and  shouted  with 
might  and  main : 

"  Fourteen  hundred  new  fives  ! " 
A  hundred  voices  repeated  the  mys- 
terious exclamation,   "Fourteen   hun- 
dred new  fives ! " 

"  Where,  where — fourteen  hundred 
new  fives — now  for  a  look;  where  is 
he — Go  it,  go  it ! "  were  the  cries  raised 
on  all  sides  by  the  crowd,  which  now 
rallied  about  my  person  like  a  swarm 
of  bees.  And  then  "  Mo,"  by  way  of 
proceeding  to  business,  repeating  the 
war-cry,  staggered  sideways  against 
me,  so  as  almost  to  knock  me  down. 
My  fall,  however,  was  happily  pre- 
vented by  the  kindness  of  a  brawny 
Scotchman,  who  humorously  calling 
out,  "  Let  the  man  alone,"  was  so  good 
as  to  stay  me  in  my  course  with  his 
shoulder,  and  even  to  send  me  back 
toward  "  Mo,"  with  such  violence,  that, 
had  he  not  been  supported  by  a  string 
of  his  friends,  he  must  have  infallibly 
fallen  before  me.  But  being  thus 
backed,  he  was  enabled  to  withstand 
the  shock,  and  to  give  me  a  new  im- 


208 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


pulse  in  the  direction  of  the  Scotch- 
man, who,  awaiting  my  return,  treated 
me  with  another  hoist  as  before,  and  I 
found  those  two  worthies  were  likely 
to  amuse  themselves  with  me  as  with  a 
shuttlecock,  for  the  next  quarter  of  an 
hour.  I  struggled  violently  to  extri- 
cate myself  from  this  unpleasant  situa- 
tion, and,  by  aiming  a  blow  at  the  Jew, 
inspired  Moses  to  pause  and  give  up 
his  next  hit,  and  to  allow  me  for  a  mo- 
ment to  regain  my  feet. 

The  rash  step  which  I  had  taken  was 
likely  to  produce  very  formidable  con- 
sequences. All  present  were  highly 
exasperated  and  panting  for  a  clinch. 
The  war  became  more  hot  and  des- 
perate than  ever.  Each  individual 
seemed  anxious  to  contribute  to  my 
destruction ;  and  some  of  their  number 
considerately  called  out,  "  Spare  his  life, 
but  break  his  limbs."  My  alarm  was 
extreme ;  and  I  looked  nervously  round 
for  means  of  escape. 

"  You  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  your- 
self to  use  the  gentleman  in  that  sort 
of  way,"  squeaked  a  small  imp-like  per- 
son, affecting  sympathy,  and  then  trying 
to  renew  the  sport. 

"  How  would  you  like  it  yourself," 
cried  another,  "  if  you  were  a  stran- 
ger ? "  shaking  his  sandy  locks  with  a 
knowing  look,  and  knocking  off  my 
hat  as  he  spoke. 

I  made  a  desperate  blow  at  this 
offender.  It  did  not  take  effect,  from 
the  expedition  with  which  he  retreat- 
ed, and  I  had  i^rudence  enough  to  re- 
flect that  it  would  be  better  to  recover 
my  hat  than  to  pursue  the  enemy. 
Turning  round,  I  saw  my  unfortunate 
beaver,  or  "  canister,"  as  it  was  called 
by  the  gentry  who  had  it  in  their  cus- 
tody, bandying  it  backward  and  for- 
ward, between  the  Caledonian  and  his 
clan,  and  the  Jew  and  his  tribe. 

Covered  with  perspiration,  foaming 
with  rage,  and  almost  expiring  from 
heat  and  exhaustion,  I  at  last  succeeded 
in  recovering  my  once  glossy  and  re- 
spectable hat.    I  did  not  dare  to  rein- 


state it,  but  was  forced  to  grasp  it  with 
both  hands,  in  order  to  save  what  re- 
mained of  it.  I  baffled  several  desperate 
snatches,  one  of  which  carried  away  the 
lining  in  shreds,  and  was  now  trying  to 
keep  the  enemy  at  bay,  afraid  again  to 
attack  the  host  opposed  to  me ;  but  not 
knowing  how  to  retreat,  when  a  person, 
who  had  not  previously  made  himself 
conspicuous,  approached  and  interfered, 
by  saying,  "  Perhaps  you  had  better  go 
out ; "  at  the  same  time  pointing  to  a 
door  which  I  had  been  too  much  in  a 
hurry  to  have  seen  before. 


One  of  tlie  Operations  in  'Changre 
AUey. 

"While  the  war  in  which  the  British 
nation  was  involved,  in  1761,  was  going 
on,  Mr.  Dunbar,  the  eminent  West  In- 
dia merchant  in  London,  finding  his 
affairs  much  less  prosperous  than  usual, 
sought  "  the  Alley,"  as  the  money  street 
of  London  was  then  termed,  to  retrieve 
his  failing  fortunes — with  what  success, 
the  sequel  will  show.  From  some  pri- 
vate information  of  which  he  had  come 
into  possession,  he  believed  that  he  had 
good  grounds  for  supjDosing  that  a 
peace  would  soon  be  effected,  and  a 
rise  in  the  funds  at  once  ensue.  He 
therefore  ordered  his  broker  to  buy 
one  hundred  thousand  pounds  in  stock 
for  his  account,  telling  him  privately 
the  opinion  he  had  formed,  with  the 
intelligence  on  which  it  was  based, — 
and  the  broker,  in  violation  of  his  oath, 
jobbed  extensively  on  his  own  account 
as  well  as  for  his  client.  February 
passed  away  without  the  expected 
peace,  and  Mr.  Dunbar  paid  the  differ- 
ence. Confident,  however,  in  his  views, 
he  continued  the  operation;  but  each 
account  day  proved  that  the  price  had 
been  against  him,  and  with  great  dif- 
ficulty did  he  find  money  to  pay  the 
amounts  due.  In  July,  unable  to 
pay  cash,  he  gave  notes  of  hand  to 
the  broker,  who  agreed  to  receive 
them.  No  objection  being  made, 
the    account  was    continued    on    for 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


209 


August.  In  that  montli  the  pros- 
pect of  peace  revived,  the  funds  rose 
handsomely,  and  Mr,  Dunbar,  seeing  a 
chance  of  paying  a  greater  part  of  his 
losses,  went  with  all  speed  to  his  bro- 
ker. His  distress  may  be  imagined,  when 
he  was  coolly  told,  that,  since  he  had 
given  notes  of  hand^  no  account  had  been 
opened,  and  no  advantage  could  be 
reaped  from  the  rise  in  price.  Any  ap- 
peal to  law  was  useless;  but,  as  Mr. 
Dunbar  became  a  bankrupt,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  stock  exchange  subscribed 
to  pay  the  amount  claimed,  in  order 
that  so  flagrant  a  case  might  not  be- 
come public. 


His  Kuling:  Passion. 

A  Mr.  L.,  a  master  in  chancery,  was 
on  his  deathbed — a  very  wealthy  man. 
Some  occasion  of  great  urgency  occur- 
red, in  which  it  became  necessary  to 
make  an  affidavit;  and  the  attorney, 
failing  of  one  or  two  other  masters 
whom  he  inquired  after,  ventured  to 
ask  if  Mr.  L.  himself  would  possibly  be 
able  to  receive  the  deposition.  The 
proposal  actually  seemed  to  give  him 
momentary  strength;  his  clerk  was 
sent  for,  and  the  oath  taken  in  due 
form.  The  master  was  lifted  up  in  his 
bed,  and  with  difficulty  subscribed  the 
paper ;  as  he  sank  down  again,  he  made 
a  signal  to  his  clerk,  "Wallace?" 
"  Sir  ?  "  "  Your  ear  —  lower  —  lower. 
Erne  you  got  the  half  crown  f  "  He  was 
dead  before  the  morning. 


Trick  for  *'  the  Spashy." 

"When  the  banks  "  shut  down "  on 
their  specie,  some  people  hold  on  to 
what  coin  they  get  a  feel  at,  to  the 
annoyance  of  the  retail  traders,  who  are 
importuned  every  hour  to  change  a  bill 
for  some  small  purpose.  An  illustra- 
tion of  this  fact  is  that  of  a  Celtic 
woman  who  entered  a  grocery  and 
called  for  "  a  cint's  'orth  o'  sand."  The 
article  was  measured  out,  and  put  into 
14 


the  customer's  pail,  who  tendered  a  one 
dollar  bill  to  have  the  pay  taken  out 
of  it.  "  I  can't  change  that  for  so  small 
an  amount,"  exclaimed  the  grocer; 
"  you  may  take  the  sand,  and  be  wel- 
come to  it."  "  Indade,  sir,  and  shure 
it  isn't  the  sand  that  I'm  wanting  at  all 
at  all;  but  it's  the  sulver — the 
that  ye'll  be  giving  me  back." 


Game  of  the  Money  Packages. 

North,  the  noted  insurance  agent, 
banker,  stock  gambler,  and  speculator, 
who  flourished  upon  such  an  extensive 
scale  until  the  hour  of  his  collapse — 
when  he  was  found  to  be  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  dollars  worse  than  noth- 
ing— was  a  most  inveterate  and  persist- 
ent borrower  of  other  people's  money. 

He  went  to  New  York  frequently, 
and  took  with  him  large  packages  of 
bank  bills.  Usually  arriving  in  New 
York  after  business  hours,  it  was  his 
custom,  on  such  occasions,  to  deposit 
the  money  packages,  nicely  sealed,  with 
the  clerk  of  the  hotel  he  might  de- 
cide to  stop  at.  L.  E.  W.,  who  had 
occasion  also  to  go  frequently  to  New 
York,  and  who  often  chanced  to  fall 
into  North's  company,  had  noticed  that 
these  deposits  of  money  packages  gen- 
erally secured  to  North  nice  rooms  and 
much  attention  at  the  hotels.  He  ac- 
cordingly prepared  two  handsome  pack- 
ages, sealed  them  up  with  heavy  seals, 
marked  upon  each,  in  bold  characters, 
"  $3,000,"  placed  them  in  his  carpet 
sack,  and  in  two  or  three  days  after,  on 
his  way  to  Gotham,  got  into  the  company 
of  North.  They  went  together  to  the 
Astor.  North  booked  his  name,  pulled 
a  key  from  his  pocket,  unlocked  his 
caqoet  sack,  took  out  a  sealed  package 
marked  "  $2,000,"  and  handed  it  to  the 
clerk  with  a  pompous  request  that  it 
be  taken  care  of  till  called  for.  L.  E. 
W.  then  booked  his  name,  and  opening 
his  carpet  bag,  drew  out  the  two  pack- 
ages marked  "$3,000,"  and  handed 
them  to  the  clerk  with  the  same  re- 


210 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


quest.  North  looked  on  with  evident 
satisfaction  and  surprise,  but  made  no 
remark.  The  next  day,  after  break- 
fast, he  called  L.  E.  W.  aside  myste- 
riously, spoke  to  him  about  having  a 
bank  note  to  pay,  said  he  was  "  short," 
and  ending  by  requesting  a  loan  of  one 
of  the  packages  of  three  thousand  dol- 
lars, which  he  had  seen  him  deposit  the 
evening  before.  The  temptation  was 
too  great ,'  and  besides  it  was  "  All- 
Fool's  Day."  "You  can  have  it  for 
three  days,  if  that  can  be  of  any  accom- 
modation to  you,"  said  "W.,  looking 
wisely.  Of  course  it  would  be  an  ac- 
commodation; so  North  wrote  a  note 
for  three  thousand  dollars,  payable  one 
day  after  date,  and  the  package  was 
graciously  passed  to  him.  An  hour 
later,  and  North  went  into  a  well- 
known  bank  in  Wall  street,  with  his 
usual  bluster,  bustle,  and  huiTy.  "I 
have  a  note  here  due  to-day,  I  believe," 
said  he  to  a  teller.  The  note  was  pro- 
duced. It  was  for  five  thousand  dol- 
lars. A  $2,000  and  a  $3,000  package 
were  handed  over  in  payment.  The 
first  was  broken,  and  found  to  be  cor- 
rect ;  the  second  was  then  opened,  and 
found  to  contain  nought  but  blank  tis- 
sue pa,per !  The  clerk  looked  inquir- 
ingly ;  poor  North  looked  deeply  mor- 
tified. He  made  a  hurried  apology, 
gathered  up  his  two  thousand  dollars, 
and  took  his  departure.  North  never 
afterward  asked  L.  E.  W.  for  a  loan  of 
a  "  money  package." 


King:  Charles  in  the  Fawners'  Clutches. 

In  a  curious  pamphlet,  published  in 
1676,  an  account  is  given  of  the  out- 
rageous advantage  taken  of  the  neces- 
sities of  King  Charles  by  the  pawn- 
brokers ;  showing  that  the  monarch 
who  lives  beyond  his  revenue,  must 
pay  the  same  penalty  as  the  subject 
who  outruns  his  income.  He  found 
himself  at  the  mercy  of  the  rich  pawn- 
broker, who  made  the  royal  debtor  pay 
ten,  twenty,  and  thirty  per  cent,  for  ac- 


commodation, while  he  allowed  only 
six  per  cent,  for  the  money  which  went 
to  alleviate  the  difficulties  of  the  "  mer- 
ry monarch."  A  business  so  profitable 
induced  the  pawnbrokers  more  and 
more  to  become  lenders  to  the  king, 
to  anticipate  all  the  revenue,  to  take 
every  grant  of  Parliament  into  pawn 
as  soon  as  it  was  given  ;  also  to  outvie 
each  other  in  buying  and  taking  to 
pawn  bills,  orders,  and  tallies,  so  that, 
in  effect,  all  the  revenue  passed  tlirough 
their  hands. 


Duplicity  Practised  by  Furnese,  the 
King's  Banker. 

The  name  of  Sir  Henry  Furnese 
figures  largely  among  the  bygone 
bankers  who  gave  renown  to  the  finan- 
ciers of  that  period.  Throughout  Hol- 
land, Flanders,  France,  and  Germany, 
he  maintained  a  complete  and  perfect 
train  of  business  intelligence.  The 
news  of  the  many  battles  fought  was 
thus  received  first  by  him,  and  the  fall 
of  Namur  added  to  his  profits,  owing 
to  his  early  receipt  of  the  news.  On 
another  occasion  he  was  j^resented  by 
King  William  with  a  diamond  ring  of 
immense  value,  as  a  reward  for  some 
important  information,  and  as  a  testi- 
mony of  that  monarch's  esteem.  He 
was  the  king's  friend  and  banker. 

But  the  temptation  to  deceive  was 
too  great,  even  for  this  eminent  and 
honored  banker.  He  fabricated  news ; 
he  insinuated  false  intelligence ;  he  was 
the  originator  of  some  of  those  plans 
which  at  a  later  period  were  managed 
with  so  much  effect  by  Rothschild. 
Thus,  if  Sir  Henry  wished  to  buy,  his 
brokers  were  ordered  to  look  gloomy 
and  mysterious,  hint  at  important  news, 
and  after  a  time  sell.  His  movements 
were  closely  watched — the  contagion 
would  spread ;  the  speculators  become 
alarmed ;  prices  be  lowered  four  or  five 
per  cent., — for  in  those  days  the  loss  of 
a  battle  might  be  the  loss  of  a  crown, — 
and  Sir  Henry  would  reap  the  benefit 
by  employing  different  brokers  to  pur- 


TRADE  AND   BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


211 


chase  as  much  as  possible  at  the  re- 
duced price.  Large  profits  were  thus 
made,  but  a  demoralizing  spirit  was 
spread  abroad;  and  bankrupts  and 
beggars  sought  the  same  pleasure  in 
which  the  millionnaire  indulged,  and 
often  with  similar  success. 


Talleyrand  and  tlie  Stock  Jobber. 

An  extensive  dealer  in  stocks,  anx- 
ious about  the  rise  and  fall  of  the 
public  funds,  and  eager  to  overreach 
those  similarly  situated,  came  once  to 
Talleyrand  for  information  respecting 
the  truth  of  a  rumor  that  George  the 
Third  had  suddenly  died,  when  the 
statesman  replied  in  a  confidential  tone, 
"  I  shall  be  delighted  if  the  information 
I  have  to  give  you,  be  of  any  use  to 
you."  The  banker  was  enchanted  with 
the  prospect  of  obtaining  authentic  in- 
formation from  so  high  a  source ;  and 
Talleyrand,  with  a  mysterious  air,  con- 
tinued :  "  Some  say  that  the  king  of 
England  is  dead,  others  that  he  is  not 
dead,  but  for  my  own  part,  I  believe 
neither  the  one  nor  the  other;  I  tell 
you  this  in  confidence,  but  do  not  com- 
mit me." 


Buying  Cheap. 

Some  persons  have  a  penchant  for 
buying  things  cheap— a  weakness,  in- 
deed, with  which  many  are  troubled, 
and  it  is  oftentimes  a  most  offensive 
one.  Clapp  tells  a  "  good  un "  of  a 
wandering  Jew  peddler,  who  stepped 
into  the  counting  room  of  a  Boston 
merchant,  on  a  certain  winter's  morn- 
ing, and  after  warming  his  hands,  turn- 
ed to  the  gentleman  occupying  the  seat 
of  authority,  and  politely  inquired : 

"  Would  you  like  to  examine  a  vest 
pattern  ? " 

"No,  no,  don't  bother  me.  Very 
busy  just  now." 

"  It  is  the  best  article  and  the  neatest 
pattern  that  you  ever  saw." 

"  Don't  want  anj  vest  patterns  !  " 


"  But  just  look,  sir," — and  the  ped- 
dler had  a  piece  of  vesting  unfolded, 
which  was  really  quite  neat,  and  the 
cogitator,  unable  to  unravel  the  politi- 
cal web — he  was  conning  the  election 
returns  as  given  by  the  rival  jour- 
nals— determined  to  unravel  the  web 
of  the  fabric. 

"  All  silk,  sir  ;  warranted,  and  suffi- 
cient for  two  double-breasted  vests,  or 
three  with  rolling  collars." 

"  What  do  you  ask  for  it  ?  " 

"  Twelve  dollars.  I  bought  it  in 
Liverpool,  and  brought  it  over  with 
me,  and  if  you  want  it,  you  shall  have 
it  for  just  what  it  cost  me — twelve  dol- 
lars." 

"  It  is  too  much,  shan't  give  any  such 
price — but  will  give  you  six  dollars." 

"  Oh,  my  gracious  !  "  exclaimed  the 
peddler,  as  if  astonished  at  such  an  offer, 
"  I  can't  think  of  it.  "  Off  he  walked. 
In  ten  minutes  the  door  was  opened, 
and  the  peddler  thrust  in  his  head : 
"  You  may  have  it  for  ten  dollars." 

"  No,"  was  all  the  reply  he  got. 

"  I  will  say  eight,  as  the  very  lowest." 

"  No,  «ir,"  and  away  went  the  peddler 
the  second  time. 

The  gentleman  was  about  relapsing 
into  his  revery  upon  the  contradictory 
election  returns,  as  given  by  the  differ- 
ent political  papers,  when  the  peddler 
reentered  boldly,  and  laid  the  vesting 
upon  the  desk,  exclaiming  : 

"  Well,  give  us  six  dollars,  and  it  is 
yours." 

The  money  was  paid,  and  the  peddler 
was  about  leaving  the  door,  when  he 
turned  round  and  took  from  his  pocket 
another  roll,  and,  undoing  it,  exposed 
to  view  a  piece  of  vesting  as  far  pref- 
erable to  the  other  as  possible. 

The  gentleman  at  once  made  a  propo- 
sal to  exchange.  The  peddler  couldn't 
think  of  such  a  thing — he  didn't  mean 
to  sell  it  on  any  account ;  he  intended 
to  keep  it  until  he  was  able  to  have  it 
made  up  for  himself;  but,  after  con- 
siderable trading  and  talking,  he  gave 
it  up,  received  his  first  piece  and  two 


212 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


dollars,  and  walked  off— making  eight 
dollars  for  his  piece  of  vesting.  The 
gentleman,  quite  satisfied  with  the  ex- 
change, walked  up  to  his  tailor's, 
at  noon,  threw  down  the  piece,  order- 
ing him  to  cut  off  suflBcient  for  one 
vest. 

"  How  many  vests  do  you  expect  it 
will  make  ?  "  inquired  the  tailor. 

"  Three,  of  course,"  was  the  reply. 

The  yardstick  went  down,  and  look- 
ing up,  he  informed  the  purchaser  that 
it  would  make  two,  by  piecing  out  the 
collar  with  black  silk.  The  idea  of 
measuring  the  article  had  not  occurred 
to  him  before,  but  at  this  piece  of  news 
he  felt  a  kind  of  film  spread  over  his 
eyes,  a  lightness  of  pocket  troubling  his 
ribs,  while  the  letters  s-o-l-d,  by  a  delu- 
sion of  his  optical  nerves,  appeared  to 
be  written  on  the  outer  walls  of  all  the 
adjacent  buildings.  He  then  inquired 
the  probable  worth,  and  was  informed 
that  such  vesting  could  be  purchased  at 
about  two  dollars  and  a  quarter  per 
yard !    This  was  suflScient. 


Business  Suckers. 

Business  suckers,  as  they  are  appro- 
priately termed,  are  no  small  class  in 
modern  times.  They  are  most  numer- 
ous out  West,  and  ply  their  tactics  after 
a  style  that  leaves  nothing  wanting. 
An  individual  of  this  ilk,  possessed  of 
a  moderate  amount  of  money,  com- 
mences business  in  some  thriving  town. 
He  goes  to  one  of  the  wholesale  mar- 
kets, and  with  one  or  two  commenda- 
tory letters,  but  particularly  with  his 
money,  he  soon  becomes  acquainted — 
at  first  but  limited — but  he  has.  only  to 
manage  his  trumps  (money)  with  a  lit- 
tle professional  tact,  and  his  acquaint- 
ance will  very  soon  extend.  At  first 
he  purchases  cautiously,  and  meets  his 
obligations  promptly,  always  managing 
to  have  his  goods  carefully  packed  and 
marked  scientifically,  and  placed  ex- 
posed on  the  street  several  days  before 
he  removes  them  • 


"  Like  books  and  money 
Laid  in  show 

As  nest  eggs 

To  make  clients  lay." 

And  he  succeeds.  He  soon  becomes 
known  as  a  man  of  promptness  and 
capital,  and  doing  a  dashing  business ; 
and  such  a  business  he  does  do,  for  the 
motto  at  home  is  to  sell  low  for  cash — 
never  mind  profits.  His  acquaintance 
is  courted ;  he  is  be-drammed,  be-din- 
nered  and  be-suppered.  Everything 
goes  on  swimmingly,  and  finally  he 
buys  largely,  goes  in  deeply,  makes  one 
grand  manoeuvre — a  most  prodigious 
swell,  and  then  judiciously  and  'prqfita- 
Uy  (to  himself)  explodes. 


Fortune  Making  in  Havana. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact,  that  nearly 
all  the  merchants  and  shopkeepers  of 
Havana  are  native  Spaniards.  A  large 
proportion  of  this  class  come  to  Cuba 
as  adventurers — seekers  of  luck  and  for- 
tune, and  not  particular  as  to  the  ways 
and  means,  though  generally  beginning 
their  mercantile  career  as  clerks,  on 
small  salaries.  After  accumulating,  or 
getting,  five  hundred  dollars,  they  will 
purchase  a  share  in  a  joint-stock  slave- 
trading  company,  and,  in  the  course  of 
a  year  or  two,  receive  a  profit  in  the 
shape  of  a  dividend,  amounting  to  ten 
thousand  dollars,  which  sum,  reinvest- 
ed in  the  same  business,  soon  makes 
them  millionnaires.  These  nabobs  then 
generally  return  to  Spain  to  spend  their 
ill-gotten  fortunes,  leaving  a  plentiful 
crop  of  clerks  to  follow  in  the  footsteps 
of  their  predecessors. 


Cheating-  the  Oculist. 

Sir  William  Smyth,  of  Bedford- 
shire, was  an  immensely  rich  money 
dealer,  but  most  parsimonious  and 
grinding  in  his  dealings.  At  seventy 
years  of  age  he  was  entirely  deprived 
of  his  sight— unable  to  gloat  over  his 
hoarded  heaps  of  gold.  In  this  condi- 
tion he  was  persuaded  by  Taylor,  the 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


213 


celebrated  oculist,  to  be  couched — who 
was,  by  agreement,  to  have  sixty 
guineas  if  lie  restored  the  banker  to 
any  degree  of  sight.  Taylor  succeeded 
in  his  operation,  and  Sir  William  was 
enabled  to  read  and  write  without  the 
aid  of  spectacles  during  the  rest  of  his 
life.  But  no  sooner  w^as  his  sight  re- 
stored, than  the  banker  began  to  regret 
that  his  agreement  had  been  for  so 
large  a  sum.  His  thoughts  were  now 
how  to  cheat  the  oculist.  He  pretend- 
ed that  he  had  only  a  glimmering,  and 
could  see  nothing  distinctly ;  for  which 
reason  the  bandage  on  his  eyes  was  con- 
tinued a  month  longer  than  the  usual 
time.  Taylor  was  deceived  by  these 
representations,  and  agreed  to  com- 
pound the  bargain,  accepting  twenty 
gumeas  instead  of  sixty.  At  the  time 
Taylor  attended  him  he  had  a  large 
estate,  an  immense  sum  of  money  in 
the  stocks,  and  tens  of  thousands  in 
gold  at  his  house. 


Mr.  Jones's  Experience  with  Peter 
FTink. 

A  GREENHORN,  named  Mr.  Jones, 
from  Hartford,  is  stopped  while  career- 
ing down  Broadway,  by  the  sound  of  a 
stentorian  voice  from  within,  crying 
"  Going."  He  hears  the  whack  of  the 
auctioneer's  hammer,  and  sees  six  gentle- 
men standing  round  a  table.  "  Things 
are  selling  mighty  cheap  in  there,"  he 
says  to  himself,  and  goes  in.  Peter 
Funk  holds  a  piece  of  linen  in  his 
hands,  and  is  just  on  the  point  of  knock- 
ing it  down  at  six  cents  a  yard — "  fifty- 
five  and  one  half  yards,  going,  at  six 
cents !  an  awful  sacrifice."  "  Seven^'' 
hastily  shouts  Jones.  "  Eight,"  says 
Stool  Pigeon.  "Nine,"  says  Jones. 
Whack  goes  the  mallet.  "  Sold,"  says 
Peter.  "  Mr.  Jones,  fifty 76 ve  and  one 
half  yards  of  linen,  at  fifty-mwe  cents," 
— touching  lightly  on  the  '  fifty.'  The 
attentive  clerk  beckons  to  Jones,  who 
steps  back  behind  a  mysterious  desk 
with  a  screen  in  front.  Clerk  begins 
to  make  out  the  bill,  while  Jones  lays 


down  a  five-dollar  bank  note  to  pay  for 
the  linen ;  the  money  goes  to  the 
drawer.  Clerk  hands  Jones  the  bill, 
which  may  read  thus : — 

Mr.  Jones,  bought  of  Peter  Funk,  SSi 
yards  Irish  linen,  at  59  c.  per  yd., — 
$32.74. 

Jones  opens  his  eyes ;  clerk  points  to 
the  sum,  and  holds  out  his  right  hand, 
with  the  remark,  "Balance,  $37.74." 
Jones  opens  his  mouth,  and  essays  to 
speak,  but  is  dumbfounded;  he  has 
hearn  of  those  pesky  mock  auctions, 
but  never  dreamed  he  should  ever 
blunder  into  one  in  so  respectable  a 
place  as  Broadway.  Mr.  Jones  rumi- 
nates and  pinches  himself  to  see  if  he  is 
dreaming ;  he  is  awake — ^he  is  in  New 
York,  Broadway. 

But  Mr.  Jones,  though  green,  has 
Yankee  presence  of  mind;  he  forks 
over  the  balance  demanded,  takes  his 
linen  under  his  arm  and  gapes  at  the 
auctioneer,  until  that  functionary  gets 
nervous,  and  announces  that  the  sale  is 
adjourned  for  the  day.  Mr.  Jones,  ac- 
cordingly, to  prevent  being  housed  with 
the  precious  scamps,  steps  out  and 
travels  toward  the  Tombs,  where  he 
finds  a  policeman,  and  tells  his  tale  of 
woe.  In  a  few  moments  the  swindling 
shop  and  the  inmates,  which  meantime 
have  got  under  full  headway  again,  is 


214 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


taken  all  aback  with  an  apparition — it 
is  Mr.  Jones  with,  that  linen  under  his 
arm,  and  a  person  with  a  brass  shield 
on  the  lappel  of  his  coat.  The  man 
with  the  shield  takes  the  clerk  by  the 
nape  of  his  neck,  and  starts  him  to- 
ward the  Tombs ;  clerk  remonstrates 
— explains — exclaims,  and  so  on,  but 
keeps  custodially  moving  up  Broadway 
and  through  Chambers  street,  wben  all 
of  a  sudden  he  concludes  to  disgorge 
the  $32.74  ;  which  Jones  takes,  thanks 
the  officer,  and  vanishes. 


Connection  between  Small  Bank 

Notes  and  Crinae. 
The  fact  appears  to  be  abundantly 
attested  that  the  circulation  of  one- 
pound  bank  notes  in  England  proved, 
at  first,  conducive  to  a  melancholy 
waste  of  human  life.  Considering  the 
advances  made  in  the  mechanical  arts, 
at  the  time  of  their  issue,  they  were 
rough  and  even  rude  in  their  execution. 
Easily  imitated,  they  were  also  easily 
circulated ;  and  from  1797,  the  execu- 
tions for  forgery  augmented  to  an  extent 
which  bore  no  proportion  to  any  other 
class  of  crime.  During  six  years  prior 
to  their  issue,  there  was  but  one  capital 
conviction ;  during  the  four  following 
years,  eighty-five  occurred.  To  prevent 
their  imitation,  most  stringent  penal- 
ties were  ordained,  and,  in  1801,  it  was 
enacted  that,  to  prevent  forgeries,  all 
the  one  and  two  pound  notes  should 
"  be  printed  on  a  peculiar  and  pur- 
posely constructed  paper,  having  waved 
or  curved  lines."  But  all  these  endeavors 
to  repress  crime  fell  sadly  short  of  the 
necessity,  and  the  connection  between 
the  issue  of  small  notes  and  the  effu- 
sion of  blood  because  of  their  easy  imi- 
tation was  apparent  enough.  Thus, 
before  1797,  the  Bank  of  England  could 
issue  no  notes  under  five  pounds.  In 
1802,  the  average  number  of  notes  un- 
der that  value  was  about  three  millions 
and  a  half.  In  the  former  period  there 
were  no  capital  executions ;  in  the  lat- 
ter, one  hundred  and  sixteen  occurred 


in  four  years.  In  1817,  there  were 
thirty  thousand  forged  notes  of  the  one 
and  two  pounds  class  stopped  at  the 
bank,  nine  hundred  of  five  pounds,  fifty 
of  ten  pounds,  and  two  of  twenty.  The 
crime  is,  thkefore,  imputed  to  the  small 
notes  ;  and  the  forgery  of  larger  ones  to 
the  habits  of  criminality  originating  in 
the  temptation  of  small  notes. 


Jacob  Barker  on  "  Thewdness  "  in 
Stock  Dealing-. 

Among  the  new  generation  of  Wall 
street,  Jacob  Barker,  notwithstanding 
his  present  extensive  business  charac- 
ter, is  comparatively  unknown ;  but 
there  was  a  time  when  Jacob  made  his 
mark  upon  the  stock  brokers  and 
money  changers  of  that  monetary  local- 
ity. He  has  long  lived  and  thrived  in 
the  Crescent  City.  Jacob  is  as  active 
and  buoyant  as  most  men  at  thirty-five ; 
he  cannot  be  said,  however,  to  enjoy  a 
green  old  age,  unless  it  may  be  discov- 
ered in  the  suppleness  he  displays,  so 
peculiar  to  youth.  One  of  the  many 
amusing  stories  told  of  him  is  where  a 
gentleman  called  at  his  office  and  de- 
nounced, in  the  most  unmeasured  man- 
ner, certain  persons  who  had  swindled 
him — the  gentleman  (not  Jacob,  by  any 
means) — in  some  stock  transactions. 
Barker  listened  to  the  whole  matter 
with  professional  zest,  and  finding  that 
everything  had  been  done  "  right," 
urged  the  indignant  victim  not  to  go 
on  so,  but  to  forget  the  thing  entirely ; 
"  for,"  said  Jacob,  consolingly,  "  if  you 
thwade  in  stock,  you  must  call  thealing 
tJieiodness,  or  you  will  constantly  be  out 
of  themper ! " 


Stock  Exchangre  Conspiracy. 
A  STOCK-joBBmG  Operation,  which 
was  undertaken  in  England,  in  1814, 
and  which  has  been  celebrated  in  mon- 
etary annals  because  of  its  gigantic  ex- 
tent, will  perhaps  afford  refreshing  read- 
ing to  that  not  small  class  who  ply  so 
dexterously  similar  expedients  at  the 
present  day.     The  tale  is  most  unique. 


T  "w  pEB.KHirs 


^ 


^2^ta'2/^  A^  .^'^.  ,_^ 


/  ^ 

"W.  G,  Jacfaaan  T^e^TaSz. 


'^m  ^  ^^ 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


215 


On  the  21st  of  February,  1815,  about 
one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  a  violent 
knocking  was  heard  at  the  door  of  the 
Ship  Inn,  at  Dover.  On  being  opened, 
the  intruder  announced  himself  as 
Lieutenant-colonel  Du  Bourg,  aide-de- 
camp of  Lord  Cathcart.  His  dress  sup- 
ported the  assertion.  The  richly  em- 
broidered scarlet  uniform,  the  star  on 
the  breast,  the  silver  medal  suspended 
from  his  neck,  the  dark  fur  cap,  with  its 
broad  band  of  gold  lace,  gave  the  wearer 
a  military  appearance.  His  clothes  ap- 
peared wet  with  the  sea  spray,  and  he 
stated  that  he  had  been  brought  over 
by  a  French  vessel,  the  seamen  of  which 
were  afraid  of  landing  at  Dover,  and 
had  placed  him  in  a  boat  about  two 
miles  from  the  shore.  His  news  was  im- 
portant. Bonaparte  had  been  slain  in 
battle.  The  allied  armies  were  in  Paris. 
A  great  victory  had  been  gained,  and 
peace  was  certain. 

He  immediately  ordered  a  post  chaise 
and  four  horses  to  be  prepared,  and, 
after  writing  a  letter  in  great  haste  to 
Admiral  Foley,  which  was  despatched 
by  special  messenger  to  Deal,  he  at 
once  departed  for  London.  Wherever 
he  changed  horses  the  news  was  spread, 
and  the  postboys  rewarded  with  napo- 
leons. In  due  time  information  reached 
the  stock  exchange ;  and  it  was  not 
long  before  that  resort  was  filled  with 
rumors  of  general  officers,  despatches 
for  Government,  victories,  and  post 
chaises  and  four.  Expresses  from  the 
various  places  where  Du  Bourg  had 
changed  horses  poured  into  the  prin- 
cipal speculators.  The  funds  rose  on 
the  news.  Application  was  made  to 
the  lord  mayor,  but,  as  his  lordship 
had  received  no  intelligence,  they  de- 
clined. 

On  the  morning  of  the  same  day, 
about  an  hour  before  daylight,  two, 
men,  in  the  habiliments  of  foreigners, 
landed  in  a  six-oared  galley,  called  on 
a  Mr.  Sandon,  at  Northfleet,  and  hand- 
ed him  a  letter,  purporting  to  be  writ- 
ten, by  one  whom  he  formerly  knew, 


begging  him  to  take  the  bearers  to 
London,  as  they  had  great  public  news 
to  communicate.  The  request  was  en- 
ergetically complied  with.  Between 
twelve  and  one  o'clock  of  that  day, 
three  persons,  two  of  whom  were  dress- 
ed as  French  officers,  proceeded  in  a 
post  chaise  and  four,  the  horses  of 
which  were  bedecked  with  laurel,  over 
the  then  narrow  and  crowded  thor- 
oughfare of  London  bridge.  While  the 
carriage  proceeded  with  an  almost  os- 
tentatious slowness,  small  billets  were 
scattered  among  the  anxious  gazers,  an- 
nouncing that  Bonaparte  was  dead,  and 
the  allies  in  Paris.  Through  busy  Cheap- 
side  and  crowded  Fleet  street,  the  occu- 
pants of  the  carriage  paraded  their  in- 
telligence. They  passed  over  the  fine 
bridge  of  Blackfriars,  drove  rapidly  to 
the  Marsh  Gate,  got  out,  took  ofl*  their 
military,  put  oh  round  hats,  and  speed- 
ily disappeared.  The  news  again  spread 
far  and  wide.  The  neighborhood  of  the 
stock  exchange  was  once  more  full  of 
exaggerated  reports.  The  funds  rose. 
What  could  resist  such  accumulated 
evidence  ?  The  aide-de-camp  of  Lord 
Cathcart,  at  Dover;  the  foreigners  at 
Northfleet  with  despatches;  private 
expresses  from  various  places,  all  tend- 
ed to  convince  the  members  that  there 
must  be  some  foundation  for  the  re- 
ports. Application  was  made  to  the 
ministry,  but  they  knew  nothing. 
Large  bargains  were  made. 

Altogether,  the  scene  at  the  stock 
exchange  at  this  time  is  spoken  of  by 
those  who  witnessed  it  as  baffling  all 
description.  Yet  still  there  was  some 
doubt,  so  loiig  as  Government  remained 
ignorant  of  the  important  intelligence. 
And  a§  hour  after  hour  of  anxious 
doubt  passed  by,  it  would  be  difficult 
to  imagine  the  feelings  of  many  who 
began  painfully  to  suspect  that  they 
were  victims  of  a  delusion.  To  the 
scene  of  unbounded  joy  and  of  greedy 
expectation  of  gain,  there  succeeded, 
in  a  few  hours,  that  of  disappointment, 
shame    at   having    been    gulled,    the 


216 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


clenching  of  fists,  the  grinding  of  teeth, 
the  tearing  of  hair — all  the  outward 
and  visible  signs  of  those  inward  com- 
motions— disappointed  avarice  in  some, 
consciousness  of  ruin  in  others,  and,  in 
all,  boiling  revenge.  A  committee  was 
appointed  by  the  stock  exchange,  and 
various  circumstances  tending  to  prove 
a  huge  conspiracy  were  discovered.  On 
the  Saturday  preceding  the  Monday  on 
which  the  deception  was  undertaken, 
consols  and  omnium,  to  the  extent  of 
eight  hundred  and  twenty-six  thousand 
pounds,  were  purchased  for  various  in- 
dividuals, many  of  whom  were  serious- 
ly implicated,  and  some  of  them  suffer- 
ed the  penalties  of  fine  and  imprison- 
ment. 


Blinders  for  Stockholders. 

EvsN  railways  have  their  reckon- 
ings, and  the  time  of  year  comes  when 
they  are  perforce  made  to  show  and 
disgorge  their  gains.  Meetings  are  re- 
luctantly summoned  by  the  directors, 
and  crowds  of  hungry  shareholders  are 
squeezed  together  for  hours  at  a  time. 
If  this  thing  is  not  professionally  un- 
derstood in  America,  it  certainly  is  in 
England. 

The  chairman  pronounces  a  report, 
which  is  second  only  to  a  "  speech 
from  the  throne,"  in  vagueness,  gener- 
ality, and  mystification.  Anon  comes 
the  "clerk  of  the  corporation,"  redo- 
lent of  new  shares,  and  he  thickens  the 
mist  by  a  jumble  of  accounts,  an  incom- 
prehensible hotchpotch  of  loans,  de- 
bentures, calls,  and  balances,  and  gen- 
erally winds  up  his  abstruse  financial 
puzzles  by  a  prophetic  announcement 
that  the  traflBc  next  year  is  sure  to  be 
imprecedented  and  immense — at  which 
every  countenance  is  wreathed  with  the 
genial  smiles  inspired  by  hope. 

All  the  details,  however,'  are  Greek 
to  the  poor  shareholders,  who  really 
understand  but  one  word  in  the  whole 
railroad  vocabulary  —  the  welcome 
sound  of  "  dividend ; "   but  the  fear 


of  being  thought  a  business  nincom- 
poop compels  each  one  to  be  perfectly 
up  to  snuff,  and  wondrously  sage.  It 
is  amusing,  moreover,  to  observe  how 
the  directors  manage  (notwithstanding 
the  "  impertinent "  interruptions  of 
some  inconveniently  acute  shareholder, 
whose  sayings  are  recorded  as  those  of 
"  A  voice  "),  somehow  or  other  so  to 
mix  up  this  word  dividend  with  other 
complicated  details,  as  to  leave  the  un- 
happy shareholders  unable  at  the  end 
to  say  whether  they  have  to  receive 
money  or  to  pay  it — the  difference  be- 
ing the  sum. 

How  refreshing,  then,  to  find  that  the 
reports  of  one's  own  pet  line  are  untaint- 
ed by  the  faults  alluded  to  !  The  public 
have  a  right  to  know  this ;  and,  as  a 
pattern  and  incentive  to  other  compa- 
nies, the  following  extracts  are  made 
from  the  last  report  of  the  "  Hum  and 
Diddlesex  Railway,"  England : 

The  chairman  would  now  refer  to 
their  finance  statement  {Hear!).  He 
felt  bound  to  say  it  would  be  found 
most  satisfactory.  £7,000  had  been 
mortgaged  on  annuities  at  par,  and 
their  debentures  were  now  wholly  in- 
dependent of  their  stock  of  engines 
{Cheers^  and  cries  oi Bravo!).  The  per- 
manent way  w^as  now  in  trust  for  the 
increased  debits  on  the  gradients 
{Rear  !  hear  !).  From  this  it  was  clear 
that  there  was  £4,000  balance  per  con- 
tra on  the  new  half  shares.  (A  voice, 
"  What's  the  receipts  ? ")  The  chair- 
man could  not  be  expected  to  go  into 
such  details.  They  had  lately  opened 
six  miles  of  the  "  Navvey  and  Stoker 
Extension  branch,"  which  he  had  no 
doubt  would  pay  well  when  a  town 
had  arisen  at  each  end,  and  traffic  was 
induced  between  them.  (A  voice, 
"What's  the  expenditure?")  The 
chairman  begged  not  to  be  interrupted 
in  the  midst  of  his  statement.  The 
meeting  would  observe  one  little  item 
of  £56,000  for  law  expenses.  It  w^as 
enough  to  say,  they  had  triumphed 
over  their  opponents.    True,  they  had 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


217 


incurred  some  trifling  expense ;  but 
were  they,  he  would  ask,  to  be  insulted 
by  the  "  Grand  Gumption  ? "  {M  /)— or 
by  any  other  line  ?  (iV(?,  no/  and  cheers). 
Then  as  to  the  dividend — ("  Hear,  hear, 
hear  !  "  from  all  parts) — the  clerk  had 
recommended  a  net  dividend  of  10  per 
cent.  {Loud  cheers)— on  the  deficit,  and 
this,  after  paying  the  surplus  and  the 
directors'  salaries  (which,  in  justice  to 
those  faithful  servants,  he  was  glad  to 
say  had  been  raised  £500  each  per  an- 
num), left  the  4  per  cent,  incidental  ex- 
penses as  money  in  hand,  which  would 
simply  render  it  necessary  for  the  share- 
holders at  once  to  pay  up  the  late  £20 
calls.  (Sensation.  A  voice,  "  What  is 
the  dividend  to  be  ?  ")  The  chairman 
put  it  to  the  meeting,  whether  the  gen- 
tleman's question  had  not  already  been 
distinctly  answered,  and  after  some  lit- 
tle confusion  he  vacated  the  chair,  and 
the  meeting — like  the  dividend — was 
dissolved. 


Virgrinia  Usurer  Foiled. 

Previously  to  the  Revolutionary 
War,  it  was  provided  by  an  act  of  the 
Assembly  of  Virginia,  that  if  any  bill 
of  exchange  be  drawn  for  the  payment 
of  any  sum  of  money,  and  such  bill  is 
protested  for  non-acceptance  or  non- 
payment, it  shall  bear  interest  from 
the  date,  at  the  rate  of  ten  per  cent, 
per  annum,  until  it  shall  be  paid.  The 
following  curious  circumstance,  in  con- 
nection with  said  law,  took  j)lace  at 
Williamsburg,  Ya.,  about  the  year 
1760. 

A  usurious  broker,  not  satisfied  with 
five  per  cent,  legal  interest,  refused  to 
advance  a  sum  of  money  to  a  gentle- 
man, unless,  by  way  of  security,  he 
would  give  a  bill  of  exchange  that 
should  be  returned  protested,  by  which 
he  would  be  entitled  to  ten  per  cent. 
The  gentleman,  who  had  immediate 
occasion  for  the  money,  sat  down, 
drew  a  bill  upon  a  merchant  banker 
in  London,  with  whom  he  had  never 


had  any  transactions,  or  carried  on  the 
least  correspondence.  The  merchant, 
on  receipt  of  the  bill,  observing  the 
name  of  the  drawer,  very  readily  hon- 
ored it,  knowing  the  gentleman  to  be  a 
person  of  large  property,  and  conclud- 
ing that  he  meant  to  enter  into  a  corres- 
pondence with  his  house. 

The  broker,  by  this  turn  in  the  affair, 
became  entitled  to  only  five  per  cent. 
He  was,  therefore,  exceedingly  enraged 
at  being,  as  he  supposed,  thus  tricked, 
and  complained  very  earnestly  to  his 
customer  for  having  giving  him  a  good 
bill  instead  of  a  had  one. 


Kentucky  Hams  and  Yankee 
Nutmegs. 

Some  time  since,  the  Kentucky  na- 
tion commenced  a  rivalship  with  the 
Yankee  land,  in  the  manufacture  of. 
wooden  eatables.  A  merchant  in  Port 
Gibson,  Miss.,  desirous  of  procuring  a 
lot  of  choice  bacon  hams,  requested  his 
agent  at  the  Gulf  to  make  the  purchase 
for  him,  from  the  boats  passing  down 
the  Mississippi.  After  many  fruitless 
inquiries  of  the  passing  craft,  he  met 
with  a  Kentucky  Jonathan,  whose 
loading  was  composed  of  the  nicest 
and  choicest  hams,  all  canvased,  and 
that  which  was  shown  as  a  sample 
looked  so  well,  and  tasted  so  delight- 
fully, that  the  confiding  agent  made 
the  purchase  on  the  spot. 

The  new  Jonathan  had  such  an  inno- 
cent, unsuspected  and  unsuspecting 
countenance,  too — giving  forth  no  scin- 
tillations of  vivacity,  nor  evincing  the 
owner  to  possess  brains  more  acute 
than  a  lobster,  on  any  other  subject 
than  that  of  curing  bacon — the  art  of 
which  appeared  to  have  become  im- 
pressed on  his  cranium,  as  drippings 
wear  the  rock,  or  as  the  knowledge  of 
law  and  physic  reveals  itself  in  the 
physiognomy  of  some  members  of 
those  professions.  Who  would  sus- 
pect him  of  perpetrating  a  Yankee  or 
original  art  ?     Straws  show  which  way 


^18 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


the  wind  blows ;  but,  alas  !  the  human 
countenance  may  present  an  unsolvable 
enigma,  even  to  the  most  penetrating. 
Was  it  so  in  this  case  ? 

Jonathan's  hams,  when  opened, 
proved  to  be  wood,  neatly  turned  in 
the  shape  of  a  hog's  hind  leg,  and 
excellent  for  oven  fuel — a  recommen- 
dation, by  the  way,  which,  with  char- 
acteristic modesty,  he  had  not  even 
alluded  to.  The  Kentuckian  showed 
that  he  was  'up  to  a  trick  or  two,' 
and  no  one  will  deny  that  he  threw 
down  the  glove,  once  and  forever,  to 
all  Yankeedom. 


Latest  "SeU"  of  the  Day. 

The  latest  *  sell '  of  the  day  origina- 
ted in  the  fertile  brain  of  a  Baltimore 
clothes  dealer.  He  placed  in  the  pock- 
fet  of  a  ready-made  coat  an  old  porte- 
monnaie,  and  quietly  awaited  the  ad- 
vent of  a  fitting  customer.  Presently 
enters  an  individual  desiring  to  be 
summer  coated.  After  essaying  several 
coats,  the  dealer  says  : 

"  Here  is  a  coat  made  for  a  gentle- 
man; he  wore  it  one  day  and  sent  it 
back — it  was  too  small  for  him — try 
it  on.  Ah !  it  fits  first  rate,  like  as  if 
it  was  made  for  you.  It  is  well  made ; 
buttons  sewed  on  strong ;  with  strong 
pockets." 

The  customer  puts  his  hands  into  the 
pockets  to  try  them,  when  his  fingers 
come  in  contact  with  the  pocket  book. 
His  imagination  is  kindled  with  the 
idea  of  appropriating  the  supposed 
treasure. 

"How  much  did  you  say  the  coat 
was  ? "  he  eagerly  asks. 

The  dealer  names  a  good  round  sum. 

The  money  is  paid,  and  the  self- 
duped  customer  walks  off  hurriedly 
with  his  supposed  prize — not  stop- 
ping to  hear  the  suppressed  chuckle 
of  the  dealer  as  he  looks  after  him  out 
of  the  comer  of  his  eye. 


Tompkins's  Horse  Trade. 

ToMPKOfs  bought  a  fine  horse — paid 
three  hundred  dollars  for  him.  The 
horse,  after  a  few  months,  proved  to  be 
lame  in  the  right  shoulder.  Tompkins 
was  distressed  about  it.  Tried  all  sorts 
of  remedies — embrocations,  liniments, 
Mustang  included,  under  the  advice 
of  the  very  best  veterinarians,  till  the 
lameness  was  obstinate  and  grew  rather 
worse.  He  became  desperate,  and  hit 
upon  this  device  to  sell  the  horse.  He 
drove  an  ugly  tenpenny  nail  plump  into 
the  right  fore-foot,  and  left  it  there  for 
ten  days  ;  when  he  led  the  tortured  ani- 
mal limping  to  a  neighboring  black- 
smith, to  be  shod.  The  blacksmith  was 
a  dealer  in  horses,  and  quite  a  jockey  in 
his  way.  After  a  while,  Tompkins 
called  at  the  shop  for  his  horse. 
"  That's  a  splendid  gelding  of  yours, 
Mr.  Tompkins — pity  he's  so  lame,"  says 
the  smith.  "He  is,  indeed,"  replied 
Tompkins ;  "  but  he  is  very  lame,  and 
I'm  afraid  he  can't  be  cured."  "  Per- 
haps not,  and  may  be  he  can,"  says 
Vulcan;  "how  much  would  you  be 
willing  to  take  for  him,  just  as  he 
stands,  Mr.  Tompkins,  money  down  ?  " 
"  Ah,  well,  I  don't  know  what  to  say 
about  that.  If  he  is  cured,  he  is  worth 
all  I  paid  for  him,  and  even  much 
more,  as  prices  go  now;  but  if  his 
lameness  should  continue,  you  see  he 
is  worth  nothing — not  a  dollar."  The 
blacksmith  began  to  chaffer.  First  he 
offered  fifty  dollars,  then  one  hundred, 
and  at  last  two  hundred,  for  the  ani- 
mal. Tompkins  was  persuaded,  and 
accepted  the  last  offer.  The  money 
was  paid,  and  the  horse  delivered  on 
the  spot.  "Now,"  says  the  black- 
smith, "  as  the  bargain  is  finished,  I 
will  be  frank  with  you,  Mr.  Tompkins. 
I  suppose  I  can  tell  you  just  exactly 
what  ailed  that  horse."  "  Can  you  ? " 
says  Tompkins,  "  well,  I  shall  be  glad 
to  hear  it.  I  thought  you  must  know 
all  about  it,  or  you  would  not  have 
paid  me  so  much   money  for  him." 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


219 


The  blacksmith  produced  the  nail, 
and  assured  Tompkins,  with  great 
apparent  satisfaction,  that  while  par- 
ing down  the  horse's  hoofs  he  had 
found  that  long  piece  of  iron,  and 
drawn  it  out  of  the  frog  of  the  near 
forefoot."  "  Is  that  all  you  know  about 
it  ? "  Tompkins  asked,  very  quietly. 
"  All ! "  replied  the  blacksmith—"  all  I 
isn't  that  enough,  for  conscience'  sake  ?  " 
"Well,"  replied  Tompkins,  "I  don't 
know  as  it  is.  I  will  be  equally  frank 
with  you,  since  the  bargain  is  finished. 
/  drove  the  nail  into  the  foot^  but  the 
lameness  is  in  the  shoulder.'''' 


*'01d  Vinter's"  Bank  BiUs. 

Away  down  East — that  convenient 
but  much  abused  locality  for  pointing 
a  story — a  wealthy  old  merchant,  who 
was  especially  fond  of  a  glass  of  good 
brandy,  had  established  a  bank,  and, 
liking  his  own  face  better  than  any 
one's  else,  showed  his  frankness  by 
placing  it  on  both  ends  of  his  bank 
bills.  One  evening,  a  bill  of  this 
description  was  offered  at  the  village 
hotel,  and  was  thought  to  be  a  counter- 
feit. "  Put  a  glass  of  brandy  to  the 
picter,"  proposed  a  wag,  "  and  if  his 
mouth  opens,  you  may  be  sure  it  is  one 
of  old  Vinter's." 


Transactions  in  Worsteds. 

A  MAN  some  six  feet  three  inches  in 
height,  and  of  herculean  build,  went 
into  a  Worcester  shopkeeper's  estab- 
lishment, and  asked  if  they  had  got 
any  "  whirlers  " — by  which  he  meant, 
stockings  without  feet,  supposing,  of 
course,  that  they  were  to  be  obtained 
of  any  "  worsted  "  merchant. 

"  No,"  said  the  shopkeeper,  "  but  we 
have  got  some  famous  big  and  strong 
stockings,  as  will  just  suit  such  a  man 
as  you." 

"  Let's  ha'e  a  look  at  'em,"  said  the 
man. 

The  counter  was  immediately  covered 


with  a  quantity.  The  working  Hercules 
selected  the  largest  pair — of  mammoth 
size — and  said  : 

"  What's  the  price  of  them  ? " 

"  Four  shillings  and  ninepence,"  was 
the  reply. 

"  Can  you  cut  the  feet  off  of  them  ? " 
was  the  next  query. 

"  Oh,  certainly,"  rejoined  the  shop- 
keeper. 

"  Then  just  cut  them  off,"  was  the 
laconic  direction. 

No  sooner  said  than  done.  The  long 
shop  shears  were  applied,  and  instantly 
the  stockings  were  footless. 

"  And  what's  the  price  of  'em  now  f  " 
asked  the  customer,  with  all  the  com- 
posure imaginable. 

"  Price  of  them  now  I "  exclaimed 
the  '  worsted  '  merchant,  surprised  be- 
yond measure  at  the  absurdity  of  the 
question ;  "  why,  four  shillings  and 
ninepence,  to  be  sure  !  " 

"  Four  shillings  and  ninepence  ! "  ex- 
claimed the  customer ;  "  I  never  gave 
but  one  shilling  and  sixpence  for  a  pair 
of  '  whirlers  '  in  my  life  " — and  he  laid 
down  that  amount  upon  the  counter. 

"  Well,"  replied  the  tradesman,  chop- 
fallen  and  fairly  outwitted,  throwing 
the  mutilations  at  him,  "take  them 
and  be  off  with  you  !  You've '  whirled ' 
me  this  time,  but  I'll  take  good  care 
that  neither  you  nor  any  of  your  ro- 
guish gang  shall  do  it  again,  as  long 
as  I  live." 

This  case  is  similar  to  that  of  the 
cute  Yankee  auctioneer,  who,  after  dis- 
posing of  a  violin,  after  a  hard  bidding, 
to  a  close-fisted  buyer,  went  on — "  Now, 
gentlemen,  how  much  m'  offered  for  the 
Txm  ? — how  much  ? — how  much  ? — how 
much  m'  offered  for  the  bow?"  Ex- 
postulation was  useless.  The  fiddle 
and  the  bow,  he  said,  were  in  separate 
'classes;'  so  that  the  former  proved 
not  so  Dery  cheap  after  all. 


Bargains  in  "Cochin-Chinas." 
In  the  humorous  account  given  by 
Burnham,  of  his  experience  in  the  fowl 


220 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


trade,  which  a  few  years  ago  went  to 
such  preposterous  lengths,  he  thus 
sketches  one  of  the  "  bargains  "  of  that 
day: 

A  splendid  open  carriage  halted 
before  my  door,  one  day,  and  there 
alighted  from  it  a  fine,  portly-looking 
man,  whom  I  had  never  seen  before, 
and  whose  name  I  did  not  then  learn  ; 
who,  leaving  an  elegant  dressed  lady 
behind  in  the  vehicle,  called  for  me. 
I  saw  and  recognized  the  carriage, 
however,  as  one  of  Niles's,  and  I 
was  satisfied  that  it  came  from  the 
Tremont  House,  Boston.  As  soon  as 
the  gentleman  spoke,  I  was  also  satis- 
fied from  his  manner  of  speech,  that 
he  was  a  Southerner.  He  was  polite 
and  frank,  apparently ;  I  invited  him 
in,  and  he  went  to  look  at  my  fowls, 
that  being  the  object,  he  said,  of  his 
visit.  He  examined  them  all,  and  said 
quietly : 

"  I'd  like  to  get  a  half  dozen  of 
these,  if  they  didn't  come  too  high; 
but  I  understand  you  fanciers  have 
got  the  price  up.  I  used  to  buy  these 
chickens  for  a  dollar  apiece.  Now^ 
they  say,  you're  asking  five  dollars  each 
for  them." 

I  showed  him  my  stock — the  ^'' pure- 
bred  "  ones, — and  informed  him  at  once 
that  I  had  not  sold  any  of  my  chickens, 
latterly,  at  less  than  forty  dollars  a  pair. 
He  was  astounded.  He  didn't  want 
any — much ;  that  is,  he  wasn't  particu- 
lar. Shouldn't  pay  that,  nohow;  he 
could  buy  them  for  five  dollars,  wanted 
them  for  his  boy;  would  come  again 
and  see  about  it,  &c.,  &c.  A  fi^-year- 
old  stag  mounted  the  low  fence  at  this 
moment,  and  sent  forth  an  electrifying 
crow,  such  as  would  (at  that  period) 
have  taken  a  novice  "  right  out  of  his 
boots;"  and  a  beautiful  eight-pound 
pullet  showed  herself  beside  him  at 
the  same  time.  The  stranger  turned 
round,  and  said : 

"  There !  What  is  your  price  for 
Buch  a  pair  as  that,  for  instance  ? " 

"  Not  for  sale,  sir." 


"  But  you  will  sell  them,  I  s'pose  ? " 

"  No,  sir,  I  have  younger  ones  to  dis- 
pose  of ;  but  that  pair  are  my  models. 
I  can't  sell  them.''''  The  gentleman's 
eye  was  exactly  filled  with  this  pair  of 
chickens. 

"  What  will  you  take  for  those  two 
fowls?" 

"  One  hundred  dollars,  sir,"  I  replied. 

"  I  guess  you  w^ll — when  you  can 
get  it,"  he  added.  "  Kame  your  lowest 
price,  now,  for  those  ?  I  want  good 
ones,  if  any." 

"  I  prefer  to  keep  them,  rather  than 
to  part  with  them  at  any  jDrice,"  I  in- 
sisted. "  If,  however,  a  gentleman  like 
yourself,  who  evidently  knows  what 
good  fowls  are,  desires  to  procure  the 
choicest  specimens  in  the  country,  why, 
I  confess  to  you  that  those  are  the  per- 
sons into  whose  hands  I  prefer  that  my 
best  stock  should  fall.  But  I  will  show 
you  some  at  a  lower  figure,"  I  contin- 
ued, di'iving  this  pair  from  the  fence. 

"  Do^j't  you !  Don't  drive  'em  away  ! " 
said  the  gentleman ; — "  let's  see.  That's 
the  cock  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  this  is  the  hen  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"  One  hundred  dollars  !  You  don't 
mean  this,  of  course,"  he  persisted. 

"No,  I  mean  that  I  would  rather 
keep  them,  sir." 

"Well— I'll— toZ;^  them;'  said  the 
stranger:  "It's  cruel.  But,  I'll  take 
them;"  and  he  paid  me  five  twenty- 
dollar  gold  pieces  down  on  the  spot, 
for  two  ten-months-old  chickens,  from 
my  "splendid"  Royal  Cochin- China 
fowls. 


Messrs.  Moan  &  Groan  of  Cypress 
Row. 

The  "  mourning  "  shopkeepers  have 
a  peculiarly  benevolent  eye  to  the 
griefs  and  necessities  of  those  families 
into  which  death  enters.  This  is  con- 
dolingly  manifested  by  their  sending 
to  such  a  family  a  remarkably  neat 
envolope,  with  a  handsomely  embossed 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


221 


border,  bearing  the  words,  '  On  especial 
sercicey  under  the  address,  and  winged 
with  an  appropriate  stamp.  The  en- 
closure is  a  specimen  of  fine  printing 
on  smooth,  thin  vellum,  in  the  form 
of  a  quarto  catalogue,  with  a  deep, 
black-bordered  title  page,  emanating 
from  the  dreary  establishment  of 
Messrs.  Moan  &  Groan,  of  Cypress 
Row. 

Here  commerce  condescends  to  sym- 
pathy, and  measures  forth  to  bereaved 
and  afflicted  humanity  the  outward  and 
msible  symbols  of  their  hidden  griefs. 
Here,  when  you  enter  his  gloomy  pene- 
tralia, and  invoke  his  services,  the  sa- 
ble-clad and  cadaverous-featured  shop- 
man asks  you,  in  a  sepulchral  voice 
and  with  quivering  lip,  whether  you 
are  to  be  suited  for  inextinguishable 
sorrow,  or  for  mere  passing  grief ;  and 
if  you  are  at  all  in  doubt  on  the  sub- 
ject, he  can  solve  the  problem  for  you, 
if  you  lend  him  your  confidence  for  the 
occasion.  He  knows,  from  long  and 
melancholy  observation,  the  agonizing 
intensity  of  woe  expressed  by  bomba- 
zine, crape,  and  Paramatta;  can  tell 
to  a  sigh  the  precise  amount  of  regret 
that  resides  in  a  black  bonnet  ;  and 
can  match  any  degree  of  internal 
anguish  with  its  corresponding  shade 
of  color,  from  the  utter  desolation  and 
inconsolable  wretchedness  of  dead  and 
dismal  black,  to  the  transient  senti- 
ment of  sorrowful  remembrance  so  ap- 
propriately symbolized  by  the  faintest 
shade  of  lavender  or  French  gray. 

Messrs.  Moan  &  Groan  also  know 
well  enough,  that  when  the  heart  is 
burdened  with  sorrow,  considerations 
of  economy  are  likely  to  be  banished 
from  the  mind  as  quite  out  of  place, 
and  disrespectful  to  the  memory  of 
the  departed;  and,  therefore,  they  do 
not  insult  the  lacerated  sensibilities 
of  their  sorrowing  patrons  with  the 
sublunary  details  of  dollars  and  cents. 
They  speed  on  the  wings  of  the  post 
to  the  house  of  mourning,  with  the 
benevolent  purpose  of  comforting  the 


afilicted  household.  They  are  the  first, 
after  the  stroke  of  calamity  has  fallen, 
to  mingle  the  business  of  life  with  its 
regrets^  and  to  seek  to  cover  the  woes 
of  the  past  with  the  allowable  vanities 
of  the  present. 

It  is  their  painful  calling  to  lead 
their  melancholy  patrons,  step  by  step, 
along  the  cypress  margin  of  their  flow- 
ing pages — from  the  very  borders  of 
the  tomb,  through  all  the  intermediate 
changes  by  which  sorrow  publishes 
to  the  world  its  gradual  subsidence, 
and  land  them  at  last  on  the  sixteenth 
page,  restored  to  themselves  and  to 
society,  in  the  front  box  of  the  Opera, 
glittering  in  'splendid  head  dresses 
in  pearl,'  in  'fashionably  elegant  tur- 
bans,' and  in  *  dresses  trimmed  with 
blonde  and  Brussels  lace.' 

Strong  in  their  modest  sense  of 
merit,  Messrs.  Moan  &  Groan  make  no 
sordid  array  of  prices — oh,  no  !  They 
offer  you  all  that  in  mourning  you  can 
possibly  want ;  they  scorn  to  do  you  the 
disgrace  of  imagining  that  you  would 
drive  a  largain  on  the  very  brink  of 
the  grave ;  and  you  are  of  course 
obliged  to  them  for  the  delicacy  of 
their  reserve  on  so  mercenary  and  ple- 
beian a  point — paying  their  bill  in 
decorous  disregard  of  the  amount.  It 
is  true  that  certain  envious  rivals 
have  compared  them  to  birds  of  prey, 
scenting  mortality  from  afar,  and 
hovering  like  vultures  on  the  trail 
of  death  in  order  to  profit  by  his 
dart;  but  such  'caparisons,'  as  Mrs. 
Malaprop  says,  '  are  odorous,'  and  we 
will  have  nothing  to  do  with  them. 


CrcBsus  and  his  Avaricious  Guest. 

It  is  related  of  this  well-to-do  hillion- 
naire,  that  his  messengers,  having  on  one 
occasion  been  kindly  treated  by  a  fami- 
ly at  Athens,  he  in  return  invited  one 
of  that  family  to  visit  him,  and  on  his 
arrival  made  to  him  the  offer  of  as 
much  gold  as  he  could  personally 
carry.      The   visitor,   with    avaricious 


222 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


eagerness  to  enhance  the  value  of  the 
gift,  provided  himself  with  a  large 
cloak,  in  which  were  many  folds,  and, 
with  the  most  capacious  boots  that  he 
could  procure,  followed  Croesus  into 
the  treasury,  where,  rolling  among  the 
gold,  he  first  stuffed  his  boots  or  bus- 
kins as  full  as  he  could,  and  then  filled 
all  the  folds  of  his  robes,  his  hair,  and 
even  his  mouth  with  gold  dust.  This 
done,  with  great  difliculty  he  stagger- 
ed from  the  place — from  his  swelling 
mouth  and  projections  all  around  him, 
resembling  anything  rather  than  a  man. 
Crcesus,  who,  probably  from  politeness, 
had  left  him  alone  to  help  himself, 
when  he  saw  him  come  out,  burst  into 
laughter,  and  not  only  suffered  him  to 
carry  away  all  he  had  got,  but  added 
other  presents  equally  valuable. 


Saving  the  Pieces.    Girard  and  his 
Brother. 

It  is  known  that  Girard  entertained 
a  perfect  horror  of  parting  with  even 
the  most  trivial  object  in  his  possession, 
without  receiving,  in  every  case,  a  prop- 
er equivalent  therefor.  It  seems  that 
on  one  occasion,  his  brother.  Captain 
John  Girard,  when  fitting  out  a  schoon- 
er for  Cape  Francois,  had  use  for  some 
pieces  of  glass  for  his  cabin  window,  and 
observing  the  fragments  of  several  boxes 
of  that  article  in  his  brother  Stephen's 
store,  and  knowing  that  the  pieces  were 
of  little  or  no  use  to  the  owner,  he  so 
far  presumed  on  the  privileges  of  con- 
sanguinity, as  to  go  and  appropriate  a 
few  of  the  fragments  for  the  purpose  in 
question — when,  while  he  was  in  the 
very  act,  Stephen  suddenly  pounced 
upon  him,  loudly  deprecating  the  in- 
tended abstraction  of  his  broken  prop- 
erty, as  if  ruin  would  ensue  from  the 
loss  of  a  few  fractured  panes  of  glass 
for  which  he  had  no  earthly  use.  He 
continued  to  vent  a  torrent  of  ribaldry 
and  invective  upon  his  brother  John — 
the  very  atmosphere  w^as  blue  with  his 
indignation.  The  temperament  of  John 
was  of  a  milder  and  more  conciliating 


character  than  that  of  Stephen,  so 
that  he  always  retreated  from  the 
arbitrary  and  boisterous  ebullitions  of 
his  brother. 


"Merchant  of  Venice  "—Shylock's 
Commercial  Character  Vindicated. 

A  NEW  version  of  Shakspeare's 
"Merchant  of  Venice"  has  recently 
been  given  by  a  Jewish  writer,  which 
exhibits  the  commercial  transactions 
of  that  renowned  personage  in  quite  a 
different  aspect  than  heretofore.  Ac- 
cording to  this  authority,  the  play  is 
founded  on  fact^  with  this  important 
distinction,  that  it  was  the  Jew  who 
was  to  forfeit  the  pound  of  flesh  if 
he  had  lost  the  wager.  The  circum- 
stance transpired,  not  at  Venice,  but  in 
Rome,  during  the  pontificate  of  Sixtus 
the  Fifth.  The  Jew  lost;  the  other 
party  demanded  the  pound  of  flesh ; 
the  Jew  demurred  and  offered  money, 
which  was  refused.  Sixtus,  to  whom 
the  matter  was  at  last  submitted,  de- 
cided against  the  Jew,  and  that  exactly 
one  pound  of  flesh  should  be  cut  from 
him — not  one  grain  more  or  less,  on 
pain  of  the  cutter  being  hanged ;  the 
latter  very  naturally  declined  the  risk, 
and  the  pope  fined  both  parties  in 
heavy  sums  for  engaging  in  such  a 
transaction.  Thus  old  Shylock's  com- 
mercial character  is  vindicated  at  last 
— ^though  the  old  version  of  the  story 
will  probably  continue  to  be  the  popu- 
lar one. 


*'P.  D.' 


English  grocers  have  never  enjoyed 
an  immaculate  reputation  in  the  matter 
of  adulterating  goods.  Not  a  few  of 
their  most  costly  wares  are  temptingly 
capable  of  easy  and  generally  harmless 
mixture.  Conscience  is  generally  train- 
ed to  the  posture  or  practice  habitual 
to  the  trade.  Of  course,  the  grocer  has 
exceedingly  good  reasons  for  his  ap- 
prentices, why  they  should  adulterate. 
Yet  if  he  went  to  the  drj^goods  dealer, 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


223 


and  found  that  for  linen  lie  had  bought 
a  mixture  of  cotton  and  flax,  he  would 
call  that  dealer  a  cheat.  Or  if  he  found 
that  the  silversmith  had  sold  him  plat- 
ed spoons  for  silver  spoons — zounds ! 
It  happens  that  only  in  his  own  line  of 
business,  such  strong  reasons  exist  for 
"  doctoring  "  and  "  deaconing." 

It  happened  that  in  the  early  busi- 
ness days  of  Mr.  A.,  a  grocer,  pepper 
was  under  a  heavy  tax ;  and  in  the 
trade,  universal  tradition  said  that  out 
of  the  trade  everybody  expected  pepper 
to  be  mixed.  Well,  in  the  shop  of  said 
grocer  stood  a  cask  labelled  "  P.  D.," 
containing  something  very  like  pepper 
dust,  wherewith  it  was  used  to  mix  the 
pepper  before  sending  it  forth  to  serve 
the  public.  The  trade  tradition  had 
obtained  for  the  apocryphal  P.  D.  a 
place  among  the  standard  articles  of 
the  shop,  and  on  the  strength  of  that 
tradition  it  was  vended  for  pepper  by 
men  who  thought  they  were  doing  the 
right  thing — by  themselves. 

Now  this  P.  D.  began  to  give  the 
clerk  no  little  discomfort.  Considering 
all  that  might  be  said,  pro  and  con,  he 
came  to  the  downright  conclusion  that 
it  was  wrong.  He  instantly  decreed 
that  P.  D.  should  perish.  It  was  night ; 
but  back  he  went  to  the  shop,  took  the 
hypocritical  cask,  carried  it  to  a  neigh- 
boring quarry,  then  staved  it,  and  scat- 
tered P.  D.  among  the  clods  and  slag 
and  stones. 

But  tliis  P.  D.  is  not  wholly  confined 
to  grocers'  traffic.  The  shipowner  has 
a  ship  which  has  become  too  old  to 
carry  sugar  from  the  West  Indies,  with- 
out damaging  it  by  leakage  ;  so  he  fits 
her  out  as  a  passenger  ship,  and  adver- 
tizes her  for  Sidney,  as  "  the  well- 
known,  favorite,  fast-sailing  ship" — 
and  that  is  P.  D.  The  corn  merchant 
has  a  cargo  damaged  in  a  gale  at  sea ; 
but  as  the  underwriters  will  not  pay 
unless  the  captain  can  swear  that  the 
vessel  struck,  the  merchant,  who  was 
snug  in  his  bed  when  the  gale  blew, 
tries  to  show  the  captain  very  conclu- 


sively that,  just  off  Flambeau  Head, 
the  keel  did  actually  touch  the  ground, 
and  that  therefore  he  may  safely  take 
the  requisite  oath — and  that  is  P.  D. 
The  director  of  some  joint-stock  com- 
pany, who  sees  that  the  concern  is  hol- 
low and  all  dis-jointed,  sells  out  his  own 
shares,  but  retains  his  place  until  the 
period  during  which  he  is  liable  is 
past,  that  no  one  else  may  take  fright ; 
— P.  D.  The  jobber  is  standing  by  a 
parcel  of  goods  which  have  been  on  his 
hands  for  a  considerable  time ;  a  cus- 
tomer enters,  and  is  received  with 
smiles  :  "  Are  these  new  ?  "  "  The  latest 
things  we  have — just  out,  in  fact.  I 
almost  thought  you  would  look  in  to- 
day, and  have  this  moment  had  the 
parcel  opened  for  you ;  "—P.  D.  Well, 
there  is  more  or  less  P.  D.  under  every 
trader's  roof.  But  it  is  bad.  Stave 
the  cask  in  pieces. 


Bad  Business. 

Kohl,  in  his  Travels  in  Russia,  ob- 
serves, that  while  at  Moscow,  he  hap- 
pened to  take  a  stroll  through  one  of 
the  markets  of  that  city.  He  saw  there 
a  man  who  was  employed  to  sell  frozen 
fish  by  the  pound.  "  Friend,"  said  he 
to  him,  "  how  do  you  come  on  in  your 
business  ? "  "  Thank  God,"  replied  the 
man,  "  very  badly." 


Commercial  Milk. 

A  SUGGESTION  lias  recently  been  made 
for  the  supply  of  London  with  pure 
country  milk,  in  lieu  of  that  wishy- 
washy  triumph  of  art  over  nature,  which 
flows,  mornin*  and  afternoon,  into  jugs 
and  mugs,  from  a  thousand  milh  cans 
— so  called. 

Such  an  announcement  has  shaken,  as 
if  with  a  panic,  all  the  metropolitan 
pans ;  and  those  purveyors  who  have 
dealt  in  new  milk  from  the  pump  and 
chalk  pit,  without  ever  having  been  in 
possession  of  a  single  pair  of  horns, 
have  been  cowed  all  of  a  sudden  by  the 


224 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


very  thought  of  the  introduction  of  the 
bovine  article.  And  yet,  so  unaccus- 
tomed are  the  Londoners  to  anything 
else  but  the  well-known  chalk  mixture, 
that  the  probability  is  that  the  pure  arti- 
cle will — like  the  genuine  squeak  of  the 
pig  in  the  fable — be  pronounced  far  in- 
ferior to  the  imitation  with  which  use 
or  abuse  has  rendered  us  so  familiar. 

London,  in  fact,  knows  nothing  of 
real  milk,  which  differs  as  thoroughly 
as  chalk  is  unlike  cheese,  from  the  spu- 
rious stuff  which  now  finds  its  way  into 
the  coffee  and  tea  cup.  Commercial 
milk  is  a  compound  which  any  consci- 
entious cow  would  indignantly  repudi- 
ate. As  has  already  been  hinted,  the 
Londoner  literally  knows  nothing  of 
milk ;  for  of  the  stuff  he  has  been 
taught  to  accept  as  "  milk,"  he  knows 
it  would  be  idle  to  attempt  even  to 
skim  the  surface.  It  is  understood 
that  the  chalk  market  immediately  be- 
gan to  show  symptoms  of  weakness  at 
the  bare  rumor  of  real  milk  being  in- 
troduced into  the  metropolis,  especially 
when  coupled  with  the  current  appre- 
hension of  a  short  supply  of  water  in 
the  city  and  suburbs. 


Bangers  of  Legitimate  Business 
Transactions. 

The  dangers  attending  unlawful 
business  transactions  are  sometimes 
fully  matched  by  those  which  accom- 
pany dealings  that  are  entirely  legiti- 
mate. On  one  occasion,  a  merchant  in 
London,  having  requested  his  broker  to 
purchase  a  certain  amount  of  stock,  and 
having  concluded  his  business,  was  sur- 
prised in  the  evening  to  hear  his  broker 
announced  as  a  visitor.  Some  remark 
being  made,  the  latter  stated  that  a  dis- 
pute had  arisen  with  the  jobber  about 
the  price  which  was  in  the  receipt, 
and  he  should  be  glad  to  take  it  with 
him  as  an  evidence  of  his  correctness. 
Knowing  that  a  stock  receipt  is  in  it- 
self of  no  value,  the  buyer  readily  com- 
plied.   His  visitor  thanked  him,  and 


from  that  moment  was  never  heard  of- 
The  receipt  was  false,  the  names  were 
forged ;  and,  secure  in  the  possession 
of  all  evidence  against  him,  the  broker 
sought  a  foreign  land  in  which  to  enjoy 
his  ill-gotten  gains. 


Hardening  Tendency  of  Business. 

Eemarking  on  the  state  of  trade  in 
one  of  the  large  cities,  a  commercial 
editor  states  that  "  the  hardening  ten- 
dency of  prices  still  continues.^'  It  is  a 
pity  that  something  cannot  be  done  to 
counteract  the  hardening  effect  of  busi- 
ness generally  on  the  population  of  some 
of  our  mercantile  and  manufacturing 
cities. 


Tragical  Restdt  of  Losing  Bank  Notes. 

One  of  the  most  tragical  events  in 
the  business  world  took  place  a  while 
ago  in  St.  Petersburg.  The  agent  of 
a  banker,  who  had  been  to  the  bank  to 
receive  the  value  of  fifteen  thousand 
silver  roubles,  lost  the  package  of  bank 
notes  on  his  return.  The  money  was 
picked  up  by  a  clerk,  who,  instead  of 
giving  the  funds  at  once  to  the  owner, 
followed  the  agent  to  his  destination 
and  in  this  way  ascertained  his  name 
The  clerk  then  returned  home,  hesitat 
ing  in  his  own  mind  how  he  should  act 
When  he  arrived  there,  a  violent  quar- 
rel took  place  between  him  and  his 
wife,  the  latter  wishing  to  keep  the 
money.  The  clerk,  however,  on  the 
following  day,  went  to  the  house  of  the 
owner  to  deliver  the  money,  but  the 
banker  would  not  receive  it,  saying  his 
agent  had  committed  suicide  in  the 
night,  on  account  of  the  loss.  Over- 
come with  remorse,  the  clerk  returned 
home,  where  he  found  that  during  his 
absence  his  wife  had  hanged  herself, 
from  vexation  at  not  having  kept  the 
money.  He  immediately  cut  down  the 
body,  and  hung  himself  with  the  same 
rope. 


TRADE   AND   BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


225 


Morocco  Pocket  Book  Men. 

The  "  Morocco  men,"  so  called  from 
the  red  morocco  pocket  books  wliicli 
they  carried,  were  a  remarkable  feature 
in  the  London  money  dealings  of  half 
a  century  ago.  They  began  their  lives 
as  pigeons  ;  they  closed  them  as  rooks. 
They  had  lost  their  own  fortunes  in 
their  youth ;  they  lost  those  of  others 
in  their  age.  Generally  educated,  and 
of  bland  manners,  a  mixture  of  the  gen- 
tleman and  the  debauchee,  they  easily 
penetrated  into  the  society  they  sought 
to  destroy.  They  were  seen  in  the 
deepest  alleys  of  Saint  Giles's,  and  were 
met  in  the  fairest  circles  as  well.  In 
the  old  hall  of  the  country  gentleman, 
in  the  mansion  of  the  city  merchant,  in 
the  butlery  of  the  rural  squire,  in  the 
homestead  of  the  farmer,  among  the 
reapers  as  they  worked  on  the  hillside, 
with  the  peasant  as  he  rested  from  his 
daily  toil — addressing  all  with  specious 
promises,  and  telling  lies  like  truth — 
was  the  morocco  man  found,  treading 
alike  the  finest  and  the  foulest  scenes 
of  society.  They  whispered  beguiling 
temptation  to  the  innocent ;  they  hint- 
ed at  easy  fraud  to  the  novice.  They 
lured  the  youthful ;  they  excited  the 
aged ;  and  no  place  was  so  pure,  and 
no  spot  so  degraded,  but,  for  love  of 
seven  and  one-half  per  cent.,  did  the 
morocco  man  mark  it  with  his  pestilen- 
tial presence.  No  valley  was  so  lonely, 
but  what  it  found  some  victim ;  no  hill 
so  remote,  but  what  it  offered  some 
chance ;  and  so  enticing  were  their 
manners,  that  their  presence  was 
sought,  and  their  appearance  wel- 
comed, with  all  the  eagerness  of  ava- 
rice. 


East  India  Company  and  tlae  Missing* 
"Witness. 

A  century  ago  was  the  hanging  cen- 
tury ;  and  a  great  fraud  was  committed 
toward  its  close  upon  the  East  India 
Company — one  of  the  most  peculiar  in 
the  annals  of  crime,  as  related  to  busi- 
15 


ness.  The  leading  witness — the  only 
man  who  could  prove  the  guilt  of  the 
accused — was  accustomed  to  visit  a 
house  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
Bank,  to  be  dressed  and  powdered,  ac- 
cording to  the  fashion  of  the  day. 
Shortly  before  the  trial  came  on,  a  note 
was  placed  in  his  hands,  informing 
him  that  the  attorney  for  the  prosecu- 
tion was  desirous  of  seeing  him,  at  a 
certain  hour,  at  his  private  residence, 
in  or  near  Portland  Place. 

At  the  time  appointed,  the  witness 
proceeded  to  the  house ;  the  door  was 
opened,  and  the  footman,  without  ask- 
ing his  name,  ushered  the  visitor  into 
a  large  room,  where,  discussing  some 
wine  upon  the  table,  sat  a  group  of 
gentlemen  in  earnest  conversation, 
"  There  is  a  mistake,"  exclaimed  the 
new  comer,  thinking  he  had  been 
shown  into  the  wrong  room.  "  No 
mistake,  sir,"  interrupted  one,  in  a  de- 
termined tone,  while  the  remainder  sat 
quietly  but  sternly  by.  Unable  to  com- 
prehend the  scene,  and  in  some  alarm, 
the  visitor  prepared  to  leave  the  room. 
"There  is  no  mistake,"  repeated  the 
same  person,  unostentatiously  stepping 
before  the  door;  " I  am,"  he  continued, 
"  brother  to  that  gentleman  who  is  to 
be  tried  for  forgery,  and  against  whom 
you  are  the  chief  witness ;  the  honor 
of  a  noble  house  is  at  stake ;  and  your 
first  attempt  to  escape  will  lead  to  a 
violent  death.  There  is  nothing  to 
fear,  if  you  remain  quiet ;  but  all  whom 
you  see  are  sworn  to  detain  you  until 
the  trial  be  over,  or,"  he  added,  after  a 
pause,  "  to  slay  you."  The  witness  was 
a  sensible  man ;  he  saw  the  determined 
looks  of  those  around ;  and  thought  it 
best  quietly  to  acquiesce. 

In  the  mean  time,  great  surprise  was 
excited  in  the  city.  That  the  missing 
man  had  been  inveigled  away  was  uni- 
versally believed ;  and  every  endeavor 
was  made  to  track  him.  Whether  the 
calmness  with  which  he  bore  his  con- 
finement deceived  his  jailers,  is  not 
known ;  but  it  is  certain  that  he  effect- 


226 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


ed  his  escape  from  the  house,  although 
not  so  securely  but  that  his  captors 
were  after  him  before  he  could  get  out 
of  sight.  A  mob  collected ;  his  pur- 
suers declared  that  he  was  an  insane 
nobleman,  and  that  they  were  liis  keep- 
ers. The  mob  shouted  with  delight  at 
the  idea  of  a  mad  lord ;  and  the  unfor- 
tunate man  was  on  the  point  of  being 
again  confined,  when  a  carriage  drove 
up.  The  inmate,  a  lady,  desired  the 
coachman  to  stop,  and  she  listened  to 
the  counter  statements  of  the  pursued 
and  his  pursuers.  Eemembering  the 
current  story  of  a  missing  witness,  she 
opened  the  carriage,  he  sprang  in,  the 
door  was  closed,  and  the  lady,  to  whom 
he  told  his  story,  ordered  the  coachman 
to  drive  with  all  speed  to  the  Old  Bai- 
ley. It  was  the  last  day;  the  case, 
which  had  been  postponed,  was  being 
tried ;  and  the  missing  witness  was  just 
in  time  to  place  the  rope  around  the 
neck  of  the  unhappy  forger. 


Smugglers'  Honor. 

On  the  line  between  Prussia  and  Rus- 
sia, smuggling  is  carried  on  by  desper- 
ate bands  of  men,  in  a  most  desperately 
professional  manner.  These  bands  are 
also  addicted  to  robbery.  One  of  them, 
headed  by  a  man  named  Krotinus,  is 
very  notorious ;  it  has  plundered  the 
house  of  several  of  the  richer  Russian 
landowners  on  the  frontier,  returning 
across  the  line  into  Prussia  to  spend 
the  proceeds.  A  party  of  this  band 
once  passed  the  day  at  a  village  wine- 
house,  and  were  called  out  toward 
evening  by  a  man  who  proved  to  be 
the  captain  himself,  "  for  duty  : "  he 
was  most  particular  in  inquiring  wheth- 
er his  men  had  behaved  respectfully 
and  paid  for  everything  I 


Characteristic  Smug-g-ling-  Ingrenxiity  of 
Parisians. 
Some  of  the  curious  expedients  re- 
sorted to  by  Parisian  smugglers  are 
given  in  the  following  account  by  a 


personal  witness  : — I  saw,  through  one 
of  the  windows  in  the  mayor's  ofl&ce,  in 
the  twelfth  aiTondissement,  the  body  of 
a  negro  hanging  by  the  neck.  At  the 
first  glance,  and  even  at  the  second,  I 
took  it  for  a  human  being,  whom  dis- 
appointed love,  or  perhaps  an  impro- 
vised people's  tribunal,  had  disposed 
of  thus  suddenly  ;  but  I  soon  ascertain- 
ed that  the  ebony  gentleman  in  question 
was  only  a  large  doll  as  large  as  life. 
What  to  think  of  this,  I  did  not  know, 
so  I  asked  the  doorkeeper  the  meaning 
of  it. 

"  This  is  the  '  Contraband  Muse- 
um,' "  was  the  answer ;  and  on  my 
showing  a  curiosity  to  see  it,  he  was 
kind  enough  to  act  as  my  cicerone. 

In  a  large  dirty  room  are  scattered 
over  the  floor,  along  the  walls  and  on 
the  ceiling,  all  the  inventions  of  roguery 
which  had  been  confiscated  from  time 
to  time  by  these  guardians  of  the  law, 
the  revenue  officers  ;  a  complete  arsenal 
of  the  devices  of  smuggling,  ail  in  com- 
plete confusion. 

As  examples,  there  is  a  hogshead 
dressed  up  for  a  nurse,  with  a  child 
that  holds  two  and  one  half  quarts. 
On  the  other  side  a*e  logs,  hollow  as 
the  Trojan  horse,  and  filled  with  armies 
of  cigars.  On  the  floor  lies  a  huge  boa 
constrictor,  gorged  with  China  silks; 
and  just  beyond  it  a  pile  of  coal  curi- 
ously perforated  with  spools  of  cotton. 

The  colored  gentleman  who  excited 
my  sympathy  at  first,  met  with  his  fate 
under  the  following  circumstances :  He 
was  built  of  tin,  painted  black,  and 
stood  like  a  heyduck,  or  Ethiopian 
chasseur,  on  the  footboard  of  a  car- 
riage, fastened  by  his  feet  and  hands. 
He  had  frequently  j)assed  through  the 
gates,  and  was  well  known  by  sight  to 
the  soldiers,  who  noticed  he  was  al- 
ways showing  his  teeth,  which  they 
supposed  to  be  the  custom  of  his  coun- 
try. 

One  day  the  carriage  he  belonged  to 
was  stopped  by  a  crowd  at  the  gate. 
There  was,  as  usual,  a  grand  chorus  of 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


227 


yells  and  oatlis,  the  vocal  part  being 
performed  by  the  cartmen  and  drivers, 
and  the  instrumental  by  the  well-ap- 
plied whips.  The  negro,  however,  nev- 
er spoke  a  single  word.  His  good  be- 
havior, through  all  this  wild  and  un- 
heard-of misusage,  delighted  the  sol- 
diers, who  held  him  up  as  an  example 
to  the  crowd.  "Look  at  that  black 
fellow,"  they  cried,  "  see  how  well  he 
behaves  !  Bravo,  nigger,  bravo  !  "  He 
showed  a  perfect  indifference  to  their 
friendly  applause.  "My  friend,"  said 
a  clerk  at  the  barrier,  jumping  up  on 
the  footboard,  and  slapping  our  sable 
friend  on  the  shoulder,  "we  are  very 
much  obliged  to  you."  What  surprise  I 
the  shoulder  rattled.  The  officer  was  be- 
wildered ;  he  sounded  the  footman  all 
over,  and  found  he  was  made  of  metal, 
and  as  full  as  his  skin  could  hold  of 
the  very  best  contraband  liquor,  drawn 
out  of  his  foot.  The  juicy  mortal  was 
seized  at  once,  and  carried  off  in  tri- 
umph. The  first  night  the  revenue 
people  drank  up  one  of  his  shoulders, 
and  he  was  soon  bled  to  death.  It  is 
now  six  years  since  he  lost  all  the 
moisture  of  his  system,  and  was  reduced 
to  a  dry  skeleton. 


Terrible  Career  of  Sadleir,  the 
Speculator. 

The  name  of  John  Sadleir  is  still 
fresh  in  the  annals  of  criminal  specula- 
tion and  its  ofttimes  tragical  end.  He 
was  a  provincial  attorney  in  Ireland,  in 
very  moderate  business;  but  being  a 
man  of  talent  and  firmness  of  character, 
he  was  instrumental  in  establishing  a 
bank  in  the  county,  and  became  a  per- 
son of  some  consequence.  He  at  length 
felt  his  field  to  be  too  small,  and  in  an 
evil  hour  went  to  London,  where  his 
connection  with  the  bank  introduced 
him  at  once  to  the  speculators  and  cap- 
italists of  that  city ;  and  this  led  to  a 
large  business  as  a  parliamentary  agent, 
and  to  his  becoming  chairman  of  a 
great  joint-stock  bank  in  London. 

The  road  of  ambition  was  now  fairly 


opened.  He  got  into  Parliament,  made 
himself  the  leader  in  the  Irish  Brigade, 
then  deserted  his  party,  and  became  a 
lord  of  the  treasury.  In  the  mean  time, 
he  was  very  busy  with  the  Encumbered 
Estates  Bill ;  and  having  procured  from 
the  commissioners  under  it  almost  un- 
limited authority,  he  organized  an  asso- 
ciation in  England  for  purchasing,  and 
afterward  selling  at  enormous  advan- 
tage, properties  sold  in  the  Encumbered 
Estates  Court.  He  now  became  chair- 
man of  the  Swedish  railway,  arranged 
a  new  insurance  company,  established 
a  newspaper  of  his  own  in  Dublin,  and 
plunged  deep  into  English,  Italian, 
Spanish,  and  American  railways. 

Such  is  a  very  brief  outline  of  Sad- 
leir's  great  business  career;  but  when 
and  where  the  pressure  first  began — 
when  this  originally  obscure  and  mon- 
eyless man  found  that  he  could  not 
pursue  such  schemes  without  funds — 
and  what  were  the  precise  circumstan- 
ces that  originated  Ms  crimes,  and  led 
him  on,  step  by  step,  to  infamy,  is  not 
precisely  known.  It  is  known,  how- 
ever, that  he  obtained  money  on  the 
security  of  forged  titles,  as,  from  the 
Encumbered  Estate  Court.  He  fabri- 
cated shares  of  the  Swedish  railway  to 
the  amount  of  over  a  million  dollars ; 
and  besides  the  assignments  of  numer- 
ous deeds  he  held  in  trust,  he  forged 
on  private  individuals  to  the  amount 
of  at  least  half  a  million  dollars. 

It  appears  that  for  some  time  he  must 
have  contemplated  his  violent  release 
from  the  fever  of  mind  in  which  he  had 
lived  so  long.  But  at  length  the  occa- 
sion came ;  the  forgery  of  one  of  the 
Encumbered  Estates  deeds  was  on  the 
eve  of  discovery;  and  the  wretched 
man  went  forth  from  his  own  house  in 
the  dead  of  night,  with  the  instruments 
of  death  in  his  pocket — a  midnight 
suicide ! 


Duplicity  of  French  Speculators. 

One  of  the  most  singular  illustrations 
of  the  methods  sometimes  resorted  to 


228 


COMMERCIAL  AKD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


by  speculators  to  accomplish  their  ends, 
is  found  in  the  history  of  the  present 
ruler  of  the  French.  While  Louis 
Philippe  was  king,  a  number  of  specu- 
lators in  French  stocks  in  London,  de- 
sired, for  a  particular  purpose,  to  de- 
press said  stocks  for  a  few  days.  To 
this  end  they  hired  several  ships,  man- 
ned them,  and  gave  them  ammunition, 
bulletins,  &c.,  and  placed  Louis  Napo- 
leon in  secret  command,  in  order  to 
make  a  feint  of  invading  France — using 
him  as  the  unconcious  tool  for  execut- 
ing their  own  schemes. 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  that  reckless 
youth  was  under  the  delusion  that  the 
prestige  of  his  name  was  sufficient,  un- 
der the  unpopularity  of  the  then  reign- 
ing monarch,  to  cause  a  general  rising 
of  the  nation  in  his  own  favor.  It  was, 
however,  a  plan  gotten  up  hy  some  cun- 
ning l)roJcers,  who  used  him  merely  as 
an  instrument,  knowing  his  susceptibil- 
ity to  self-delusion ;  but  they  accom- 
plished their  end,  and  cleared  large 
sums  by  their  adroitly  conceived  mode 
of  operating. 


Two  Flaying-  at  the  Same  Game. 

Decio  was  an  extensive  London  mer- 
chant, who  had  large  commissions  for 
sugar  from  several  foreign  dealers.  On 
a  certain  occasion,  he  treated  about  a 
considerable  quantity  of  that  article 
with  Alcander,  an  eminent  merchant  in 
the  West  India  trade ;  both  understood 
the  market  very  well,  but  could  not 
agree.  Decio  was  a  man  of  substance, 
and  thought  nobody  ought  to  be  bet- 
ter able  to  buy  than  himself  on  favor- 
able terms.  Alcander  was  the  same, 
and,  not  wanting  money,  stood  for  his 
price. 

While  thus  engaged  in  attempts  to 
bargain,  at  a  tavern  near  the  Exchange, 
Alcander's  man  brought  his  master  a 
letter  from  the  West  Indies,  which  in- 
formed him  of  a  much  greater  quantity 
of  sugar  coming  for  England  than  M^as 
expected.     Alcander  now  wished  for 


nothing  more  than  to  sell  at  Decio's 
price,  before  the  news  w^as  public  ;  but, 
being  a  cunning  fox,  and  that  he  might 
not  seem  too  eager,  nor  yet  lose  his  cus- 
tomer, he  drops  the  discourse  they  were 
upon,  and,  putting  on  a  jovial  humor, 
commends  the  agreeableness  of  the 
weather — from  whence,  descanting  up- 
on the  delight  he  took  in  his  gar- 
dens, he  invites  Decio  to  go  along 
with  him  to  his  country  seat,  about 
twelve  miles  out. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  May,  and  as 
it  happened  to  be  Saturday  afternoon, 
Decio,  who  was  a  single  man,  and 
would  have  no  pressing  business  in 
town  before  Tuesday,  accepted  of  the 
other's  civility,  and  away  they  go  in 
Alcander's  coach.  Decio  was  splen- 
didly entertained  that  night  and  the 
day  following.  On  Monday  morning, 
to  get  himself  an  ajDpetite,  he  goes  to 
take  the  air  upon  an  easy-paced  horse 
of  Alcander's,  and  coming  back,  meets 
with  a  gentleman  of  his  acquaintance, 
who  tells  him  news  had  come,  the  night 
before,  that  the  Barbadoes  fleet  was  de- 
stroyed by  a  storm,  and  adds,  that  be- 
fore he  came  out,  the  news  had  been 
confirmed  at  Lloyd's  coffee  house,  where 
it  was  thought  sugars  would  rise  twen- 
ty-five per  cent,  by  'Change  time. 

Decio  returns  to  his  friend,  and  im- 
mediately resumes  the  conversation 
about  a  sugar  trade.  Alcander,  who, 
thinking  himself  sure  of  his  chap,  did 
not  design  to  broach  the  matter  until 
after  dinner,  was  very  glad  to  find  his 
intention  thus  anticipated;  but  how- 
ever desirous  he  was  to  sell,  the  other 
was  yet  more  anxious  to  buy.  Yet 
both  of  them,  afraid  of  one  another, 
for  a  considerable  time  afiected  all  the 
indifference  imaginable,  till  at  last  De- 
cio, fired  with  what  he  had  heard, 
thought  delays  might  prove  dangerous, 
and  throwing  a  guinea  upon  the  table, 
struck  the  bargain  at  Alcander's  price. 
The  next  day  they  went  to  London; 
the  news  proved  true,  and  Decio  made 
his  "pile"  by  the  sugars.     Alcander, 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


229 


while  he  had  striven  to  overreach  the 
other,  was  foiled  in  his  mercantile  tac- 
tics, and  paid  in  his  own  coin. 


Mysteries  of  Tea  Smugrglingr. 

On  account  of  the  high  tax  imposed 
upon  tea  by  the  Russian  Government, 
the  smuggling  of  that  article  is  carried 
on  as  briskly  as  the  wits  of  man  can 
devise  ways  and  means.  The  Govern- 
ment pays  in  cash  the  extraordinary 
premium  of  fifty  cents  per  pound  for  all 
that  is  seized,  a  reward  which  is  espe- 
cially attractive  to  the  officers  on  the 
frontier,  for  the  reason  that  it  is  there 
paid  down  without  any  discount.  For- 
merly, the  confiscated  tea  was  sold  at 
public  auction,  on  condition  that  the 
buyer  should  carry  it  over  the  frontier. 
Russian  officers  were  appointed  to  take 
charge  of  it,  and  deliver  it  in  some 
Prussian  frontier  town,  in  order  to  be 
sure  of  its  being  carried  out  of  the 
country.  The  consequence  was,  that 
the  tea  was  regularly  carried  back  into 
Poland  the  following  night,  most  fre- 
quently by  the  Russian  officers  them- 
selves. 

I»  order  to  apply  a  radical  cure  to 
this  evil,  destruction  by  fire  was  de- 
creed as  the  fate  of  all  tea  that  should 
be  seized  thereafter.  Thus  it  is  that 
from  twenty  thousand  to  forty  thou- 
sand pounds  are  yearly  destroyed  in 
the  chief  city  of  the  province.  About 
this,  the  official  story  is,  that  it  is  tea 
smuggled  from  Prussia,  while  the  truth 
is,  that  it  is  usually  nothing  but  brown 
paper  or  damaged  tea  that  is  consumed 
by  the  fire.  In  the  first  place,  the  Rus- 
sian officials  are  too  rational  to  burn  up 
good  tea,  when  by  chance  a  real  confis- 
cation of  that  article  has  taken  place  ; 
— in  such  a  case,  the  gentlemen  take 
the  tea,  and  put  upon  the  burning  pile 
an  equal  weight  of  lyrown  paper ^  or  rags^ 
done  up  to  resemble  genuine  packages 
of  the  "  celestial  leaf."  In  the  second 
place,  it  is  mostly  damaged  or  useless 
tea  that  is  seized. 


The  premium  for  seizures  being  so 
high,  the  custom-house  officers  them- 
selves cause  Polish  Jews — regular  com- 
mercial rats — to  buy  up  quantities  of 
worthless  stuff  and  bring  it  over  the 
lines  for  the  express  purpose  of  being 
seized  !  The  time  and  place  for  smug- 
gling it  are  agreed  upon.  ^  The  officer 
lies  in  wait  with  a  third  person  whom 
he  takes  with  him.  The  Jew  comes 
with  the  goods,  is  hailed  by  the  officer, 
and  takes  to  flight.  The  officer  pursues 
the  fugitive,  but  cannot  reach  him  I 
and  fires  his  musket  after  him.  Here- 
upon the  Jew  drops  his  package,  which 
the  officer  takes  and  carries  to  the  office, 
where  he  gets  his  reward.  The  witness 
whom  he  has  with  him — by  accident, 
of  course — testifies  to  the  zeal  of  his 
exertions,  fruitless  though  they  were, 
for  the  seizure  of  the  "unknown" 
smuggler.  The  latter  afterward  re- 
ceives from  the  officer  the  stipulated 
portion  of  the  reward.  This  arch  trick 
is  constantly  practised  along  the  fron- 
tier, and,  to  meet  the  demand,  the 
Prussian  dealers  patriotically  keep 
stocks  of  good-for-nothing  tea,  which 
they  sell  generally  at  the  rate  of  twelve 
and  a  half  cents  per  pound. 


Spanish.  Contraband  Trade. 

Although  the  Spaniards  have  a  dis- 
like— so  the  idea  prevails — to  foreign- 
ers and  foreign  productions,  yet  the 
latter  necessarily  find  their  way  into 
Spain,  because  she  has  no  productions 
of  her  own,  and  must  have  them.  But 
they  hate  custom  houses  and  custom- 
house officers  as  much  as  they  do  for- 
eigners, and  they  also  prefer  a  smug- 
gled article,  even  if  it  is  a  foreign  pro- 
duction ;  hence  it  is  that  there  is  no 
scene  in  Spanish  life  without  a  smug- 
gler— at  least,  so  say  the  English.  The 
peasant  smuggles  through  necessity, 
the  rich  man  through  avarice,  or  the 
pleasure  of  cheating  the  revenue.  Even 
the  queen,  it  is  told,  robs  her  own  ex- 
chequer, by  wearing  contraband  finery. 


230 


COMMERCIAL   AND   BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


The  whole  southern  coast,  from  Barce- 
lona to  Cadiz,  is  said  to  be  perpetually 
transformed,  at  night,  into  a  strand  for 
the  loading  of  contraband  goods.  It  is 
estimated  that  there  are  not  less  than 
four  hundred  thousand  smugglers  hov- 
ering continually  about  the  mountains 
near  the  seacoast,  who  descend  at 
night  to  hold  communion  with  pro- 
scribed foreign  smugglers,  and  receive 
from  them  the  materials  for  rendering 
millions  of  the  Spanish  population  com- 
fortable, free  of  duty. 


Prayers  Requested  for  a  New  Business 
Undertaking-. 

The  ministers  of  the  English  Govern- 
ment made  great  use  of  lotteries  in  the 
eighteenth  century,  as  an  engine  to 
draw  money  from  the  pockets  of  the 
people,  and  at  a  price  alike  disgraceful 
to  the  Government  and  demoralizing  to 
all.  The  extent  to  which  this  evil  had 
reached  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact 
that  money  was  lent  on  these  as  on  any 
other  marketable  securities ;  that  in 
1751,  upward  of  thirty  thousand  tick- 
ets were  pawned  to  the  metropolitan 
bankers;  and  this  when,  to  have  an 
even  chance  for  any  prize,  a  purchaser 
must  have  held  seven  tickets — and  it 
was  ninety-nine  to  one  that  even  if  a 
prize  were  drawn,  it  did  not  exceed 
£50.  Suicide,  through  lotteries,  be- 
came common.  All  arts  were  resorted 
to.  Lucky  numbers  were  foretold  by 
cunning  women,  who,  when  their  art 
failed,  shrouded  themselves  in  their 
mysticism,  or,  if  fortune  chanced  to  fa- 
vor them,  paraded  their  prophecies  to 
the  public.  Insurance  of  prizes — an 
art  upon  which  hundreds  grew  rich, 
and  thousands  grew  poor — was  com- 
menced with  terrible  success.  Those 
who  were  unable  to  buy  tickets,  paid  a 
certain  sum  to  receive  a  certain  amount, 
if  a  particular  number  came  up  a  prize. 
The  many  iniquities,  the  household  des- 
olation, the  public  fraud,  and  the  pri- 
vate mischief  which  resulted  from  this 
system,  are  beyond  the  power  of  recital. 


"Wives  committed  domestic  treachery; 
sons  and  daughters  ran  through  their 
portions;  merchants  risked  the  gains 
of  honorable  trade.  "  My  whole 
house,"  wrote  one,  "  was  infected  with 
the  mania,  from  the  head  of  it  down 
to  my  kitchen  maid  and  postboy,  who 
have  both  j^awned  some  of  their  rags, 
that  they  might  put  themselves  in  for- 
tune's way."  The  passions  and  preju- 
dices of  the  sex  were  appealed  to.  Lov- 
ers were  to  strew  their  paths  with  roses ; 
husbands  were  plentifully  promised, 
and  beautiful  children  were  to  adorn 
their  homes,  through  this  kind  of  deal- 
ing. The  melancholy  history  was  oc- 
casionally enlivened  by  episodes,  which 
sometimes  arose  from  the  humor,  and 
sometimes  from  the  sufferings  of  the 
populace.  Religion  itself  was  ingeni- 
ously used  as  a  scapegoat  in  these  trans- 
actions. Thus,  it  is  recorded  as  a  fact, 
that  to  promote  the  aid  of  the  blind 
deity,  a  woman  to  whom  a  ticket  had 
been  presented,  caused  a  petition  to 
be  put  up  in  a  church,  in  the  following 
words : 

"  The  prayers  of  the  congregation  are 
desired  for  the  success  of  a  person  engaged 
in  a  new  husiness  undertaMngP 


•'He's  a  Country  Merchant— Stick 
Him." 

In  a  certain  city,  Mr.  A.  established 
himself  in  business.  Among  the  fre- 
quent visitors  at  his  store  was  Mr.  B., 
whose  officiousness  was  never  agree- 
able to  the  proprietor,  and  on  one  oc- 
casion at  least  his  advice  was  both  in- 
sulting and  disastrous.  It  happened 
in  this  wise :  A  gentleman  came  into 
the  store  and  inquired  for  sundry  arti- 
cles as  to  prices,  &c.  In  the  midst  of 
the  interview,  Mr.  B.  asked  Mr.  A.  to 
the  door,  and,  taking  him  by  the  but- 
ton, whispered  confidentially,  regard- 
ing the  inquirer,  "  He's  a  country  mer- 
chant—stick him!"  Mr.  A.  turned 
away  in  disgust,  and  resumed  his  con- 
versation with  the  new  comer.  But 
the  whispered  counsel  had  reached  the 


TRADE  AND   BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


231 


ear  of  the  latter,  and  he  left  the  prem- 
ises without  purchasing  a  single  article. 


Spaniard  and  Chinaman  at  a  Trade. 

Here  is  an  old  "  trick  at  trade,"  and 
it  still  puzzles  some  people  to  get  the 
right  of  it. 

A  Spaniard  called  at  the  store  of 
a  Chinese  merchant  shoemaker  and 
bought  a  pair  of  boots  at  the  price  of 
ten  dollars,  and  handed  Jinnqua,  the 
seller  of  the  boots,  an  ounce^  valued  at 
seventeen  dollars.  As  Jinnqua  had  no 
change,  he  stepped  over  the  way  to  the 
Palo  Gordo  and  got  it  changed;  re- 
turned, and  gave  the  boots  and  seven 
dollars  to  the  Spaniard,  who  took  them 
and  his  departure.  Shortly  after  this, 
the  proprietor  of  Palo  Gordo  called  on 
the  shoemaker  with  the  ounce,  which 
proved  to  be  a  bad  one,  and  the  shoe- 
maker was  obliged  to  pay  him  seven- 
teen good  dollars  for  the  good-for- 
nothing  metal.  Now  the  question  is, 
how  much  and  what  did  the  shoe- 
maker lose  by  the  operation  ?  Some 
say  he  lost  twenty-four  dollars,  and 
others  twenty-seven  dollars ;  but  it  is 
very  plain  that  he  lost  just  seven  dol- 
lars aud  a  pair  of  new  boots.  Whether 
they  were  worth  ten  dollars  or  not,  is 
another  question — one  for  China-tail 
and  his  customer  to  decide. 


Buying  Wine  by  Sample. 

The  penetration  and  management 
of  one  of  our  old  commodores  in  a 
Spanish  port,  some  years  ago,  proved 
too  much  for  the  skill  of  a  certain  wine 
merchant,  as  the  following  will  show. 

He  bought  a  cask  of  wine— he  liked 
the  flavor  of  it — in  one  of  those  enor- 
taous  cellars,  where  the  Spanish  mer- 
chants store  their  immense  stock,  and 
where  they,  if  the  truth  must  be  reveal- 
ed, also  mix,  brew,  and  manufacture 
them. 

"To  what  place  shall  I  send  the 
pipe  ?  "  inquired  the  merchant. 


"  Nowhere,"  said  the  blunt  sailor,  "  I 
will  take  it  with  me ; "  and  then  ap- 
peared a  competent  number  of  sailors 
with  a  vehicle  all  ready  for  the  pur- 
pose. 

The  merchant  hesitated,  demurred, 
and  objected  to  delivering  it  for  one 
reason  or  other,  and  finally  offered  a 
handsome  sum  if  he  would  take  an- 
other cask  next  to  it,  just  as  good,  in 
its  room,  as  this  particular  one  had 
been  disposed  of.  This  made  the  com- 
modore still  more  earnest  and  resolved ; 
so  he  insisted  on  paying  the  Spanish 
trader  his  bill,  and  took  away  his  prize 
without  asking  "  by  your  leave." 

It  was  worth  double  the  sum  he 
gave  for  it,  as  it  was  a  sample  cask  of 
the  pure  article,  which  he  and  all  who 
went  to  that  cellar  to  purchase  were  to 
taste,  as  a  criterion  of  the  whole.  When 
the  article  v/as  sold  and  delivered,  after 
the  bargain,  another  was  always  put  in 
its  place.  This  time,  however,  the  un- 
lucky merchant  was  deprived  of  his 
decoy  till  he  could  prepare  -a  new  one, 
at  considerable  cost.  It  was  a  poor 
bargain  that  he  made  with  the  Ameri- 
can commodore,  who  used  to  tell  his 
friends  at  Washington,  when  he  treat- 
ed them  to  it,  that  it  was  the  best  bat- 
tle he  ever  fought,  and  he  had  seen 
sharp  service  in  1813. 


Smug-grlingr  on  the  Lace-Merchant's 
Dog. 

Who  would  have  imagined  that  a 
dog  had  been  made  serviceable  as  a 
clerk,  and  thus  rolled  up  for  his  master 
upward  of  a  hundred  thousand  crowns  ? 
And  yet  a  "  big  thing  "  like  this  hap- 
pened some  years  ago. 

One  of  those  industrious  beings  who 
know  how  to  make  a  chaldron  of  coals 
out  of  a  billet  of  wood,  determined,  in 
extreme  poverty,  to  engage  in  trade. 
He  preferred  that  of  merchandize 
which  occupied  the  least  space,  and 
was  calculated  to  yield  the  greatest 
profit.  He  borrowed  a  small  sum  of 
money  from  a  friend,  and  repairing  to 


232 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Flanders,  he  there  bought  a  piece  of 
lace,  which,  without  any  danger,  he 
smuggled  into  France  in  the  following 
manner : 

He  trained  an  active  spaniel  to  his 
purpose.  He  caused  him  first  to  be 
shaved,  and  procured  for  him  the  skin 
of  another  dog,  of  the  same  hair  and 
the  same  shape.  He  then  rolled  the 
lace  around  the  body  of  the  dog,  and 
put  over  this  the  garment  of  the  other 
animal  so  adroitly  that  it  was  impos- 
sible to  discover  the  trick.  The  lace 
being  thus  arranged  in  his  canine  band- 
box, he  would  say  to  his  obedient  mes- 
senger, "  Forward,  my  friend  !  "  At 
these  words,  the  dog  would  start,  and 
pass  boldly  through  the  gates  of  Ma- 
lines  or  Valenciennes,  in  the  very  face 
of  the  vigilant  officers  placed  there  to 
prevent  smuggling.  Having  passed  the 
bounds,  he  would  wait  for  his  master 
at  a  little  distance  in  the  open  country. 
Then  they  mutually  caressed  and  feast- 
ed, and  the  merchant  deposited  his 
parcels  in  places  of  security,  renewing 
his  ventures  as  necessity  required. 

Such  was  the  success  of  the  smug- 
gler, that  in  five  or  six  years  he  amassed 
a  handsome  fortune,  and  kept  his 
coach.  But — envy  pursues  the  pros- 
perous ;  a  mischievous  neighbor  be- 
trayed the  lace  merchant,  and,  not- 
withstanding the  efibrts  of  the  latter 
to  disguise  his  dog,  he  was  tracked, 
watched,  and  detected.  The  game  was 
up. 

How  far  does  the  cunning  of  such  an 
animal  extend !  Did  the  spies  of  the 
custom  house  expect  him  at  one  gate, 
he  saw  them  at  a  distance,  and  instant- 
ly went  toward  the  other.  Were  the 
gates  shut  against  him,  he  overcame 
every  obstacle — sometimes  he  leaped 
over  the  wall,  at  others  passed  secretly 
behind  a  carriage,  or,  running  slyly  be- 
tween the  legs  of  travellers,  he  would 
thus  accomplish  his  aim.  One  day, 
however,  while  swimming  a  stream 
near  Malines,  he  was  shot,  and  died  in 
the  water.     There  was  then  about  him 


five  thousand  crowns'  worth  of  lace — 
the  loss  of  which  did  not  afilict  the 
master,  but  he  was  inconsolable  for  the 
loss  of  his  faithful  "  clerk." 


High-heeled  Boots  with  Watches  in 
them. 
In  the  days  when  high-heeled  French 
boots  were  the  pride  of  fashion,  there 
was  a  shoemaker  in  London,  who  made 
a  fortune  by  the  sale  of  the  best  Paris 
boots  at  a  price  which  all  his  fellow 
tradesmen  declared  ruinous.  He  un- 
derstood the  trade,  and  obtained  troops 
of  customers.  "  These  boots  must  be 
stolen,"  said  his  rivals,  but  there  was 
no  evidence  that  they  were ;  certainly 
they  were  not  smuggled  boots — for  any 
one  could  satisfy  himself  that  the  full 
duty  was  paid  upon  them  at  the  cus- 
tom house.  The  shoemaker  retired  from 
business  with  a  fortune.  Afterward 
his  secret  was  accidentally  discovered 
— although  he  had  paid  for  the  boots, 
he  had  not  paid  for*  everything  that 
was  in  them.  There  was  a  heavy  duty 
payable  on  foreign  watches ;  and  every 
boot  consigned  to  him  from  Paris  had 
contained  in  its  high  heel  a  cavity  ex- 
actly large  enough  to  hold  a  watch. 
The  great  profit  obtained  by  the  trade 
in  smuggled  watches  made  it  possible 
for  this  tradesman,  when  he  had  •  filled 
up  their  heels,  to  sell  his  boots  under 
prime  cost.  This  was  worth  while 
again,  because,  of  course,  by  the  exten- 
sion of  his  boot  trade,  he  increased  his 
power  of  importing  watches  duty  free. 


Philanthropy  and  Forty  Per  Cent. 

Under  the  name  of  the  Equitable 
Loan  Company,  there  was  many  years 
ago  started,  in  England,  a  mining 
scheme  for  taking  money  out  of  the 
pockets  of  the  many,  and  putting  it  in 
the  pockets  of  the  few.  In  paragraphs, 
calculated  to  excite  the  sympathy  of 
the  public,  the  directors  piously  de- 
nounced the  profits  of  the  pawnbroker, 
arraigned  his  evil  practices,  and  deli- 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


233 


cately  concluded  by  hinting  that  a  com- 
pany formed  upon  the  most  philanthro- 
pic principles,  and  paying  forty  per  cent., 
■would  soon  be  formed,  and  thus  the  pub- 
lic be  saved  from  any  further  imposition. 
The  philanthropy  element  in  the  scheme 
might  have  been  proclaimed  unavailing- 
ly  for  centuries,  but  forty  per  cent,  was 
irresistible.  The  Duke  of  York  good-na- 
turedly lent  his  name  ;  members  of  Par- 
liament were  bribed  with  shares ;  and 
when  it  was  honestly  said  by  one  that 
"  the  bill  would  never  pass  the  House," 
the  ready  reply  of  the  philanthropic 
schemers  was,  "  Oh !  we  have  so  many  on 
the  ministerial,  and  so  many  on  the  op- 
position side,  and  we  are  of  course  sure 
of  the  saints  !  "  The  shares,  however, 
tumbled  down  to  a  discount ;  both  op- 
position and  ministerial  members  gave 
the  nefarious  scheme  the  go-by,  and  the 
philanthropy  of  the  saints  faded  with 
the  fading  vision  of  "  forty  per  cent." 


Fate  of  a  Clerical  Dealer  in  "  Fancies." 

Some  time  since  an  account  appeared 
in  the  London  journals  of  a  practical 
joke — which,  however j  for  one  of  the 
parties  concerned,  was  no  joke  at  all — 
having  been  played  off  upon  a  parson 
on  the  Stock  Exchange.  It  appears 
that  the  said  reverend  gentleman  in 
holy  orders  had  been  giving  a  series  of 
most  unholy  orders  to  a  variety  of 
stockbrokers,  who  had  thus  been  "  let 
in  "  to  a  serious  amount  by  said  specu- 
lating clergyman.  Having  been  per- 
suaded to  visit  the  "  sanctum  "  of  the 
stock  exchange,  the  parson  was  forth- 
with surrounded,  and  an  unceremoni- 
ous punishment  was  improvised,  with- 
out the  slightest  "  benefit  of  clergy  " 
being  allowed  to  him.  His  coat  was 
covered  with  flour  thrown  from  bags, 
"without  the  remotest  respect  for  his 
cloth,  and  he  was  showered  with  eggs, 
of  which  there  was  an  ample  supply  in 
readiness  to  make — as  was  remarked 
by  an  unhappy  punster  on  the  spot — a 
terrible  eggsample  of  the  defaulting 


dominie.  The  reverend  financier's  white 
choker  was  so  besmeared  with  the  bat- 
ter thus  hurriedly  compounded,  that  he 
was  obliged  to  rush  from  the  stock  ex- 
change to  exchange  his  stock  at  the 
nearest  hosier's.  The  affair,  happening 
as  it  did  on  or  about  "  Shrove  Tues- 
day," caused  some  who  saw  the  parson 
covered  with  eggs  and  flour  to  suppose 
— naturally  enough — that,  while  on 
some  parochial  call,  he  had  unfortu- 
nately fallen  into  a  mass  of  batter  pre- 
pared for  the  manufacture  of  pancakes. 


French.  Nicety  in  Trade  Frauds. 

All  is  false  in  wines  ;  the  color,  the 
strength,  the  flavor,  the  age,  even  the 
name  under  w^hich  they  are  sold. 
There  are  w^ines  which  do  not  contain 
a  drop  of  grape  juice.  Even  science  is 
impotent,  in  many  cases,  to  distinguish 
the  true  from  the  false,  so  complete  is 
the  imitation,  but  it  nevertheless  great- 
ly aids  in  the  detection.  This  was  de- 
veloped in  a  memorable  case  which 
came  before  the  French  courts.  The 
chemist,  after  reporting  all  the  ingre- 
dients of  which  the  wine  was  com- 
posed, observed  that  if  one  of  them 
were  in  less  quantity,  he  would  have 
been  unable  to  distinguish  it  from  the 
natural  wine.  The  prosecuted  wine 
merchant,  who  was  present,  listened 
attentively  to  the  chemist's  report,  and 
at  last  asked  him  wTiich  ingredient  it 
was.  The  chemist  very  unguardedly 
told  him,  and  the  accused  immediately 
answered,  "  I  am  very  much  obliged, 
sir,  and  I  don't  regret  now  my  forty 
hogsheads  of  wine  which  will  be  de- 
stroyed, because  now  I  am  certain  of 
my  business." 


Disposing  of  an  Old  Stock, 

One  Mr.  P.  G.,  a  gentleman  well 
known  to  many  citizens  of  New  Hamp- 
shire as  a  successful  merchant  of  C, 
owed  much  of  his  good  fortune  to  his 
knowledge  of  human  nature,  of  which 


234 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


he  always  endeavored  to  take  advan- 
tage. At  one  time,  he  opened,  mth 
another  person,  a  "  branch  store  "  in  a 
town  in  the  north  part  of  the  State,  and 
which  they  mostly  filled  with  the  un- 
salable goods  from  their  principal  store 
in  C.  These  goods  were  "  as  good  as 
new  "  among  the  rustics,  and  sold  quite 
as  well,  with  the  exception  of  a  large 
lot  of  that  unique  article  of  gentlemen's 
wear  denominated  hogskin  caps. 

G.  generally  kept  himself  at  his 
house  in  C,  though  often  visiting  his 
country  store,  staying  sometimes  a  week 
or  more,  and  attending  the  country 
church — as  a  matter  of  course  being 
looked  at  with  astonishment  by  the  go- 
to-meeting  young  men  of  the  town.  In- 
deed, he  was  honored  by  their  imita- 
tion in  almost  all  their  acts,  dress,  «&c. 
What  Mr.  G.  wore  to  church  of  a  Sun- 
day, gentleman  as  he  was,  was  the  pre- 
vailing fashion  there  until  he  intro- 
duced a  new  style  at  some  subsequent 
visit. 

On  one  of  these  occasions,  G.  asked 
his  partner  about  the  business  prospects 
and  other  matters  in  which  he  was  in- 
terested, and  received  the  reply  that 
things  went  pretty  quick  at  good 
prices. 

"  Keep  those  old  caps  yet.  I  didn't 
make  a  great  bargain  in  buying  them," 
said  G.,  espying  a  large  box  filled  with 
said  caps.  "  Can't  you  get  rid  of  them 
at  any  price  ?  " 

"  Haven't  sold  one  yet ;  people  don't 
like  them,  and  I  have  had  a  great  no- 
tion of  throwing  them  out  of  the  back 
window,  and  getting  rid  of  the  trouble 
of  them.  They  won't  go  here,  I  think." 

G.  looked  at  them  a  moment,  and  ex- 
claimed, "  I  have  it !  You  have  kept 
them  out  of  sight,  I  see  !  Next  Mon- 
day, you  get  them  out  and  brush  them 
up,  and  I'll  send  you  a  score  of  custom- 
ers before  the  week  is  out." 

The  following  Sunday,  G.  appeared 
in  church  with  one  of  these  identical 
caps  tipped  gracefully  on  one  side  of 
his  head,  and  a  splendid  gold  watch- 


chain  dangling  from  his  vest  pocket. 
He  was,  as  usual,  the  observed  of  all 
observers ;  and  it  is  needless  to  say 
that,  a  fortnight  after,  when  in  his  own 
store  in  C,  he  received  an  order  for  two 
dozen  more  of  his  "  imperial "  caps. 


Baxguiningr  for  a  Jar. 

Passing  by  the  shop  of  a  dealer  in 
curiosities  at  Paris,  a  Neapolitan  prince 
observed  a  superb  Japan  jar,  five  and 
one  half  feet  high,  and  very  large.  He 
commenced  bargaining  for  it,  but  the 
tradesman  insisted  on  having  four 
thousand  francs  for  the  article,'  while 
the  prince  was  only  willing  to  give 
three  thousand  francs  ;  "  but,"  said  he, 
"  if  you  had  the  fellow  to  it,  its  value 
would  be  infinitely  greater  to  me." 
"  No  doubt,  Excellenza ;  the  value  of 
the  pair  would  be  fifteen  thousand 
francs." 

A  few  days  elapsed,  and  the  Neapol- 
itan received  a  summons  to  return  to 
his  own  country,  and  he  went  once 
more  to  try  to  obtain  the  jar.  "  I  again 
offer  three  thousand  francs,"  said  he.  "  I 
will  not  take  less  than  four  thousand," 
said  the  tradesman.  "  I  leave  to-mor- 
row." "No  matter;  I  will  keep  my 
jar." 

The  next  day,  as  the  prince  was  su- 
perintending the  packing  up  of  his 
eflFects,  a  waiter  of  the  hotel  said, 
"  Your  excellency  would  no  doubt  be 
glad  to  find  the  fellow  of  the  Japan 
jar  ?  Well,  there  is  one  in  the  faubourg 
St.  Germain."  "  Is  it  possible  ?  "  "  It 
is  quite  certain."  "Beppo,  my  car- 
riage !  "  Arrived  in  the  faubourg,  the 
f)rince  saw  that  the  jar  was  precisely 
the  same  as  the  one  he  had  bargained 
for.  "  Where  did  you  get  it  ? "  he  asked 
the  tradesman  who  showed  it.  "At 
the  sale  of  the  Duchess  de  Montebello. 
There  was  a  pair  of  them,  but  I  was 
outbid  for  the  other."  "  Ah,  yes,  I  un- 
derstand. And  what  do  you  ask?" 
"  Four  thousand  francs."  "  He  does 
not  know,"  thought  the  Neapolitan, 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


235 


"  that  the  other  jar  is  offered  for  sale  in 
another  part  of  Paris  !  If  I  give  him 
four  thousand  for  this,  I  can  buy  the 
other  at  the  same  price,  and  so  have 
for  eight  thousand  francs  what  is  worth 
fifteen  thousand." 

He  bought  the  jar  at  once,  paid  for 
it,  and  had  it  conveyed  to  his  hotel. 
He  then  went  to  the  other  tradesman 
and  asked  for  the  jar.  He  was  told 
that  the  tradesman  was  out,  and  that 
the  jar  had  been  taken  away.  He  re- 
turned the  next  day,  but  could  not  see 
the  dealer ;  but  he  learned  subsequent- 
ly that  the  jar  which  he  had  purchased 
for  four  thousand  francs  was  the  very 
one  he  had  offered  three  thousand  for, 
and  that  the  waiter  at  the  hotel  had  re- 
ceived ten  francs  to  inform  the  prince 
of  the  existence  of  the  jar  in  the  fau- 
bourg St.  Germain — a  cool  thousand 
being,  by  this  trick,  put  int6  the  pock- 
et of  the  tradesman. 


Three  Millionnaires  Quarrelling:  about 
One  Farthing-. 

Elwes,  the  millionnaire  banker  and 
miser,  notwithstanding  his  dislike  of 
society,  was  a  member  of  a  club  which 
occasionally  met  at  his  own  village, 
and  to  which  also  belonged  two  other 
wealthy  and  miserly  baronets,  besides 
himself,  viz.,  Sir  Cord  well  Firebras  and 
Sir  John  Bamardiston.  With  these 
three,  though  all  so  rich,  the  reckoning 
was  always  a  subject  of  minute  investi- 
gation before  they  separated.  One  day, 
when  they  were  at  loggerheads  in  set- 
tling some  trifling  item,  a  wag,  who 
was  likewise  a  member  of  the  club, 
called  out  to  a  friend  that  was  passing, 
"  For  heaven's  sake,  step  up  stairs,  and 
assist  the  poor !  Here  are  three  mil- 
lionnaire baronets  chafing  and  quarrel- 
ling about  one  farthing  !  " 


Price  of  Extortion  and  Revenge. 

In  one  of  our  cities  there  occurred, 
some  years  ago,  the  following  illustra- 
tion of  what  sometimes  comes  from  ex- 


tortion. Mr.  A.,  a  wealthy  merchant, 
built  a  very  expensive  warehouse  on 
his  lot,  and  after  it  was  completed,  B., 
his  next  neighbor,  discovered  that  it 
was  a  couple  or  three  inches  on  his  lot. 
A  surveyor  was  sent  for,  and  A.  dis- 
covered his  mistake,  and  freely  offered 
B.  a  large  sum  if  he  would  permit  it 
to  remain.  B.  knew  that  he  had  his 
wealthy  neighbor  in  his  power,  there- 
fore he  seemed  unwilling  to  sell  the 
narrow  gore  for  twenty  times  the  value 
of  the  land.  He  only  waited  for  a  larger 
sum  to  be  offered,  believing  that  before 
A,  would  pull  down  his  warehouse,  he 
would  pay  half  its  value.  But  A.,  find- 
ing that  B.  was  determined  to  be  satis- 
fied with  nothing  but  extortion,  began 
to  pull  down  his  noble  building.  T?ien 
A.  might  have  settled  on  his  own  terms, 
but  he  had  no  offer  to  make.  The  last 
foundation  stone  was  removed. 

But  in  order  to  revenge  himself,  A. 
ordered  his  builder  to  run  up  the  new 
edifice  a  couple  of  inches  within  his  own 
line,  and  it  was  done :  and  the  noble 
building  was  again  completed.  A 
short  time  afterward,  B.  commenced 
the  erection  of  his  splendid  warehouse, 
directly  against  his  neighbor's,  and,  of 
course,  two  inches  over  on  the  lot  of 

A.  The  trap  Jiaid  had  succeeded  as 
was  expected ;  and  after  B.'s  building 
was  completed,  and  his  friends  were 
congratulating  him  on  his  splendid 
warehouse,   A.   steps  up   and  informs 

B.  that  his  structure  encroaches  on 
his  land  !  B.  laughs  at  the  thought, 
for  amid  the  rubbish  and  deep  founda- 
tions, a  couple  of  inches  cannot  be 
detected  by  the  naked  eye.  A  sur- 
veyor was  sent  for,  and  conceive  the 
blank  astonishment  that  filled  the  mind 
of  B.,  when  he  found  himself  at  the 
mercy  of  one  whom  he  had  so  deeply 
wronged.  This  was  the  moment  for  A. 
to  show  to  the  sordid  B.  what  a  mag- 
nanimous heart  could  do.  But,  no  !  A. 
was  deterniined  upon  revenge,  and  that 
neighbor  can  name  no  sum  at  which 
he  would  even  look.    He  offered  him 


236 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


half  tlie  cost  of  Ms  magnificent  ware- 
house, if  he  would  suffer  him  to  let  it 
stand.  No,  he  must  pull  it  down  ;  and 
down  it  came  to  the  very  foundations. 
Such  cases  are  rare  indeed  among  mer- 
chants. 


Knowinsr  his  Customer. 

When  George  the  Second  was  re- 
turning from  his  German  dominions, 
in  his  way  between  the  Brill  and  Hel- 
voetsluis,  he  was  obliged  to  stay  at  an 
obscure  public  house  on  the  road, 
while  some  of  his  servants  went  for- 
ward to  obtain  another  carriage,  that 
in  which  he  had  travelled  having  bro- 
ken down.  The  king  ordered  refresh- 
ment, but  all  he  could  get  was  a  pot 
of  coffee  for  himself  and  Lord  Delav/ar, 
and  four  bottles  of  gin  made  into  punch, 
for  his  footmen ;  however,  when  the 
bill  was  called  for,  the  conscientious 
Dutchman,  knowing  his  customer,  pre- 
sented it  as  follows : 

"To  refreshments  for  his  Sacred 
Majesty,  King  George  the  Second,  and 
his  household,  £9." 

Lord  Delawar  was  so  provoked  at 
this  imposition,  that  the  king  overheard 
his  altercation  with  the  landlord,  and 
demanded  the  cause  of  it.  His  lord- 
ship immediately  told  him;  when  his 
majesty  good-humoredly  replied  :  "  My 
lord,  the  fellow  is  a  great  knave,  but 
pay  him.  Kings  seldom  pass  this 
way." 

A  similar  anecdote  is  related  of  an- 
other monarch,  who,  passing  through  a 
town  in  Holland,  was  charged  at  the  rate 
of  thirty  dollars  for  two  eggs.  On  this, 
he  said,  "  that  eggs  were  surely  scarce 
in  that  town."  "  No,  your  majesty," 
replied  the  landlord,  "  but  kings  are." 


"Old Guy"  Putting  Out  the  Light;  or, 
Millionnaire  Misers  Rating-  each 
other's  Frugality. 

Guy,  the  broker  and  miser,  was  one 
evening  seated  in  his  little  back  room, 


meditating  over  a  handfal  of  half-light- 
ed embers,  confined  within  the  narrow 
precincts  of  a  brick  stove  ;  a  farthing 
candle  was  on  the  table  at  his  side,  but 
it  was  not  lit,  and  the  fire  afforded  no 
light  to  dissipate  the  gloom.  He  sat 
there  alone,  planning  some  new  spec- 
ulation— congratulating  himself  on  sav- 
ing a  pennyworth  of  fuel,  or  else  per- 
chance cogitating  as  to  how  he  could 
bestow  some  thousand  guineas  in 
charity. 

His  thoughts,  whether  on  subjects 
small  or  great,  were  inteiTupted  by  the 
announcement  of  a  visitor — a  shabby, 
meagre,  miserable-looking  man;  but 
compliments  were  exchanged  and  the 
guest  was  invited  to  take  a  seat.  Guy 
immediately  lighted  his  farthing  can- 
dle and  desired  to  know  the  object 
of  the  gentleman's  call.  The  visitor 
was  no  other  than  the  celebrated  Hop- 
kins, whose  fortune  was  about  a  million 
and  a  half,  and  who,  on  account  of  his 
avarice  and  rapacity,  was  known  as 
Vulture  Hopkins. 

"  I  have  been  told,"  said  Hopkins, 
as  he  entered  the  presence  of  Guy, 
"that  you  are  better  versed  in  the 
prudent  and  necessary  art  of  saving, 
than  any  man  now  living.  I  now  wait 
upon  you  simply  for  a  lesson  in  fru- 
gality, an  art  in  which  I  used  to  think 
I  excelled,  but  I  am  told  by  all  who 
know  you  that  you  are  greatly  my 
superior." 

"  If  that  is  all  you  are  come  about," 
said  Guy,  "  why  then  we  can  talk  the 
matter  over  in  the  dark;"  so  saying, 
he  with  great  deliberation  put  the  ex- 
tinguisher on  his  newly  lighted  far- 
thing candle.  Struck  with  this  most 
ready  instance  of  practical  economy, 
Hopkins— having  no  need  of  any  mere 
verlal  lessons — at  once  acknowledged 
the  superior  ability  of  his  host,  and 
thoughtfully  took  his  leave,   imbued 


with    profound    respect    for 
adept  in  the  art  of  saving. 


such 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


237 


Discounting:  a  Leg-acy. 

Taylor,  at  one  time  one  of  the  most 
eminent  stock  jobbers  in  London,  and 
who  died  worth  half  a  million  dollars 
in  cash,  was  so  penurious  that  he  scarce- 
ly allowed  himself  the  common  necessa- 
ries of  this  life  ;  and  this  spirit  he  car- 
ried out  as  well  in  his  financial  and 
business  dealings.  A  few  days  before 
his  decease,  the  officers  of  the  parish 
in  which  he  resided,  waited  upon  him 
at  his  request ;  they  found  the  old  man 
on  a  wretched  bed  in  a  garret,  making 
his  dinner  on  a  thin  slice  of  bacon  and 
a  potato,  of  which  he  asked  them  to 
partake.  One  of  them  accepted  the 
offer ;  upon  this,  the  miser  desired  his 
cook  to  broil  him  another — but,  find- 
ing the  larder  was  totally  empty,  Tay- 
lor harshly  rebuked  her  for  not  having 
it  well  supplied  with  a  quarter  of  a 
pound,  to  cut  out  in  slices  whenever  it 
was  wanted  for  company.  He  then  in- 
formed the  overseers  of  the  poor,  that  he 
had  left  by  his  will,  one  thousand  pounds 
sterling  for  their  relief,  and  eagerly  in- 
quired if  they  would  not  allow  him  dis- 
count  for  prompt  payment :  this  being 
assented  to,  apparently  much  delighted, 
he  immediately  gave  them  a  check  for 
nine  hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  and 
soon  after  breathed  his  last. 


M.  Beautte  and  the  0£B.cial  Smugrgrler. 

It  is  difficult  to  imagine  a  collection 
more  rich  in  those  thousand  wonders 
which  tempt  the  female  heart,  than  is 
seen  at  Beautte's,  who  stands  at  the 
head  of  the  fashionable  jewellers  in 
Geneva  ;  it  is  almost  enough  to  drive  a 
Parisian  mad,  or  to  make  Cleopatra 
palpitate  with  longing  in  her  grave. 

This  jewelry  is  liable  to  a  duty  on 
entering  France ;  but,  for  a  premium 
of  five  per  cent.,  M.  Beautte  under- 
takes to  smuggle  it.  The  bargain  be- 
tween the  buyer  and  seller  is  publicly 
made  on  this  condition,  as  if  there 
were  no  custom-house  officers  in  the  , 


world — M.  Beautte  possessing  won- 
derful address  in  setting  them  at  fault, 
and  thus  securing  a  vast  amount  of 
profitable  trade. 

When  the  Count  de  Saint  Crieg  was 
director-general  of  the  customs,  he 
heard  of  this  skill,  by  which  the  vigil- 
ance of  his  officers  was  thwarted,  and, 
so  frequently  was  it  mentioned,  that 
he  resolved  to  assure  himself  whether 
all  was  true  that  was  said  of  it.  He 
subsequently  went  to  Geneva,  presented 
himself  in  person  at  M.  Beautte's  shop, 
and  purchased  thirty  thousand  francs' 
worth  of  jewelry,  on  condition  that  it 
should  be  delivered,  without  paying  the 
import  duty,  at  his  residence  in  Paris. 
M.  Beautte  agreed  to  the  condition  like 
a  man  accustomed  to  bargains  of 
the  kind,  and  merely  presented  to  the 
purchaser  a  sort  of  promissory  note,  by 
which  he  undertook  to  pay  the  usual 
five  per  cent.,  besides  the  thirty  thou- 
sand francs  purchase  money.  The  latter 
smiled ;  took  up  a  pen,  signed  "  De 
Saint  Crieg,  director-general  of  the 
French  customs,"  and  handed  back  the 
paper  to  Beautte,  who  looked  at  the 
signature,  and  contented  himself  with 
quietly  answering,  with  a  bend  of  the 
head,  "  M.  le  directeur,  the  article  which 
you  have  done  me  the  honor  of  buying, 
will  arrive  at  Paris  as  soon  as  your- 
self." 

M.  de  Saint  Crieg,  whose  interest 
was  now  excited  to  the  highest  pitch, 
scarcely  gave  himself  time  to  dine,  sent 
to  the  post  for  horses,  and  set  out  an 
hour  afier  the  bargain  had  been  con- 
cluded. M.  de  Saint  Crieg  made  him- 
self known  to  the  officers  who  came  to 
examine  his  carriage,  told  the  principal 
one  what  had  happened  him,  enjoined 
the  most  active  surveillance  on  the 
whole  line,  and  promised  a  reward  of 
fifty  louis  to  the  officer  who  should 
succeed  in  seizing  the  prohibited  jew- 
elry. 

Not  a  custom-house  officer  slept  dur- 
ing  three  days.  In  the  mean  while,  M. 
de  Saint  Crieg  arrived  at  Paris,  alight- 


238 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


ed  at  his  residence,  kissed  his  wife  and 
children,  and  went  to  his  room  to  take 
oflf  his  travelling  costume.  The  first 
thing  he  perceived  on  the  chimney 
piece  was  an  elegant  box,  with  the 
shape  of  which  he  was  acquainted. 
He  approached  it,  and  read  on  the 
silver  plate  which  ornamented  the 
top,  "The  Count  de  Saint  Crieg, 
Director-General  of  the  Customs." 
He  opened  it,  and  found  the  jewelry 
he  had  purchased  at  Geneva  ! 

Beautte  had  made  an  arrangement 
with  one  of  the  waiters  at  the  inn, 
who,  while  assisting  M.  de  Saint  Crieg's 
servants  to  pack  their  master's  luggage, 
had  slipped  the  prohibited  box  among 
it.  On  his  arriving  at  Paris,  his  valet, 
noticing  the  elegance  of  the  case,  and 
the  inscription  engraved  upon  it,  had 
hastened  to  place  it  upon  his  master's 
chimney  piece.  Thus  the  director-gen- 
eral of  the  customs  was  the  first  smug- 
gler in  the  kingdom. 


drawer,  and  he  was  taken,  as  Prince 
Hal  says,  *'  in  the  manner." 


llode  of  Protecting:  the  Money  Drawer. 

A  YOUNG  apprentice  lad  was  very 
ingeniously  detected  in  stealing  money 
from  the  drawer  of  Mr.  Throop's  store. 
He  had  for  some  months  made  it  a 
practice  to  call  at  the  store  when  there 
was  no  one  in  excepting  the  owner  or 
one  of  his  clerks.  He  would  generally 
then  call  for  wine,  or  some  trifling  arti- 
cle kept  in  the  store  cellar,  and,  in 
their  absence  to  procure  it,  it  was  sus- 
pected that  he  made  somewhat  too 
free  with  the  money  drawer.  One  day, 
Mr.  Throop  fastened  a  strong  cord  to 
the  back  of  the  drawer,  and  let  one 
end  pass  through  a  small  hole  into  the 
cellar.  It  was  but  a  short  time  before 
the  boy  came  in,  and  observing  no  one 
but  the  proprietor  about  the  store, 
called  for  some  wine.  On  entering  the 
cellar,  the  owner  perceived  the  cord  to 
move,  caught  hold  of  it,  and,  with  a 
sudden  and  violent  jerk,  made  it  fast. 
He  then  ran  up  stairs,  and  found  the 
young  rogue  with  his  hand  i^t  in  the 


"  Done  for  "  Twice. 

A  FAT,  burly  English  landlord  was 
sitting  one  afternoon  at  the  door  of  his 
inn,  when  a  person  entered  the  house, 
and  after  complimenting  its  cleanliness 
and  snug  appearance,  ordered  a  good 
dinner  and  a  bottle  of  wine.  The  din- 
ner, when  cooked,  was  laid  in  an  upper 
apartment,  looking  out  upon  a  pleasant 
garden ;  and  after  it  had  been  thorough- 
ly '  discussed,'  and  the  w^ine  sipped 
toothsomely  to  the  bottom  of  the  bot- 
tle, the  satisfied  guest  sent  for  his  host, 
and,  when  he  had  entered  the  room, 
thus  addressed  him  :  "  You  have  a  fine 
inn  here,  landlord — a  very  fine  inn; 
everything  is  particularly  nice — in  fact, 
what  I  call  comfortable."  The  land- 
lord expressed  his  gratification. 

"  I  shall  have  great  pleasure,"  con- 
tinued the  guest,  without  noticing  the 
interruption,  "in  recommending  your 
house  to  my  friends  in  town.  Ahem  ! 
There  remains  only  one  thing  more  to 
mention,  landlord ;  and  as  the  subject 
is  one  which  I  have  reason  to  think 
will  be  as  unpleasant  to  you  as  to  my- 
self, I  will  express  it  in  a  few  words : 
I  have  not,  at  this  moment,  any  money  ; 
but  I  will  be  here  again  in — "  "iVb 
money  !  "  exclaimed  the  landlord,  in  a 
voice  husky  with  anger — "  no  money  ! ! 
Then  why  did  you  come  to  the  '  Hen 
and  Chickens,'  and  run  up  a  bill  that 
you  can't  pay  ?  Get  out  of  my  house 
this  instant !  Go  !  " 

"  I  expected  this,"  replied  the  guest, 
rising ;  "  I  anticipated  this  treatment  ; 
nor  can  I  much  blame  you,  landlord, 
to  tell  the  truth,  for  you  don't  hnow 
me.  Because  you  sometimes  meet 
with  deception,  you  think  /  am  de- 
ceiving you ;  but  I  pledge  you  my 
honor  that  a  fortnight  from  to-day  I 
will  be  with  you  again,  and  you  will 
confess  yourself  ashamed  of  your  sus- 
picions."   "  Bah  !  you're  a  swindler  I " 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


239 


ejaculated  Boniface  ;  "  this  will  be  the 
last  of  you — take  that  f  "  and  with  a 
vigorous  coup  de  pied,  was  "  sped  the 
parting  guest."  "  You  will  live  to 
regret  this,  landlord,  I  am  sure ;  but 
I  do  not  blame  you,  for  you  are  igno- 
rant of  my  character,"  was  the  meek 
reply  to  this  gross  indignity. 

Just  two  weeks  from  that  day,  this 
same  ill-used  gentleman  (with  a  travel- 
ling friend)  was,  with  many  apologies 
and  protestations,  shown  into  the  best 
room  of  the  celebrated  "  Hen  and  Chick- 
ens "  inn.  The  landlord's  profuse  apol- 
ogies were  accepted  ;  he  was  forgiven  ; 
and  even  invited  to  dine  with  the  two 
friends  upon  the  best  dinner,  flanked 
by  the  very  choicest  wines  which  his 
house  afforded.  When  all  was  finished, 
and  while  the  landlord,  who  had  be- 
come exceedingly  mellow,  was  protest- 
ing that  he  should  never  be  so  sus- 
picious of  a  "real  gentleman"  again 
(referring,  of  course,  to  the  little  scene 
at  the  previous  visit),  he  was  inter- 
rupted by  his  first  guest  with — "  But, 
landlord,  there  is  one  thing  which  we 
ought,  in  simple  justice  to  you,  to  men- 
tion. J  do  not  happen  to  have,  at  this, 
moment,  a  single  penny ;  and,  I  grieve 
to  say,  that  my  companion,  who  is  a 
good  man,  but,  in  a  mere  worldly  point 
of  view,  very  poor,  is  not  a  whit  better 
off.  Under  these  unpleasant  circum- 
stances, it  becomes,  as  it  were,  a  neces- 
sity, to  bid  you  a  very  good  evening." 
It  would  be  difficult  to  say  whether  the 
phiz  of  the  amazed  landlord  was  black 
or  blue  at  this  point.  But,  ejaculating, 
"  Done  twice !  the  Hen  and  Chickens 
done  twice !— and  both  times  exactly 
alike,"  he  went  down  to  set  the  swindle 
to  the  account  of  "  Profit  and  Loss." 


liookingr  Glass  for  Wall  Street. 

The  aptness  of  Mr.  Kimball's  de- 
scription of  a  certain  class  of  nervous, 
anxious  people,  who  have  to  raise 
money  from  day  to  day,  and  whose 
business  locality  is  Wall  street,  will  be 


appreciated  by  all  who  have  seen  a 
certain  proverbial  animal  or  his  tusks. 
He  says  :  It  seems  miraculous  how  this 
class  can  endure  such  a  never-ending 
state  of  bondage.  Some  of  these  are 
fashionable,  their  connections  are  of 
the  first  distinction,  their  associations 
most  desirable.  They  keep  up  hand- 
some establishments ;  they  earn  by 
their  pursuits  $4,000  a  year,  and  spend 
$5,000.  They  always  anticipate  what 
is  due  them,  and  are  always  harassed  for 
ready  money.  They  are  honorable  fel- 
lows, and  would  not  plead  usury  under 
circumstances  the  most  aggravating. 
They  make  notes,  and  get  a  broker  to 
sell  them.  This  broker,  understanding 
their  antecedents,  and  whom  they 
are  most  intimate  with,  goes  proba- 
bly to  some  rich  friend  of  the  partic- 
ular "party"  wanting  a  loan,  who 
is  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the 
"  case,"  and  who  knows  that  the  notes 
will  be  paid  when  due,  although  at 
the  sacrifice  of  putting  a  new  one  on 
the  market,  and  getting  it  shaved  some- 
where. So  he  cashes  it  at  a  fearful 
rate,  puts  the  broker  under  an  oath  of 
secrecy  not  to  reveal  where  he  got  the 
money,  which  oath  it  is  for  the  broker's 
interest  to  keep,  and  our  fashionable 
acquaintance  is  relieved.  He  hurries 
home  in  time  for  the  opera  or  a  dinner 
out,  and,  meeting  several  duns  in  the 
hall,  he  pays  them  off,  and  sets  about 
his  evening's  enjoyment. 

There  are  others  who,  having  an 
excellent  Government  contract,  either 
"  General,"  "  State,"  or  "  Corporation," 
need  funds  to  help  them  through 
with  it.  They  can  afford  to  pay  well, 
and  they  do  pay  well  for  cash  accom- 
modations. In  fact,  the  street  is  full 
of  persons  alout  to  realize,  who  want 
money  in  advance  of  the  period,  and 
who  are  ready  to  pay  a  large  bonus  for 
it.  The  result  is,  they  do  all  the  work, 
and  the  money  lender  gets  nearly  all 
the  profits.  Sometimes  this  latter  per- 
sonage mistakes  his  investment  and 
makes  a  loss.    But  he  can  well  afford 


240 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


it.      And  he  never  quarrels  "with  the 
man  who  has  been  so  unfortunate  as^ 
to  "  let  hun  in." 


Hangins:  a  Broker,  One  Hundred  Years 
Ag-o. 

Just  one  hundred  years  ago,  namely, 
in  1763,  a  London  broker,  named  John 
Rice,  was  hung  for  malpractice  in  busi- 
ness. A  female  customer  of  Rice,  and 
for  whom  Rice  was  in  the  habit  of 
receiving  stock  dividends,  was,  under 
false  representations,  induced  to  grant 
a  power  to  sell,  as  well  as  to  receive  the 
interest.  The  broker  sold  all  his  pa- 
tron's stock,  employed  the  proceeds 
to  meet  his  losses,  and  kept  up  the 
deception  by  sending  her  the  proceeds 
as  usual.  The  lady,  moved  by  doubt, 
or  by  some  other  impulse,  in  course  of 
time  intimated  to  Rice  her  intention 
of  visiting  the  city.  Unable  to  re- 
store the  principal.  Rice  took  the  alarm, 
and  fled,  leaving  with  his  wife  five 
thousand  pounds  of  the  misappropri- 
ated property.  Ignorant  of  his  deeds, 
and  anxious  to  join  her  husband,  she 
also  embarked  for  Holland.  The  weath- 
er was  rough ;  the  vessel  was  driven 
back ;  and  the  person  sent  in  search  of 
the  husband  apprehended  the  wife,  who 
yielded  the  money  in  her  possession, 
leaving  herself  entirely  destitute.  The 
search  continued  for  Rice,  and  being  at 
last  found,  he  was  made  to  sufier  the 
stringent  penalty  of  the  law. 


Quaker  Broker  and  the  Stolen 
Doubloons. 

The  Quakers  were  once,  more  than 
at  present,  a  power  in  the  commer- 
cial world  in  New  York.  They  were 
an  honest,  industrious,  and  extremely 
shrewd  race  of  merchants,  not  devoid 
of  humor  and  sarcasm,  and,  though 
religious  non-combatants,  not  in  the 
least  disposed  to  allow  themselves  to 
be  the  victims  of  roguery. 

One  of  this  fraternity — a  dealer  in 
specie  and  exchange,  and  a  large  pur- 
chaser of  gold  coin — one  day  left  his 


counting  house  in  haste,  and  crossed 
the  street  to  accost  a  friend.  He  had 
just  purchased  a  quantity  of  doub- 
loons, which  he  had  omitted  to  lock 
up  in  his  safe.  The  office  was  empty. 
When  the  old  Quaker  returned,  the 
room  w^as  in  the  same  condition — no 
one  was  in  it — but  one  of  the  bags  of 
doubloons  was  missing.  The  Quaker 
now  locked  up  the  others,  and  opened 
not  his  mouth  on  the  subject  of  the 
loss.  Days  passed,  and  weeks,  but  no 
reward  was  offered,  no  policemen  were 
set  on  the  track  of  the  thief — the  old 
Quaker  stood  his  loss  like  a  statue. 
Two  or  three  months  afterward,  his 
neighbor,  a  small  mercantile  man,  hap- 
pened to  be  in  his  counting  room, 
conversing  on  the  topics  of  the  day. 
Suddenly  turning  to  the  Quaker,  he 
inquired  : 

"  By  the  way,  Mr. ,  did  you  ever 

hear  anything  of  the  bag  of  doubloons 
you  lost  ? " 

Up  started  the  old  Quaker  in  an 
instant. 

"  Thee'rs  the  thief,  John  !  thee're  the 
thief—/  never  told  any  one  I  lost  the 
lag!'' 

Needless  to  say,  the  doubloons  were 
restored,  and  the  clumsy  rogue  par- 
doned, with  a  caution  to  go  and  sin 
no  more. 


liouis  the  Fifteenth's  Opinion  of  his 
Own  Paper. 

The  fact  of  Louis  the  Fifteenth's  be- 
ing a  stock  jobber  was  a  somewhat  un- 
fortunate one  for  those  who  fell  into 
his  financial  clutches.  He  operated 
principally,  in  his  exchange  and  loan 
transactions,  through  M.  Bertin,  his 
banker.  The  latter  did  his  master's 
stockjobbing  very  profitably,  too,  by 
buying,  on  the  spot,  good  paper  at  six 
and  seven  per  cent.,  according  to  the 
scarcity  of  money.  One  day  the  bank- 
er proposed  to  Louis  the  Fifteenth  an 
operation  of  several  millions. 

"  Sire,"  said  M.  Bertin  to  the  royal 
stock  jobber, "  the  royal  bills  lose  a  great 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


241 


deal  in  the  place;  their  discount  is 
now  considerable ;  it  is  the  very  mo- 
ment to  buy  several  millions.  I  am 
certain  they  will  rise,  and  that  there 
must  follow  a  considerable  profit  to 
some  one  in  a  short  time." 

"  That  paper,"  replied  the  "  prudent " 
monarch,  "  is  not  to  be  depended  upon ; 
the  risk  is  too  great !  " 

It  was  his  oicn  paper  of  w^hich  he  was 
talking  ! 

Consequence  of  a  Simple  Mercantile 
Speculation. 

AcconDiNG  to  a  French  authority, 
the  war  between  England  and  France 
in  1777  was  tlie  consequence  of  a  simple 
mercantile  speculation.  Several  of  our 
ministers  (says  a  writer  in  high  posi- 
tion at  that  period)  have  made  among 
themselves  an  act  of  copartnership,  in 
the  commerce  of  America.  The  fiirst 
expeditions  proved  very  profitable ;  but 
as  they  have  a  considerable  outstanding 
fund^  they  will  not  dissolve  their  part- 
nership before  they  are  reimbursed  for 
their  advances  and  receive  the  profits 
which  are  to  arise,  according  to  the  cal- 
culations they  have  made.  Peace  would 
overturn  all  their  speculations,  and  ruin 
the  lenders  of  the  various  funds.  The 
expenses,  etc.,  of  the  "  establishment  " 
amount  to  an  enormous  sum.  First  of 
all  must  be  paid  their  directors ;  their 
bookkeepers  ;  their  under  clerks ; — then 
follow  the  mistresses  of  the  ministers, 
their  sons  or  daughters,  brothers,  cous- 
ins, and  even  their  grandchildren; — 
then  those  who  lend  their  name  to  this 
speculation ;  courtiers  and  protectors. 
When  this  world  of  dependants  is  paid, 
ministers  are  to  personally  gain,  not- 
withstanding all,  cent,  per  cent.  Then 
calculate  the  inferior  profits  which 
must  be  made  before  the  net  balance. 
Several  of  the  ministers'  proteges,  who 
were  known  to  have  had  at  first  only  a 
salary  of  six  thousand  livres,  afterward 
enjoyed,  by  these  commercial  operations 
priced  with  blood,  an  income  of  one 
hundred  thousand,  and  became  lords  of 
16 


two  or  three  manors.  One  of  the  chief 
clerks  of  a  French  mercantile  house  was 
heard  to  remark,  in  November,  1777 : 
If  peace  took  place  at  this  moment,  my 
principal  would  be  ruined,  and  I  too. 
We  have  all  our  fortune  in  America, 
and  we  wait  for  it  with  impatience. 
This  is  the  reason  for  which  the  king 
has  not  yet  declared  for  the  Americans; 
he  will  only  do  this  tclien  the  ships  we 
expect  are  safely  ai^ived. 


-^7-     I 

City  Merchant  Securingr  a  Customer. 

An  eager  merchant  in  New  York, 
having  heard  of  the  arrival  of  a  coun- 
try trader  who  was  known  to  be  a  large 
purchaser  and  of  unquestionable  credit, 
was  resolved  to  get  him  to  visit  his  es- 
tablishment— and,  once  there,  he  felt 
sure  that  he  could  secure  him  as  a  cus- 
tomer. He  accordingly  sent  out  one  of 
his  drummers,  of  whom  he  had  a  large 
number,  adapted  to  every  taste  and 
disposition.  The  one  sent,  however, 
returned  without  success.  Number  two 
was  despatched,  and  with  no  better  re- 
sult ;  and  again,  number  three,  and  so 
on,  until  all  had  gone  and  come  back 
without  their  man.  The  merchant  now 
determined  to  go  himself;  and,  finding 
that  brandy  and  water  and  free  tickets 
to  the  theatre  were  of  no  avail,  for  the 
country  trader  did  not  take  the  one  nor 
go  to  the  other,  and  would  not  be  per- 
suaded by  any  such  inducements,  he 
was  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  a  ruse. 
It  was  simple  enough,  but  it  proved 
effectual.  On  the  merchant  taking  his 
leave,  after  a  pleasant  interview,  he 
took  care  to  commit  the  "  mistake  "  of 
taking  the  trader's  hat  instead  of  his 
own.  Next  morning,  as  was  expected, 
the  merchant  received  a  prompt  visit 
at  his  store,  from  the  country  trader, 
who  came  to  look  up  the  hat  which 
had  thus,  as  he  supposed,  been  hur- 
riedly exchanged.  This  was,  of  course, 
all  that  was  wanted.  The  visit  was  se- 
cured, and  a  good  bill  was  the  result. 


242 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Tradesmen's  Ticketing-  System. 

The  tendency  of  tradesmen  to  speak 
"  by  the  card "  is  made  manifest  by 
the  enormous  extent  to  which  goods 
are  now-a-days  ticketed.  At  one  es- 
tablishment articles  are  being  "  given 
away,"  while  at  the  next  door  the  pro- 
prietors are  undergoing  the  daily  tor- 
ment of  an  "  alarming  sacrifice."  One 
would  imagine  that  self-immolation 
was  a  popular  pastime  with  the  trades- 
men in  our  cities..  Innumerable  win- 
dows announce  the  determination  of 
the  proprietor  "  to  sell  considerably 
under  cost ; "  from  which  it  would 
seem  that  keeping  a  shop  is  a  piece  of 
disinterestedness,  by  which  one  man  de- 
termines to  victimize  himself — and  oc- 
casionally a  few  creditors — for  the  ben- 
efit of  the  public  in  general.  These 
sacrifices,  however,  do  not  seem  to  be 
wholly  without  their  reward,  for, 
strange  to  say,  the  tradesmen  who  re- 
sort to  them  very  frequently  prosper, 
in  spite  of  their  recklessness  of  their 
own  private  interests.  Thus,  while  the 
tickets  in  the  windows  bespeak  a  "  ru- 
inous reduction,''  the  premises  them- 
selves display,  from  day  to  day,  "a 
splendid  enlargement,"  and  w^hen  "  sac- 
rifices "  are  to  be  performed,  the  temples 
are  often  decorated  in  a  style  of  gorge- 
ous magnificence.  That  sacrifices  are 
made,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  but  it  is 
another  question  who  are  the  victims. 
In  some  houses  it  is  in  contemplation 
to  keep  a  bankrupt  permanently  on  the 
premises,  to  professionally  preside  at  a 
counter  set  apart  for  giving  things  away 
and  going  to  ruin. 


Economical  Hardware  Merchant. 

A  FEW  years  since,  a  snug  hardware 
merchant,  who  had  made  his  fortune  in 
the  city  of  New  York,  determined  to 
sell  off  his  stock  and  retire.  His  goods 
were  soon  disposed  of,  and  the  shop 
empty.  In  sweeping  out  the  store  one 
day,  however,  he  found  in  the  crevices 


and  corners  a  few  stray  shot — about 
twenty — of  all  sizes.  These  he  gathered 
up  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  and  stood 
for  some  seconds  gazing  at  them ;  at 
length,  seizing  his  hat,  he  went  into  an 
adjoi-ning  liquor  store,  where  they  also 
sold  shot,  and  thus  addressed  the  pro- 
prietor :  "  In  cleaning  my  store,  I  found 
a  few  shot — they  are  of  no  use  to  me, 
but  to  you  they  are  worth  something ; 
I  don't  value  them  very  highly,  but 
perhaps  (here  he  niggardly  lowered  his 
voice)  you  would  give  me  half  a  glass 
of  leer  for  them." 


Unparalleled  Parsimony  and  Benevo- 
lence of  a  Millionnaire. 

When,  on  a  certain  occasion,  a  pub- 
lic hospital  was  to  be  built  in  London, 
many  benevolent  individuals  volun- 
teered to  solicit  contributions  by  call- 
ing upon  the  inhabitants.  Two  or 
three  gentlemen  went  to  a  small  house 
in  an  impoverished  neighborhood — for 
the  pence  of  the  poor  were  solicited  as 
well  as  the  pounds  of  the  rich.  The 
door  was  partially  open,  and  as  they 
drew  nigh,  they  overheard  an  old  man 
giving  a  female  servant  a  thorough 
scolding  for  having  thrown  away  a 
match,  only  one  end  of  which  had  been 
used.  Although  so  trivial  a  matter,  the 
master  appeared  to  be  greatly  enraged, 
and  the  collectors  remained  some  time . 
outside  the  door,  before  the  old  man 
had  finished  his  angry  lecture,  and 
could  hear  a  knock  from  the  outside. 
When  the  tones  of  his  voice  were  some- 
what subdued,  they  entered,  and,  pre- 
senting themselves  to  this  strict  observ- 
er of  frugality  and  saving,  explained 
the  object  of  their  application;  but 
they  did  not  anticipate  much  success. 

The  millionnaire  miser,  however,  for 
such  he  was  reputed  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, no  sooner  understood  their  ob- 
ject, than  he  opened  a  closet,  and 
bringing  forth  a  well-filled  bag,  count- 
ed therefrom  four  hundred  guineas, 
which  he  presented  to  the  astonished 
applicants.    They  expressed  their  sur- 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


243 


prise  and  thankfulness,  and  could  not 
refrain  from  telling  the  old  gentleman 
that  they  had  overheard  his  difficulty 
■with  his  domestic,  and  how  little  they 
expected,  in  consequence,  to  have  met 
with  such  munificence  from  him. 

"  Gentlemen,"  replied  the  old  man, 
"your  surprise  is  occasioned  by  my 
care  of  a  thing  of  such  little  conse- 
quence ;  but  I  keep  my  house  and  save 
my  money  in  my  own  way ;  my  parsi- 
mony enables  me  to  bestow  more  liber- 
ally on  charity.  With  regard  to  benev- 
olent donations,  you  may  always  expect 
most  from  prudent  people  who  keep 
their  own  accounts,  and  w^ho  pay  atten- 
tion to  trifles." 

CollocLuy  between  a  Storekeeper  and 
his  Customer. 

Storekeeper  :  "  That's  a  bad  fifty- 
cent  piece.  I  can't  take  it.  It  is  only 
lead  silvered  over." 

"  Well,"  replies  the  customer,  "  ad- 
mitting such  to  be  the  fact,  I  should 
say  that  the  ingenuity  displayed  in  the 
deception  might  well  induce  you  to  ac- 
cept it.  Admire,  sir,  the  devotion  of 
the  artist  to  the  divine  idea  of  Liber- 
ty, the  idol  of  us  all !  He,  having 
wrought  her  effigy  in  humble  lead,  in 
order  to  make  it  worthier  of  that  glori- 
ous impression,  resorts  to  the  harmless 
expedient  of  silvering  it  over !  And 
shall  we  harshly  repudiate  his  patriotic 
instincts — deny  his  work  the  paltry 
value  of  fifty  cents  ?  Oh,  no^  sir !  you'll 
take  it ;  I  know  you  will !  " 

"  Enough  said  : "  he  did  take  it,  like 
a  man ! 


Jew  Losing  a  Barg-ain. 

It  is  not  often  that  a  Jew,  bent  on  a 
nice  little  trade,  is  outwitted,  oi:  comes 
off  second  best.  That  such  a  contin- 
gency, however,  is  among  the  rare  pos- 
sibilities in  business  affairs,  the  follow- 
ing will  show : 

Some  children  were  once  playing  in 
the  Kent  road,  near  Blackheath,  Eng- 
land, amusing  themselves  with  making 


grottos  of  oyster  shells ;  and,  in  order 
to  give  effect,  one  of  the  children  went 
home  and  begged  of  his  mother  to  let 
him  have  two  old  pictures  that  were 
lying  about  the  house  and  considered 
but  as  useless  lumber,  to  adorn  their 
grotto.  This  was  readily  granted,  and 
the  old  pictures  were  placed  one  on 
each  side  of  the  grotto. 

In  a  short  time  a  Jew  dealer  came 
by,  and  after  looking  at  the  pictures 
for  some  time,  he  offered  to  give  the 
cliildren  sixpence  for  them ;  the  chil- 
dren refused,  and  said  that  they  be- 
longed to  their  parents.  The  Jew,  at 
last,  offered  five  shillings,  bat  was  still 
refused,  and,  at  last,  went  to  the  par- 
ents, and  offered  ten  shillings  ;  but  the 
extreme  eagerness  of  the  Jew  excited 
some  suspicion  that  the  old  pictures 
were  of  more  value  than  had  been  sup- 
posed, and  this  was  confirmed  when  the 
Jew  offered  five  pounds  and  five  shil- 
lings for  them,  which  was  also  refused. 
The  next  day,  the  father  of  the  children 
took  the  pictures  to  a  connoisseur,  to 
inquire  if  they  were  of  any  value,  and 
that  gentleman  gave  him  a  letter  of  re- 
commendation to  a  person  in  London, 
who  purchased  them  for  fourteen  hun- 
dred pounds,  and  they  were  afterward 
sold  for  much  more. 


Attention  to  Trivial  Thing-s  by  Girard. 

Even  after  his  head  was  white  with 
the  frosts  of  nearly  fourscore  years, 
Girard  gave  the  minutest  attention  to 
the  most  trivial  thing  that  could  affect 
his  fortune.  "  Take  that  lot  of  fowls 
away ;  the  roosters  are  too  many,  they 
will  keep  the  hens  poor,"  said  the  old 
merchant  to  a  farmer  who  had  brought 
them  for  one  of  Girard's  ships — "  take 
them  away — I  will  not  buy  them." 


Jewish  Opinion  of  Rothschild. 

It  is  very  well  known  that,  whatever 
may  have  been  the  redeeming  traits  in 
Baron  Rothschild's  character,  the  syna- 


244 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


gogue  generally  did  not  entertain  the 
same  respect  for  him  as  the  German 
Jews  do  for  the  Rothschilds  of  Frank- 
fort. Some  thought  he  might  have 
done  more  for  his  brethren  than  he 
did  ;  and  that  if  he  had  only  used  the 
influence  which  he  possessed  with  Gov- 
ernment and  the  many  friends  which 
he  had  at  court,  all  the  civil  disabilities 
with  which  the  British  Jews  were  stig- 
matized would  have  been  abolished, 
when  the  proposition  was  first  mooted. 
"  But  Rothschild,"  as  was  said  of  him 
by  an  eminent  English  Jew,  "  was  too 
great  a  slave  to  his  money,  and  all 
other  slavery  was  counted  liberty  in  his 
sight." 


Avarice  of  Osterwald,  the  French 
Banker. 

Osterwald,  the  wealthy  French 
banker,  was  a  man  remarkable  for  his 
penuriousness.  So  strong  was  this 
habit  in  its  hold  upon  him,  that,  even 
within  a  few  days  of  his  death,  no  im- 
portunities could  induce  him  to  buy  a 
few  pounds  of  meat,  for  the  jDurpose  of 
making  a  little  soup,  in  order  to  nour- 
ish him.  "  'Tis  true,"  he  remarked,  "  I 
should  not  dislike  the  soup,  but  I  have 
no  appetite  for  the  meat  itself;  what, 
then,  will  become  of  that,  if  I  cannot 
eat  it  ?  "  At  the  time  that  he  refused 
this  nourishment,  for  fear  of  being 
obliged  to  give  away  two  or  three 
pounds  of  meat,  there  was  tied  around 
his  neck  a  silken  bag  which  contained 
eight  hundred  assignats  of  one  thou- 
sand livres  each.  At  his  outset  in  life 
he  drank  a  pint  of  beer,  which  served 
him  for  supper,  every  night,  at  a  house 
much  frequented,  and  from  which  he 
carried  home  all  the  bottle  corks  he 
could  come  at ;  of  these  latter,  in  the 
course  of  eight  years,  he  had  collected 
as  many  as  sold  for  twelve  louis  d'ors 
— a  sum  that  laid  the  foundation  of  his 
fortune,  the  superstructure  of  which 
was  rapidly  raised  by  his  uncommon 
success  in  stock  jobbing.  He  died  pos- 
sessed of  the  snug  sum  of  one  hundred 


and  twenty-five  thousand  pounds  ster- 
ling. 

— ♦— 

Estimate  of  his  Own  Life  by  a  Miser. 

An  old  bachelor,  whose  trading  skill, 
combined  with  the  most  grinding  close- 
fistedness,  had  enabled  him  to  amass  a 
clever  fortune  of  some  fifty  thousand 
dollars,  meeting  a  friend  one  day,  be- 
gan to  harangue  him  very  learnedly 
upon  the  detestable  sin  of  avarice,  and 
gave  the  following  instance  of  it. 
"  About  three  years  ago,"  said  he,  "  by 
a  very  odd  accident,  I  fell  into  a  well, 
and  was  absolutely  within  a  very  few 
minutes  of  perishing,  before  I  could 
prevail  upon  an  unconscious  dog  of  a 
laborer,  who  happened  to  be  within 
hearing  of  my  cries,  to  help  me  out  for 
a  shilling.  The  fellow  was  so  rapacious 
as  to  insist  upon  having  twenty-five 
cents,  for  above  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
and  I  verily  believe  he  would  not  have 
abated  me  a  single  farthing,  if  he  had 
not  seen  me  at  the  last  gasp  ;  and  I  de- 
termined to  die  rather  than  submit  to 
his  extortion." 


Stephen  Whitney's  Charities. 

Notwithstanding  he  stood  in  the 
front  rank  of  New  York  merchants 
in  point  of  immense  wealth,  Mr.  Whit- 
ney's charities  were  extremely  stinted. 
When  the  congregation  oi  which  he 
was  a  member  were  building  a  mission 
house,  he  was  ajDplied  to  to  head  the 
subscription,  which  he  did  with  a  tri- 
fiing  sum.  The  gift  was  refused,  and  a 
larger  one  was  demanded,  as  in  better 
keeping  with  his  position.  "  Sir,"  was 
his  reply,  "  if  you  go  on  in  this  way, 
there  Will  not  be  a  rich  man  left  in  the 
city  of  New  York."  It  is  also  said 
that  on  a  certain  occasion  he  was  called 
on  to  aid  a  political  movement  with 
his  subscription.  "  Sir,"  was  his  reply, 
"I  have  no  money  to  spare;  but  I'll 
come  and  sit  up  all  night  to  fold  bal- 
lots for  you." 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


245 


Skinflint  PMlosophy. 

When  that  respectable  skinflint, 
Elwes,  who  left  such  an  enormous  for- 
tune in  gold  to  be  divided  between 
his  two  sons,  was  advised  to  give  them 
some  education,  his  characteristic  an- 
swer was :  *'  Putting  things  into  peo- 
ple's heads  is  taking  money  out  of 
their  pocket." 


Raising:  his  Customer. 

The  perseverance  of  trade  hunters  in 
some  of  our  large  cities  will  not  lose 
anything  in  comparison  with  the  tena- 
city of  that  griping  little  animal  called 
\he  leech.  One  of  this  hunting  or 
drumming  class  in  Boston,  seeing  the 
name  of  a  Western  trader  registered  at 
one  of  the  hotels,  who  he  knew  would 
be  a  desirable  customer,  and  anxious  to 
secure  him  first,  put  himself  upon  the 
said  trader's  trail  in  this  wise :  He  sat 
down  in  the  ofiice  of  the  hotel  to  watch 
the  key  of  the  Western  man's  bedroom 
till  he  should  come  in  to  claim  it ;  but 
something  kept  the  stranger  out  very 
late,  and  the  drummer  fell  asleep. 
When  he  awoke,  he  found  that  his 
customer  had  escaped  him  by  coming 
in  and  going  to  bed.  He  was  pbliged 
to  give  it  up,  therefore,  for  that  night, 
but  early  on  the  next  morning,  he 
repaired  to  the  door  of  the  gentleman's 
bedroom,  and  seeing,  as  he  expected  to, 
his  hoots  outside,  he,  with  a  lead  pencil, 
marked  them  across  again  and  again, 
until  they  could  not  be  mistaken, 
and  once  more  took  up  his  position 
in  the  office,  where  he  could  exam- 
ine at  a  glance,  the  boots  of  all  who 
came  down.  Finally  he  discovered 
the  ones  with  the  well-known  marks 
upon  them,  when,  with  much  suavity, 
he  cordially  addressed  the  wearer  by 
name,  as  if  he  had  known  him  for 
years,  and,  with  some  other  appropri- 
ate finesse^  which  it  would  be  quite  im- 
possible to  describe,  "raised  his  cus- 
tomer." 


Purloining  Speculator  in  the  French 
Funds. 

X was  a  speculator  upon  the 

Bourse  of  Paris — sometimes  successful 
and  sometimes  the  contrary.  He  had 
wasted  some  years  in  this  uncertain 
way  of  livelihood,  when  a  sudden  shift- 
ing of  the  funds  made  him  utterly  pen- 
niless. He  wandered  in  a  melancholy 
way  about  the  Exchange  for  a  week 
after,  wishing  very  vainly  for  a  few 
thousands,  to  make  a  new  venture  on  ; 
when  one  day  he  chanced  to  see  a 
wealthy  banker  of  the  town  put  into 
his  pocket  a  well- filled  portemonnaie, 
containing  some  fifty  thousand  francs. 
He  knew  the  old  banker  well — knew 
his  habits — knew  his  absent  habit  of 
thought,  and  he  seemed  to  him  a  good 
subject  for  an  amateur  bit  of  roguery. 
He  therefore  pushed  after  him  in  the 
throng  which  belongs  to  the  closing 
hour  of  the  Bourse,  and,  brushing  with 
feigned  carelessness  against  him,  man- 
aged to  transfer  his  bank  bills  to  his 
own  pocket. 

The  banker  did  not  miss  his  purse 
until  he  was  by  his  own  office  fire.  It 
was  too  late  to  attempt  to  find  it  again 
in  the  hall  of  the  Exchange.  Indeed, 
all  his  inquiries  proved  vain.  On  the 
fourth  day  after  his  loss,  he  received  a 
pleasant  letter,  informing  him  that  his 
money  was  in  good  hands,  and  if  afi"airs 
at  the  Bourse  turned  well — as  the  wri- 
ter hoped  might  be  the  case — he  would 
in  time  refund  the  money. 

After  a  time,  the  banker,  who  had 
nearly  forgotten  the  money  and  the 
note,  received  an  enclosure  of  thirty 
thousand  francs,  on  account  of  the  fifty 
thousand  missing  four  years  before; 
and  the  writer  condescended  at  the 
same  time  to  inform  him  that  his  spec- 
ulations were  looking  favorably,  and, 
if  there  was  no  heavy  fall  within  a 
month,  he  hoped  to  refund  him  the 
balance  with  interest. 

The  banker  was  grateful  for  the  en- 
closure ;  but,  on  attentive  examination 
of  the  handwriting,  fancied  he  perceiv- 


246 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


ed  some  resemblance  to  letters  ad- 
dressed liim  by  a  certain  broker  of  liis 
acquaintance. 

An  "  expert "  was  called,  wlio  pro- 
nounced unhesitatingly  the  ditferent 
letters  to  be  written  by  one  and  the 
same  person.  Upon  this,  the  eager 
banker,  just  now  in  need  of  the  addi- 
tional twenty  thousand,  entered  a  pros- 
ecution against  the  broker,  insisting 
upon  immediate  payment  of  the  bal- 
ance. 

X very  naturally  defended  him- 
self against  a  charge  of  robbery,  which 
rested  on  so  unsubstantial  proof,  and 
defied  evidence  of  his  misdeeds ;  with 
what  result  is  best  known  to  the 
parties. 

In  view  of  the  uncertainty  of  the  de- 
cision, it  is  a  question  if  the  banker 
would  not  have  pursued  the  safer  pol- 
icy in  receiving  quietly  the  disgorge- 
ment of  a  rogue  who  had  proved  so 
prompt  in  his  instalments. 


Knavery  of  British,  and  Chinese 
Traders  Compared. 

AccoRDrNG  to  a  well-known  mercan- 
tile writer,  "  A  grocer  is  a  man  who 
buys  and  sells  sugar,  and  plums,  and 
spices,  for  gain." 

Happy,  says  a  London  WTiter,  is  the 
English  grocer,  who  can  lay  his  hand 
upon  his  commercial  heart,  and,  mak- 
ing answer  to  the  text,  can  say — "  I  am 
the  man."  For  of  the  men  who  take 
over  unto  their  shop  doors  the  name 
of  grocer,  how  many  are  there  who  buy 
and  sell  sugar,  and  sugar  only;  who 
turn  the  penny  upon  spices  in  their 
purity ;  vend  nought  but  the  true  mace 
— the  undoctored  clove  ? 

Great  is  the  villany  of  the  Chinese ; 
but  it  is  written  in  certain  books  of  the 
prying  chemist,  that  the  roguery  of  the 
Englishman — bent,  it  may  be,  upon  the 
means  of  social  respectability — doth 
outblush  the  pale  face  of  the  Tartar 
tricksters. 

The  Chinaman  glazes  his  tea  with 
Prussian  blue ;  he  paints  his  Congou, 


and  adds  a  perfume  to  his  Twankay ; 
but  he — the  pig-tailed  heathen — does 
not  recognize  in  a  Britisher  a  man  and 
a  brother,  and,  in  his  limited  sympa- 
thies, fails  to  acknowledge,  in  any  Brit- 
ish maiden,  of  any  fabulous  age  soever, 
a  woman  and  a  sister.  The  China  tea- 
man is  a  benighted  barbarian ;  the 
British  grocer  is  an  effulgent  Christian. 
The  Chinaman's  religion  is  the  gust  of 
revenge  ;  the  Briton's  creed  is  the  creed 
of  common  love.     (Oh  !) 

It  is  possible,  if  the  effort  be  made, 
to  drop  a  tear  over  the  ignorance  of 
the  Chinaman  who  dusts  his  faded  tea 
leaves  over  with  chromate  of  lead ;  but 
shall  not  one's  eyes  flash  fire  at  the  en- 
lightened British  tea  dealer,  who  to  the 
withered  leaf  imparts  the  mortal  glow 
of  plumbago  ?  Nevertheless,  there  are 
grocers,  in  the  commercial  form  of  men, 
who  treat  the  stomachs  of  their  cus- 
tomers as  customers  treat  their  stoves 
— namely,  they  bestow  upon  their  in- 
ternals the  questionable  polish  of  black 
lead,  innocently  swallowed  in  cups  of 
liquid,  worse  and  blacker  than  the  La- 
cedemonian black  broth.  How  many 
an  innocent  tea-loving  spinster,  proud 
of  the  jetty  loveliness  of  her  fireplace, 
would  vent  a  spasm  of  horror  did  she 
know  that  the  polish  of  her  own  stove 
and'  the  bloom  of  her  own  black  tea, 
fragrant  and  smoking  at  her  lips,  were 
of  one  and  the  same  black  lead — of 
lead  that,  in  due  sufficiency,  is  akin  to 
coffin  lead !  And  the  English  grocer, 
intent  upon  deceit,  outvies — say  the 
chemists — the  teaman  of  the  flowery 
kingdom.  There  is  not  a  toss-up  be- 
tween the  two  ;  and  if  there  be,  though 
China  beats  by  a  tail,  England  fails  not 
to  win  by  a  head. 

Of  coffee  (a  word  still  found  in  some 
of  the  dictionaries)  it  is  hardly  neces- 
sary to  speak — the  acres  of  chiccory, 
wherein  the  pious  grocer  as  well  as  his 
customers  may  "  walk  forth  to  muse  at 
eventide,"  have  a  language  and  a  les- 
son of  their  own.  It  may  be  added, 
however,  that  perhaps  there  is  not  a 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


247 


more  touching,  a  more  instructive,  and 
withal  a  more  pathetic  picture  than 
either  man  or  woman  complacently  em- 
ployed in  drinking  what  the  drinker,  in 
more  than  primitive  innocence,  believes 
to  be  coffee — grc 
ling  per  pound ! 


"Cornering"  among-  Brokers. 

The  operation  of  "  cornering,"  as  the 
term  is,  is  played  by  brokers  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner :  Four,  five,  six,  or  ten 
(as  the  case  may  be)  brokers  enter  into 
an  arrangement  with  each  other  to  buy 
and  get  control  of  the  entire  stock  of 
some  company.  They  commence  by 
depressing  the  stock  as  much  as  possi- 
ble. To  do  this,  they  must  all  appear 
to  be  sellers,  and  cry  down  the  price, 
representing  it  to  be  worthless,  and 
themselves  heartily  sick  of  everything 
pertaining  to  it.  While  they  are  pub- 
licly selling  lots  of  one  hundred  or  two 
hundred  shares,  their  agents  or  tools 
are  buying  all  that  they  can  get  hold 
of.  As  soon  as  they  can  buy  all  the 
cash  stock  they  find  in  this  way,  they 
turn  suddenly  around  and  begin  to  buy 
on  time.  Parties  not  in  [the  secret,  of 
course,  are  willing  to  sell  on  thirty,  six- 
ty, or  ninety  days — even  though  they 
do  not  possess  the  stock — thinking 
that  before  the  expiration  of  that  time 
they  will  be  able  to  buy  it  at  a  less 
price  than  they  sold  it  at.  In  this  way, 
thousands  of  shares  are  sold,  to  be  de- 
livered at  a  future  day,  to  the  very  men 
who  own  every  share  of  the  stock  that 
has  ever  been  issued.  When  the  time 
arrives  for  delivery,  the  sellers  discover 
that  there  is  no  stock  to  be  had  but  of 
the  men  to  whom  they  have  sold  it. 
Of  course  they  must  pay  whatever  the 
owners  choose  to  demand.  If  the  game 
is  well  played,  the  cornerers  will  make 
as  much  in  selling  as  they  did  in  buy- 
ing in.  Should  every  one  of  the  party 
prove  true  to  his  comrades,  they  will  so 
manage  as  to  get  rid  of  the  whole  stock 
to  outsiders  at  a  high  price.    It  will  be 


readily  seen  that  this  is  a  very  danger- 
ous game  unless  well  played ;  for  should 
any  of  the  parties  interested  "  let  fly  " 
without  letting  the  others  know  it,  the 
game  is  up,  and  although  he  may  make 
a  fortune,  it  will  be  at  the  sacrifice  of 
all  the  others. 


Stock  "Washing-." 

What  is  known  as  the  game  of 
"washing"  among  stock  brokers,  is 
when  John  makes  a  sale  in  public  to 
Joe,  with  a  previous  understanding 
that  Joe  is  not  to  take  the  stock.  For 
instance,  John  holds  a  large  amount  of 
"  Harlem,"  which  he  is  anxious  to  get 
rid  of.  If  he  throws  it  into  the  market 
at  once,  he  is  pretty  sure  to  knock  the 
price  down.  His  safety  depends  upon 
a  stiff  market ;  and  he  goes  to  Joe  and 
makes  an  aiTangement  with  him  to 
take  five  hundred  shares  at  full  price 
or  one  eighth  above.  They  both  go 
into  the  board,  and  when  Harlem  is 
called,  John  offers  one  hundred  shares 
at  fifty-eight  and  one  fourth,  cash.  No 
one  takes  them,  but  several  bid  fifty- 
seven,  and  fifty-seven  and  one  fourth  to 
one  half.  John  comes  down  one  eighth, 
and  Joe  "  takes  'em  ;  " — "  a  hundred 
more,"  " take  'em ;  "  —  "a  hundred 
more,"  "  take  'em ;  "  —  "a  hundred 
more,"  "  take  'em."  John  now  "  holds 
up,"  and  Joe  offers  to  take  one  hun- 
dred more.  If  some  old  stager  sees 
through  the  game,  he  "sticks"  Joe 
with  a  hundred,  and  the  game  is  up ; 
if  not,  why,  John  may  be  said  to  have 
succeeded,  and  the  market  for  Harlem 
is  firm.  "Washing"  will  hardly  go 
down  at  the  board ;  the  game  is  too 
old,  and  there  is  too  much  danger  in 
playing  it  when  there  are  none  but  old 
brokers  present ;  but  in  the  street  it  is 
very  common,  and  many  a  "green" 
one  is  taken  in  by  a  "  wash  sale."  The 
truth  is,  a  man  who  does  not  under- 
stand the  business  had  better  go  to 
California  than  speculate  in  stocks. 


248, 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Comraercial  Croakers. 

The  commercial  croaker  is  a  charac- 
ter with  which  every  commercial  city 
and  neighborhood  is  infested.  Does  a 
friend  embark  in  a  mercantile  specula- 
tion of  any  sort,  he  is  the  first  to  in- 
form him  that  he  has  midertaken  im- 
possibilities, and  that  the  chances  of 
his  failure  are  ten  to  one.  Is  a  new 
movement  proposed  in  the  city,  the 
croaker  spreads  his  palms  and  rolls  up 
his  eyes  with  horror  at  the  audacity,  or 
turns  up  his  nose  with  a  sneer  at  your 
plans.  If  you  speak  of  the  growth  of 
his  native  city,  or  its  increased  facility 
for  business,  he  informs  you  oracularly 
that  "all  is  not  gold  that  glitters." 
He  knows  of  at  least  one  hundred 
houses  which  are  for  sale  or  rent,  but 
which  cannot  find  any  tenants  upon 
any  terms.  He  informs  you  of  some 
nameless  friend  who  has  sold  real  es- 
tate and  stocks  at  an  alarmingly  low 
rate,  in  order  to  raise  money  to  j^rovide 
himself  with  a  new  location ;  and  he 
lachrymosely  expresses  the  belief  that 
in  less  than  five  years  the  grass  will  be 
growing  in  the  main  streets  of  the  city. 
If  A  fails  for  a  couple  of  thousand  dol- 
lars, the  croaker  goes  snivelling  round 
the  streets,  predicting  that  nine  tenths 
of  the  merchants  in  the  city  will  be  in 
the  same  condition  within  the  year. 
Does  the  severity  of  the  winter  suspend 
navigation,  the  croaker  is  sure  that  the 
spring  business  is  ruined  for  that  year, 
and  that  by  midsummer  half  the 
names  in  town  will  be  gazetted  for 
bankruptcy.  When  political  excite- 
ment runs  high,  the  croaker  is  at  the 
height  of  his  enjoyment.  Of  course,  he 
predicts  the  reduction  of  property,  the 
want  of  money,  and  the  prospect  of  an 
overwhelming  commercial  crisis. 


Slavers  Raising:  a  Capital. 

Once  on  a  time,  two  young  fellows, 
brothers,  went  to  Jamaica,  with  the 
intention  of  commencing  a  mercantile 


business.  They  were  by  trade  black- 
smiths. Finding,  soon  after  their  ar- 
rival, that  they  could  do  nothing  with- 
out a  little  money  to  begin  with,  but 
that  with  a  few  hundred  dollars  they 
might  be  able  to  realize  a  fortune,  they 
hit  upon  the  following  novel  and  inge- 
nious trick :  One  of  them  stripped  the 
other  naked,  shaved  him  close,  and 
blackened  him  from  head  to  foot.  This 
ceremony  being  performed,  he  took 
him  to  one  of  the  negro  dealers,  who 
was  so  pleased  with  the  appearance  of 
the  young  fellow,  that  he  advanced 
four  hundred  dollars  currency  upon  the 
bill  of  sale  to  the  "  slavers ; "  and  prided 
himself  much  on  the  purchase,  suppos- 
ing him  the  finest  negro  upon  the  isl- 
and. The  same  evening,  this  manufac- 
tured negro  made  his  escape  to .  his 
brother,  washed  himself  clean,  and  re- 
sumed his  former  appearance.  Rewards 
were  then  in  vain  ofiiered  in  handbills, 
pursuit  was  eluded,  and  discovery,  by 
care  and  precaution,  rendered  imprac- 
ticable. The  brothers,  with  the  money 
thus  obtained,  commenced  commercial 
business,  and  finally  left  the  island  with 
a  large  fortune.  Previous,  however,  to 
their  departure  from  the  island,  they 
waited  upon  the  trader  from  whom 
they  had  received  the  money,  and,  re- 
calling the  circumstance  of  the  negro  to 
his  recollection,  paid  him  the  principal 
and  interest  with  thanks. 


Ttirtles  and  Gold  Snnff-Boxes. 

So  strict  is  meant  to  be  the  search- 
ing at  Russian  custom  houses,  in  order 
to  prevent  smuggling,  that  the  ship 
captain,  who  is  bound  to  give  an  in- 
ventory of  every  article  on  board,  may 
fall  into  unheard-of  trouble  if  he  forget 
so  much  as  his  own  private  Canary 
bird. 

There  was  an  English  captain  once 
at  Cronstadt  who  by  accident  forgot  to 
enter  a  fine  turtle  upon  his  list.  He 
told  the  leading  custom-liouse  official, 
plainly  and  honestly,  of  his  unfortunate 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


249 


omission,  and  the  functionary,  who  was 
a  good-natured  man,  saw  no  plain  way- 
out  of  the  difficulty. 

He  recommended  that  the  matter 
should  be  glossed  over  by  assuming 
that  the  turtle  was  intended  for  the 
emperor.  The  captain  did,  therefore, 
formally  declare  that,  if  he  had  not  en- 
tered the  turtle,  it  was  because  it  had 
been  brought  expressly  as  an  English- 
man's gift  to  the  czar,  and  to  the  czar 
the  turtle  was  despatched  accordingly. 
Soon  after  there  arrived  a  Government 
messenger,  inquiring  for  this  most  cour- 
teous of  captains,  who  brought  the  gra- 
cious thanks  of  the  czar  Nicholas,  to- 
gether with  the  gift  of  a  gold  snuff- 
box, embellished  with  the  autocratic 
cipher  set  in  diamonds. 

Instead  of  fine  and  persecution,  there 
were  royal  gifts  and  honors  for  this 
lucky  sailor.  But  when,  afterward, 
some  other  trading  captains,  acting,  as 
they  imagined,  cunningly  upon  the 
hint,  brought  turtle  to  exchange  for 
gold  snuff-boxes,  his  astute  majesty 
quietly  made  the  turtles  into  soup,  but 
declined,  by  any  act  of  exchange,  to 
add  snuff  boxes  to  the  articles  of  Rus- 
sian trade  shipped  at  the  port  of  Cron- 
stadt. 


Tobacco  in  Lioaves. 

Syreen,  a  custom-house  officer  at 
Liverpool,  apprehended  a  woman  who 
had  come  as  passenger  on  board  an 
American  vessel  to  that  port,  on  suspi- 
cion of  having  some  smuggled  tobacco 
in  her  possession.  Upon  examining  her 
dress,  seventeen  pounds  of  tobacco  were 
found  concealed  under  it ;  but  the  most 
remarkable  of  the  expedients  which  had 
been  resorted  to  for  the  purpose  of  de- 
ceiving the  lynx-eyed  deputies  of  the 
customs,  was  that  of  giving  to  the  con- 
traband leaf  the  resemblance  of  a  loaf. 
A  quantity  of  cut  tobacco  had  been 
pressed  into  a  tin,  over  which  a  thin 
layer  of  dough  was  spread,  and  this, 
being  baked,  had  the  appearance  to  the 


eye  of  a  veritable  and  edible  loaf.  The 
quantity  of  tobacco  which  the  woman 
had  contrived  to  secrete  in  this  and 
other  modes,  amounted  to  no  less  than 
seventy  pounds. 


Custom-House  Swearing-. 

Some  time  ago,  says  a  lively  writer, 
I  had  charge  of  a  department  in  one  of 
the  Eastern  custom  houses.  Holmes 
was  an  officer  in  the  same  room  with 
me.  On  the  monthly  pay  day  it  was 
necessary  for  him  to  make  oath  to  two 
pay  rolls — one,  the  account  of  the  offi- 
cer himself,  and  the  other  of  the  sum 
due  to  his  assistant.  One  day.  Holmes 
signed  his  pay  roll,  received  his  money 
after  making  oath  to  its  correctness, 
and  walked  out,  without  signing  that 
of  his  assistant.  When  the  omission 
was  discovered,  I  went  for  him,  and  he 
bustled  in  with  a  "  What  do  you  want 
of  me  ?  "  "  To  sign  the  pay  rolls." 
"  But  I  have  already."  "  You  signed 
and  swore  to  one,  but  not  to  the 
other."  "  Well,"  said  Holmes,  "  I  knew 
I  swore  to  something — I  didn't  know 
exactly  what."  Such  swearing  is  said 
to  be  quite  custom-ary  in  the  custom 
house. 


Cool  Assurance  of  a  Doomed 
Financier. 

The  cool  assurance  of  Sadleir,  the 
greatest  of  modern  swindlers,  when  the 
fearful  guilt  of  his  transactions  had  al- 
ready become  known  in  more  than  one 
quarter,  is  hardly  paralleled  in  any  sim- 
ilar case.  This  was  particularly  mani- 
fested in  a  conversation  that  passed  in 
the  office  of  one  of  the  city  newspaper 
writers  at  the  time  referred  to.  Even 
steeped  as  he  was  to  his  eyes  in  crime, 
he  preserved  admirable  calmness,  and 
betrayed  not  the  least  apprehension. 

Scene :  Lombard  street,  London,  hour 
about  1  p.  M. 

John  Sadleir  (pale,  cadaverous,  but 
gentlemanly — introduced  by  a  friend 
and  brother  director  of  a  bank)  :  "  Oh, 


250 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


there  has  been  some  slight  mistake  re- 
specting the  announcement  of  the  drafts 
of  the  Tipperary  Bank  having  been  re- 
fused over  the  way ;  it  is  all  set 
straight ;  the  remittances  have  been 
delayed  passing  through  Hull,  when 
they  should  have  come  direct  to  Lon- 
don. Just  please  mention  it,  so  that 
the  fact  may  be  known." 

Party  addressed  :  "  You  are  sure  it  is 
all  right ;  because  it  will  be  awkward 
if  there  is  any  further  difficulty." 

Sadleir  and  his  friend :  "  It  is  all 
made  straight;  you  can  ask  over  the 
way." 

Party  addressed :  "  You  are  sure 
there  will  be  no  fresh  hitch  ?  " 

Sadleir  (plainly,  but  with  great  em- 
phasis) :  "  I  am  sure  there  will  be  no 
further  hitch.'*'' 

The  inquiry  was  made  "  over  the 
way ;  "  it  w^as  stated  the  drafts  had 
been  provided  for,  and  the  explanation 
as  requested  was  afforded.  But  the 
party  entertained  his  suspicions,  and 
meeting  the  friend  of  Sadleir  late  in 
the  day,  he  asked  him  if  there  was  not 
something  "  doubtful  "  in  the  business. 
The  reply  was,  "  No,  there  cannot  be ; 
the  bank  has  just  declared  a  dividend 
and  bonus,  and  the  report  is  most  fa- 
vorable." Two  or  three  days  afterward 
the  explosion  took  place,  with  all  its 
tale  of  Sadleir's  infamy. 


Terrible  Sequel  to  Parsimony: 
M.  Foscue's  Case. 

M.  FoscuE,  who  had  amassed  enor- 
mous wealth  by  the  most  sordid  par- 
simony and  disreputable  extortion,  ap- 
plied his  ingenuity  to  discover  some 
eflFectual  way  of  hiding  his  gold.  With 
great  care  and  secrecy  he  dug  a  cave  in 
his  cellar.  To  this  receptacle  for  his 
treasure,  he  descended  by  a  trap  door, 
to  which  he  attached  a  spring  lock,  so 
that,  on  shutting,  it  would  fasten  of  it- 
self. By  and  by  the  miser  disappeared  ; 
inquiries  were  made;  the  house  was 
searched ;  woods  were  explored,  and 
the  ponds  dragged;    but   no  Foscue 


could  they  find.  Some  time  passed  on. 
The  house  where  he  lived  was  sold,  and 
workmen  were  busily  employed  in  its 
repair.  In  the  progress  of  their  work 
they  met  with  the  door  of  the  secret 
cave,  with  the  key  in  the  lock  outside. 
They  threw  back  the  door,  and  de- 
scended with  a  light.  The  first  object 
upon  which  the  lamp  reflected  was  the 
ghastly  body  of  Foscue,  and  scattered 
around  him  were  heavy  bags  of  gold, 
and  ponderous  chests  of  untold  treas- 
ure ;  a  candlestick  lay  beside  him  on 
the  floor.  The  worshipper  of  Mammon 
had  gone  into  his  cave,  to  pay  his  de- 
voirs to  his  golden  god,  and  became  a 
sacrifice  to  his  devotion. 


Attempt     to     Overthrow  Bothschild's 
Power  in  the  Money  Market. 

Repeated  eflbrts,  but  always  with- 
out success,  and  generally  to  the  ruin 
of  the  party  making  the  same,  have 
been  made  to  overthrow  the  power  of 
Rothschild  in  the  money  market.  It 
was  clear  that  the  only  way  in  which 
this  could  be  done,  if  it  was  to  be  done 
at  all,  would  be  by  the  party  attempt- 
ing it  engaging  in  transactions  of  c*- 
responding  magnitude. 

By  far  the  boldest  of  these  attempts 
was  that  once  made  by  a  young  gentle- 
man, a  Mr.  James  H .     He  made  a 

number  of  most  extensive  purchases, 
and  sold  out  again  to  a  very  large 
amount,  all  in  a  very  short  period  of 
time ;  and  so  far  from  imitating  the 
character  of  the  rival  whose  empire  he 
sought  to  subvert,  in  the  secrecy  of  his 
transactions,  he  deemed  it  essential  to 
the  success  of  his  schemes  that  his  oper- 
ations should  be  performed  as  speedily 
as  possible. 

Mr.  H.  was  the  son  of  a  wealthy 
banker  in  the  country,  and  held,  at  the 
time  of  his  introduction,  money  stock 
in  his  own  name,  though  it  actually 
was  his  father's,  to  the  extent  of  £50,- 
000.  The  reputation  of  being  so  rich 
invested  him  at  once  with  great  impor- 
tance as  a  banker.    The  £50,000,  after' 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


251 


Mr.  H.  had  been  some  time  a  member 
of  the  house,  was  privately  retransferred 
to  his  father,  the  real  owner  of  it.  For 
some  time,  and  until  he  became  per- 
fectly master  of  the  rules  and  usages 
of  the  house,  he  acted  with  great  pru- 
dence and  caution,  confining  his  transac- 
tions to  small  amounts ;  but  he  even- 
tually began  to  astonish  "  the  natives  " 
— for  so  the  members  of  the  stock  ex- 
change are  often  called — by  the  bold- 
ness of  his  manoeuvres.  In  a  very  short 
time  he  became  the  dread  of  all  parties 
— the  bulls  and  bears  were  anxious  to 
follow  him ;  but,  like  Rothschild,  he 
evinced  a  disposition  to  act  independ- 
ently of  every  person  and  every  party." 

About  this  time  consols  were  as  high 
as  96  or  97.  In  a  few  months  after- 
ward symptoms  of  a  coming  panic  be- 
gan to  manifest  .themselves ;  and  a 
well-known  vrriter  on  money  matters, 
having  at  the  time,  for  reasons  best 
known  to  himself,  begun  to  deal  out 
his  fulminations  against  the  Bank  of 
England,  in  an  influential  paper,  the 
unhealthy  state  of  the  money  market 
was  greatly  aggravated,  though  high 
prices  were  still  maintained.  Mr.  H. 
watched  the  state  of  things  with  great 
penetration  ;  and  being  satisfied  in  his 
own  mind  that  a  leader  was  only  want- 
ing to  commence  and  carry  on  a  suc- 
cessful war  against  Rothschild,  he  de- 
termined himself  to  become  that  lead- 
er— and  it  must  be  admitted  that  he 
acquitted  himself  as  an  able  general. 
Going  into  the  house  one  afternoon,  he 
accosted  one  of  the  most  respectable 
jobbers  thus : 

"  What  are  consols  ?  " 

"  96  and  98,"  was  the  answer. 

"  In  £100,000  ?  "  continued  he. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  jobber.  "  You  have 
them  ;  £100,000  more  ?  " 

"  I'll  take  £100,000  more." 

"  They  are  yours." 

"  Another  £100,000  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't  want  any  more." 

On  this  transaction  being  finished, 
the  adventurous  young  gentleman  im- 


mediately turned  round  and  announced 
aloud  that  "  £200,000  had  been  done  at 
96,  and  more  offered."  Then  walking 
backward  and  forward,  "  like  a  tiger 
in  a  den,"  he  followed  up  the  bold  tac- 
tics he  had  commenced  by  offering  any 
part  of  £1,000,000  at  94.  For  a  great 
part  of  this  amount  he  at  once  found 
purchasers.  But  he  was  not  yet  con- 
tent with  the  extent  of  his  transactions, 
great  as  they  were  ;  nor  w^ould  he  wait 
for  buyers  at  94.  He  offered  them,  viz., 
consols,  at  93,  at  92,  and  eventually  as 
low  as  90,  at  which  price  they  left  oft' 
that  day.  Next  day  he  renewed  his 
exertions  to  depress  the  market,  and  he 
succeeded  to  the  utmost  of  his  wishes ; 
for  consols  did  not  stop  in  their  de- 
scent till  they  reached  74.  As  was  to 
be  expected,  contemporaneous  with  this 
sudden  and  extraordinary  fall  in  the 
price  of  consols,  there  was  a  run  on  the 
Bank  of  England,  which  almost  ex- 
hausted it  of  its  specie.  He  then  pur- 
chased to  so  large  an  extent  that,  when 
a  reaction  took  place,  he  found  that  his 
gains  exceeded  £100,000. 

The  rivalry  of  Mr.  H.  was,  however, 
of  short  duration,  ending  in  this  wise  : 
In  about  two  years  after  the  above  ex- 
tensive "  operations,"  he  attempted  an- 
other, on  a  scale  of  corresponding  mag- 
nitude. But  in  this  case,  Rothschild, 
anticipating  the  tactics  H.  would  adopt, 
laid  a  trap  for  him,  into  which  he  fell, 
and  became  a  ruined  man.  He  was 
declared  a  defaulter,  and  his  name  stuck 
upon  the  blackboard.  It  was  only  now 
that  the  discovery  was  made  that  the 
£50,000  money  stock,  supposed  to  be 
his  own,  was  in  reality  his  father's,  and 
that  it  had  been  retransferred  in  his 
name.  A  deputation  from  the  commit- 
tee waited  upon  Mr.  H.  immediately 
after  his  failure,  at  his  own  house,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Regent's  Park,  when 
one  of  the  most  rapacious  of  the  num- 
ber suggested  a  sale  of  his  furniture  and 
a  mortgage  of  the  annuity  settled  on 
his  wife.  He  received  the  suggestion 
with  the  utmost  indignation,  and  ring' 


t 


252 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


ing  the  bell  for  his  servant,  desired  him 
to  show  the  deputation  down  stairs, 

adding  that  he  would  be (it  need 

not  be  said  what)  before  he  would  pay 
a  sixpence  after  the  treatment  he  had 
met  with  from  them.  "  As  for  ijrou,  you 
vagabond,  '  My  son  Jack '  (one  of  the 
brokers  who  went  by  that  name),  who 
have  had  the  audacity  to  make  such  a 
proposal  to  me — as  for  you,  sir,  if  you 
don't  make  haste  out  of  the  room,  I'll 
pitch  you  out  of  the  window  !  "  It  is 
scarcely  necessary  to  say,  that  "  My  son 
Jack "  was  the  first  who  reached  the 
bottom  of  the  stairs. 


Sharing:  in  Hothschild's  Fortune. 

During  the  stormy  days  of  1848,  two 
stalwart  mobocrats  entered  the  bank 
of  the  late  Baron  Anselm  Rothschild, 
at  Frankfort.  "  You  have  millions  on 
millions,"  said  they  to  him,  "  and  we 
have  nothing;  you  must  divide  with 
us."  "  Very  well ;  what  do  you  sup- 
pose the  firm  of  Rothschild  is  worth  ?  " 
"  About  forty  millions  of  florins." 
"  Forty  millions,  you  think,  eh  ?  Now, 
then,  there  are  forty  millions  of  peo- 
ple in  Germany ;  that  will  be  a  florin 
apiece.     Here's  yours." 


Extravag-ant  Business  Rhetoric. 

Defoe,  who  wrote  of  the  morals  of 
mercantile  trade  in  England,  in  former 
times,  mentions  among  other  manoeu- 
vres of  retailers,  the  false  light  which 
they  introduced  into  their  shops  for 
the  purpose  of  giving  a  delusive  ap- 
pearance to  their  goods.  He  comments 
upon  the  "  shop  rhetoric,"  the  "  flux 
of  falsehoods,"  which  tradesmen  habit- 
ually uttered  to  their  customers;  and 
quotes  their  defence  as  being  that  they 
could  not  live  without  lying.  Add  to 
which,  he  says,  that  there  was  scarce  a 
shopkeeper  who  had  not  a  bag  of  spu- 
rious or  debased  coins,  from  which  he 
gave  change  whenever  he  could. 

The  giving  and  taking  presents,  as  a 


means  of  obtaining  custom,  has  become 
a  great  practice.  An  extensive  dealer 
once  remarked  :  "  Every  one  of  the  buy- 
ers with  whom  I  deal,  expects  an  occa- 
sional bonus  in  some  form  or  other. 
From  time  to  time  I  have  to  make  a 
handsome  present — perhaps  a  dozen  of 
choice  port,  or  else  to  give  a  round  sum 
as  discount.  Some  require  the  bribe 
to  be  wrapped  up,  and  some  take  it 
without  disguise." 

Getting  wide  glimpses  through  small 
holes,  any  one  may  easily  get  an  idea 
of  how  trade  is  carried  on,  even  by  the 
sights  and  sounds  of  the  street.  Hear- 
ing the  fruiterer  cry  all  his  fruit  and 
vegetables  as  "  fine,"  and  the  itinerant 
fish-vendor  invariably  describe  his  sup- 
plies as  "  fresh  "  and  "  alive,"  one  might 
infer  the  generality  of  misrepresenta- 
tion ;  and  he  would  find  this  inference 
strengthened  when,  on  turning  to  the 
advertising  columns  of  the  daily  news- 
papers, he  found  all  the  ships  and 
packets  characterized  as  "  splendid," 
"  first  class,"  "  very  fast  sailing,"  "  beau- 
tiful," "  celebrated,"  "  magnificent ;  " — 
when  he  read  of  the  horses  that  they 
were  all  either  "  finest  grown,"  or  "  first 
rate,"  or  "  invaluable,"  or  "  the  hand- 
somest in  town,"  or  "  one  of  the  grand- 
est steppers,"  and  in  every  case  "  sold 
for  no  fault ;  " — or  when  he  saw  that 
all  the  properties  for  sale  were  "  ex- 
ceedingly valuable,"  "  extremely  well 
fitted  up,"  "  most  eligible,"  "  delight- 
ful site,"  "  admirably  adapted,"  etc. ; 
— or  when  he  discovered  that  all  the 
lodgings  were  "  unsurpassed  for  com- 
fort," all  the  medicines  "  infallible,"  all 
the  references  "  unexceptionable." 

Casting  the  eye  over  shop  signs  and 
door  plates,  and  meeting*  with  such 
titles  as  "  mechanical  operative  dentist " 
— implying  that  other  dentists  are  not 
mechanical  and  operative ;  or  "  practi- 
cal bootmaker,"  tacitly  referring,  as  it 
seems,  to  some  class  of  mere  theoreti- 
cal bootmakers— one  gets  further  im- 
pressions that  the  screw  which  is  loose 
is  a  verj  large  one.    Add  to  these  the 


# 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


253 


words  "  patent  and  registered,"  applied 
to  commonplace  objects,  implying  im- 
provements where  there  are  none ;  to- 
gether with  the  glaring  announcements 
of  "  great  reduction,"  "  selling  off," 
"  bankrupt  stock,"  "  tremendous  sacri- 
fices," "  twenty  per  cent,  below  other 
houses" — and  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  "  bait "  is  used  as  plentifully  on 
the  land  as  in  the  sea. 


Customs  of  the  Store  in  Churcli. 

In  a  certain  town,  not  more  than  fifty 
miles  from  Boston,  as  the  clergyman 
was  holding  forth  one  Sabbath  in  his 
usual  drowsy  manner,  one  of  the  dea- 
cons, probably  influenced  by  the  nar- 
cotic qualities  of  the  discourse,  fell  into 
a  doze.  In  connection  with  the  train 
of  thought  characterizing  his  sermon, 
the  preacher  happened  to  use  the 
words,  "  What  is  the  price  of  all  earth- 
ly pleasures  ? "  The  money-getting  dea- 
con (he  kept  a  small  store,  and  had  a 
lively  eye  to  the  main  chance),  half 
consciously,  thinking  the  inquiry  was 
respecting  some  kind  of  merchandise, 
immediately  answered,  "  Seven  and 
sixpence  a  dozen." 


Hoarding    and  Amassing- —  Noted 
Instances. 

There  died  at  Paris,  in  the  year 
1799,  literally  of  want,  the  noted  bank- 
er Osterwald.  He  deprived  himself  of 
almost  every  personal  comfort  and  con- 
venience, alike  in  sickness  and  in 
health,  for  fear  of  encroaching  on  his 
hoarded  treasures.  He  died  worth 
£125,000. 

Another  desperate  case  of  this  kind 
was  that  of  the  millionnaire  Elwes, 
whose  diet  and  dress  were  of  the  most 
revolting  kind,  and  his  penuriousness 
almost  passing  belief.  His  property 
was  estimated  at  £800,000. 

Daniel  Dancers's  miserly  propensities 
were  indulged  to  such  a  degree,  that, 
among  his  eccentricities,  was  that  of 
j)erforming  his  ablutions  at  a  neighbor- 


ing pond,  and  drying  himself  in  the 
sun,  in  order  to  save  himself  the  ex- 
travagant indulgence  of  a  towel ;  yet 
the  yearly  income  of  this  poor  mendi- 
cant was  reckoned  by  thousands  of 
dollars. 

The  well-known  Nat  Beatty,  alias 
"  Dirty  Dick,"  of  London,  was  the  vic- 
tim not  only  of  a  craving  for  gold,  but 
even  for  old  iron. 

Another  deplorable  case  was  that  of 
Tom  Pitt,  of  Warwickshire.  It  is  re- 
lated that  some  weeks  prior  to  the  sick- 
ness which  terminated  his  remarkable 
career,  he  went  to  several  undertakers 
in  quest  of  a  cheap  coffin.  He  left  be- 
hind him  a  rich  hoard  in  public  funds. 

Thomas  Cook  afforded  a  precious 
example  of  this  kind.  On  his  physi- 
cian intimating  to  him  the  possibility 
of  his  not  existing  more  than  five  or  six 
days,  he  protested  against  the  useless 
expense  of  sending  him  medicine,  and 
charged  the  doctor  never  to  show  his 
face  to  him  again.  His  property  was 
rated  at  £130,000. 


Jewish   Money-Makers   in   the    Holy 
City. 

Some  of  the  Jews  residing  in  the 
Holy  City,  though  they  are  ready 
enough  to  accept  alms  from  their  Eu- 
ropean brethren,  amass  money,  and  are 
no  more  above  a  little  sharp  practice 
than  are  their  kindred  in  Holywell 
street.  "  Dog  ought  not  to  eat  dog," 
is  a  proverb,  but  here  is  a  veritable 
anecdote,  told  by  a  close  observer  of 
the  Israelites  in  Jerusalem,  which 
shows  some  of  their  traits. 

Sir  Moses  Montetiore  brought  with 
him  in  wooden  barrels  a  large  quantity 
of  dollars  in  specie,  and  resolved,  with 
his  usual  kindness  of  disposition,  to 
give  with  his  own  hand  a  dollar  to 
every  poor  person.  It  took  many  hours 
before  his  task  was  done  and  the  mis- 
erable exhibition  of  poverty  concluded. 
It  so  happened  that  the  noble  distribu- 
tor, forgetful  of  himself,  gave  away  the 
sum  which  he  required  to  pay  his  trav- 


254 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


elling  expenses  home.  He  was  obliged 
to  borrow  money.  A  man  was  soon 
found,  who  expressed  his  readiness  to 
oblige  him— for  a  consideration — and 
supplied  him  with  the  necessary  sum, 
the  amount  of  which  was  considerable, 
in  specie.  And  yet  this  man,  the  pre- 
vious day,  seemed  to  be  the  neediest  of 
the  needy,  and  had  received  a  silver  dol- 
lar from  the  hand  of  the  lenef  actor  of 
Palestine  !     Sharp  practice  that. 

Even  among  the  leading  Jews  of 
Jerusalem,  the  ruling  passion  seems  to 
be  to  pervert  everything — even  charity 
— to  their  pecuniary  gain.  Thus,  an 
institution  for  advancing  money  as 
loans  was  founded  by  Mr.  Cohen,  and 
endowed  by  the  Rothschild  family  with 
one  hundred  thousand  piasters.  M. 
Alteras,  one  of  the  Sepharedim,  and  an 
Austrian  subject,  being  intrusted  with 
the  management  of  it,  lent  forty  thou- 
sand piasters  to  the  presidents  of  the 
Sepharedim.  All  of  them  regarded  the 
money,  not  as  a  means  of  benefiting 
others  by  advancing  loans  without  in- 
terest, but  as  a  means  of  benefiting 
themselves  by  lending  it  out  on  usury. 
One  half  of  the  money  thus  advanced 
with  the  best  intentions  was  lost,  not- 
withstanding the  efibrts  made  to  recov- 
er it. 


Presents    to    Bank     Ofiacers— Curious 
Cases. 

In  his  admirable  exposition  of  bank- 
ing in  New  York,  Mr.  Gibbons  gives  a 
few  racy  incidents  in  regard  to  the  ar- 
tifice of  present  making  to  bank  ofBcers, 
and  what  comes  of  such  "  favors  :  " 

A  cashier  asked  a  director  of  the 
same  bank  if  he  could  advise  him 
where  to  purchase  a  certain  description 
of  tea.  The  latter  engaged  to  find  the 
article.  On  the  same  evening,  a  "  quar- 
ter chest ''  was  left  at  the  cashier's  house 
without  a  bill,  and  the  matter  was  not 
again  alluded  to.  The  director  was  sub- 
sequently indebted  to  the  oflicer  for 
some  "  favors,"  which,  however,  did 
not    keep  him  solvent.     A  dealer  in 


fancy  goods  asked  the  same  cashier  for 
his  address,  without  specifying  any 
object.  On  going  home,  the  latter 
found  his  parlor  mantel  furnished  with 
some  elegant  ornaments. 

A  bank  president  inquired  of  a  deal- 
er in  foreign  porcelain,  where  he  could 
best  get  an  English  dinner  set  at  a  cost 
of  not  over  one  hundred  dollars.  The 
latter  answered  that  his  acquaintance 
with  the  wholesale  importers  would 
enable  him  to  purchase  at  a  consider- 
able discount,  and  he  did  so.  The 
president  never  asked  for  a  bill,  but  he 
discounted  his  friend's  paper  liberally 
"  between  the  Boards." 

Said  a  bank  officer  carelessly,  to  a 
jeweller,  after  serving  him  with  a  loan  : 
"By  the  way — where  is  that  gold- 
headed  cane  you  promised  me  ?  "  The 
jeweller  smiled,  but  said  nothing.  In  a 
week,  the  cane  was  sent ;  and  when  the 
donor  called  at  the  bank,  subsequently, 
he  was  greeted  with  an  expression  of 
great  surprise :  "  Why,  Mr.  D.,  you 
didn't  suppose  I  was  in  earnest  the 
other  day,  did  you  ?  " 

Another  officer  called  at  the  store  of 
a  drygoods  merchant,  after  assisting 
the  latter  to  a  liberal  discount  of  paper. 
While  walking  along  the  aisle,  he  was 
attracted  by  some  ladies'  kid  gloves  of 
superior  quality.  "  Ah,'  said  he,  "  you 
keep  these  articles,  do  you  ?  They  are 
really  very  soft  and  beautiful !  "  "  Yes, 
sir,"  ansv/ered  the  proprietor,  at  the 
same  time  wrapping  up  a  dozen  in 
some  fine  tissue  paper—"  put  those  in 
your  pocket.  Yes,  yes,  do  I  "  overcom- 
ing the  apparent  reluctance  of  his  vis- 
itor, by  unaffected  earnestness.  The 
same  scene  was  acted  over  again  on  the 
next  occasion,  when  the  merchant  had 
paper  discounted.  A  third  rehearsal 
taught  him  to  add  a  dozen  of  the  finest 
kid  gloves  to  the  legal  rate  of  seven  j^er 
cent,  whenever  he  obtained  accommo- 
dation at  that  bank. 

A  dealer,  who  was  impatient  to  rec- 
tify his  accounts,  urged  a  bookkeeper 
to  balance  his  bank  book  •  after  wait- 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


255 


ing  several  days,  tlie  request  was  re- 
peated, and  the  clerk  promised  that  it 
should  be  done :  "  But,"  he  added, 
"you  haven't  sent  me  that  umbrella 
yet !  "    It  was  added  to  his  wardrobe. 

A  clerk  took  lodgings  at  a  hotel  dur- 
ing the  absence  of  his  family  in  the 
country,  which  led  to  the  landlord  open- 
ing an  account  with  the  bank.  In  the 
"  progress  of  human  events,"  baskets 
of  brown  stout  were  left  at  the  resi- 
dence of  one  of  the  officers,  and  dining 
privileges  were  enjoyed  without  cost. 
The  result  in  this  case  was  a  loan  of 
twenty  thousand  dollars  on  inferior  se- 
curities ;  and  although  it  was  finally 
paid,  the  process  involved  transactions 
of  questionable  propriety. 

Mr.  George  Curtis,  the  first  cashier  of 
the  New  York  Bank  of  Commerce,  and 
late  president  of  the  Continental  Bank, 
was  occasionally  the  unwilling  recip- 
ient of  "  a  present."  His  well-known 
high  sense  of  honor  and  propriety 
would  have  protected  him  against  all 
suspicion  of  improper  influence  in  the 
administration  of  his  trust ;  but  so  sen- 
sitive and  scrupulous  was  he  on  the 
subject,  that  he  uniformly  placed  the 
article,  whatever  it  was,  in  the  direc- 
tors' room,  and  related  its  history  at  the 
next  meeting  of  the  board  of  directors. 


Pirst  Forg-ed  Note  on  a  Bank— Execu- 
tion for  the  Crime. 

It  is  a  memorable  fact  that  the  Bank 
of  England  had  circulated  its  paper 
with  freedom  for  sixty-four  years,  be- 
fore any  attempt  at  imitation  was  made. 
The  name  of  the  criminal  was  Vaughan, 
a  Stafford  linen-draper,  and  he  was  exe- 
cuted for  his  crime. 

It  appears  that  the  records  of  Vaugh- 
an's  life  do  not  show  want,  beggary, 
or  starvation  urging  him,  but  a  simple 
desire  to  seem  gTeater  than  he  was. 
By  one  of  the  artists  employed,  and 
there  were  several  engaged  on  different 
parts  of  the  notes,  the  discovery  was 
made.  The  criminal  had  filled  up  to 
the  number  of  twenty,  and  deposited 


them  in  the  hands  of  a  young  lady  to 
whom  he  was  attached,  as  a  proof  of  his 
wealth.  There  is  no  calculating  how 
much  longer  bank  notes  might  have 
been  free  from  imitation,  had  this  man 
not  shown  with  what  ease  they  might 
be  counterfeited.  But  from  this  period 
forged  notes  became  common.  And 
the  fact  is,  that  the  faculty  of  imitation 
is  so  great,  that  when  the  expectation 
of  profit  is  added,  there  is  little  hope 
of  restraining  the  destitute  or  bad  man 
from  a  career  which  adds  the  charm  of 
novelty  to  the  chance  of  gain. 

The  publicity  given  to  this  strange 
and  easy  fraud,  the  notoriety  of  the 
proceedings,  and  the  execution  of  the 
forger,  tended  to  excite  that  morbid 
sympathy  which,  up  to  the  present 
day,  is  apt  to  be  evinced  for  any  ex- 
traordinary criminal ;  and  it  is  there- 
fore possible,  that  if  Vaughan  had  not 
been  induced  by  circumstances  to  star- 
tle London  with  his  novel  crime,  the 
idea  of  forging  notes  might  have  been 

long  delayed. 

— ♦ — 

Fauntleroy,  the  Executed  Banker. 

The  sensation  produced  by  the 
criminality  of  Fauntieroy,  the  great 
banker  and  forger,  has  never  been 
exceeded  by  that  attending  any  simi- 
lar case,  in  Europe  or  America.  In 
September,  1824,  Plank,  the  Bow-street 
officer,  might  be  seen  proceeding  in 
the  direction  of  the  banking  house  of 
Marsh,  Stracey  &  Co.  A  person 
who  accompanied  him  entered  first, 
and,  requesting  an  interview  with 
Mr.  Fauntieroy,  was  ushered  into  his 
private  counting  house.  Within  a 
minute  he  was  followed  by  Plank. 
The  interior  of  a  bank  is  nearly  sacred ; 
but  the  officer  pushed  boldly  by  the 
clerk,  who  would  have  interrupted 
him,  merely  saying  he  wished  to  speak 
with  Mr.  Fauntieroy.  On  entering,  he 
closed  the  bar,  announced  his  name, 
and  produced  a  warrant  for  the  appre- 
hension   of    Henry  Fauntieroy    on    a 


256 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


charge  of  forgery.  A  deadly  pallor 
passed  over  the  face  of  the  latter ;  he 
was  fearfully  agitated,  and  hurriedly 
exclaimed,  "  Good  God  !  cannot  this 
business  be  settled  ? "  Plank  begged 
him  to  make  no  noise,  but  to  walk 
out  for  a  few  minutes,  and  they  could 
talk  about  it.  Mr.  Fauntleroy  then 
signed  a  few  blank  checks  for  the  bus- 
iness of  the  house  with  a  hand  so  un- 
steady that  it  was  difficult  to  recognize 
his  signature ;  and  said  he  should  go 
out  for  a  few  minutes.  He  was  then 
conducted  to  the  private  residence  of 
Mr.  Conant,  the  magistrate ;  and,  after 
an  interview  of  the  prisoner  with  one 
of  his  clerks,  Mr.  Freshfield,  accom- 
panied by  Plank,  proceeded  to  the 
banking  house  to  search  the  papers. 

The  search  was  successful.  Docu- 
ments unparalleled  in  the  history  of 
crime  were  discovered.  In  a  private 
room,  a  box,  bearing  no  name,  was 
found.  What  must  the  sui-prise  have 
been,  on  finding  in  it  a  list,  in  the 
prisoner's  handwriting,  of  forgeries 
which  he  had  committed  on  the  Bank 
of  England,  amounting  to  one  hundred 
and  twelve  thousand  pounds,  with  the 
following  extraordinary  acknowledg- 
ment :  "  In  order  to  keep  up  the  credit 
of  our  house,  I  have  forged  powers  of 
attorney,  and  have,  thereupon,  sold  out 
all  these  sums,  without  the  knowledge 
of  any  of  my  partners.  I  have  given 
credit  in  the  accounts  for  the  interest 
when  it  became  due.  Henry  Fauntleroy." 
These  words  followed  :  "  The  bank  first 
began  to  refuse  our  acceptances,  and 
thereby  destroy  the  credit  of  our  house. 
The  bank  shall  smart  for  it."  At  the 
period  of  his  apprehension  he  had  a 
power  of  attorney  by  which  he  would 
have  replaced  the  stock  that  produced 
the  discovery. 

In  a  conference  the  forger  had  with  U 
partner,  he  expressed  great  anxiety  to 
obtain  possession  of  a  "  blue  book." 
Mr.  Graham  searched,  and  brought 
one  with  a  blue  sheet  for  a  cover. 
"  No,  no,"  he  said,  "  this  is  not  the 


one  I  want.  It  is  a  bound  book." 
Mr.  Graham  informed  him  that  it  had 
reached  the  hands  of  Mr.  Freshfield. 
"  Then,"  said  Fauntleroy,  "  I'm  a  dead 
man.  I  could  have  set  the  bank  at 
defiance."  This  book  was  said  to  con- 
tain an  account  of  all  his  forgeries. 

The  crime  of  Mr.  Fauntleroy  excited 
intense  and  universal  interest.  Hardly 
anything  else  was  talked  about.  The 
newspapers  teemed  with  anecdotes. 
His  past  life  was  inquired  into.  His 
portrait  was  in  the  windows.  His  be- 
havior was  analyzed.  His  person  was 
described.  The  very  way  in  which  he 
held  his  hat  was  re^jresented.  The 
magistrate  apologized  for  an  intrusion ; 
and,  when  the  forger  heaved  a  sigh, 
the  scribe  was  ready  to  draw  the  atten- 
tion of  the  public  to  so  memorable  a 
fact.  The  loss  sustained  by  these 
forgeries  was  three  hundred  and  sixty 
thousand  pounds;  and  the  interest 
alone,  which  was  regularly  paid,  must 
have  been  nine  or  ten  thousand  pounds 
a  year.  The  care  required  by  these 
accounts,  and  the  constant  anxiety 
weighing  on  the  mind  of  Fauntleroy, 
from  the  knowledge  of  his  perilous 
position,  were,  in  themselves,  a  punish- 
ment. His  exertions  at  the  banking 
house  were  extraordinary.  So  energetic 
was  he,  that  his  services  were  noticed 
as  being  equal  to  those  of  three  clerks. 
The  last  time  he  received  from  the 
bank  the  warrants  due  to  the  firm  was 
the  day  on  which  Thurtell  and  Hunt 
were  tried.  During  the  payment,  he 
entered  into  conversation  on  the  crime 
with  the  clerk  who  paid  him  ;  imagin- 
ing but  little — perhaps — that  within  a 
year  the  same  judge  who  had  tried 
them  would  try  him ;  that  the  very 
list  of  warrants  he  was  receiving  would 
be  brought  in  evidence,  and  that  the 
clerk  with  whom  he  was  so  familiarly 
conversing  would  be  a  witness  against 
him.  Before  the  debtors'  door  at  New- 
gate, and  amidst  a  vast  concourse  of 
spectators,  the  unhappy  man  expiated 
his  crime. 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


257 


Restitution  of  Bank  Notes. 

On  the  24th  of  November,  1844,  Sun- 
day, the  "  strong  room  "  of  the  bank- 
ing house  of  Messrs.  Rogers,  Towgood 
&  Co.,  London,  was  opened,  and  prop- 
erty in  bank  notes,  gold,  and  bills  of 
exchange,  taken  therefrom,  to  the 
amount  of  nearly  fifty  thousand  pounds. 
The  notes,  of  various  denominations — 
and  of  which  there  were  thirty-six  one- 
thousand-pound  notes — amounted  to 
about  forty-four  thousand  pounds  in 
all,  and  the  gold  to  twelve  hundred 
pounds ;  the  rest  consisted  of  bills  of 
exchange. 

On  the  day  in  question,  one  of  the 
partners  was  in  the  house  an  invalid, 
and  a  clerk,  whose  duty  it  was  to  re- 
main on  the  premises  during  the  day, 
was  also  in  attendance ;  yet  the  above 
property  w^as  abstracted,  and  never 
missed  till  the  following  morning, 
when  the  safe  was  opened. 

A  reward  of  three  thousand  pounds 
was  immediately  offered  for  the  recovery 
of  the  property,  and  so  ran  the  offer : 
"  Her  most  gracious  majesty's  pardon 
will  be  granted  to  any  one  of  the  guilty 
parties  who  will  give  such  evidence  as 
will  procure  the  conviction  of  the  other 
offender  or  offenders;"  and,  although 
this  offer,  with  a  description  of  the 
notes  stolen,  which  occupied  three  full 
pages  in  octavo,  was  published  in  al- 
most every  newspaper  and  periodical 
in  the  three  kingdoms  and  on  the  con- 
tinent, no  clew  could  be  obtained  of  the 
robbers,  yet,  after  a  considerable  lapse 
of  time,  and  when  the  circumstances 
had  been  almost  forgotten  by  every 
one  but  the  losers  of  the  property,  the 
bank  notes  were  returned  in  a  parcel, 
directed  to  the  bankers  in  an  unknown 
hand,  and  without  any  comment. 


Tough  Experience  of  a  Business 
Drummer. 

One  cold  January  night,  the  hospi- 
tably huge  fireplace  of  the  best  room 

of  the  best  inn  in was  surrounded 

17 


by  a  jovial  company,  composed  of  com- 
mercial travellers  and  their  customers 
of  the  town.  The  air  of  solid  comfort 
which  pervaded  the  scene  was  height- 
ened by  its  contrast  with  the  cheerless 
aspect  of  the  weather  without ;  and  the 
complacent  manner  with  which  each 
guest  quaffed  from  his  mug  of  flip, 
and  gave  a  bland  reflection  to  his 
neighbor's  smile,  told  that  the  plea- 
santness of  the  situation  was  not  un- 
appreciated. 

All  were  overflowing  with  jest  and 
story,  but  the  most  amusing  member 
of  the  party  was  a  gentlemanly  look- 
ing person,  rather  smaller  than  the 
common  size  of  men,  and  frank  and 
open  in  his  address.  He  gave  his  name 
as  Morris,  and  (from  remarks  thrown 
out,  as  if  casually,  by  himself,  and  from 
that  fact  alone,  for  of  those  present  not 
one  had  ever  seen  him  previous  to  that 
time)  he  was  supposed  to  be  the  agent 
of  a  new  Liverpool  house.  There  was 
a  rich,  racy  humor,  and  a  power  of  imi- 
tation and  description,  about  the  man, 
allied  to  a  knowledge  of  the  light  and 
dark  spots  in  human  nature,  which 
lent  to  the  stories  that  he  told  a  fasci- 
nation winning  entire  attention.  Iden- 
tifying himself  for  the  moment  with  the 
character  whose  deeds  and  words  he 
was  narrating,  he  would  seem  at  times 
the  artless  Scotch  lassie,  the  Yorkshire 
lout,  the  rude  sailor,  the  querulous  bel- 
dame, the  blundering  Irishman,  chang- 
ing from  one  to  another  with  a  chame- 
leon-like facility. 

But  his  clief-d^ce,uvre,  in  this  kind  of 
narration,  was  a  story  of  a  finished  free- 
booter, who  accomplished  much  in  his 
line  of  business,  by  first  insinuating 
himself  into  the  confidence  of  his  in- 
tended victims  in  the  guise  of  a  gentle- 
man. His  personation  of  the  easy  im- 
pudence of  the  gentleman  of  the  road 
was  characteristic  and  excellent.  When 
he  had  concluded,  however,  his  "  free- 
booter "  was  criticized  by  Mr.  D.  (an 
agent  for  a  large  house  in  London,  con- 
nected with  the  coffee  trade),  whose 


258 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


jflip  had  made  him  flippant.  He  in- 
sisted that  Morris  had  made  but  "a 
tame  bird "  of  his  hero,  instead  of 
a  "roystering,  rough-handed,  ribald 
rogue,"  as  in  nature,  and  swore  with 
a  laugh  that  he  could  enact  the  high- 
wayman better  himself.  Morris  re- 
joined, in  the  same  good-natured 
way,  that  were  it  not  so  late,  and  the 
calls  of  Somnus  less  inviting,  he  would 
try  a  little  competition  of  the  kind 
with  him,  and  let  the  company  then 
present  decide  which  was  the  better 
of  the  two.  However,  he  professed  to 
think  that  an  opportunity  might  yet 
occur,  as  they  would, 'probably  meet  again 
on  the  road  at  some  time  or  another.  The 
company  laughed  heartily  at  the  joke, 
and,  drinking  sundry  parting  toasts, 
each  of  which  was  denominated,  as 
given,  the  iiery  last  and  best,  retired 
for  the  night.  Mr.  D.  was  fain  to 
maintain  his  equilibrium  by  accepting 
the  arm  of  Morris  to  his  bedroom. 
Before  he  bade  the  latter  a  good  night, 
he  had,  in  drunken  bravado,  defied  all 
the  highwaymen  in  Christendom,  and 
in  confidence  pointed  out  to  his  new 
friend  a  secret  pocket  in  his  coat,  con- 
taining a  brace  of  small  pistols  loaded, 
and  a  considerable  amount  of  money 
in  gold. 

In  the  morning,  several  of  the  "  drum- 
mers" departed  in  their  own  vehi- 
cles. Mr.  D.  was  to  take  a  seat  in  a 
stage,  but  being  invited  by  Morris  to 
take  a  seat  in  his  chaise,  concluded  to 
go  with  him,  as  their  routes  were  alike. 
During  the  ride  of  the  first  few  miles, 
D.'s  good  opinion  of  his  companion 
suffered  no  diminution,  but  it  imme- 
diately fell  below  par^  when,  in  a  lone- 
some part  of  the  road,  Morris  presented 
a  pistol  in  juxtaposition  with  his  head, 
and. begged  leave  to  borrow  the  funds 
then  in  his  possession.  The  altered 
mien  and  determined  look  of  the  man, 
as  well  as  his  own  instinctive  assurance 
that  he  was  in  earnest,  left  no  doubt  in 
the  mind  of  the  poor  agent  of  the  other's 
character.  He  determined,  however,  not 


to  comply  with  the  rascal's  request, 
without  an  effort  to  save  his  money  for 
loans  more  profitable.  With  the  pre- 
tence of  producing  the  desired  funds, 
he  seized  one  of  his  pistols  from  his 
pocket,  and  snapped  it  at  the  head  of 
the  robber.  It  flashed,  but  it  did  not 
explode.  The  quondam  Morris  laughed, 
and  mockingly  remarked,  as  the  other 
grasped  at  the  remaining  weapon,  that 
he  was  obliged  to  him,  but  he  was  suffi- 
ciently helped,  and  that  the  contents 
of  his  pocket  would  be  equally  accept- 
able, and  much  more  effective,  than 
those  of  his  pistols,  inasmuch  as  the 
last  were  empty — which  was  not  the 
case  with  the  pocket,  that  being 
charged  with  gold.  He  explained 
the  failure  of  the  weapons  to  dis- 
charge, by  saying  that  lest  accident 
should  befall  the  esteemed  friend 
whom  he  had  the  pleasure  of  address- 
ing, he  had  availed  himself  of  the  in- 
formation given  him  on  the  evening 
previous,  and  drawn  the  charges  from 
both  of  the  pocket  pistols.  In  effect- 
ing this  friendly  measure,  he  had 
noticed  with  great  satisfaction,  that 
his  friend  had  the  wherewithal  to 
make  him  the  loan,  which  he  now 
desired  receiving  without  delay.  As 
his  fingers,  he  said,  were  rather  trem- 
ulous, and  the  persuader^  into  the  muz- 
zle of  which  his  esteemed  friend  did 
him  the  honor  to  blink,  had  a  hair 
trigger,  he  begged  leave  to  suggest 
the  expediency  of  a  speedy  delivery 
of  all  his  funds.  Mr.  D.  cursed  the 
other's  impudence,  and  with  a  pardon- 
able ill  grace  gave  up  his  money.  He 
also  handed  his  watch  to  the  robber, 
but  it  was  returned  to  him,  with  a 
pathetic  request  that  he  would  keep  it 
in  remembrance  of  the  "  tame  bird." 
The  poor,  plucked  agent  remembered 
his  boasting  of  the  previous  evening, 
and  ground  his  teeth  with  vexation. 

After  Mr.  D.  had  alighted  from  the 
chaise,  he  was  asked  by  his  eccentric  ac- 
quaintance whether  or  not  he  thought 
it  would  be  necessary  to  find  referees 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


259 


to  decide  which  was  the  better  high- 
wayman of  the  two  !  Before  he  could 
answer,  the  robber  was  driving  at  a 
rapid  rate  toward  the  London  road, 
and  he  was  left  to  pursue  his  journey 
on  foot.  Poor  D.  never  again  sought 
to  rival  a  freebooter. 


Government  Contractors  in  Kussia. 

It  would  seem  that  American  con- 
tractors for  Government  jobs  are  not 
alone  in  the  patriotic  disinterestedness 
of  their  mode  of  doing  business ;  but 
that  their  equals  in  this  respect  may 
be  found  even  among  the  rough  and 
grizzly  Russians.    As  for  example  : 

A  certain  quantity  of  well-seasoned 
oak  being  required,  Government  issues 
tenders  for  the  required  amount.  A 
number  of  contractors  submit  their 
terms  to  a  board  appointed  for  the 
purpose  of  receiving  them,  who  are 
regulated  in  their  choice  of  a  con- 
tractor, not  by  the  amount  of  his  ten- 
der, but  of  his  bribe.  The  fortunate 
individual  selected  immediately  sub- 
contracts upon  a  somewhat  similar 
principle.  Arranging  to  be  supplied 
with  timber  for  half  the  amount  of 
his  tender,  the  sub-contractor  carries 
on  the  game,  and  perhaps  the  eighth 
link  in  this  contracting  chain  is  the 
man  who,  for  an  absurdly  low  figure, 
undertakes  to  produce  the  seasoned 
wood.  His  agents  in  the  central  pro- 
vinces, accordingly,  float  a  quantity 
of  green  pines  and  firs  down  the  Dnie- 
per and  Bay  to  Nicholaeff,  which  are 
duly  handed  up  to  the  head  contractor, 
each  man  pocketing  the  difference  be- 
tween his  contract  and  that  of  his 
neighbor.  When  the  wood  is  pro- 
duced before  the  board  appointed  to 
inspect  it,  another  bribe  seasons  it, 
and  the  Government,  after  paying  the 
price  of  well-seasoned  oak,  is  surprised 
that  the  one-hundred-and-twenty  gun- 
ship,  of  which  it  has  been  built,  is  unfit 
for  service  in  five  years. 


Muller,  the  Rich  Merchant  of  Nurem- 
berg—Fictitious Theft. 

A  PHiLosopnEii  has  said,  "  Take 
away  interest  and  vanity  from  the 
heart  of  man,  and  humanity  is  per- 
fect." A  little  story,  apropos  of  this 
vanity  of  our  age,  concerning  an  emi- 
nent German  merchant,  will  .not  be 
out  of  place  in  this  volume. 

Heinrich  Heine,  when  very  young,  set 
out  one  fine  morning,  from  Hamburg, 
and  started  for  Germany.  He  arrived 
one  evening  at  Manheim,  enters  the  fau- 
bourg of  the  Golden  Lion,  and  finds,  in 
the  dining  hall,  a  man  with  white  hair 
and  a  respectable  appearance,  digesting 
his  dinner  by  reading  a  newspaper. 
From  time  to  time  he  sighed  heavily. 
Heinrich  Heine  moved — he  was  very 
young — and  asked  of  the  unknown  the 
cause  of  his  grief. 

"  Ah,  monsieur  ! "  he  groaned,  in 
reply,  and  ordered  a  bottle  of  Johan- 
nisberg.  Our  two  Germans  drank  to- 
gether ;  Heinrich  Heine  renewed  his 
question,  and  the  unknown,  who  was 
continually  sighing,  suddenly  yielding 
to  the  desire  of  removing  from  his 
heart  an  enormous  weight,  said  to 
him : 

"  Listen  to  me.  My  name  is  Muller ; 
I  am  a  very  rich  merchant  of  Nurem- 
berg ;  I  have  two  hundred  thousand 
livres  income,  an  adorable  wife,  and 
charming  children ;  my  health  is  ex- 
cellent, and  I  am  the — most  unfortu- 
nate of  men ! " 

"  How  is  that  ? " 

"  Ah  !  (another  sigh.)  How  to  make 
you  so  terrible  an  avowal  I  I  have 
committed  a  crime  in  my  life.  I  have 
stolen ! " 

"  Rich  as  you  are,  what  hinders  you 
from  restoring  the  sum  you  have 
taken  ? " 

"  There  does  not  a  pass  a  month  that 
I  do  not  give,  in  charities,  in  pious 
works,  the  double,  the  triple,  the  quad- 
ruple of  what  I  have  purloined ;  but 
the  claw  of  the  vulture  does  not  leave 
me  a  moment  of  sweet  repose." 


260 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"  And  how  has  a  man  like  you  been 
able  to  yield  to  the  temptation  of 
theft?" 

"A  vertigo.  I  had  the  honor  of 
dining  with  the  Duke  of  Nassau  at 
his  chateau  at  Biebrich ;  the  prince, 
who  has  a  very  particular  considera- 
tion for  me,  placed  me  on  his  right, 
and  we  talked  during  the  dinner  of 
one  thing  and  another.  "  Monsieur 
Muller,"  said  the  Duke  to  me,  "  how 
is  Madame  Muller  ? "  "  Your  high- 
ness is  too  good."  "  And  the  little 
Mullers?"  "Very  well.  But  your 
highness  does  me  too  much  honor." 
The  Duke  de  Nassau  places  me  on  the 
footing  of  a  flattering  familiarity. 

"  Suddenly  I  saw  shining  before  my 
eyes  a  little  gilt  spoon.  What  passed 
in  my  brain  I  know  not,  but  the  mo- 
ment when  the  Duke  turned  his  head 
I  stretched  my  hand  slyly  along  the 
cloth,  took  the  spoon  and  put  it  in 
my  pocket.  This,  sir,  is  what  I  did  at 
the  house  of  the  Duke  de  Nassau." 

And  Mr.  Muller,  who  had  just  finish- 
ed his  third  bottle,  tumbled  off  to  sleep, 
and,  in  spite  of  so  much  remorse,  snored 
like  a  bass  vioL 

Some  days  after  this  conversation 
Heinrich  Heine  made  inquiries  in  re- 
gard to  this  man.  He  was  truly  Mr. 
Muller,  a  merchant  of  Nuremberg,  pos- 
sessed of  two  hundred  thousand  francs 
income,  he  was  surrounded  by  a  large 
family,  but — he  had  never  dined  at  the 
house  of  the  Duke  de  Nassau.  He 
had  only  invented  the  fable  of  the 
spoon  to  persuade  the  people  that  he 
was  the  friend  of  the  Duke  ;  willing  to 
gratify  his  vanity  by  imputing  to  him- 
self an  act  of  theft. 


Bank  TeUer  Filing-  His  Gold  Coin. 

A  NEW  business  crime  was  discovered 
in  1767.  The  notice  of  the  clerks  at 
the  bank  of  England  had  been  attracted 
by  the  habit  of  William  Guest,  a  teller, 
picking  new  from  old  guineas,  without 
assigning  any  reason.     An  indefinite 


suspicion,  increased  by  the  knowledge 
that  an  ingot  of  gold  had  been  seen 
in  Guest's  possession,  was  awakened ; 
and  although  he  stated  that  it  came 
from  Holland,  it  was  remarked  to  be 
very  unlike  the  regular  bars  of  gold, 
and  that  it  had  a  considerable  quantity 
of  copper  on  the  back.  Attention  being 
thus  drawn  to  the  movements  of  Guest, 
he  was  observed  to  hand  to  one  Rich- 
ard Still  some  guineas  which  he  took 
from  a  private  drawer,  and  placed  with 
others  on  the  table.  Still  was  instantly 
followed,  and  on  the  examination  of 
his  money,  three  of  the  guineas  in  his 
possession  were  deficient  in  weight. 
An  inquiry  was  immediately  instituted, 
and  forty  of  the  guineas  in  the  charge 
of  Guest  looked  fresher  than  the  others 
upon  the  edges,  and  weighed  much  less 
than  the  legitimate  amount.  On  search- 
ing his  home,  four  pounds  eleven  ounces 
of  gold  filings  were  found,  with  instru- 
ments calculated  to  produce  artifi^cial 
edges.  Proofs  soon  multiplied,  and  the 
prisoner  was  found  guilty.  The  instru- 
ment with  which  he  had  effected  his 
fraud,  and  of  which  one  of  the  wit- 
nesses asserted  it  was  the  greatest  im- 
provement he  had  ever  seen,  is  said  to 
be  yet  in  the  Mint,  a  memento  of  the 
prisoner's  capacity  and  crime. 


Ing-enious  Plot  against  a  Banker. 

A  London  banker  was  severely 
grieved  by  the  contents  of  a  letter 
which,  on  a  certain  occasion,  he  re- 
ceived from  a  correspondent  at  Ham- 
burg, the  postmark  of  which  place  it 
bore.  From  the  statement  it  contained, 
it  appeared  that  a  person  most  minutely 
described  had  defrauded  the  writer, 
under  extraordinary  circumstances,  of 
three  thousand  poimds.  The  letter 
continued  to  say  information  had  been 
obtained  that  the  defrauder— the  dress 
and  person  of  whom  it  described— was 
occasionally  to  be  seen  on  the  Dutch 
Walk  of  the  Royal  Exchange.  The 
object  of  the  writer  was  to  induce  his 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


261 


correspondent  to  invite  the  party  to 
dinner,  and,  by  any  moral  force  which 
could  be  used,  compel  him  to  return 
the  money ;  adding  that,  if  he  should 
be  found  amenable  to  reason,  and 
evince  any  signs  of  repentance,  he 
might  be  dismissed  with  a  friendly 
caution  and  five  hundred  pounds,  as 
he  was  a  near  relation  of  the  wri- 
ter. 

As  the  gentleman  whose  name  this 
letter  bore  was  a  profitable  corres- 
pondent, the  London  banker  kept  a 
keen  watch  on  the  Dutch  Walk,  and 
w^as  at  last  successful  in  meeting  and 
being  introduced  to  the  cheat.  The 
invitation  to  dine  was  accepted ;  and 
the  host,  having  previously  given  no- 
tice to  his  family  to  quit  the  table  soon 
after  dinner,  acquainted  his  visitor 
with  his  knowledge  of  the  fraud. 
Alarm  and  horror  were  depicted  in 
the  countenance  of  the  young  man, 
who,  with  tones  apparently  tremulous 
from  emotion,  begged  his  disgrace 
might  not  be  made  public.  To  this 
the  banker  consented,  provided  the 
three  thousand  pounds  were  returned. 
The  visitor  sighed  deeply,  but  said  that 
to  return  all  was  impossible,  as  he  had 
unfortunately  spent  part  of  the  amount. 
The  remainder,  however,  he  proposed 
to  yield  instantly,  and  the  notes  were 
handed  to  the  banker,  who,  after  dilat- 
ing upon  the  goodness  of  the  man  he 
had  robbed,  concluded  his  moral  lesson 
by  handing  him  a  check  for  five  hun- 
dred pounds,  as  a  proof  of  his  bene- 
ficence. The  following  morning,  the 
banker,  on  depositing  the  money  he 
had  received,  was  told,  to  his  great 
surprise,  that  the  notes  were  counter- 
feit. His  next  inquiries  were  concern- 
ing the  check,  but  that  had  been 
cashed  shortly  after  the  opening  of  the 
bank.  He  immediately  sent  an  express 
to  his  Hamburg  correspondent,  who 
replied  that  the  letter  was  a  forgery, 
and  that  no  fraud  had  been  committed 
on  him.  The  whole  affair  had  been 
plotted    by   a  gang,   some   of   whom 


were  on  the  continent,  and  some  in 
England. 

Exclianeing  a  Cheese  for  a  Pinch  of 
Snuff. 

John  Tice,  a  New  Jersey  grocer, 
came  to  Philadelphia  a  short  time 
since,  to  replenish  his  stock.  Com- 
pleting his  purchases,  which  in  due 
time  were  deposited  on  the  docks,  to 
be  shipped  per  river  steamer,  Mr.  Tice 
thought  proper  to  keep  his  eye  upon 
his  goods  until  they  could  be  taken 
on  board.  Among  them  was  a  fine 
Bucks  county  cheese,  weighing  about 
sixty-five  pounds,  upon  which,  for 
want  of  better  accommodations,  the 
weary  grocer  seated  himself  as  he 
watched  the  remainder  of  his  property 
on  the  wharf.  "While  thus  seated, 
running  over  the  events  of  the  day, 
calculating  the  profits  that  he  would 
realize  on  this  purchase,  and  every 
now  and  then  solacing  his  nasal  organ 
from  a  "yaller"  snuff'-box,  two  nice 
young  men  approached,  and  entered 
into  conversation. 

"  You  take  snuff",  sir,"  asked  young 
man  No.  1.  "  Yes — couldn't  do  with- 
out it — took  it  for  over  eight  years." 
"  You  use  the  maccoboy,  I  perceive  " 
(No.  2).  "  Yes.  That  suits  me  the  best 
for  a  steady  snuff."  "  Let  me  recom- 
mend you  mine,"  said  the  sharper, 
producing  a  silver-plated  box,  engraved 
with  an  American  eagle  and  two  har- 
poons;  "I  imported  it  from  France. 
It  is  the  identical  snuff  used  by  Mar- 
shal Pelissier  and  the  officers  of  the 
French  army."  Mr.  Tice  said,  "  Cer- 
tainly," and  inserted  his  thumb  and 
finger  in  the  stranger's  box.  The 
moment  he  placed  it  to  his  nose,  he 
was  seized  with  sneezing.  At  every 
sneeze  he  lifted  himself  about  a  foot 
from  the  cheese  upon  which  he  sat. 
While  he  was  doing  this,  sharper  No. 
2  was  carrying  out  his  share  of  the 
programme.  As  Mr.  Tice  gave  the 
third  sneeze,  the  rogue  pushed  the 
cheese  from  under  him,  and  in  its  stead 


262 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


placed  a  peck  measure  ;  and  as  he  was 
sneezing  for  the  eighth  and  last  time, 
the  sharpers  and  cheese  had  disap- 
peared. 

The  grocer  continued  rubbing  his 
nose  for  about  five  minutes  more,  won- 
dering as  to  the  style  of  nose  possessed 
by  Marshal  Pelissier  and  the  officers 
of  the  French  army,  who  took  such 
remarkable  snuflT.  By  this  time,  the 
deck  hands  of  the  boat  commenced 
to  load  up  Mr.  Tice's  goods.  Mr.  Tice 
rose  from  his  seat  and  said,  "  Take 
this  cheese,  too."  Deck  hand  said, 
"  What  cheese  ? "  The  grocer  looked 
around,  and  found  that  instead  of  the 
cheese,  he  had  been  sitting  upon  a  peck 
measure.  When  he  understood  the 
manner  in  which  the  exchange  had 
been  effected,  he  was  the  most  excited 
man  of  the  season.  He  oflfered  fifty 
dollars  to  any  one  who  would  give 
him  an  opportunity  to  fight  the  thieves 
with  one  hand  tied  behind  his  back. 


■Wanting  to  Pay  the  Cash. 

In  an  interior  town  in  old  Connec- 
ticut lives  a  shaky  character,  named 
Ben  Hayden.  Ben  has  some  good 
points,  but  he  will  run  his  face  when 
and  where  he  can,  and  never  pay.  In 
the  same  town  lives  Mr.  Jacob  Bond, 
who  keeps  the  store  at  the  comers. 
Ben  had  a  "  score  "  there,  but  to  get  his 
pay  was  more  than  Mr.  Bond  was  equal 
to,  as  yet.  One  day  Ben  made  his  ap- 
pearance with  a  bag  and  wheelbarrow, 
and  said,  "  Mr.  Bond,  I  want  to  buy 
two  bushels  of  corn,  and  I  tcant  to  pay 
cash  far  UP  "  Very  well,"  replied  Mr. 
Bond,  "  all  right ;  "  and  so  they  both 
ascended  the  loft,  and  when  the  neces- 
sary operations  were  gone  through 
with,  they  respectively  returned.  But 
by  the  time  the  trader  had  got  down 
and  looked  around  him,  old  Ben  had 
got  some  distance  from  the  door,  and 
was  rapidly  making  for  home.  "  Hal- 
loo, halloo,  Ben  I "  cried  out  the  trader 
lustily ;    "  you    said    you  wanted    to 


pay  cash  for  that  com."  Old  Ben 
deliberately  sat  down  on  one  handle 
of  his  barrow,  and  cocking  his  head 
on  one  side,  said,  "  That's  all  true,  Mr. 
Bond.  I  <Z(?  want  to  pay  you  the  cash 
for  the  corn,  but  I  can't ! " 


A  Rustic  Bargaining-  for  a  Hat. 

A  JOCKEY  country  merchant  was 
trafficking  one  day  with  a  rustic  moun- 
taineer, purchasing  hay  rakes  in  ex- 
change for  goods.  Of  course,  the  mer- 
chant's prices  were  what  are  called  bar- 
ter prices.  Our  rustic  had  need  of  a 
new  hat,  and  inquired  the  price  of  one 
from  a  case  just  opened,  from  New 
York.  "  Only  five  dollars,"  said  the 
merchant.  "  Isn't  that  rather  dear  ?  " 
said  the  customer.  "  I  never  sold  one 
for  less,"  said  the  sharp  merchant. 

The  clerk  in  the  store  inclined  his 
head  to  the  ear  of  a  bystander,  who  was 
listening  to  the  interesting  confabula- 
tion, and  whispered :  "He  never  sold 
one  at  all."  The  case  was  bought  at 
auction  in  New  York  for  one  dollar  a 
piece. 


Results  of  a  Career  of  Overreaching-. 

One  who  knew  well  the  late  Gideon 
Lee,  remarks  of  him  that  no  man  more 
thoroughly  despised  trickery  in  trade 
than  did  Mr.  L.  He  used  to  say  that 
"no  trade  can  be  sound  that  is  not 
beneficial  to  both  parties — to  the  buyer 
as  well  as  to  the  seller.  A  man  may 
obtain  a  temporary  advantage  by  sell- 
ing an  article  for  more  than  it  is  worth ; 
but  the  very  efi'ect  of  such  operactions 
must  recoil  on  him,  in  the  shape  of  bad 
debts  and  increased  risks."  A  person 
with  whom  he  had  some  transactions 
once  boasted  to  him  that  he  had,  on 
one  occasion,  obtained  an  advantage 
over  such  a  neighbor,  and,  upon  anoth- 
er occasion,  over  another  neighbor; 
"and  to-day,"  said  he,  "I  have  ob- 
tained one  over  you." 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Lee,  "  that  may  be ; 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


263 


but  if  you  will  promise  never  to  enter 
my  office  again,  I  will  give  you  that 
bundle  of  goatskins."  The  man  made 
the  promise,  and  took  them. 

Fifteen  years  afterward,  he  walked 
into  Mr.  Lee's  office.  At  the  instant, 
on  seeing  him,  Mr.  L.  exclaimed : 
"  You  have  violated  your  promise  ;  pay 
me  for  the  goatskins  !  "  "  Oh  !  "  said 
the  man,  "I  am  quite  poor,  and  have 
been  very  unfortunate  since  I  saw  you." 
"Yes,"  responded  Mr.  Lee,  "and  you 
always  will  be  poor;  that  miserable 
desire  for  overreaching  others  must  ever 
keep  you  so." 


Keen  Ruse  by  a  Yankee  Peddler. 

Just  before  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, a  Yankee  peddler  started 
down  to  New  York,  to  sell  a  parcel  of 
bowls  and  dishes  he  had  made  of  ma- 
ple. Jonathan  travelled  over  the  city, 
asking  everybody  to  buy  his  wares,  but 
no  one  seemed  disposed  to  buy  wooden 
dishes.  It  happened,  however,  that  a 
British  fleet  was  then  lying  in  the  har- 
bor of  New  York,  and  Jonathan  struck 
upon  a  plan  of  selling  his  dishes.  So 
he  got  a  naval  uniform,  by  hook  or  by 
crook — for  history  doesn't  tell  where 
he  got  it — and,  strutting  up  town  one 
morning,  in  his  assumed  garb,  asked  a 
merchant  if  he  had  any  nice  wooden 
ware;  that  the  commodore  wanted  a 
lot  for  the  fleet.  The  merchant  replied 
that  he  had  none  on  hand ;  but  there 
was  some  in  town,  and  if  he  would  send 
in  the  afternoon  he  could  supply  him. 
"  Very  good,"  said  our  naval  officer — 
and  out  he  went,  and  cut  for  home.  He 
had  scarcely  dofifed  his  borrowed  plu- 
mage before  down  came  the  merchant, 
who,  observing  that  Jonathan  had  sold 
none  of  his  wares,  now  oft'ered  to  take 
the  whole,  if  he  would  deduct  fifteen 
per  cent. ;  but  Jonathan  said  "  he'd  be 
hanged  if  he  didn't  take  'em  home  be- 
fore he'd  take  a  cent  less  than  his  first 
price."  So  the  merchant  paid  him 
down  in  gold  his  price  for  the  wooden 


ware,  which  laid  on  his  shelves  for 
many  a  long  day  thereafter.  If  any- 
thing additional  is  necessary  to  be 
said  in  connection  with  this  trade,  it  is 
not — that  Jonathan  trotted  home  in 
high  glee  at  the  success  of  his  ruse, 
while  the  merchant  cursed  British  uni- 
forms and  officers  ever  after. 


Trading  in  Imagrinary  Candlesticks. 

In  1808,  Vincent  Alessi,  a  native  of 
one  of  the  Italian  States,  went  to  Bir- 
mingham, England,  to  choose  some 
manufactures  likely  to  return  a  suffi- 
cient profit  in  Spain.  Among  others 
he  sought  a  brass  founder,  w^ho  showed 
him  that  which  he  required,  and  then 
drew  his  attention  to  "  another  article," 
which  he  said  he  could  sell  cheaper 
than  any  other  person  in  the  trade. 
Mr.  Alessi  declined  purchasing  this,  as 
it  proved  to  be  a  forged  bank  note; 
upon  which  he  was  shown  some  dollars, 
as  fitter  for  the  Spanish  market.  These 
were  also  declined.  It  would  seem, 
however,  from  what  followed,  that  Mr. 
Alessi  was  not  quite  unprepared,  as,  in 
the  evening,  he  was  called  on  by  one 
John  Nicholls,  and,  after  some  conver- 
sation, he  agreed  to  take  a  certain 
quantity  of  notes,  of  different  value, 
which  were  to  be  paid  for  at  the  rate 
of  six  shillings  in  the  pound. 

Alessi  thought  this  a  very  profita.ble 
business  while  it  lasted,  as  he  could 
always  procure  as  many  as  he  liked,  by 
writing  for  so  many  dozen  candle- 
sticks, calling  them  Nos.  5,  2,  or  1,  ac- 
corduig  to  the  amount  of  the  note  re- 
quired. The  vigilance  of  the  English 
police,  however,  was  too  much  even  for 
the  subtlety  of  an  Italian ;  he  was  taken 
by  them,  and  allowed  to  turn  king's 
evidence,  it  being  thought  very  desir- 
able to  discover  the  manufactory  whence 
the  notes  emanated. 

In  December,  John  Nicholls  received 
a  letter  from  Alessi,  stating  that  he  was 
going  to  America ;  that  he  wanted  to 
see  Nicholls  in  London :   that  he  re- 


264 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


quired  twenty  dozen  candlesticks,  No. 
5,  twenty-four  dozen  No.  1,  and  four 
dozen  No.  2.  Mr.  Nicholls,  unsuspi- 
cious of  Ms  correspondent's  captivity, 
and  consequent  frailty,  came  forthwith 
to  town  to  fulfil  so  important  an  order. 
Here  an  interview  was  planned  within 
hearing  of  the  public  officers.  Nicholls 
came  with  the  forged  notes.  Alessi 
counted  up  the  whole  sum  he  was  to 
pay,  at  six  shillings  in  the  pound,  say- 
ing :  "  Mr.  Nicholls,  you  will  take  all 
my  money  from  me."  "  Never  mind, 
sir,"  was  the  reply,  "  it  will  be  all  re- 
turned in  the  way  of  business."  Alessi 
then  remarked  that  it  was  cold,  and 
put  on  his  hat.  This  was  the  signal 
for  the  officers.  To  the  dealer's  sur- 
prise and  indignation  he  found  himself 
entrapped,  with  the  counterfeit  notes 
in  his  possession,  to  the  precise  amount 
in  number  and  value  that  had  been  or- 
dered in  the  letter.  Thus  Mr.  Nicholls 
found  his  business  suddenly  brought  to 
a  close,  and  the  brisk  trade  in  imagin- 
ary candlesticks  finished. 


The  Bank  Detectives  Foiled. 

The  desire  of  the  London  banks  to 
discover  the  makers  of  forged  notes 
produced,  on  a  certain  occasion,  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  anxiety  to  one 
whose  name  is  indelibly  associated 
with  the  fine  arts.  George  Morland — 
a  name  rarely  mentioned  but  with  feel- 
ings of  admiration  and  regret — had,  in 
his  eagerness  to  avoid  incarceration  for 
debt,  retired  to  an  obscure  hiding- 
place,  in  the  suburbs  of  London.  At 
one  period  he  hid  himself  in  Hackney, 
where  his  anxious  looks  and  secluded 
manner  of  life  induced  some  of  his 
charitable  neighbors  to  believe  him  a 
maker  of  forged  notes.  The  bank  di- 
rectors despatched  two  of  their  most 
dexterous  emissaries  to  inquire,  recon- 
noitre, search,  and  seize.  The  men  ar- 
rived, and  began  to  draw  lines  of  cir- 
cumvallation  round  the  painter's  re- 
treat.    He  was  not,  however,  to  be  sur- 


prised ;  mistaking  those  agents  of  evil 
mien  for  bailifis,  he  escaped  from  be- 
hind as  they  approached  in  front,  fled 
into  Hoxton,  and  never  halted  till  he 
had  hid  himself  in  London.  Nothing 
was  found  to  justify  suspicion;  and 
when  Mrs.  Morland,  w^ho  was  his  com- 
panion in  this  retreat,  told  them  who 
her  husband  was,  and  <Bhowed  them 
some  unfinished  pictures,  they  made 
such  a  report  to  the  bank  that  the  di- 
rectors presented  him  with  a  couple  of 
bank  notes  of  twenty  pounds  each,  by 
way  of  compensation  for  the  alarm 
they  had  given  him. 


Sharp  at  a  Trade— Sharper  in  Getting 
out  of  it. 

There  once  flourished  in  one  of  our 
commercial  cities  a  little  French  mer- 
chant, who  was  very  well  known  in 
said  locality,  and  who  himself  "  knew 
a  thing  or  two."  During  the  last  war, 
our  little  Frenchman  was  doing  a  very 
thriving  business  in  the  drygoods  line, 
and  was  supposed  to  be  a  little  sharper 
at  a  bargain  than  most,  at  least,  of  his 
fellow  tradesmen.  There  also  flourished 
at  the  same  time,  and  in  the  same  city, 
an  importing  merchant,  of  Yankee  ori- 
gin, who  was  noted  as  a  long-headed, 
close-fisted  dealer. 

It  is  w^ell  known  that  during  the  war 
English  goods  were  sold  at  enormous 
prices.  The  Yankee  merchant  was  in 
that  line  of  trade ;  and  a  few  days  be- 
fore the  arrival  in  this  country  of  the 
news  of  peace,  he  received  private  ad- 
vices from  the  continent,  which  led  him 
to  anticipate  it.  As  he  had  a  large 
supply  of  English  goods  on  hand  at  the 
time,  the  prices  of  w^hich  would  of 
course  instantly  fall,  he  set  about  dis- 
posing of  them  as  soon  as  possible  to 
his  less  informed  and  unsuspecting 
customers.  The  little  Frenchman  was 
one  of  his  victims.  After  much  hag- 
gling, and  the  off'er  of  a  long  credit,  the 
importer  efiected  a  bill  of  sale  of  goods 
to  him,  to  the  amount  of  something 
like  twenty   thousand  dollars,  taking 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


265 


his  notes  on  long  time  in  payment. 
These  he  considered  perfectly  good,  of 
course,  as  his  customer's  reputation  in 
the  money  market  was  unsullied.  The 
bargain  being  consummated,  the  two 
friends  parted,  each  in  a  capital  humor 
with  himself;  the  Yankee  to  deposit 
•  the  notes  in  his  strong  box,  and  the 
Frenchman  to  his  store,  where,  receiving 
his  newly  purchased  goods,  he  imme- 
diately commenced  marking  them  one 
hundred  per  cent,  above  cost,  thus 
making,  before  midnight,  to  use  his 
own  boast,  a  profit  of  twenty  thousand 
dollars  on  his  purchase  ! 

Three  days  afterward  the  oflScial 
news  of  peace  came  ;  English  goods  in- 
stantly fell  one  half,  and  our  little 
Frenchman  awoke  in  horror  from  his 
dream  of  cent,  per  cent.  Nine  persons 
out  of  every  ten,  under  such  circum- 
stances, would  have  failed  at  once. 
But  nil  desjperandum  was  the  motto  of 
our  Frenchman.  He  saw  that  he  had 
been  lit  by  his  commercial  friend,  and 
he  immediately  set  his  wits  at  work  to 
turn  the  tables  upon  him.  So,  late  in 
the  evening  of  the  next  day,  he  re- 
paired to  the  dwelling  of  the  importer, 
and  told  a  long  and  pitiful  story  of  his 
embarrassments.  He  said  his  con- 
science already  smote  him  for  making 
so  heavy  a  purchase  while  in  failing 
circumstances,  and  that  he  had  come 
to  make  the  only  reparation  in  his  pow- 
er— namely,  to  yield  up  the  goods  ob- 
tained of  the  importer,  on  the  latter's 
cancelling  the  notes  given  therefor. 
The  Yankee  at  first  demurred  ;  but  on 
the  Frenchman  insisting  that  he  was 
a  bankrupt,  and  that  he  feared  the 
moment  he  opened  in  the  morning  the 
sheriflF  would  pounce  upon  him  with  a 
writ  that  would  swallow  up  everything, 
he  finally  agreed  to  the  proposition. 
"  Half  a  loaf  was  better  than  no  bread," 
he  thought ;  so  the  notes  and  the  bill 
of  sale  were  accordingly  cancelled. 

By  daylight  in  the  morning,  the 
Yankee  was  at  the  Frenchman's  store, 
with  his  teams,  as  had  been  agreed 


upon  the  night  before,  and  every  pack- 
age of  his  goods  was  soon  removed. 
The  two  merchants  again  parted,  the 
Frenchman  relieved  of  a  heavy  load, 
and  the  Yankee  rather  down  in  the 
mouth  at  the  result  of  his  trade. 

Two  or  three  days  afterward,  as  the 
importer  was  passing  the  Frenchman's 
store,  he  observed  his  sign  still  up,  and 
everything  apparently  as  flourishing  as 
ever.  He  stepped  in  to  see  what  it  all 
meant.  "  Hallo  !  Mr.  S.,"  said  he,  "  I 
thought  you  had  failed  !  "  "  Failed  !  " 
repeated  the  little  Frenchman,  thrust- 
ing his  thumbs  in  the  arm  holes  of  his 
vest,  and  sliding  his  legs  apart  from 
counter  to  counter,  till  he  resembled  a 
small  Colossus  of  Rhodes:  ^^ Failed? 
No,  be  gar !  Firmer  than  ever,  Mr. 
H. ;  but  I  should  have  failed,  almosht,  if 
I  hadn't  got  rid  of  dem  tamn'd  English 
goods  at  cost !  '- 


Coal  Dealer's  Prediction  Fulfilled— 
Perhaps. 

An  English  coal  dealer,  who  was 
notorious  for  his  continual  and  unpro- 
voked swearing,  had  occasion  to  pro- 
ceed with  a  boat  to  a  neighboring  port, 
with  a  cargo  of  coals,  and  ordered  one 
of  his  men  to  take  charge  of  it.  As  the 
boat  was  leaving  the  wharf,  an  ac- 
quaintance civilly  accosted  the  man, 
asking  where  he  was  going.  "I  am 
going  to  hell,"  he  characteristically  re- 
plied, with  an  oath.  Strange  to  relate, 
he  died  suddenly  before  reaching  the 
port  of  his  destination.  Perhaps  his 
profane  prediction  was  fulfilled;  he 
knows  best. 


Deserved  Reward  of  Blasphemy. 

In  the  strait  between  Johor  and  Rhio 
there  is  a  small  white  rock,  called  the 
"  White  Stone,"  only  slightly  elevated 
above  the  water,  and  so  exactly  in  the 
centre  of  the  passage  that  many  ves- 
sels, unacquainted  with  it,  have  there 
been  wrecked. 

A  Portuguese  merchant  passing  this 


266 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


strait,  in  a  vessel  of  his  own,  richly 
laden  with  gold  and  other  valuable 
commodities,  asked  the  pilot  when  this 
rock  would  be  passed :  but  each  mo- 
ment appearing  to  him  long  until  he 
was  secure  from  the  danger  it  involved, 
he  repeated  his  question  so  often  that 
the  pilot  impatiently  told  him  "the 
rock  was  passed."  The  merchant,  trans- 
ported with  joy  at  this  announcement, 
rashly  exclaimed,  that  "  God  himself 
could  not  now  make  him  poor."  But 
in  a  little  while,  the  vessel  did  reach 
and  struck  on  the  Wliite  Stone,  and  all 
his  wealth  was  in  a  moment  engulfed 
in  the  deep  sea.  His  life  alone  was 
spared,  which  he  spent  in  misery  and 
remorse. 


Priend  Hopper  and  the  Due  Bill. 

Upon  a  certain  occasion  a  man  called 
upon  Isaac  T.  Hopper,  the  Quaker,  with 
a  due  bill  for  twenty  dollars  against  an 
estate  he  had  been  appointed  to  settle. 
Friend  Hopper  put  it  aside,  saying  he 
would  attend  to  it  as  soon  as  he  had 
leisure.  The  man  called  again  a  short 
time  after,  and  stated  that  he  had  need 
of  six  dollars,  and  was  willing  even  to 
give  a  receipt  for  the  whole  if  that  sum 
were  advanced  just  then.  This  propo- 
sition excited  suspicion,  and  the  ad- 
ministrator decided  in  his  own  mind 
that  he  would  pay  nothing  on  that  de- 
mand till  he  had  examined  the  papers 
of  the  deceased.  Searching  carefully 
among  these,  he  found  a  receipt  for  the 
money,  mentioning  the  identical  items, 
date,  and  circumstances  of  the  transac- 
tion, and  stating  that  a  due  bill  had 
been  given  and  lost,  and  was  to  be  re- 
stored to  the  creditor  when  found. 
When,  therefore,  the  man  called  again, 
Isaac  said  to  him,  in  a  quiet  way  : 

"Friend  Jones,  I  understand  thou 
hast  become  pious  lately." 

He  replied  in  a  solemn  tone  :  "  Yes, 
thanks  to  the  Lord  Jesus,  I  have  found 
out  the  way  of  salvation." 

"  And  thou  hast  been  dipped,  I  hear," 


continued  the  Quaker.  "Dost  thou 
know  James  Hunter  ?  " 

Mr.  Jones  answered  in  the  affirmative. 

"  Well,  he  was  also  dipped  some  time 
ago,"  rejoined  friend  Hopper,  "  but  the 
neighbors  say  they  didn't  get  the 
crown  of  his  head  under  water.  The 
devil  crept  into  the  unbaptized  part, 
and  has  been  busy  with  him  ever  since. 
I'm  afraid  they  didn't  get  thee  quite 
under  water.  I  think  thou  hadst  bet- 
ter be  dipped  again." 

As  he  thus  spoke,  he  held  up  the 
receipt  for  twenty  dollars.  The  coun- 
tenance of  the  pretended  pious  man  be- 
came scarlet,  and  he  disappeared  in- 
stantly. 


Bit  of  Yankee  Financiering   in  "Wall 
Street. 

A  LITTLE  colloquy,  after  the  follow- 
ing fashion,  is  reported  in  the  Knicker- 
locker^  as  having  occurred  in  the  count- 
ing house  of  a  mercantile  firm  :  "  A 
man  kind  o'  picks  up  a  good  many 
idees  abeout.  I  larnt  a  few  in  Wall 
street."  "In  Wall  street?"  "Yes; 
'see,  I  studied  it  eout  while  I  was  stage 
drivin'.  I  got  a  little  change  together ; 
didn't  know  where  to  place  it ;  couldn't 
hire  it  eout  hum,  'cause  I  was  pleadin' 
poverty  all  the  time  ;  that,  'see,  wouldn't 
deu :  so  I  goes  deown  and  claps  it  in 
the  Dry  Dock  Bank ;  got  five  per  cent., 
tew.  Had  a  brother  thair  who  was  tell- 
er. One  day  I  'gin  a  check  for  fifty  dol- 
lars :  all  right.  At  last  the  bank  got  in 
trouble  :  I  had  some  four  or  five  thou- 
sand dollars ;  I  goes  to  my  brother  and 
draws  eout  my  money — he  pays  me  in 


Bank  of 


notes.    Well,  I  took  'em 


hum,  but  they  forgot  to  take  eout  my 
check  for  fifty  dollars.  So  I  goes,  and 
sez  I,  '  I  owe  you  fifty  that  you  haint 
charged  me ;  will  you  take  your  own 
notes  ? '  '  Sartin,'  says  they ;  so  I  pays 
'em  in  notes  that  I  bought  at  twenty- 
five  off.  '  That's  a  good  spec,'  says  I ; 
so  I  goes  areound,  and  buys  up  about 
tew  hundred  Dry  Dock  notes.  When 
I  got  to  the  city,  I  couldn't  pass  'em 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


267 


off.  I  tried  a  good  many  banks — no 
go.  At  last  they  creowded  me  off  the 
pavement  in  Wall  street,  the  creowd 
was  so  big,  and  I  stood  in  the  middle 
of  the  street,  and  calculated.  '  I've  got 
the  idee,'  sez  I ;  '  I'll  come  country 
over  'em.'     So  I  walked  into  the  Bank 

of  ,  took  off  my  hat,  and  looked 

areound  as  if  didn't  know  what  I  was 
abeout.  I  know'd  the  cashier ;  so  he 
comes  up  :  '  Sam  ! '  sez  he, '  what  neow  ? 
— how's  the  family  ? '  '  All  well,'  sez 
I,  'but  what's  the  matter  with  your 
banks  ?  I  don't  know  who  to  depend 
on.  Here's  your  neighbor,  the  Dry 
Dock's,  gone,  and  maybe  you^U  go  next ; 
and  I've  got  abeout  five  thousand  dol- 
lars of  your  money,  and  I  guess  I'll 
come  deown  to  draw  the  specie.'  I 
expect  I  must  a-looked  as  if  I  was 
frightened  to  death ;  for  he  said  to 
once,  '  Deon't  do  that,  Sam  ! '  sez  he ; 
'  you'll  frighten  the  hull  country,  and 
they'll  come  and  run  us.'  '  Can't  help 
it,'  sez  I ;  '  here's  abeout  tew  hundred 
dollars  of  the  Dry  Dock,  and  if  I  don't 
get  the  money  somewhere  before  I  go 
hum,  I'll  draw  on  you  seoon.'  '  Heow 
much  ? '  sez  he  :  '  Abeout  tew  hundred.' 
*  "We'll  take  it,  Sam,'  sez  he,  '  and  you 
keep  our  paper.'  '  Well,'  sez  I,  '  on 
that  condition  I'll  keep  still.'  I  guess 
I  made  my  twenty-five  per  cent,  eout 
of  Wall  street  tliat  time. '  if  I  am  Dutch ' 
— as  the  saying  is  !  " 


Taking  him  at  his  Word. 

"  Will  you  give  me  a  glass  of  ale, 
jjlease  ?  "  asked  a  rather  seedy-ish  look- 
ing person,  with  an  old  but  well-brush- 
ed coat,  and  a'most  too  shiny  a  hat.  It 
was  produced  by  the  bartender,  cream- 
ing over  the  edge  of  the  tumbler. 
"Thanky'e,"  said  the  recipient  as  he 
placed  it  to  his  lips.  Having  finished 
it  at  a  swallow,  he  smacked  his  lips, 
and  said  :  "  That  is  very  fine  ale — 'cery.. 
Whose  i?  it  ?  "  "  It  is  Harman's  ale." 
"  Ah  !  Harman's,  eh  ?  well,  give  us  an- 
other glass  of  it."     It  was  done,  and 


holding  it  up  to  the  light  and  looking 
through  it,  the  connoisseur  said : 
"  'Pon  my  word,  it  is  superb  ale — 
superb  !  clear  as  madeira.  I  must  have 
some  more  of  that.  Give  me  a  mug  of 
it."  The  mug  was  furnished,  but,  be- 
fore putting  it  to  his  lips,  the  imbiber 
said :  "  Whose  ale  did  you  say  this 
was  ?  "  "  Harmaifi' s^''  emphatically  re- 
peated the  bartender.  The  mug  was 
exhausted,  and  also  the  vocabulary  of 
praise ;  and  it  only  remained  for  the 
appreciative  gentleman  to  say,  as  he 
wiped  his  mouth  and  went  toward  the 
door  :  "  Harman's  ale,  is  it  ?  I  know 
Harman  very  well — I  shall  see  him 
soon,  and  will  settle  with  him  for  two 
glasses  and  a  mug  of  his  incomparable 
brew  !     Good  mawning !  " 


Lodgrin?  a  Banker  in  the  Gutter. 

There  is  a  class  of  retail  dealers  in 
London  who  keep  accounts  with  bank- 
ers, but  who  seldom,  or  perhaps  never, 
have  the  privilege  of  the  entree  to  a 
banker's  parlor  or  "  sweating  room." 
(A  banker's  parlor  is  called  a  "  sweat- 
ing room,"  a  significant  term,  as  all  who 
have  been  under  the  necessity  of  ask- 
ing for  "  accommodation  "  will  readily 
allow.)  This  privilege  is  almost  exclu- 
sively enjoyed  by  the  merchants  and 
wholesale  dealers  ;  and  on  this  account 
the  retail  tradesman  scarcely  knows  the 
person  of  the  banker  with  whom  he 
lodges  his  money,  or  the  banker  that 
of  his  customer.  This  ignorance  gave 
rise  to  a  ludicrous  scene  between  a 
wealthy  London  banker  and  a  baker, 
one  of  his  customers. 

It  happened  on  a  certain  day  that 
the  baker  had  paid  in  to  his  account  a 
large  sum  of  money,  and  on  his  retir- 
ing from  the  bank  he  paused  on  the 
step  of  the  door,  and  began  to  reflect 
which  way  he  should  steer  his  course. 
While  in  this  position  of  innocent  un- 
certainty, as  ill  luck  would  have  it,  the 
banker  came  up  ;  and,  as  he  could  not 
pass  the  dusty  baker  without  touching 


268 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Mm,  and  thus  soiling  his  own  clothes 
— for  the  baker  was  in  his  working 
gear — he  very  haughtily  said  :  "  Move 
away,  fellow.''  This  language,  applied 
to  a  trader  who  had  just  paid  five  hun- 
dred pounds  in  to  his  account,  which 
already  had  a  large  sum  to  his  credit, 
was,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  very  irritat- 
ing, and  such  as  the  baker  thought,  no 
doubt,  he  ought  to  resent,  for  he  re- 
plied :  "  I  shan't  move  for  you  nor  any 
coxcomb  like  you ;  and,  what's  more, 
if  you  give  me  your  lip  again  in  that 
manner,  I'll  put  your  nose  in  the  ken- 
nel." 

The  banker,  not  being,  in  his  turn, 
used  to  such  a  mode  of  address,  still 
authoritatively  ordered  the  baker  to 
move  and  let  him  pass,  or  he  would  let 
him  know  who  he  was.  Words  ran 
very  high.  At  last  the  pugnacious 
baker,  unable  any  longer  to  restrain  his 
passion,  with  one  blow — for  he  was  a 
powerful  man — knocked  the  danker  into 
the  gutter.  The  banker's  fall  shook 
Lombard  street;  but,  unlike  most 
bankers,  who,  when  they  fall,  fall  like 
Lucifer,  never  to  rise  again,  he  did  rise, 
and,  rushing  into  his  banking  shop, 
covered  with  mud,  foaming  with  rage, 
and  followed  by  the  still  bristling 
baker,  eager  for  a  clinch,  he  called 
loudly  for  the  parties  to  fetch  a  con- 
stable to  "  take  this  fellow  into  cus- 
tody." 

The  cashier,  who  but  a  few  minutes 
before  had  attended  upon  the  baker,  to 
his  utter  amazement  witnessed  this  ex- 
traordinary scene.  He  immediately  ran 
to  the  banker,  and  whispered  in  his 

ear :  "  That  is  Mr. ,  our  customer." 

These  few  words  acted  upon  the  excit- 
able feelings  of  the  banker  in  the  same 
manner  as  oil  upon  troubled  water; 
for,  without  uttering  another  word,  he 
retired  to  his  room — which,  on  this 
occasion,  might  with  peculiar  propriety 
be  called  a  "  sweating  room,"  and  after 
a  while  requested  the  cashier  to  calm 
the  belligerent  baker,  who,  in  a  men- 
acing attitude,  was  still  chewing  the 


cud  of  his  resentment  outside  the  room. 
This  the  cashier  soon  effected  ;  and  the 
customer  was  then,  for  the  first  time, 
formally  introduced  to  him,  when  apo- 
logies were  mutually  interchanged,  and 
the  banker  and  baker  were  from  that 
day  well  known  to  each  other. 


The  Prince  Regent's  "Wine  and  the 
Confidential  Dealer. 

An  anecdote  is  related  in  TaWs  Mag- 
azine of  the  Prince  Regent,  which  gives 
some  insight  into  the  mysteries  of  the 
wine  trade.  The  incidents  of  the  case 
relate  to  how  the  Prince  Regent  had, 
in  a  corner  of  his  cellar,  a  small  quan- 
tity of  remarkably  fine  wine,  of  a  pecu- 
liar quality  and  flavor ;  how,  this  wine 
remaining  untouched  for  some  time, 
the  household  thought  their  master 
had  forgotten  it,  and  to  make  up  for 
this  inexcusable  lapse  of  memory,  took 
upon  themselves  to  drink  it  nearly 
out ;  how  the  prince,  one  day,  expect- 
ing some  illustrious  connoisseurs  to 
dinner,  ordered  this  particular  wine  to 
be  served,  and  thus  threw  "  the  house- 
hold "  into  a  state  of  consternation,  and 
how  one  of  them  hastened  thereupon 
to  take  confidential  counsel  of  a  icine 
merchant  in  the  city,  who  quickly  al- 
layed his  terrors.  "  Send  me,"  said  the 
ingenious  dealer,  "  a  bottle  of  what  re- 
mains, and  I  will  send  you  in  return  as 
much  wine  of  that  description  as  you 
want ;  only  you  must  take  care  that 
what  I  send  is  drunk  immediately." 
This  advice  was  followed,  the  success 
was  complete.  The  Prince  Regent  and 
his  distinguished  guests  (so  the  story 
goes)  were  delighted  with  this  rare  old 
wine,  whose  peculiar  merits  had  been 
so  long  overlooked.  Three  or  four 
times  afterward,  the  prince,  whose 
taste  in  wine  was  exquisite,  ordered 
some  from  the  same  batch;  and  on 
every  occasion  the  confidential  dealer 
had  recourse  to  his  private  vineyard  in 
his  cellar,  and  "  the  mixture  as  before  " 
was  forthcoming.  This  process  was 
continued  until  "  the  household,"  fear- 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIEa 


269 


ing  a  discovery,  tliouglit  it  prudent 
to  inform  their  royal  master  that  the 
stock  of  this  favorite  beverage  was  ex- 
hausted. 


"Dummies,"  or  Counterfeit  Show 
Windows. 

It  is  stated  that  the  demand  for 
"  dummies  "  has  wonderfully  increased 
in  the  large  towns  of  England,  as  well 
as  on  the  Continent,  since  the  recent 
elevation  and  widening  of  shop  win- 
dows. Though  the  shopkeeper  may 
carry  his  magnificent  crystal  windows 
up  to  the  first  or  second  floor,  as  many 
of  them  do,  it  is  out  of  his  power  to 
conveniently  lift  the  heads  of  his  cus- 
tomers to  the  same  level ;  he  conse- 
quently finds  out,  sooner  or  later,  that 
it  is  a  losing  game  to  exhibit  his  perish- 
able stock  at  a  height  of  half  a  dozen 
feet  or  more  above  the  heads  of  the 
public,  and  he  has  recourse  to  the 
maker  of  dummies,  who  can  counter- 
feit any  description  of  solid-looking 
goods,  and  save  him  from  the  dete- 
rioration which  would  befall  genuine 
goods  thus  exposed  to  the  glare  and 
dust,  damp,  smoke,  &c. 

The  dummies,  therefore,  go  aloft, 
and  economically  fill  in  the  ample 
background,  and,  for  purposes  of  show, 
their  attractive  appearance  enables 
them  to  be  used  about  as  advantage- 
ously as  the  real  article.  They  are  not, 
however,  confined  to  the  window  sole- 
ly; a  young  tradesman  with  a  small 
capital  may  fill  the  major  portion  of 
his  shelves  with  a  "rich  stock  of 
goods,"  by  means  of  dummies,  displa- 
cing them  gradually  by  real  wares,  as 
success  enables  him  to  do  so. 

Pieces  of  linen,  rolls  of  broadcloth  or 
Brussels  carpeting,  splendid  brocades, 
whole  fathoms  of  backs  of  elegantly 
bound  books,  chests  of  tea,  huge  tuns 
of  "  Old  Tom,"  or  real  Jamaica  rum, 
packets  of  patent  medicines,  and  in- 
numerable things  besides,  are  counter- 
feited with  such  perfect  effect  as  to 
reality  and  beauty,  as  to  defy  recogni- 


tion by  a  stranger — nay,  the  tradesman 

himself  will  sometimes  lay  hands  on 

the  dummy,  mistaking  it  for  a  genuine 

piece  of  goods. 

— ♦ — 

Smuggled  Needles  and  the  American 
Eagle. 

Somebody  tells  the  following  anec- 
dote, capital  of  its  kind :  In  the  time 
of  the  last  war,  there  were  two  hot- 
headed politicians,  whose  contempt  for 
John  Bull  was  so  hearty,  that,  taking 
their  own  word  for  it,  they  would  not  so 
much  as  eat  with  a  knife  and  fork  of 
English  manufacture,  if  they  could 
avoid  it.  During  the  war,  the  English 
had  possession  of  Castine,  at  the  head 
of  Penobscot  Bay,  and  smuggling  Eng- 
lish goods  from  that  place  into  the 
country  was  extensively  practised.  The 
temptation  was  too  great  for  the  cupid- 
ity of  our  two  republicans,  and  finally 
overcame  all  their  scruples.  I  lived  at 
that  time  (says  the  narrator)  in  an 
eastern  town,  and  one  bitter  cold  night 
in  February,  I  was  called,  at  two 
o'clock,  from  my  bed,  by  two  men 
whom  I  never  knew  before,  to  go  and 
receive  several  loads  of  smuggled 
goods,  which,  by  direction  of  my  em- 
ployer, I  took  into  the  cellar,  through 
a  back  way  in  the  store  where  I  was  a 
clerk,  and  secreted  them  carefully. 

One  of  the  sleighs  was  loaded  with 
hardware,  and  in  crossing  the  ferry 
over  the  Kennebeck,  they  met  with  a 
sad  accident.  The  only  ferry  boat  was 
a  large,  flat  gondola.  When  they  ar- 
rived on  the  opposite  side,  intending 
to  stop  for  some  refreshment,  they 
drove  the  sleighs  out  of  the  gondola, 
except  the  hindmost  one,  which,  being 
loaded  with  the  hardware,  was  very 
heavy,  and  tipped  the  boat  very  much. 
This  was  permitted  to  remain,  and  while 
they  were  regaling  themselves,  the  tide 
rose,  overflowed  the  sides  of  the  boat, 
and  sank  it.  The  goods  were,  of  course, 
wet.  Among  them  was  a  package  "of 
sewing  needles,  and  being  accustomed 
to  handling  such  goods,  our  republicans 


270 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


employed  me  to  open,  dry,  and  repack 
them  in  emery,  which  I  did  very  care- 
fully, at  the  expense  of  several  days' 
labor.  Needles  were  many  times  as 
dear  then  as  now,  so  that  the  case  was 
valued  at  some  hundreds  of  dollars, 
which,  but  for  my  care  and  industry, 
would  have  been  spoiled  entirely.  And 
one  day,  when  a  custom-house  officer 
came  into  the  store  to  search  for  smug- 
gled goods,  I  showed  him  every  place 
in  the  store  except  where  they  were. 
The  goods  were  delivered  out  again, 
and  sent  in  small  parcels  to  Boston  and 
New  York,  for  sale. 

The  pains  I  had  taken,  and  the  value 
of  my  services,  led  me  to  expect  a  gen- 
erous reward,  and  I  congratulated  my- 
self with  the  anticipated,  profits  of  fidel- 
ity to  the  trust  reposed  in  me.  When 
the  last  package  of  goods  was  removed, 
one  of  the  smugglers  came  to  me  and 
said,  "  You  are  a  capital .  little  fellow ; 
if  I  had  you  in  my  store  you  would  be 
worth  your  weight  in  gold.  Always 
be  as  faithful,  and  you  will  always  be 
trusted." 

Expectation  was  now  on  tiptoe;  I 
would  not  have  given  a  sixpence  to  in- 
sure a  twenty-dollar  bill  in  my  hand 
the  next  moment,  but,  like  most  high 
worldly  hopes,  mine  were  doomed  to 
disappointment.  The  republican  smug- 
gler put  his  hand  in  his  pocket  and 
solemnly  drew  forth  an  American  half 
dollar!  "That,"  said  he,  "is  the  real 
coin,  the  true  American  eagle;  "ke^^  it, 
and  be  sure  you  always  avoid  an  Eng- 
lishman as  you  would  an  adder."  He 
took  his  valise  in  his  hand  and  walked 
toward  the  stage  office ;  I  looked  after 
him  till  he  was  out  of  sight,  and  his 
gait,  form,  and  figure,  to  the  smallest 
outline,  are  as  fresh  in  memory  now  as 
at  that  moment  (I  was  then  a  boy),  and 
the  contempt  I  then  felt  for  him  has 
never  been  efiaced.  I  have  met  him 
often  in  the  streets  of  New  York ;  he 
does  not  know  me,  but  I  never  passed 
him  without  laughing,  though  I  have 
kept  his  secret  to  this  day. 


Throwing-  Sawdust  in  the  Eyes  of 
Custom-House  OfB.cers. 


An  ingenious  ruse  was  played  by  a 
wag  who,  before  the  working  of  the 
saline  springs  of  New  York,  made  it  a 
business  to  smuggle  salt  from  Canada 
into  the  "  States."  One  day,  having 
got  wind  that  he  was  suspected,  he 
loaded  his  bags  with  sawdust,  and 
drove  past  the  tavern  where  the  sus- 
picious excisemen  w^ere  waiting  for 
him.  He  was  ordered  to  stop,  but  he 
only  increased  his  speed.  At  length 
he  was  overtaken,  and  his  load  in- 
spected, with  many  imprecations  from 
the  eager  officials,  after  which  he  was 
permitted  to  pass  on.  A  day  or  two 
after  he  drove  up  again,  with  a  full 
load  of  salt,  and  asked,  banteringly,  if 
they  didn't  want  to  search  him  again. 
"  Go  on  !  go  on !  "  said  the  officials ; 
"  we've  had  enough  of  you  I  " 


Snug"  Place  for  Bank  Notes. 

A  GREAT  number  of  false  bank  notes 
were  at  one  time  put  into  circulation 
within  the  dominions  of  the  Czar. 
They  could  only  have  been  imported ; 
but  although  the  strictest  search  was 
made  habitually  over  every  vessel  en- 
tering a  Russian  port,  no"  smuggling  of 
false  notes  was  discovered.  Accident, 
however,  at  last  brought  the  mystery 
to  light.  It  happened  that  several 
cases  of  lead  pencils  arrived  one  day 
from  England,  and  were  being  exam- 
ined, when  one  of  them  fell  out  from  a 
package,  and  the  custom-house  officer, 
picking  it  up,  cut  it  to  a  point,  and 
used  it  to  sign  the  order  which  deliv- 
ered up  the  cases  to  the  consignee.  He 
kept  the  one  loose  pencil  for  his  own 
use  ;  and  a  few  days  afterward,  because 
it  needed  a  fresh  point,  cut  it  again, 
and  found  that  there  was  no  more  lead. 
Another  chip  into  the  cedar  brought 
him  to  a  roll  of  paper  nested  in  a  hol- 
low place.  This  paper  was  one  of  the 
false  notes  engraved  in  London,  and 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


271 


thus  smuggled  into  the  dominions  of 
the  Muscovite. 


Parisian  Female  Smuggrlers. 

The  smuggling  of  game  and  such 
taxable  articles  into  Paris,  under  the 
petticoats  of  women,  has  become  so  fre- 
quent that  a  female  has  been  attached 
to  the  bureau  of  the  department,  in  or- 
der that  she  may  search  under  the  gar- 
ments of  suspected  individuals  of  her 
sex.  Recently  a  woman — known  as  the 
Hottentot  Venus — presented  herself  at 
one  of  the  gates.  The  agents,  who  are 
always  jealous  of  stout  people,  request- 
ed the  lady  with  the  phenomenal  con- 
tour to  stop.  She  refused,  and  pushed 
by.  One  of  the  custom-house  employes 
seized  her,  and  commenced  pressing  his 
fingers  on  various  parts  of  her  fictitious 
body,  as  if  he  were  feeling  to  see  wheth- 
er she  was  ripe.  She  screamed  and 
fought,  and  in  her  struggles  a  partridge 
fell  from  under  her  skirts  to  the  ground. 
Her  contraband  wares  were  probably 
strung  like  dried  apples,  and  the  escape 
of  the  partridge  loosened  the  whole. 
Down  came  a  quail,  and  then  a  snipe, 
and  then  another  quail,  and  a  wood- 
cock, until  the  woman,  whose  embon- 
point had  now  visibly  diminished,  was 
thrust  into  the  office,  where  the  female 
attendant  of  the  establishment  com- 
menced a  thorough  investigation.  Wlien 
all  was  over,  the  victim  was  found  to 
be  a  very  spare  person,  not  weighing 
over  ninety -five  pounds. 


Smuggling  by  the  Chinese. 

Although  the  Chinese  smugglers  do 
not  precisely  fear  the  mandarin  boats, 
they  always  endeavor  to  avoid  them, 
unless  they  have  come  to  some  agree- 
ment. If,  however,  they  cannot  escape 
being  overhauled,  they  endeavor  to  ne- 
gotiate, and  will  offer  the  mandarin  and 
his  crew  a  cumsha  (a  present)  in  order 
to  obtain  permission  to  continue  their 
voyage.    They  do  not  fight  except  at 


the  last  extremity,  or  unless  the  de- 
mands of  the  mandarin  are  too  exorbi- 
tant— or,  what  is  still  more  rare,  unless 
that  functionary  shows  himself  inacces- 
sible to  corruption,  and  will  not  traffic 
his  duties. 


Doing  Things  on  Shares. 

Here  is  a  case  illustrating  the  work- 
ing of  the  "  peculiar  institution  of" 
doing  things  on  shares.  A  happened 
to  have  more  pigs  than  he  could  keep, 
while  his  neighbor  B  had  more  milk 
than  he  could  dispose  of.  One  day,  A 
brought  two  pigs  over  and  deposited 
them  in  B's  pen,  saying  that  he  wished 
B  to  keep  them  two  months  and  have ' 
one  of  them  as  his  share.  B  replied 
that,  as  he  had  plenty  of  feed,  he  would 
keep  them  four  months  and  have  them 
both,  as,  of  course,  that  would  amount 
to  the  same  thing  I  A  left,  saying  that 
he  supposed  it  was  all  right,  but 
guessed  he  wouldn't  bring  any  more. 


"l^oing"  and  "Shaving"  Customers. 

"  A  FOOL  and  his  money  are  soon 
parted " — a  proverb  not  founded  on 
fact,  but  a  great  favorite  with  mer- 
chant princes  and  cabmen  on  the  oc- 
casion of  their  having,  in  their  respect- 
ive callings,  succeeded  in  "  doing "  a 
liberal  customer.  With  what  gusto 
does  the  "  gentleman "  relate  to  his 
partner,  over  a  bottle  at  his  country 
seat,  how  easily  the  greenhorn  took  the 
bait !  "  An  entire  cargo — ten  per  cent, 
above  the  market  price — said  he  sup- 
posed it  was  '  all  right ' — would  take 
my  word  for  it ;  ha  !  ha  !  ha  ! — a  fool 
and  his  money  are  soon  parted ! "  And 
listen  to  the  humbler  but  not  meaner 
chuckling  of  the  hackdriver  over  his 
gin  twist :  "  Charged  him  a  dollar  from 
Whitehall  to  the  Astor — forked  over 
the  tin  without  a  word !  A  fool  and 
his  money,"  etc.  The  fact  is,  an  avari- 
cious man  sees  no  wit  in  liberality  or 
open  dealing.  8hylock  began  it :  "  This 


272 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


is  tlie  fool  that  lent  out  money  gratis ! " 
It's  all  wrong.  A  Wall-street  broker  of 
the  best  reputation  once  said  that  the 
hardest  man  to  "  shave  " — as  he  tech- 
nically expressed  himself— is  a  fool. 
"  Sir,"  said  he,  "  you  don't  know  where 
to  have  'em ;  you  can't  stick  soft  cheese 
on  a  hook !  " 


Settlingr  a  Question  of  Taste  and  Trade. 

Mr.  Jones  was  down  to  'York  once, 
and  being  very  fond  o'  sassengers,  he 
went  into  an  eatin'  shop  to  get  some. 
While  he  was  a-hearin'  of  'em  fry,  his- 
sin'  and  sputterin'  away,  a  man  was 
buyin'  some  of  'em  raw  at  the  counter, 
and  while  he  was  a-tyin'  of  'em  up,  a 
chap  came  in  with  a  fuz  cap  and  a 
dirty  drab  sustout,  and  laid  down  a  lit- 
tle bundle  at  fur  eend  o'  the  coimter. 
He  looked  at  the  keeper,  and  see  he 
was  a  little  busy ;  so  he  said,  lookin' 
sly  at  him  as  he  went  out,  says  he, 
"  'Tan't  no  matter  about  the  money 
now^  but  that  inakes  eleven  " —  p'intin' 
toward  the  bundle.  Jones  looked  at 
the  bundle,  and  says  he  saw  the  head 
of  a  cat  stickin'  out  at  the  eend,  vdth 
long  smellers  onto  it  as  long  as  his  fin- 
ger I  He  left  that  shop  'mazin'  quick, 
and  has  had  no  relish  for  the  article 
sence,  tho'  once  so  savory  and  tooth- 
some to  him. 


"Newscloth." 

A  PUBLISHER  in  Greenock,  Scotland, 
having  been  fined  for  printing  news  on 
unstamped  sheets  of  paper — contrary  to 
the  law  in  such  cases — retaliated  by 
printing  on  cloth^  which  is  not  speci- 
fied in  the  act — calling  his  journal  the 
"Greenock  ^e-wacloth,'*^  in  allusion  to 
the  material. 


Expedient  of  a  Russian  Miser. 

A  Russian  merchant,  who  was  so 
immensely  rich  that  on  one  occasion  he 
lent  the  Empress  Catharine  the  Second 


a  million  of  roubles,  used  to  live  in  a 
small,  obscure  room  in  St.  Petersburg, 
with  scarcely  any  fire,  furniture,  or  at- 
tendants, though  his  house  was  larger 
than  many  palaces.  He  buried  his 
money,  in  cash,  in  the  cellar,  and  was 
so  great  a  miser  that  he  barely  allowed 
himself  the  common  necessaries  of  life. 
He  placed  his  principal  security  in  a 
large  dog  of  singular  fierceness,  which 
used  to  protect  the  premises  by  barking 
nearly  the  whole  of  the  night.  At  length 
the  dog  died  ;  when  the  master,  either 
impelled  by  his  sordidness  from  buying 
another  dog,  or  fearing  that  he  might 
not  meet  with  one  that  he  could  so  well 
depend  on,  adopted  the  singular  meth- 
od of  performing  the  canine  service 
himself,  by  going  his  rounds  every 
evening,  and  barking  as  well  and  as 
loud  as  he  could,  in  imitation  of  his 
more  excusable  beast. 


Bums  and  the  Drowning-  Merchant. 

Burns  was  standing  one  day  upon 
the  quay  at  Greenock,  when  a  most 
wealthy  merchant,  belonging  to  the 
town,  had  the  misfortune  to  fall  into 
the  harbor.  He  was  no  swimmer,  and 
his  death  would  have  been  inevitable, 
had  not  a  sailor,  who  happened  to 
be  passing  at  the  time,  immediately 
plunged  in,  and,  at  the  risk  of  his  own 
life,  rescued  him  from  his  dangerous 
situation. 

The  Greenock  merchant,  upon  recov- 
ering a  little  from  his  fright,  put  his 
hand  into  his  pocket,  and  generously 
presented  the  sailor  with  a — shilling ! 
The  crowd,  who  were  by  this  time  col- 
lected, loudly  protested  against  the 
contemptible  insignificance  of  the  sum ; 
but  Bums,  with  a  smile  of  ineffable 
scorn,  entreated  them  to  restrain  their 
clamor— " for,"  said  he,  "the  gentle- 
man is  of  course  the  best  judge  of  the 
value  of  his  own  life."  "^ 


TRADE   AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


273 


One  Cent  with  Qirard. 

A  GENTLEMAN  from  Europe  pur- 
chased a  bill  of  exchange  on  Girard,  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  a  tour  to  this 
country.  It  was  duly  honored  on  pre- 
sentation ;  but  in  the  course  of  their 
transactions,  it  so  happened  that  one 
cent  remained  to  be  refunded  on  the 
part  of  the  European  ;  and,  on  the  eve 
of  his  departure  from  this  country,  Gi- 
rard dunned  him  for  it.  The  gentle- 
man apologized,  and  tendered  him  a 
six-and-a-quarter-cent  piece,  requesting 
the  difference.  Mr.  Girard  tendered 
him  in  change  Jive  cents,  which  the 
gentleman  declined  to  accept,  alleging 
that  he  was  entitled  to  an  additional 
quarter  of  a  cent.  In  reply,  Girard  ad- 
mitted the  fact,  but  informed  him  that 
it  was  not  in  his  power  to  comply,  as 
the  Government  had  neglected  to  pro- 
vide the  fractional  coin  in  question, 
and  returned  the  gentleman  the  six- 
cent  piece,  reminding  him,  however,  in 
unmistakable  language,  that  he  must 
still  consider  him  his  debtor  for  the 
balance  unpaid — the  one  cent. 


Resolving  to  be  Rich. 

"  I  MEAN  to  be  a  rich  man,  cost  what 
it  may.  A  man  is  nothing  in  the  world 
without  wealth.  With  plenty  of  money 
he  is  everything.  I  mean  to  get  rich, 
anyhow." 

This  was  the  soliloquy  of  a  young 
merchant,  who,  with  a  small  capital, 
had  recently  established  himself  in 
business.  He  made  a  stern  resolve  to 
be  rich,  and  having  great  perseverance, 
he  went  busily  to  work  in  the  execu- 
tion of  his  project. 

Everything  was  made  subordinate  to 
the  realization  of  his  golden  vision. 
Ease  and  pleasure  were  out  of  the  ques- 
tion. Domestic  enjoyments  were  of  no 
account.  The  merchant's  brow  ached 
with  incessant  care ;  his  heart  chilled 
and  warmed  with  the  rise  and  fall  of 
the  markets ;  the  changes  of  commerce 
18 


shaped  his  dreams  ;  money  was  his  su- 
perlative idea.  He  had  time  for  nothing 
but  business.  In  vain  did  his  wife  lan- 
guish under  the  weight  of  her  domestic 
cares.  He  had  no  time  to  unbend  him- 
self at  home,  and  contribute  to  the  bliss 
of  his  little  world  there.  Neither  could 
he  bestow  attention  to  the  wants  of  the 
world,  nor  the  miseries  of  his  fellow 
creatures  around  him.  All  calls  were 
vain,  for  our  merchant  had  neither  eyes 
nor  ears  for  aught  but  mammon. 

After  many  years  of  toil  and  care — 
after  enduring  anxieties  and  labors 
sufficient  to  wear  out  his  over-taxed 
energies — he  had  reached  the  goal. 
The  merchant  had  grown  rich — so  rich 
that  he  could  forsake  the  counting 
room,  and  live  with  princely  splendor 
in  a  palace-like  home  ! 

This  was  the  fulfilled  vision  of  his 
youth.  He  had  sought  gold,  and  his 
massive  coffers  did,  indeed,  sweat  be- 
neath the  weight  of  their  glittering  load ; 
and  when  men  passed  him,  they  said, 
"  That  is  old  ,  the  millionnaire." 

Was  the  prize  worth  what  it  cost? 
Thirty  years  of  sacrifice  had  been  de- 
voted to  its  pursuit  I  During  that  pe- 
riod, true  enjoyment  had  been  a  stran- 
ger to  his  heart ;  how  could  it  be 
otherwise  ?  For  thirty  years  he  had 
not  had  time  to  be  happy — he  had  sur- 
rendered all  this  for  the  expected  advan- 
tage of  future  wealth  I  He  had  literally 
sold  these  for  gold  I     He  had  his  prize. 

The  merchant  had  not  been  many 
months  out  of  the  counting  room  be- 
fore his  mind,  missing  the  stimulus  of 
business,  began  to  prey  upon  itself. 
For  intellectual  and  philanthropic  pur- 
suits it  had  no  sort  of  relish ;  they  had 
been  avoided  so  long  for  want  of  time, 
for  the  sake  of  the  money  god,  that 
they  would  not  now  afford  any  satis- 
faction. Without  occupation,  the  mer- 
chant's life  became  a  blank.  His  mind 
sank  into  weakness,  his  memory  failed, 
his  energies  dried  up ;  first  he  sank  into 
the  imbecility  of  second  childhood,  and 
then  into  the  stupidity  of  an  idiot. 


274 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


They  carried  him  to  the  asylum  of 
departed  intellect,  and  there,  ever  talk- 
ing of  notes  and  ships,  his  soulless  eyes 
gazing  into  vacancy,  his  fingers  tracing 
figures  in  the  air,  the  at  last  "  success- 
ful "  merchant  ended  his  days  with 
maniacs  and  fools,  and  the  treasures 
which  he  had  heaped  up  were  gathered 
and  enjoyed  by  others.  This  is  no  fan- 
cy sketch. 

Hard  Philosophy  of  an  Annuity 
Monger. 

AuDLEY,  the  old  English  banker, 
usurer,  and  what  not,  was  equally 
ready  to  lend  money  to  the  gay  gallants 
of  the  town  on  annuities,  as  he  was  to 
receive  it  from  the  thrifty  poor  who 
took,  on  "  the  security  of  the  great 
Audley,"  the  savmgs  of  their  youth  to 
secure  an  annuity  for  their  age.  But 
needy  as  the  youngsters  of  that  day 
might  be,  the  usurer  was  as  willing  as 
they  were  needy.  He  lent  them,  how- 
ever, with  affected  remonstrances  on 
their  extravagance,  and  took  the  cash 
they  paid  him  with  a  well-feigned  air 
of  paternal  regret.  His  money  bred. 
He  formed  temporary  partnerships  with 
the  stewards  of  country  gentlemen,  and 
having,  by  the  aid  of  the  former,  gulled 
the  latter,  finished  by  smartly  cheating 
the  associates  who  had  assisted  him  to 
his  prey. 

The  annuity  monger  was  also  a  phi- 
losopher. He  never  pressed  for  his  debts 
when  he  knew  they  were  safe.  When 
one  of  his  victims,  mistakenly  assuming 
Audley  to  possess  a  conscience,  asked 
him  where  it  was,  he  replied,  "  We 
moneyed  people  must  balance  accounts. 
If  you  don't  pay  me  my  annuity,  you 
cheat  me ;  if  you  do,  I  cheat  you." 
He  said  his  deeds  were  his  children, 
which  nourished  best  by  sleeping. 

His  word  was  his  bond,  as  many 
could  testify  to  their  sorrow  ;  his  hour 
was  punctual,  striking  terror  to  the  un- 
prepared ;  his  opinions  were  compressed 
and  sound.  In  his  time  he  was  called 
"  the  great  Audley,"  "  old  Audley,"  «S;c. ; 


and  though  the  fathers  of  the  church 
proclaimed  the  sin  of  usury  to  be  the 
original  sin,  he  smiled  at  their  asser- 
tions, and  went  on  his  golden  way  re- 
joicing. As  his  wealth  increased,  he 
put  himself  in  a  position  where  his  an- 
nuity jobbing  increased — an  ofiSce  in 
the  Court  of  Wards — the  entire  for- 
tunes of  the  wards  of  Chancery  being 
under  his  control. 

When  he  quarrelled  with  one  who 
disputed  the  payment  of  an  annuity, 
and  who,  to  prove  his  resisting  power, 
showed  and  shook  his  money  bags, 
Audley  sarcastically  asked  "whether 
they  had  any  bottom  ?  "  The  exulting 
possessor  answered  in  the  afBrmative. 
"  In  that  case,"  replied  Audley,  "  I  care 
not,  for  in  my  ofiSce  I  have  a  constant 
spring."  Here,  indeed,  he  pounced 
upon  encumbrances  which  lay  upon  es- 
tates ;  he  prowled  about  to  discover  the 
cravings  of  their  owners,  and  this  he 
did  to  such  purpose  that,  when  asked 
what  was  the  value  of  his  oflBce,  he  re- 
plied, "  Some  thousands  of  pounds  to 
any  one  who  wishes  to  get  to  heaven 
immediately ;  twice  as  much  to  him 
who  does  not  mind  being  in  purga- 
tory ;  and  nobody  knows  what  to  him 
who  will  adventure  to  go  to  hell." 
Charity  forbids  a  guess  as  to  which  of 
these  places  Audley  himself  went. 


Old-School  Money  Jobbers. 

The  old  English  money  brokers  had 
arts  peculiar  to  their  day.  They  had  a 
walk  upon  the  Exchange  devoted  to 
the  funds  of  the  East  India  and  other 
great  corporations,  and  many  of  the 
terms  now  in  vogue  among  the  initi- 
ated arose  from  their  dealings  with 
that  description  of  stock.  Jobbing  in 
the  great  chartered  corporations  was 
thoroughly  understood — reports  and 
rumors  were  as  plentiful  and  well-man- 
aged as  now.  No  sooner  was  it  known 
that  one  of  the  fine  vessels  of  the  East 
India  Company,  laden  with  gold  and 
jewels  from  the  East,  was  on  its  way. 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


275 


than  every  method  was  had  recourse  to. 
Men  were  employed  to  whisper  of  hur- 
ricanes which  had  sunk  the  well-stored 
ship ;  of  quicksands  which  had  swal- 
lowed her  up  ;  of  war,  which  had  com- 
menced when  peace  was  unbroken  ;  or 
of  peace  being  concluded  when  things 
were  actually  in  the  utmost  danger. 

Kor  were  the  brains  of  the  specula- 
tors less  capable  than  now.  If  at  the 
present  day  an  English  banker  conde- 
scends to  raise  a  railway  or  other  kind 
of  bubble  fifty  per  cent.,  the  broker  or 
money  jobber  of  that  day  understood 
his  craft  sufficiently  to  cause  a  varia- 
tion in  the  price  of  East  India  stock  of 
two  hundred  and  sixty-three  per  cent ! 
Everything  which  could  inflate  the 
hopes  of  the  schemer,  was  brought  into 
operation  by  the  brokers.  If  shares 
were  dull,  they  jobbed  in  the  funds,  or 
tried  exchequer  bills ;  and  if  these 
failed,  rather  than  remain  idle,  they 
dealt  in  bank  notes  at  forty  per  cent, 
discount. 

Sober  citizens  were  entangled  as 
well  as  the  more  adventurous.  Their 
first  impulse  was  to  laugh  at  the  sto- 
ries currently  circulated  of  fortunes 
lost  and  won  ;  but  when  they  saw  men 
who  were  yesterday  threadbare  pass 
them  to-day  in  their  carriages — when 
they  saw  wealth  which  it  took  their 
plodding  industry  years  of  patient  la- 
bor to  acquire,  won  by  others  in  a  few 
weeks — unable  to  resist  the  temptation, 
the  greatest  merchants  deserted  their 
regular  vocations  for  these  more  glitter- 
ing avenues  to  fortune. 

These  jobbers  came  from  all  classes 
of  society,  and  those  who  won  were  at 
once  on  a  par  with  the  nobility.  As  an 
illustration  of  these  ups  and  downs,  it 
is  related  that  a  worthy  Quaker,  a 
watchmaker  by  trade,  having  success- 
fully speculated  in  the  shares  and 
funds,  was  of  sufficient  importance  to 
invite  to  the  marriage  feast  of  his 
daughter  such  guests  as  the  Duchess 
of  Marlborough  and  the  Princess  of 
Wales,  who,  with  three  hundred  others 


of  "  the  quality,"  graced  the  wedding 
entertainment. 


Making:  a  Good  Job  of  it. 

A  WOKKMAN  recently  purchased,  in 
a  small  provincial  town  of  Germany, 
ten  pounds  of  powdered  sugar  ;  but  on 
examining  it,  he  found  that  the  grocer 
had  generously  mixed  with  it  at  least  a 
pound  of  lime.  On  the  succeeding  day 
he  advertised  as  follows  in  the  public 
prints :  "  Should  the  grocer  who  sold 
me  a  pound  of  lime  along  with  nine 
pounds  of  sugar,  not  bring  to  me  the 
pound  he  cheated  me  of,  I  shall  forth- 
with disclose  his  name  in  the  papers." 
The  next  day  the  customer  received 
nine  pounds  of  sugar  from  several  dif- 
ferent grocers  who  had  similar  actions 
on  their  conscience,  and  feared  publici- 
ty. The  customer  was  so  well  satis- 
fied, that  at  last  accounts  he  was  mak- 
ing a  vigorous  examination  of  his  re- 
cent supplies  of  coffee,  spices,  etc.,  and 
the  prospect  was  that  he  would  soon  be 
performing  among  the  grocers  what  the 
bull  enacted  in  the  crockery  shop. 


French  Usurers  and  Pig-eons. 

The  chronicles  of  the  French  money 
and  credit  system  partake  of  that 
piquancy  which  might  naturally  be 
looked  for  among  such  a  lively  race. 
There  are  usurers,  courtiers,  pigeons, 
&c.,  &c.,  almost  without  number.  But 
the  usurer  never  sees  the  pigeon,  or  very 
rarely.  He  is  banker,  count,  minister 
of  state,  director  of  theatres,  lives  in  a 
grand  hotel  of  his  own,  gives  dinners 
to  princes,  dresses  superbly  d^  la  mode^ 
and  is  far  above  the  acquaintance  of  a 
mere  pigeon.  This  he  leaves  to  the 
courtier,  a  genteel  and  knowing  per- 
sonage, who  deals  in  everything.     He 

tells  the  pigeon  that  if  M.  ,  not 

being  inclined  to  part  with  his  ready 
money,  can  only  give  wine  or  furniture 
in  exchange  for  the  bill,  he,  the  cour- 
tier, will  undertake  the  sale,  and  this 


2Y6 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


he  does,  upon  occasion.  But  in  the 
majority  of  instances,  wine,  furniture, 
and  all  the  rest  of  the  old  story,  is  a 
mere  pretence. 

The  pigeon  proposes  a  bill.  The 
agent,  or  faiseur^  goes  to  the  banker 
and  gets  it  done  at  fifty  per  cent,  in 
ready  money.  He  returns  to  the  pi- 
geon, says  that  the  bill  is  discounted, 
but  that  the  price  is  given  in  goods, 
which  he  will  not  undertake  to  sell.  In 
two  or  three  days  he  returns  with  the 
story  that  the  goods  are  not  to  be  sold. 
The  pigeon  is  impatient.  The  faiseur 
then  offers  to  take  the  goods  at  his  own 
risk,  at  a  discount.  This  the  pigeon  is 
only  too  glad  to  do,  and  gets  one  half 
of  the  money  which  was  received  by  the 
faiseur — just  one  quarter  of  his  bill. 
The  faiseur  gets  the  other  half,  without 
any  risk  whatever ;  and  in  half  an  hour 
is  to  be  seen  trotting  down  the  Kue 
Vivienne,  eager  for  the  excitement  of 
the  new  loan  or  the  latest  scheme. 

Instances  are  known  where  the  pigeon 
has  taken  a  horse  for  a  note  of  a  thou- 
sand francs.  The  horse  remains  in  the 
stable  of  the  courtier,  who  in  a  few 
days  sends  in  the  bill  for  its  keep — 
thirty  francs.  The  pigeon  orders  the 
horse  to  be  sold  at  auction.  It  fetches 
twenty-seven  francs  !  All  the  pigeon 
gets  by  the  transaction  is  the  pleasure 
of  paying  three  francs  ready  money, 
and  the  bill,  when  it  becomes  due.  In 
another  case,  a  young  man  is  known  to 
have  signed  a  note  of  twenty-eight 
thousand  francs ;  he  was  credited  in 
return  with  sixty  thousand  blocks  of 
marble,  eleven  thousand  mouse  traps,  six 
thousand  iron  rods,  and  three  thousand 
francs  in  money.  The  marble  remained 
in  the  quarry ;  no  one  would  buy  it  in 
situ,  or  advance  the  large  sum  necessary 
to  remove  it.  The  mouse  traps  and  the 
rods  sold  for  about  one  thousand  francs, 
and  the  pigeon  was  finally  credited  four 
thousand  francs,  of  which  he  received 
about  half,  the  courtier  pocketing  the 
rest. 


Imitating  Signatures. 

The  imitation  of  signatures  with  in- 
conceivable accuracy  was  a  quality 
possessed  by  John  Mathison,  an  Eng- 
lish mechanic,  and  probably  never  sur- 
passed by  any  one  in  any  country  or ' 
age.  Tempted  by  the  hope  of  sudden 
wealth,  he  applied  this  faculty  to  the 
forging  of  bank  notes,  which,  being 
discovered,  a  reward  was  offered,  with 
a  description  of  his  person,  and  he  es- 
caped to  Scotland.  There,  scorning  to 
let  his  wonderful  talent  lie  idle,  he 
counterfeited  the  notes  of  the  Royal 
Bank  of  Scotland,  amused  himself  by 
negotiating  them  during  a  pleasure 
excursion  through  the  country,  and 
reached  London,  supported  by  his  imi- 
tative talent.  Here  a  fine  sphere  open- 
ed for  his  genius,  which  was  so  active, 
that  in  twelve  days  he  had  bought  the 
copper,  engraved  it,  fabricated  notes, 
forged  the  watermark,  printed,  and 
negotiated  several.  When  he  had  a 
sufficient  number,  he  travelled  from 
one  end  of  the  kingdom  to  the  other, 
disposing  of  them.  Having  been  in 
the  habit  of  procuring  notes  from  the 
bank — the  more  accurately  to  copy 
them — he  chanced  to  be  there  when  a 
clerk  from  the  excise  office  paid  in  sev- 
en thousand  guineas,  one  of  which  was 
scrupled.  Mathison,  from  a  distance, 
said  it  was  a  good  one.  "  Then,"  said 
the  bank  clerk,  on  the  trial,  "  I  recol- 
lected him." 

The  frequent  visits  of  Mathison,  who 
was  very  incautious,  together  with 
other  circumstances,  created  some  sus- 
picion that  he  might  be  connected 
with  those  notes,  which,  since  his  first 
appearance,  had  been  presented  at  the 
bank.  On  another  occasion,  when 
Mathison  was  there,  a  forged  note  of 
his  own  was  presented,  and  the  teller, 
half  in  jest  and  half  in  earnest,  charged 
Maxwell— the  name  by  which  he  was 
known — ^with  some  knowiiedge  o^  the 
forgeries.  Further  suspicion  was  ex- 
cited, and  directions  were  given  to  de- 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


211 


tain  him  at  some  future  period.  The 
following  day,  the  teller  was  informed 
that  "  his  friend  Maxwell,"  as  he  was 
styled  ironically,  was  in  Cornhill.  The 
clerk  instantly  went,  and  under  the 
pretence  of  having  paid  Mathison  a 
guinea  too  much  on  a  previous  occa- 
sion, and  of  losing  his  situation  if  the 
mistake  were  not  rectified  by  the 
books,  induced  him  to  return  with 
him  to  the  hall ;  from  which  place  he 
was  taken  before  the  directors.  To  all 
the  inquiries  he  replied,  "  He  had  a 
reason  for  declining  to  answer.  He 
was  a  citizen  of  the  world,  and  knew 
not  how  he  had  come  into  it,  or  how 
he  should  go  out  of  it."  Being  de- 
tained during  a  consultation  with  the 
bank  solicitor,  he  suddenly  jumped  out 
of  the  window.  On  being  taken  and 
asked  his  motive,  if  innocent,  he  said 
"  it  was  his  humor." 

In  the  progress  of  the  inquiry,  the 
Darlington  paper,  containing  his  de- 
scription, was  read  to  him,  when  he 
turned  pale,  burst  into  tears,  and  say- 
ing he  was  a  dead  man,  added,  "  now 
I  will  confess  all."  He  was,  indeed, 
found  guilty  only  on  his  own  acknowl- 
edgment, which  stated  he  could  accom- 
plish the  whole  of  a  note  in  one  day. 
It  was  asserted  at  the  time,  that,  had  it 
not  been  for  this  confession,  he  could 
not  have  been  convicted.  He  offered 
to  explain  the  secret  of  his  discovery 
of  the  water-mark,  provided  the  corpo- 
ration would  spare  his  life;  but  his 
proposal  was  rejected,  and  he  paid  the 
penalty  of  his  crime. 


Bad  Bank  Bill. 

A  CITY  journal,   describing   a  new 

counterfeit  bank  bill,  says  the  vignette 

is  "  cattle  and  hogs,  with  a  church  far- 

in  the  distance."    A  good  illustration 

£  the  world ! 


Selling:  a  Bad  Article. 

At  a  business  meeting  of  one  of  the 
Methodist  churches    in    Philadelphia, 


not  long  since,  a  rare  incident  occurred, 
as  showing  the  relation  which  a  man's 
business  may  sustain  toward  his  stand- 
ing as  a  church  member.  The  question 
on  the  tapis,  among  the  official  members 
of  said  church,  was  to  find  a  suitable 
man  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the  board  of 
trustees.  A  gentleman  in  business  as  a 
wholesale  grocer  was  named  by  a  mem- 
ber present  as  a  very  suitable  man  for 
the  place ;  but  his  nomination  was 
vehemently  opposed  by  another  brdth- 
er,  who  was  very  zealous  in  the  tem- 
perance cause,  on  the  ground  that  in 
the  way  of  his  business  he  sold  liquor. 
And  appealing  to  Brother  A.,  one  of 
the  oldest  members  present,  who,  from 
his  solid  and  clerical  look,  was  called 
"  the  Bishop,"  he  said,  "  What  do  you 
say.  Brother  A.  ?  " 

"  Ah ! "  said  Brother  A.,  looking 
very  grave,  drawing  up  his  cane  with 
a  view  to  emphasize  and  give  point  to 
what  he  had  to  say,  "  that  is  not  the 
worst  of  it"  (solemn  shake  of  the 
head)  ;  "  that  is  not  the  worst  of  it ! " 

"  Why,  Brother  A.,"  said  the  others, 
crowding  around  and  looking  for  some 
astounding  developments,  "what  else  is 
there  ? " 

"  Why,"  said  Brother  A.,  bringing 
down  his  cane  with  a  rap,  "  he  don't 
keep  a  good  article — I've  tried  it  1 " 


Prejudice  against  Yankee  Clock  Ped- 
dlers, and  how  it  was  Overcome. 

Near  one  of  the  rural  villages  in 
Ohio  there  dwelt,  a  few  years  since,  an 
elderly  gentleman,  who  went  by  the 
familiar  name  of  "  Uncle  Jonathan." 
He  was  a  rigid  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  sober,  exemplary,  and  withal, 
possessed  of  considerable  wealth.  Like 
many  of  his  neighbors  in  that  region 
of  the  country,  he  entertained  a  bitter 
prejudice  toward  "  Yankees ;  "  and, 
notwithstanding  his  piety,  he  had 
avowed  his  intention  of  kicking  out 
of  his  door  the  first  Yankee  clock-ped- 
dler that  should  enter. 


2*78 


COMMERCIAL   AND   BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


One  sultry  day  in  summer  a  covered 
wagon  was  drawn  up  to  his  gate ;  a 
keen-eyed,  gaunt-looking  individual 
alighted,  and  rapping  softly  at  the 
door,  requested,  in  subdued  tones,  a 
drink  of  water.  After  drinking,  the 
traveller  asked  permission  of  the  old 
gentleman  to  sit  and  rest  for  a  few 
minutes,  saying  he  was  overcome  by 
the  heat.  The  stranger  said  but  little, 
and  the  old  gentleman  eyed  him  sus- 
piciously. Presently  the  old  man's  eye 
began  to  brighten. 

"  What  papers  have  you  got  there  ? " 
said  he,  pointing  to  the  stranger's 
pocket,  which  bore  the  appearance  of  a 
travelling  post  office. 

"  Oh,"  said  the  stranger,  "  those  are 
a  few  copies  of  our  Jjutheran  Observer 
that  I  carry  to  read  along  the  road." 

"Indeed!  Then  you  belong  to  the 
Lutheran  Church  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir.  Would  you  not  like  to 
look  at  a  copy  of  the  paper  ?  " 

The  old  man  was  delighted ;  asked 
stranger  to  stay  for  dinner.  Of  course 
he  accepted.  As  they  were  putting  up 
the  team,  the  old  gentleman  remarked, 

"  You  drive  a  queer-looking  wagon." 

"Yes,"  said  the  stranger;  "I  have 
been  out  West,  and  have  suffered  sev- 
eral months  from  chills  and  fever. 
Wishing  to  get  home  to  my  family, 
and  having  no  means  of  defraying  my 
expenses,  I  purchased  a  few  clocks  to 
sell  along  the  way." 

Stranger  stayed,  and  fed  himself  and 
horses  without  money  and  without 
price.  He  did  more.  He  sold  Uncle 
Jonathan  every  clock  on  his  wagon, 
and  took  his  note,  which  he  turned  in- 
to money  within  two  hours. 

"  Well,"  said  the  landlord,  "  didn't  I 
tell  you  that  he  would  abuse  you  ?  " 

"  Very  much  mistaken,"  said  Yan- 
kee;  "the  old  man  is  a  gentleman. 
Here,  take  these  papers  [  Observers]  ;  I 
have  no  further  use  for  them." 

Uncle  Jonathan  is  silent  on  the  sub- 
ject of  Yankee  clock  peddlers. 


Bisks  of  the  Currency. 

A  RocHESTEB  darkey  named  Pete 
got  a  five-dollar  counterfeit  bill,  and 
taking  some  friends  to  a  lager  beer 
saloon,  treated  them  to  the  extent  of 
forty  cents,  passed  the  bill,  and  got  the 
change.  The  Dutchman  soon  found 
the  bill  was  bad,  and  overhauling  Pete, 
charged  him  with  passing  counterfeit 
money.  Pete  expressed  great  surprise, 
said  he  knew  where  he  got  the  bill, 
and  would  take  it  and  get  a  good  one 
for  it.  This  was  agreed  to,  but  day 
after  day  passed,  and  Pete  did  not 
bring  back  the  money.  The  Dutch- 
man overhauled  him  again,  and  Pete 
said  the  man  who  gave  it  to  him  was 
now  trying  to  get  it  back  from  the  man 
Tie  took  it  from.  The  Dutchman  was 
furious,  and  threatened  to  have  him 
taken  up  for  passing  counterfeit  money. 
"Guess  you  couldn't  do  that,"  said 
Pete  ;  "  can't  took  up  a  man  for  pass- 
ing counterfeit  money,  when  you  Jiairi't 
got  de  Mil !  "  This  was  a  new  idea  to 
Mr.  Lagerbeer  and  Pete  comforted  him 
by  paying  him  a  dollar  and  a  half  of 
the  change,  as  he  said,  "  goin'  halves  " 
with  him  in  the  loss  of  the  V. 


llaking:  Chang-e  at  Bailroad  Befresh.- 
ment  Stands. 

Yeabs  ago  Lewis  Holt  kept  a  railroad 
refreshment  stand  at  the  station  at  At- 
tica, on  the  road  running  west.  He  had 
a  way  which  men  of  his  persuasion  have 
— not  altogether  abandoned — of  taking 
the  money  of  passengers,  sweeping  it 
into  his  drawer,  and  fumbling  after  the 
change  till  the  cars  were  off^  when  the 
passenger  would  have  to  run  and  leave 
his  money.  Charlie  Dean  stepped  out 
of  the  cars  there  one  day,  took  a  "  gin- 
ger pop,"  price  six  cents,  laid  down  a 
quarter,  which  Holt  dropped  into  his 
till,  and  went  hunting  to  get  the 
change.  Away  went  the  cars,  and 
Charlie  jumped  on  without  his  change ; 
but  he  had  time  to  read  the  name  of 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


279 


Lewis  Holt  over  the  door,  and,  mak- 
ing a  note  of  it,  rode  on. 

Postage  was  high  in  those  days,  and 
was  not  required  in  advance.  From 
Buffalo  he  wrote  a  letter  to  Holt — 
"Sell  foam  at  25  cents  a  glass,  will 
you?"  Holt  paid  ten  cents  on  this 
letter,  and  ten  more  on  one  from  De- 
troit, and  twenty -five  on  another  from 
St.  Louis,  and  for  two  or  three  years  he 
kept  getting  letters  from  his  unknown 
customer,  and  would  have  got  more  to 
this  day,  but  for  the  law  requiring 
postage  to  be  jDaid  in  advance.  He 
had  to  pay  two  or  three  dollars  in 
postage  before  the  letters  ceased  to 
come,  and  as  they  were  always  directed 
in  a  new  handwriting,  he  hoped  each 
one  was  of  more  importance  than  the 
ones  before. 


Weig-hing:  Short. 
A  WESTERN  man,  too  smart  by  half 
for  his  own  interest  or  the  good  of  his 
soul,  drove  into  town  with  a  load  of 
wheat  in  bags,  to  be  sold  by  weight,  so 
many  pounds  to  the  bushel.  Finding 
a  merchant  ready  to  purchase,  the  sell- 
er demurred  to  the  proposal  to  drive 
upon  the  buyer's  scales,  as  he  was  afraid 
he  might  not  be  fairly  dealt  with. 
"Very  well,"  said  the  merchant,  "if 
you  prefer  it,  drive  on  and  be  weighed 
out  there,"  pointing  to  the  next  plat- 
form. On  he  went,  keeping  his  seat 
on  the  load;  the  merchant  opened  a 
little  door  in  the  floor,  asked  the  seller 
how  many  bags  there  were,  and  being 
told  twenty,  pronounced  the  load  to  be 
forty-two  bushels.  "  All  right !  "  said 
the  seller,  and  then  returned  and  de- 
posited his  wheat  at  the  buyer's  store 
and  went  off,  never  finding  out  that 
he  had  been  weighed  on  the  platform 
of  a  fire  cistern,  and  that  he  had  sold 
fifty  bushels  of  wheat  for  forty-two  I 


Italian  Knavery  in  Picture  Selling-. 

If  modern  copies  and  paintings  in 
Florence  can  be  counted  by  myriads. 


there  seems  to  be  equally  a  mine  of  old 
copies  and  originals  as  inexhaustible  as 
the  coal  pits  of  England.  For  centuries 
Italy  has  been  furnishing  the  rest  of 
Europe  with  pictures,  yet  the  supply 
still  remains  as  plentiful  as  its  beggars. 
Lumber  rooms  are  stored  with  them ; 
streets  are  lined  with  them ;  every  tai- 
lor has  his  gallery ;  each  Italian  gentle- 
man his  heirlooms ;  in  short,  Florence 
is  a  vast  picture  shop.  One  would 
imagine  that  every  man,  woman,  and 
child,  for  the  last  century,  had  been 
bom  with  pencil  in  hand.  There  is  no 
possibility  of  diminishing  them.  One 
dealer  has  sold  twelve  thousand  in  Eng- 
land alone — at  least  he  says  so — and 
yet  his  rooms  are  full  to  repletion, 
though  he  is  diminishing  his  stock  to 
give  up  business.  Cargoes  go  annual- 
ly to  the  United  States — the  matter 
being  much  after  this  wise : 

A  speculator  arrives,  and  gives  out 
that  he  is  a  purchaser  of  pictures  by 
the  wholesale.  A  flock  of  crows  can- 
not light  sooner  upon  an  open  cornbag, 
than  do  the  sellers  upon  him.  He  is 
not  after  good  pictures,  but  the  trash 
that  can  be  bought  for  the  value  of 
the  wood  in  their  frames.  They  are 
brought  to  him  by  wagon  loads.  He 
looks  at  the  pile,  and  makes  an  offer 
according  to  its  size.  In  this  way  he 
buys  several  thousand  daubs  at  an 
average  of  a  few  dimes  each,  spends  as 
much  more  in  varnish,  regilding,  and  a 
little  retouching,  sends  them  to  Amer- 
ica, where  they  are  duly  offered  for  sale 
as  so  many  Titians,  Vandykes,  Muril- 
los,  or  other  lights  of  the  European 
school.  One  lucky  sale  pays  for  the 
entire  lot.  No  other  art  affords  a  wider 
scope  for  fraud.  There  are  fair  dealers, 
but  Italian  reputation  in  general,  in 
this  respect,  is  of  a  slippery  character. 
A  dealer  will  sometimes  practise  his 
trickery  after  this  fashion  :  have  a  fine 
copy,  in  a  frame,  exposed  as  a  sample, 
for  which  a  buyer  is  found,  at  what 
appears  a  reasonable  price,  the  bargain 
concluded,  and  the  purchaser's  name 


280 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


marked  by  himself  on  the  back  of  the 
picture.  Upon  receiving  it  at  home, 
however,  he  could  not  believe  his  own 
senses,  so  inferior  did  it  appear  to  the 
one  he  selected ;  but  on  the  back  there 
was  the  veritable  evidence  of  his  own 
handwriting.  Upon  investigation,  it 
was  proved  that  the  seller  had  two  pic- 
tures in  the  same  frame,  the  outer  one 
being  good  and  the  inner  bad,  and  that 
he  had  withdrawn  the  former  and  sent 
the  latter.  ^ 

"To  what  Base  TJses  have  we  Come  at 
Last  I" 

"When  poor  Law's  "Mississippi 
scheme  "  had  run  itself  out,  to  the  ter- 
rible damage  of  those  who  had  invest- 
ed in  it,  the  excitement  knew  no 
bounds,  and  there  were  thousands  of 
ruined  and  frenzied  men  seeking  to  lay 
revengeful  hands  upon  the  author  of 
their  misery.  Law  took  good  care 
not  to  expose  himself  unguarded  in 
the  streets.  Shut  up  in  the  apart- 
ments of  the  Regent,  he  was  secure 
from  all  attack,  and,  whenever  he  ven- 
tured abroad,  it  was  either  incognito,  or 
in  one  of  the  royal  carriages,  with  a 
powerful  escort.  An  amusing  anecdote 
is  recorded  of  the  detestation  in  which 
he  was  held  by  the  people,  and  the  ill- 
treatment  he  would  have  met,  had  he 
fallen  into  their  hands. 

A  merchant  by  the  name  of  Boursel 
was  passing  in  his  carriage  down  the 
Rue  St.  Antoine,  when  his  further 
progres  was  stayed  by  a  hackney 
coach  that  had  blocked  up  the  road. 
M.  BourseFs  servant  called  impatiently 
to  the  hackney  coachman  to  get  out  of 
the  way,  and,  oh  his  refusal,  struck 
him  a  spirited  smack  on  the  face.  A 
crowd  was  soon  drawn  together  by  the 
disturbance,  and  M.  Boursel  got  out  of 
the  carriage  to  restore  order.  The 
hackney  coachman,  imagining  now  that 
he  had  another  assailant,  bethought 
him  of  an  ingenious  feint  to  rid  him- 
self of  both,  and  called  out  as  loudly 
as  he  was  able : 


"  Help  !  help  !  murder  !  murder  I 
Here  are  Law  and  Ms  servant  going  to 
Mime!    Help!  help!" 

At  this  cry,  the  people  came  out  of 
their  shops,  armed  with  sticks  and 
other  weapons,  while  the  mob  gath- 
ered stones  to  inflict  summary  ven- 
geance upon  the  supposed  financier. 
Happily  for  M.  Boursel  and  his  servant, 
the  door  of  a  church  near  by  stood 
wide  open,  and,  seeing  the  fearful  odds 
against  them,  the  two  rushed  toward 
it  with  all  speed.  They  reached  the 
altar,  still  pursued  by  the  people,  and 
would  have  been  ill-treated  even 
there,  if,  finding  the  door  open  leading 
to  the  sacristy,  they  had  not  sprang 
through,  and.  closed  it  after  them.  The 
mob  were  then  persuaded  to  leave  the 
church  by  the  alarmed  and  indignant 
priests ;  and,  finding  M.  Boursel's  car- 
riage still  in  the  streets,  they  vented 
their  ill-will  against  it,  and  did  it  con- 
siderable damage. 

Little  did  the  once  powerful  and 
pampered  Law  imagine  that  he  would 
thus  ever  be  made  the  convenient 
scapegoat  of  a  hackney  coachman  I 


Plan  to  Kuin  the  Ancient  Firm  of 
Child  &  Co.  by  the  Bank  of  Eng- 
land. 
It  is  well  known  that  in  the  year 
1745,  on  account  of  the  domestic  con- 
fusion which  prevailed  in  some  parts 
of  England,  bank  notes  were  at  a  con- 
siderable discount.  The  notes,  how- 
ever, which  were  issued  by  Child's 
house,  as  well  as  those  of  Hoare  &  Co., 
still  maintained  their  credit,  and  were 
circulated  at  par.  The  bank  directors, 
alarmed  at  the  depreciation  of  their 
paper,  and  attributing  it  to  the  high 
estimation  in  which  the  house  of 
Messrs.  Child  still  remained,  attempt- 
ed, by  very  unfair  artifices,  to  ruin 
their  reputation.  This  plan  they  en- 
deavored to  accomplish  by  collecting  a 
very  large  quantity  of  their  notes,  and 
pouring  them  all  in  together  for  pay- 


TRADE  AND  BUSINESS  IMMORALITIES. 


281 


ment  on  tlie  same  day.  Before  the 
project  was  executed,  her  Grace,  the 
Duchess  of  Marlborough,  who  had  re- 
ceived some  intimation  of  it,  imparted 
the  information  to  Mr.  Child,  and  sup- 
plied him  with  a  sum  of  money  more 
than  sufficient  to  answer  the  amplest 
demand  that  could  be  made  upon 
them.  In  consequence  of  this  scheme, 
the  notes  were  sent  by  the  bank,  and 
were  paid  in  their  own  paper — a  cir- 
cumstance which  occasioned  consider- 
able loss  to  that  corporation,  their  pa- 
per being  circulated  considerably  be- 
low par.  Perhaps  this  anecdote  finds 
confirmation  in  the  well-known  cir- 
cumstance of  the  hostility  of  her  Grace 
to  the  administrators  of  that  trust. 


Bubble  Prospectuses. 

The  most  laughable  reading  may  be 
found  by  looking  over  the  prospectuses 
of  the  joint-stock  bubble  companies 
which  flourished  in  England  in  1824. 
At  that  time  mines  were  proposed  in 
all  parts  of  the  world.  One  was  issued 
at  a  premium  avowedly  for  the  benefit 
of  the  projector.  Another  was  cele- 
brated "  for  having  a  vein  of  tin  ore  in 


its  bottom,  as  pure  and  solid  as  a  tin 
flagon."  A  third  was  pronounced  by 
the  directors  as  "no  speculative  under- 
taking— no  problematic  or  visionary 
scheme — it  was  founded  on  a  sure  and 
permanent  basis,  adopted  after  months 
of  mature  deliberation,  after  inquiries, 
surveys,  investigations,  and  reports ; " 
and  this  was  dissolved  almost  imme- 
diately. Another  declared  that  "  lumps 
of  pure  gold,  weighing  from  two  to 
fifty  pounds,  were  totally  neglected," 
and  that  its  mines  alone  would  yield 
"  considerably  more  than  the  quantity 
necessary  for  the  supply  of  the  whole 
world."  The  romantic  aspect  of  the 
land  was  described  in  a  fifth ;  while  a 
sixth,  proposing  to  supply  England 
with  granite,  lamented,  in  plausible 
and  poetic  strain,  the  "  soft  and  per- 
ishable materials  "  of  the  buildings  of 
"the  mighty  head  of  a  mighty  em- 
pire." Innumerable  laborers  and  arti- 
sans were  to  be  employed,  "and," 
continued  the  prospectus,  "  perhaps  by 
the  efibrts  of  this  company  the  dingy 
brick  fronts,  the  disgrace  of  the  metro- 
polis, may  give  way  to  more  durable 
and  magnificent  elevations,  worthy  of 
the  throne  of  the  queen  of  the  isles." 


PART  FIFTH. 


Anecdotes  of  Famous  Commercial  Resorts  Aim 
Localities. 


l^ATHAlSr    MEYER     ROTHSCHILD 

Died,    cLt:    Fr-a.n.lcfor1j ,     O.'M'.,       ,Tu.ly    28,J836,      ^dged-     S  iacty      Ye 


•i,    D.^pletoxL&C'r' 


PAET   FIFTH. 

Anecdotes  of  Famous  Commercial  Eesorts  and  Localities. 

THE  EXCHANGE,  CUSTOM  HOUSE,  BOARDS  OF  TRADE,  MARKETS,  ETC. — THEIR  ANNALS,  USAGES, 
PECULIARITIES  ;  WITH  PERSONAL  MISCELLANIES,  APHORISMS,  ODDITIES,  WHIMS,  AND  CA- 
PRICES  OP   THEIR   HABITUES. 


BuBiness  is  the  salt  of  life,  which  not  only  gives  a  grateful  smack  to  it,  but  dries  up  those  crudities 
that  would  offend.— Arion. 

Long  has  this  worthy  been  conversant  in  bartering,  and  knows,  that  when  stocks  are  lowest,  it  is 
the  time  to  buy.— Tatler. 

I'll  give  thrice  eo  much  land 

To  any  well-deserving  friend  ; 

But  in  the  way  of  bargain — mark  me  ! 

I'll  cavil  on  the  ninth  part  of  a  hair. 

Shakspeare''s  "  Hbnkt  IV." 
And  conscience,  truth,  and  honesty  are  made 
To  rise  and  fall,  like  other  wares  of  trade.— Moore. 


Custom-House  Official  Dealing-  with 
a  Princess. 

The  Princess  of  Prussia  having  ordered 
some  rich  silks  from  Lyons,  which  paid  a 
high  duty  at  Stettin,  the  place  of  her  resi- 
dence, the  custom-house  officer  rudely 
seized  them,  until  the  duties  were  paid. 
The  princess,  highly  indignant  at  such 
an  affront,  desired  the  officer  to  bring 
the  silks  to  her  apartments.  He  did  so, 
when  the  princess  seized  them,  and 
giving  the  officer  a  few  cuffs  in  the 
face,  turned  him  out  of  doors.  The 
proud  and  mortiJBed  man  of  excise,  in 
a  violent  fit  of  resentment,  presented  a 
memorial  to  Frederic  the  Great,  in 
which  he  complained  bitterly  of  the 
dishonor  put  upon  him  in  the  execu- 
tion of  his  office.  The  king,  having 
read  the  memorial,  returned  the  follow- 
ing answer :  "  Sir,  the  loss  of  the  duties 
belongs  to  my  account ;  the  silks  are  to 
remain  in  the  possession  of  the  princess 
— the  cuffs  with  him  who  received  them. 
As  to  the  supposed  dishonor,  I  cancel  it 


at  the  request  of  the  complainant ;  but 
it  is  itself  null,  for  the  lily  hand  of  a 
fair  lady  cannot  possibly  dishonor  the 
face  of  a. custom-house  officer.  Feed- 
eric." 


Rencontre  between  Rothschild  and 
Rose  the  Broker,  on  'Changre. 

There  was  no  more  constant  attend- 
ant on  'Change,  every  Tuesday  and 
Friday,  than  Rothschild,  and,  for 
years,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  planting 
himself  at  a  particular  spot,  wdth  his 
back  to  the  pillar  known  to  every  fre- 
quenter of  that  precinct  as  "Roths- 
child's pillar;"  but,  alas  for  human 
greatness !  he  was  on  one  occasion 
doomed  to  the  sad  annoyance,  that  he 
had  no  especial  right  to  that  particular 
spot.  A  person  of  the  name  of  Rose, 
possessed  of  great  courage,  one  Tues- 
day afternoon  purposely  placed  him- 
self on  the  spot  hitherto  occupied  by 
the  world's  financial  dictator.  On  Mr. 
Rothschild's    approach,  he    requested 


286 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


-  ( 


the  party  to  move.  This  was  just  what 
the  other  expected,  and  what  he  was  pre- 
pared to  dispute.  He  argued  that  this 
was  the  royal  exchange,  free  to  all ;  and 
he,  as  a  British  subject,  had  a  right 
to  stand  there  if  he  thought  fit.  This 
doctrine  could  not  of  course  be  dis- 
puted, but  he  was  told  that  it  was  the 
spot  that  Mr.  Eothschild  invariably 
occupied,  and,  as  such,  ought  to  be 
yielded ;  but  no !  Mr.  Rose,  being  a 
powerful  man,  defied  Mr.  Rothschild 
and  all  his  tribe  to  remove  him.  For 
nearly  three-quarters  of  an  hour — the 
most  valuable  portion  of  the  exchange 
time — did  he  keep  deliberate  posses- 
sion of  the  autocrat's  pillar;  and  not 
until  the  whole  business  of  the  ex- 
change of  the  day  was  jeopardized  did 
Mr.  Rose,  after  having,  as  he  said,  es- 
tablished his  right,  retire,  amidst  the 
yells  and  howls  of  the  friends  of  Roths- 
child there  assembled. 


Paying"  Govemment  Pishing-  Bounties. 

On  the  accession  of  a  new  auditor  in 
one  of  our  custom  houses,  several  years 
ago,  he  found  considerable  looseness  in 
the  machinery  by  which  the  fishing 
bounties  were  paid  at  that  establish- 
ment. He  determined  to  correct  the 
proceeding,  and  then  return  with  joy 
to  the  original  and  honest  state  of 
things. 

Be  it  known,  that  the  oath  required 
of  an  applicant  for  this  bounty  is  a 
long,  rude  complication  of  solemnities, 
and  had  usually  been  sputtered  over 
with  indelicate  and  unseemly  haste. 

One  day  a  blustering  and  confident- 
looking  skipper  came  to  the  desk  with 
his  bundle  of  papers,  looking  as  if  he 
had  robbed  the  circumlocution  office, 
and  wanted  some  bounty.  The  new 
auditor  rose  to  a  tall  majesty,  took  the 
great  book  of  oath  in  his  hand,  fixed 
his  keen  eye  on  Mr.  Skipper,  requested 
him  to  uncover  his  head,  hold  up  his 
right  hand,  and  repeat  after  him  the 
oath  as  he  read  it.     They  had  not  trav- 


elled more  than  half  way  through  the 
serious  business,  when  the  hand  of  the 
skipper  fell  as  quick  as  if  his  arm  had 
been  struck  by  a  chain  shot. 

"  You  may  stop  there,"  he  exclaimed ; 
"I  can't  swear  to  any  more  of  that» 
Give  me  back  the  papers." 

He  nervously  grasped  the  package, 
hurried  out  of  the  office,  and  to  this 
day  his  fkte  and  reflections  are  un- 
known. 


Photograph  of  Wall  Street. 

The  view  given  of  this  great  thor- 
oughfare by  Mr.  Kimball,  in  his  "  Un- 
dercurrents of  "Wall  Street,"  is  admi- 
rable in  its  descriptive  power.  He 
says: — Its  advantages  for  a  universal 
mart  are  incredible.  It  is  Lombard 
Street,  Threadneedle  Street,  Old  Broad 
Sreeet,  Wapping,  the  Docks,  Thames 
Street,  and  the  Inns  of  Court,  com- 
bined. In  it  is  the  Custom  House  as 
well  as  the  Exchange.  It  is  a  good 
dog  market,  cow  market,  and  bird 
market.  If  you  want  a  pair  of  horses, 
and  any  description  of  new  or  second- 
hand carriage,  wait  a  little,  and  they 
will  be  paraded  before  you.  You  will 
find  there  the  best  fruit,  and  the  finest 
flowers  in  their  season.  If  you  would 
have  a  donkey,  a  Shetland  pony,  or  a 
^Newfoundland  dog,  a  good  milch  cow 
and  calf,  a  Berkshire  pig,  a  terrier, 
white  mice,  a  monkey  or  parroquets, 
they  are  to  be  had  in  Wall  street.  It 
is  a  strange  spot.  On  Sunday  or  early 
in  the  morning  during  the  week  it  is 
like  the  street  of  a  deserted  city.  About 
ten  o'clock  it  begins  to  show  signs  of 
extraordinary  animation.  Through  the 
day  the  turmoil  increases,  people  rush 
to  and  fro,  and  literally  "  stagger  like 
drunken  men."  Toward  three  o'clock 
the  street  appears  undergoing  a  series 
of  desperate  throes.  Men  rush  madly 
past  each  other  with  bank  boo^s  in 
their  hands,  uncurrent  money,  notes, 
drafts,  checks,  specie.  Occasionally  you 
may  see  an  individual  on  the  steps  of  a 


FAMOUS  COMMERCIAL  RESORTS  AND  LOCALITIES. 


287 


building,  evidemtly  waiting  for  some- 
thing, with  an  air  of  forced  calmness. 
From  time  to  time  he  turns  his  eyes  anx- 
iously to  the  great  dial-plate  which  is 
displayed  from  the  church,  and  then  up 
and  down  the  street.  The  minute-hand 
has  marked  five  into  the  last  quarter. 
In  ten  more  minutes  it  will  be  three 
o'clock.  Occasionally  an  acquaintance 
passes ;  the  man  attempts  as  he  bows 
to  smile  pleasantly ;  he  can't  do  it,  he 
only  makes  a  grimace.  What  is  he 
waiting  for?  That  individual  has  a 
note  to  pay,  or  a  check  to  make  good 
before  three.  He  has  worked  hard, 
but  the  fates  are  against  him.  One 
friend  is  out  of  town,  a  second  is  short, 
a  third  can't  use  his  paper :  he  has 
sent  to  the  last  possible  place.  Look  ! 
the  young  man  is  coming.  Yes  ?  No  ? 
He  runs  eagerly  up,  thrusts  the  wel- 
come little  slij),  a  check  for  the  desired 
amount,  into  the  hands  of  the  now 
agitated  principal ;  it  is  rapidly  in- 
dorsed, and  on  flies  the  youth  to  the 
bank. 

Our  hero  relieved— he  has  probably 
borrowed  the  money  for  a  day  only, 
and  has  to  renew  the  attack  next  morn- 
ing— now  proposes  to  leave  his  affairs, 
lie  lights  a  cigar,  invites  the  first  friend 
he  meets  to  take  a  drink  with  him,  and 
strolls  leisurely,  up  Broadway  as  un- 
concernedly as  if  he  had  not  a  care  in 
the  world.  Perhaps  he  does  not  come 
off  so  luckily  ;  perhaps  his  young  man 
reports  to  him,  while  standing  gloomily 
on  the  steps,  that  it  is  "  no  go  ;  "  then 
the  fatal  hand  which  points  toward 
three,  travels  fast.  He  considers  a 
moment ;  he  sees  it  can't  be  done ;  he 
waits  until  he  hears  the  chimes  ring 
out  the  full  hour,  and  then  "  his  mind 
is  easy."  Your  shrewd  money-lender 
understands  this  perfectly.  He  knows 
how  unsafe  it  is  to  let  his  victim 
pass  the  point  unrelieved ;  for,  once 
having  gone  to  protest,  he  becomes 
demoralized,  and  in  consequence 
indifferent.  So,  just  before  the  hour, 
the  money  is  generally  "  found." 


Drinking  the  Health  of  Custom  House 
OflBicers. 

"  Will  Watch,"  the  bold  smuggler, 
as  a  once  popular  song  has  it,  sleeps, 
or  rather  slept  for  a  considerable  time, 
at  peace  with  the  dead.  That  is  a 
pity  certainly  on  one  account, — for  if 
Ml'.  Watch  were,  conformably  to  his 
surname,  alive  and  wide  awake,  he 
would  have  a  capital  story  told  him 
of  a  somewhat  novel  importation. 

It  appears  that  among  the  cargo  of 
the  Dane  steamer,  unloaded  at  the 
Southampton  docks,  Eng.,  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  were  seven  cases 
addressed  to  Dr.  Schwarz,  Germany. 
The  contents  being  unknown,  they 
were  taken  to  the  "  sight  floor "  for 
examination  by  the  customs'  ofBcers, 
when  they  were  found  to  contain,  ac- 
cording to  the  judgment  of  the  officials 
in  question,  various  specimens  of  natu- 
ral history,  illustrating  the  science  of 
anatomy.  One  case  was  filled  with 
"human  bones,"  and  in  another  case 
were  four  tins,  each  containing  the 
"  head  of  a  negro,"  preserved  in  'brandy 
in  a  jar  closely  secured  in  the  tin.  The 
whole  were  pronounced  to  be  in  a  most 
perfect  condition. 

The  fact,  which  Mr.  Watch  would 
hardly  have  required  to  be  pointed  out 
to  liim^  evidently  is,  that  a  very  neat 
trick  was  in  this  instance  played  on 
the  custom  house  officers,  resulting  in 
their  being  most  cleverly  "  sold."  The 
simple  fact  is  that  they,  in  their  inno- 
cence, did  not  taste  the  brandy  in 
which  the  heads  of  the  blackamoors 
were  preserved.  If  they  had  tried  that 
formidable  but,  as  it  would  have  proved, 
safe  experiment,  they  would  have  found 
the  spirituous  liquor  none  the  worse  for 
the  preserves.  By  the  art  of  the  model- 
ler and  colorist,  no  doubt,  heads,  black 
or  white,  and  of  the  right  kind  of 
material — as  incapable  of  affecting  as 
of  being  affected  by  brandy — may  be 
manufactured  in  any  required  quantity  ; 
and  it  was  not  a  very  long  time  after 
the  decision  in  question,  that  certain 


288 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


gentlemen  might  have  been  seen,  pro- 
vided access  could  have  been  obtained 
to  the  scene  of  their  good  cheer,  convi- 
vially  and  with  a  hearty  gusto  drinking 
the  health  of  the  Southampton  custom  house 
ojffkers  in  the  fluid  supposed  to  have 
served  an  antiseptic  purpose  in  relation 
to  the  heads  of  the  black  men. 

It  is  wonderful  that  such  expert  offi- 
cers were  so  easily  done.  The  address, 
"  Dr.  Schwarz,"  ought  to  have  opened 
their  eyes.  "What  would  they  have  said 
to  "Mr.  Smith,"  London?  The  case 
shows  one  more  of  the  secrets  of  smug- 
gling, which  is  an  occupation  much 
more  romantic  than  reputable,  for  the 
smuggler  inflicts  a  downright  injury  on 
the  really  fair  trader — assuming  that 
the  latter  character  still  exists.  Such 
a  case  also  causes  the  imposition  of  a 
very  disagreeable  duty  on  custom  house 
officers — those  usually  bland  and  accom- 
modating persons.  They  will  henceforth 
have  to  assure  themselves,  beyond  a 
doubt,  that  the  brandy  in  which  alleged 
anatomical  preparations  are  imported, 
really  contain  those  objects  of  medical 
science;  and  it  is  only  to  be  hoped 
that  they  will  find  the  means  of  deter- 
mining this  point  by  some  other  sense 
than  that  of  taste. 


Manners  at  the  Eng'lish  Stock 
Exchangre. 

The  manners — no  less  than  the 
morals — of  the  London  Stock  Ex- 
change, are  curious,  to  say  the  least. 
Some  time  since,  the  papers  reported 
a  limb  broken  "  in  sport ;  "  occasional 
duels  arise  from  the  "fun"  of  the 
members;  and  the  courtesies  of  life 
are  wanting  on  the  part  of  many  of  its 
habitues^  if  a  stranger  ventures  among 
them.  When  such  an  "  intruder  "  ap- 
pears, instead  of  the  bearing  of  gentle- 
men, the  first  discoverer  of  the  visitor 
cries  out,  "Fourteen  hundred  fives!" 
and  a  hundred  voices  re-echo  the  cry. 
Youth  or  age  is  equally  disregarded; 
and  the  following  description  of  what 
occurred  to  an  unconscious  interloper, 


and  which  is  no  rarer  instance,  will 
show  that  there  are  financial  as  well  as 
political  "  roughs."  j 

Not  long  ago  (according  to  an  Eng-< 
lish  journal),  a  rural  gentleman,  igno-' 
rant  of  the  rule  so  rigidly  enforced  foi? 
the  expulsion  of  strangers,  chanced  ta 
"  drop  in,"  as  he  phrased  it,  to  thai 
Stock  Exchange.  He  walked  about! 
for  nearly  a  minute,  without  being  dis^^ 
covered  to  be  an  intruder,  indulging! 
in  surprise  at  finding  that  the  greats 
est  uproar  and  frolic  prevailed  in  ai 
place  in  which  he  expected  there  woul(^ 
be  nothing  but  order  and  decorum* 
All  at  once,  a  person  who  had  justi 
concluded  a  hasty  but  severe  scrutiny* 
of  his  features,  called  out  at  the  full 
stretch  of  his  voice  the  usual  signal 
in  such  cases — "Fourteen  hundred.'*] 
Then  a  bevy  of  the  "  gentlemen  "  of  I 
the  resort  clamorously  surrounded  him.! 
"  Will  you  purchase  any  new  navy  fival 
per  cent.  ? "  said  one,  eagerly  and  mena*! 
cingly  looking  him  in  the  face.  "  I  anoij 
not — ,"  the  stranger  was  about  to  sayj 
he  was  not  going  to  purchase  stock  of' 
any  kind,  but  was  unceremoniously 
prevented  finishing  his  sentence  by  hiai 
hat  being,  through  a  powerful  applica-- 
tion  of  some  one's  fist  to  its  crown^ 
not  only  forced  over  his  eyes,  but  over^ 
his  mouth  also.  Before  he  had  time  toi 
recover  from  the  stupefaction  into* 
which  the  suddenness  and  violence  of' 
the  eclipse  threw  him,  he  was  seized^ 
by  the  shoulders  and  whirled  aboutsj 
as  if  he  had  been  a  revolving  machine^ 
accompanied  by  several  smart  cufisi 
which  told,  with  stinging  effect,  in  thfti 
region  of  his  ears.  He  was  thens 
dragged  about,  from  one  person  to  an- : 
other,  each  having  a  fraternal  "  turn  "j 
at  him,  as  if  he  had  only  been  the  ' 
effigy  of  some  human  being,  instead  of  '- 
a  human  being  himself.  After  tossing  i 
and  hustling  him  about  in  the  roughest  \ 
possible  manner,  abbreviating  his  coat : 
of  one  of  its  tails,  and  tearing  into 
fragments  other  parts  of  his  wardrobe,  ; 
they  carried  him  to  the  door,  where,  i 


FAMOUS  COMMERCIAL  RESORTS  AND  LOCALITIES. 


289 


after  depositing  him  on  liis  feet,  they 
left  him  to  recx)vcr  his  lost  senses  at  his 
leisure — but  in  some  other  place  and 
comj)any  than  theirs. 

Origin  of  Boards  of  Trade. 

Cromwell  seems,  according  to  the 
best  accounts  we  have,  to  have  given 
the  first  notions  of  a  board  of  trade. 
In  1665,  he  appointed  his  son  Richard, 
with  many  lords  of  his  council,  judges 
and  gentlemen,  and  about  twenty  mer- 
chants of  London,  York,  Newcastle, 
Yarmouth,  Dover,  etc.,  to  meet  and 
consider  by  what  means  the  trade  and 
navigation  of  the  republic  might  be 
best  promoted.  Charles  the  Second, 
ou  his  restoration,  established  a  council 
of  trade  for  keeping  a  control  over  the 
whole  commerce  of  the  nation ;  he 
afterwards  instituted  a  board  of  trade 
and  plantations,  which  was  afterwards 
re-modelled  by  William  the  Third. 
This  board  of  commercial  superinspec- 
tion  was  abolished  in  1772  ;  and  a  new 
council  for  the  affairs  of  trade,  on  its 
present  plan,  was  appointed  in  1786. 


Attacks  on  the  Stock  Exchange. 

The  character  of  the  old  stock  ex- 
change, of  London,  has  been  set  forth 
in  terms  about  as  strong  as  language 
can  express  it.  Even  as  far  back  as  a 
century  ago,  a  writer  of  that  time  says, 
"  The  centre  of  jobbing  is  the  king- 
dom of  'Change  Alley;"  and  what 
was  true  then  is  by  many  regarded  as 
the  same  at  the  present  day.  The  enor- 
mous profits  made  by  the  association, 
the  malpractices  of  the  greater  part  of 
its  members,  and  the  insolence  of  the 
richer  ones,  excited  long  since  the  alarm 
of  those  unacccustomed  to  such  manoeu- 
vres, %nd  the  public  writers  began  to 
attack  their  increasing  power. 

"  The  villany  of  stock-jobbing  is 
called  a  mystery  or  machine  of  trade," 
says  one  of  these  writers.  "  This  de- 
structive hydra !  this  new  corporation 
19 


of  hell ! "  exclaims  another ;  while  one 
of  them  gives  directions,  in  order  to 
besiege  and  bring  to  surrender  "that 
infamous  place,  'Change  Alley,"  "to 
storm  it,"  etc.  ' 

Another  writer  declares  that  "  the 
general  cry  against  stock-jobbing  has 
been  so  long,  and  it  has  been  so  justly 
complained  of  as  a  public  nuisance, 
that  these  people  are  hardened  in 
crime ;  all  their  art  is  a  mere  system 
of  cheat  and  delusion  ;  their  characters 
are  as  dirty  as  their  employments ;  and 
the  best  thing  that  can  be  said  of  them, 
perhaps,  is  that  there  hap'pen  to  be  two 
honest  men  among  them."  "  Exchange 
Alley  is,  in  fact,  as  dangerous  to  the 
public  safety  as  a  magazine  of  gun- 
powder to  a  populous  city." 

But  all  these  invectives  did  not  ob- 
struct the  progress  of  the  establish- 
ment ;  on  the  contrary,  it  continued 
to  become  more  powerful,  and  in- 
creased in  proportion  as  the  govern- 
ment was  more  extravagant  and  care- 
less of  the  public  money.  It  became, 
in  short,  an  indispensable  engine  of 
the  government  itself;  but  the  latter 
was  finally  compelled,  by  public  opin- 
ion against  the  detested  operations  of 
the  exchange,  and  in  order  to  keep  up 
appearances,  to  pass  several  acts  against 
the  very  operations  and  the  very  gam- 
bling it  was  so  deeply,  though  secretly, 
fomenting.  Avarice,  idleness,  and  the 
hope  of  becoming  rich  in  a  short  time 
without  industry,  eluded  and  evaded 
all  laws.  The  members  of  this  corpo- 
ration have  not  only  become  the  exclu- 
sive masters  of  the  British  money 
market,  but  have  acquired  the  im- 
mense power  of  secretly  controlling  and 
regulating  the  funds  and  money  market 
of  almost  the  whole  world. 


Custom  Houses  and  Star  Chambers. 

A  MERCHANT  In  Loudon,  of  the  name 
of  Richard  Chambers,  having  sustained 
some  loss  by  a  confiscation  of  part  of 
his  property  by  the  custom-house  ofli- 


290 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


cers,  in  a  moment  of  indignation  said, 
in  the  hearing  of  some  of  the  privy 
council,  "  that  the  merchants  in  Eng- 
land were  more  wrung  and  screwed 
than  in  foreign  parts."  For  the  offence 
of  this  language  he  was  forthwith 
brought  before  "the  honorable  court 
of  Star  Chamber,"  as  it  was  termed, 
and  fined  two  thousand  pounds,  for 
refusing  to  pay  which  he  was  ordered 
to  be  imprisoned  six  years,  and  even 
this  punishment  was  by  some  members 
of  the  court  considered  too  small.  It 
was  also  part  of  Chambers'  sentence  to 
sign  a  very  mean  submission,  which 
was  accordingly  prepared.  But  when 
this  was  brought  to  him  he  absolutely 
refused,  and,  with  all  the  terrors  of  a 
prison  in  view,  wrote  under  it  that 
"  he  abhorred  and  detested  it  as  unjust 
and  false,  and  never  until  death  would 
he  acknowledge  any  part,  of  it."  In 
consequence  of  his  determined  opposi- 
tion to  the  tyranny  of  the  government, 
on  this  and  other  occasions.  Chambers 
was  utterly  ruined,  and  died  of  poverty 
and  brokenheartedness  at  an  advanced 
age. 


Quotations  of  the  New  Exchang-e. 

The  commercial  phrases  peculiar  to 
the  new  Matrimonial  Exchange,  Lon- 
don, are  from  time  to  time  delineated 
by  the  stock  reporters  for  Punch — a 
journal  which  appears  to  be  the  exclu- 
sive organ  of  the  dealers  and  habitues 
of  that  important  mart.  Quotations 
are  given  as  follows — though  the  varia- 
tions are  so  rapid  and  anomalous  as 
almost  to  defy  the  reporter's  skill : 

The  demand  for  hands  has  been  flat. 
Rings  have  been  heavy,  and  so  were 
not  fingered.  Acceptances  were  at  a 
discount — offers  fluctuating.  "Yes's" 
were  in  plenty,  but  no  takers.  Kisses 
were  liberally  showered  on  new  visitors. 
Hearts  that  were  to  be  had  for  love  went 
off  unsteadily,  and,  in  some  cases,  at  con- 
siderable risk  ;  those  with  high  interest 
eagerly  sought  for,  though,  in  many 


cases,  at  a  great  risk,  as  permanent  in 
vestments. 

Banns  might  have  been  had  witl 
asking  for;  but  licenses  kept  thei 
prices — there  were  very  few  transac 
tions  in  this  stock.  Smiles  anc 
squeezes  were  unchangeable  at  par 
and  one  gentleman  who  speculatec 
boldly  in  foot  touches,  met  witl 
favorable  returns.  Sighs  latterly  wer( 
heavy,  but  small-talk  continued  brist 
to  the  close.  Bright  eyes  looked  uj 
occasionally,  but  soon  fell  again 
Though  some  business,  as  usual,  wa; 
done  in  blushes,  silly  looks  were  nol 
in  demand;  free-and-easies,  however 
rose  to  a  high  premium,  and  drov( 
genuine  modesty  almost  out  of  the 
market. 

Maternal  frowns  were  in  consider 
able  quantities,  and  prevented,  it  ij 
thought,  many  imprudent  bargains 
from  being  finally  settled.  Scanda" 
kept  its  customary  high  ground ;  anc 
more  transactions  occurred  in  that  line 
than  in  the  three  others  put  together 
Serenades — particularly  of  wind  instru 
ments — were  in  great  demand  and  ir 
plentiful  supply  during  the  equinox 
Slights  were  complained  of  by  manj 
dealers. 

On  the  whole,  at  the  close  of  the 
season  and  markets,  the  single  pei 
cents  were  not  much  reduced,  as  com 
pared  with  the  business  of  formei 
years;  and  there  was  a  sluggishness 
in  even  improper  flirtations,  which  had 
no  doubt  its  share  in  casting  a  gloom 
and  monotony  over  the  general  course 
of  the  Exchange. 

P.  S. — A  later  report  gives  the  mar- 
ket an  aspect  of  greater  steadiness  and 
encouragement.  Liberal  offers  being 
more  difficult  to  obtain,  has  caused 
acceptances  to  be  had  at  a  great  dis- 
count compared  with  previous  quota- 
tions. Not  much  doing  in  maternal 
frowns,  on  which  account  time  bar- 
gains are  settled  without  much  diffi- 
culty. Heavy  purses  are  much  in- 
quired   for;   but    stocks    with    small 


FAMOUS  COMMERCIAL  RESORTS  AND  LOCALITIES. 


291 


capitals,  have  not  once  been  sought 
after.  Sly  squeezes  are  very  brisk. 
Blushes  are  remarked  as  quite  scarce, 
none  having  been  seen  in  the  market 
for  a  length  of  time.  Jealousy  is 
rising  considerably.  Other  stocks  re- 
main almost  the  same  as  before,  with 
the  exception  of  scandal,  v^hich  may  be 
said  to  be  rather  on  the  advance. 


Scenes  in  a  Turkisli  Custom  House. 

There  is  a  slight  difference  between 
an  American  and  a  Syrian  custom- 
house. On  entering  the  latter,  the 
Hadji  dons  a  pair  of  spectacles,  and 
taking  a  scrap  of  paper  from  the 
nearest  applicant,  carefully  peruses  the 
same  before  handing  it  over  to  some 
subordinate.  The  room  is  a  long 
oblong  one,  with  only  one  entrance 
door,  and  a  few  pigeon  holes  close  to 
the  ceiling,  which  do  duty  for  win- 
dows. Round  three  sides  are  placed 
long,  narrow  divans,  with  equally  low 
wooden  desks  before  them.  Only  the 
Hadji,  in  compliment  to  the  high  office 
he  fills,  is  accommodated  with  a  lofty 
seat,  which  serves  for  manifold  pur- 
poses ;  on  it  he  sits,  tailor  fashion, 
himself;  on  it  are  his  ink-horn,  his 
pepper-box,  full  of  steel  gratings  (to 
serve  instead  of  blotting  paper),  his 
tobacco  pouch,  his  private  account 
book,  his  seal  of  office,  a  large  pair  of 
shears,  to  cut  his  paper  with,  a  quire 
of  paper,  and  a  few  envelopes.  All  the 
clerks  have  the  same  inventory  of  goods, 
with  the  exception  of  the  signet,  either 
on  the  desk  before  them,  or  on  the 
divan  beside  them ;  and,  as  far  as  can 
be  judged,  very  few  of  the  clerks  seem 
to  pay  any  particular  heed  as  to  what 
is  going  on  around  them.  Some  are 
playing  backgammon,  shuffling  the 
dice,  and  speaking  or  laughing  as  loud- 
ly as  though  the  place  were  an  hotel ; 
others  are  playing  at  cat's  cradle  ;  some 
are  narrating  little  episodes  of  private 
adventure ;  and  one  or  two,  with  in- 
tense anxiety  depicted  in  their  faces, 


may  be  seen  endeavoring  to  unravel  a 
sum  in  simple  addition,  adding  up  some 
six  lines  of  figures,  and  arriving  re- 
peatedly at  most  unsatisfactory  re- 
sults. 

At  the  farther  end  of  the  room, 
and  nearest  the  door,  are  some  half- 
dozen  patient  individuals,  who,  see- 
ing the  throng  pressing  around  the 
Hadji's  desk,  despair  of  transacting 
any  business  for  a  good  half-hour  to" 
come,  and  endeavor  to  while  away  the 
time  with  the  stale  old  newspaper,  or 
in  desultory  conversation.  In  the  cen- 
tre of  the  room,  wrangling  with  each 
other  in  no  measured  accents,  are  a 
couple  of  Hebrews,  the  one  the  seller, 
the  other  the  purchaser  of  a  few  barrels 
of  sugar,  which  are  warehoused  in  the 
custom  house ;  the  bone  of  contention 
between  them  is  a  couple  of  rusty  old 
hoops,  which  have  fallen  off  said  casks, 
and  which  both  lay  claim  to  as  their 
respective  perquisites ;  their  joint  value 
might  be  somewhat  under  six  cents — 
but  six  cents  are  six  cents,  and  the  dis- 
pute grows  fierce  and  loud.  At  last 
they  appeal  to  the  Hadji;  and  the 
Hadji,  who  always  has  an  eye  to  the 
main  chance,  claims  them  as  his  own. 
The  customs  charge  nothing  for  ware- 
housing, therefore  he  considers  himself 
entitled  to  occasional  windfalls.  Vainly 
they  expostulate  against  this,  pale  with 
anxiety  and  rage  to  think  that  they  are 
both  outwitted ;  the  order  is  given  to 
the  warehouse  scribe,  who  chances  to 
be  in  the  room  at  the  time,  to  make  an 
immediate  memorandum  of  the  mat- 
ter; and  this  dignitary^  who  to  all 
appearance  is  totally  unfurnished  with 
materials,  squats  down  immediately 
upon  the  floor,  and,  producing  ink- 
horn  and  paper,  thrusts  up  one  knee, 
which  serves  him  as  a  desk,  and  the 
minute  is  forthwith  entered.  Then  the 
two  dealers  go  away,  full  of  enmity 
toward  each  other,  their  tempers  not 
being  improved  by  a  sly  allusion,  on 
the  part  of  some  witty  individual,  to 
the  fable  of   the    two  cats  and  the 


292 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


cheese — which  fable  itself  was  origi- 
nally copied  from  the  Arabs. 

Every  one  is  talking  and  clamorous, 
when  a  hurried  shipmaster,  accompa- 
nied by  a  consular  cawass  and  an  inter- 
preter, elbows  his  way  up  to  the  Hadji's 
desk  and  demands,  as  the  wind  is  fair, 
to  have  his  ship  cleared  out  instanter, 
"  Shuay,  shuay,  ye  ebney  !  Yauash  ! 
yauash  ! "  (Gently,  gently,  my  son ! 
quietly,  quietly !)  "  Does  the  man 
think  we  work  by  steam  in  this 
office  ? " 

Thus  demands  the  Hadji,  to  w^hich 
on  due  interpretation,  the  captain 
allows  that  he  would  be  mad  or  blind 
to  think  so.  Nevertheless,  the  Hadji 
has  a  wholesome  fear  of  the  English 
consul ;  wherefore,  he  takes  the  docu- 
ments out  of  the  captain's  hands,  and 
gives  them  to  his  own  private  transla- 
tor. This  individual,  who  is  clad  in 
hybrid  costume,  reads  out  the  mani- 
fest, line  by  line,  the  Hadji  making 
note  of  the  same,  and  comparing  them 
with  his  own  entries  of  shipments, 
which  are  found  to  tally  exactly.  Then 
comes  the  most  important  question, 
viz.,  Have  all  these  shipments  paid 
the  right  export  duty?  The  Greek 
broker  has  made  some  omission,  it  ap- 
pears, and  matters  cannot  be  proceeded 
with  till  the  mistake  is  corrected. 
Upon  this  information,  the  shipmaster 
is  naturally  annoyed,  but  there  is  no 
remedy ;  he  is  obliged  to  go  all  the 
way  back  to  the  broker's,  thence  to  the 
shipper,  and  in  all  probability  is  forced 
to  appeal  to  the  consul.  Meanwhile 
the  fair  wind  subsides,  and  the  owners, 
the  underwriters,  and  all  parties  con- 
cerned, have  lost  a  week,  if  not  more — 
a  week  of  hardship,  wear  and  tear,  of 
expenses  in  pay  and  sustenance,  and 
perhaps  the  cargo  is  about  ruined  by 
so  long  confinement. 


Manchester  Cotton  Dlerchants. 

There  is,  perhaps,  no  part  of  the 
commercial  world  in  which  so  much  is 


done  and  so  little  said  in  the  same 
space  of  time,  as  among  the  merchants 
of  Manchester,  Eng.,  at  the  time  of 
"  high  "  change.  A  stranger  sees  noth- 
ing at  first  but  a  collection  of  gentle- 
men, with  thoughtful,  intelligent  faces, 
who  converse  with  each  other  in 
laconic  whispers,  supply  the  non-use 
of  words  by  nods  and  signs,  move 
noiselessly  from  one  part  of  the  room 
to  another,  guided  as  if  by  some  hidden 
instinct  to  the  precise  person  in  the 
crowd  with  whom  they  have  business 
to  transact. 

A  phrenologist  will  nowhere  meet 
such  a  collection  of  decidedly  clever 
heads.  The  physiognomist  who  de- 
clared that  he  could  find  traces  of 
stupidity  in  the  faces  of  the  wisest 
philosophers,  would  be  at  a  loss  to  find 
any  indication  of  its  presence  in  the 
countenances  assembled  at  the  Man- 
chester Exchange.  Genius  appears  to 
be  not  less  rare  than  folly  ;  the  charac- 
teristic features  of  these  habitues,  col- 
lectively and  individually,  are  those  of 
talent  and  sagacity  in  high  working 
order. 

Whether  trade  be  brisk  or  dull,  high 
'change  is  equally  crowded ;  and  the 
dificrence  of  its  aspect  at  the  two 
periods  is  sufficiently  striking.  In  stir- 
ring times,  every  man  on  'change  seems 
as  if  he  belonged  to  the  community 
of  the  dancing  dervishes,  being  utterly 
incapable  of  remaining  for  a  single 
second  in  one  place.  It  is  the  prin- 
ciple of  a  Manchester  man,  that 
"  naught  is  done  while  aught  remains 
to  do ; "  let  him  but  have  the  oppor- 
tunity, and  he  will  undertake  to  supply 
all  the  markets  between  China  and  Peru, 
and  will  be  exceedingly  vexed  if  he  has 
lost  the  chance  of  selling  some  yam  at 
Japan,  on  his  way.  When  trade  is 
dull,  the  merchants  and  factors  stand 
motionless  as  statues,  or  move  about 
as  slowly -as  if  they  followed  a  funeral— 
the  look  of  eagerness  exchanged  for 
that  of  dogged  obstinacy ;  it  seems  to 
say—"  My  mind  is  made  up  to  lose  so 


FAMOUS  COMMERCIAL  RESORTS  AND  LOCALITIES. 


293 


much,  but  I  am  resolved  to  lose  no 
more."  An  increase  of  sternness  and 
inflexibility  accompanies  tlie  decline 
of  tlie  Manchester  trade,  and  foreigners 
declare  that  the  worst  time  to  expect  a 
bargain  is  a  season  of  distress. 


Free  Trade. 

The  well  known  Hussey  Burgh,  at  the 
opening  of  the  session  of  parliament 
in  1777,  moved  the  usual  address  to  the 
king,  in  which  was  the  following  sen- 
tence :  "  It  is  not  by  temporary  expe- 
dients, but  by  an  extension  of  trade, 
that  Ireland  can  be  ameliorated."  On 
the  reading  of  this  paragraph,  Flood, 
who  was  seated  in  the  vice-treasurer's 
place,  said,  audibly.  "  Why  not  a  free 
trade?"  The  amendment  electrified 
the  house ;  the  words  were  adopted 
by  his  friend,  and  the  motion  was 
carried  unanimously.  It  was  a  bold 
commercial  stroke,  accomplished  with 
a  master's  skill  and  brevity. 


Animated  Scenes  at  the  French 

Fxchangre. 
The  spirit  which  animates  the  French 
Exchange  wakes  up  at  one  o'clock  pre- 
cisely. The  stroke  of  the  clock  gives 
the  signal  of  business.  At  this  sound 
everything  is  in  motion;  a  thousand 
cries  are  sent  forth  ;  a  universal  shout 
fills  the  vast  hall,  and  strikes  the  roof. 
The  "  basket  "—corbeille— a  kind  of 
circular  balcony  occupying  the  east 
end  of  the  hall,  around  which  sixty 
brokers  crowd,  bristles  with  threaten- 
ing arms,  and  furious  memorandum 
books.  In  the  wink  of  an  eye,  the 
floor  is  covered  with  a  multitude  of 
little  torn  bits  of  paper  ;  these  are  the 
orders  of  purchase  and  sale,  sent  by 
their  principals,  and  the  answers  re- 
turned by  the  brokers.  Iron  railings 
keep  off  the  profane  vulgar,  who  besiege 
the  basket  on  all  sides,  and  whose  con- 
tinual buzz  mixes  with  the  shriekings 
of  the  brokers,  and  of  the  pages  of  the 
Exchange.      A  general  stamping  and 


buzzing — a  perpetual  coming  and 
going,  as  in  an  ant  hill  or  a  bee  hive 
— seeming  confusion  yet  perfect  order ; 
— such  is  the  aspect  of  the  Exchange 
from  one  o'clock  to  three. 

From  the  gallery  above,  which  is 
also  thronged  with  multitudes  of  the 
curious,  a  strange  spectacle  is  presented 
by  this  furnace  in  full  blast,  where 
writhe,  like  twigs  in  the  flame,  the 
most  violent  passions  of  the  human 
heart.  The  floor  of  fine  and  well-swept 
sand,  which  surrounds  the  centre  of  the 
parquet,  or  inclosure,  is  simply  the 
spitting-box  of  .the  brokers.  These 
threatening  cries — this  defiance — these 
exorcisms — are  good  natured  words 
and  pantomines,  always  the  same,  and 
meaning  "  I  have  fifty  Northerns  !  " 
"  I'll  take  ten  thousand  of  the  Fives  ! 
two  thousand  of  the  Threes  !  "  "  Let 
me  have  some  Premiums^  early  day — 
next  day  !  "  "  Let  me  have  some  Pied- 
mont!" "  I'll  sell  some  Gas ! "  "Who 
wants  Zinc?"  Here  is  Bank!"  "Here 
is  City  ! "  «&c.,  &c., 

That  personage  who  from  time  to  time 
raises  his  voice  in  a  corner  of  the  Ex- 
change, and  whose  purple  face  rises 
above  all  other  heads,  thanks  to  the  stool 
which  forms  his  pedestal,  is  the  muezzin 
of  this  mosque — the  auctioneer  of  the 
Exchange — the  person  whose  duty  it 
is  to  minute  and  announce  the  rates  of 
public  stock  as  they  are  ascertained. 
At  right  angles  with  the  inclosure,  on 
entering  by  the  facade,  a  sort  of  human 
alley-way  is  opened  through  the  crowd, 
in  order  to  afford  a  passage  for  the 
brokers'  clerks,  who  go  and  come.  Two 
similar,  but  shorter  alley-ways,  run  to 
the  right  and  the  left  of  the  basket, 
like  the  two  arms  of  a  cross.  These 
three  openings  of  the  inclosure  are 
incessantly  crowded  with  orders  of 
sale  and  purchase,  which  are  sent  to 
the  brokers  by  the  busy  messengers, 
who  bear  the  oflicial  insignia  em- 
broidered conspicuously  on  the  coat- 
collar. 

The  lower  sides  of  the  hall,  furnished 


294 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


■with  benclies  at  -wide  intervals,  serve 
as  a  promenade  for  tlie  sages  of  the 
portico — the  dreamers  and  the  idle. 


The  Origin  of  the  Clearing:  House. 

Not  many  years  after  the  London 
bankers  had  ceased  to  issue  notes,  the 
inconvenience  of  making  all  payments 
in  Bank  of  England  notes  and  gold, 
had  become  so  great,  that  some  change 
w^as  indispensably  necessary  ;  -when  the 
plan  of  adjusting  each  other's  daily 
payments  by  an  interchange  of  liabil- 
ities was  adopted  as  the  best  mode  of 
economizing  the  use  of  money.  At  first 
the  system  adopted  was  of  the  most 
primitive  kind,  and  certainly  not  the 
safest.  The  clerks  of  the  various  bank- 
ing houses  used  to  perform  the  opera- 
tion of  exchanges  at  the  comers  of  the 
streets,  and  on  the  top  of  a  post.  They 
then  met,  by  appointment,  at  a  public 
house ;  but,  from  the  insecurity  of  these 
arrangements,  it  was  at  last  thought 
best  that  the  principal  city  bankers 
should  rent  a  house  near  the  old  post 
ofl5ce  in  Lombard  street.  This  house 
was  called  the  Clearing  House. 


Derivation  of  the  Commercial  Term 
Bourse. 

The  original  name  of  bourse,  given 
to  edifices  for  the  accommodation  of 
merchants,  is  thus  stated :  There  was, 
in  former  times,  a  square  commodiously 
situated  in  the  middle  of  the  city  of 
Bruges,  in  which  stood  a  large  building 
that  had  been  erected  by  the  noble 
family  of  La  Bourse,  whose  coat  of 
arms,  on  its  wall,  was  three  purses. 
The  merchants  of  Bruges  made  this  old 
house  the  place  of  their  daily  assem- 
blies ;  and  when  afterward  they  went 
to  the  fairs  of  Antwerp  and  Mons,  they 
called  the  places  they  found  there  for 
the  assembling  of  merchants,  by  the 
name  of  La  Bourse,  or  the  Bourse. 


Reduction  of  Custom-Honse  Duties:— 
"Death  to  the  Beet-Root!  " 

The  news  of  the  reduction  of  the 
customs  duty  on  sugar  was  celebrated 
with  great  enthusiasm  in  the  towns 
and  cities  of  France — nowhere  more 
joyously  than  in  Havi'e.  Not  only 
were  all  the  ships  in  the  harbor  gayly 
dressed,  and  the  houses  profusely 
adorned  with  tri-colored  flags,  but  the 
laboring  class,  whose  work  had  been 
so  diminished  by  the  smallness  of  the 
cargoes  brought  by  ships  from  the  col- 
onies, paraded  the  streets  in  great 
numbers,  preceded  by  a  banner,  with 
a  sugarcane  surmounted  by  a  nosegay, 
below  which  was  a  beet-root  covered 
with  crape,  and  bearing  the  inscription 
"  Death  to  the  Beet-root ! " 


Ludicrous  Custom-House 
Examinations. 

Nothing  can  exceed  the  lynx-eyed 
scrutiny  and  annoying  detail  of  the 
British  custom-house  officers.  Upon 
the  arrival  of  a  vessel  from  the  Conti- 
nent, for  instance,  the  passengers  are 
asked  for  their  trunk  keys,  and  they 
look  as  if  they  were  about  to  offer  to 
the  British  Government  their  entire 
stock  of  movables.  Each  has  his  sin- 
gle carpet  bag,  and  waits  his  turn.  The 
first  bag  opened  may  exhibit  an  old 
coat,  a  hair  brush,  a  checked  shirt,  an 
empty  flask,  and  a  toothbrush ;  the 
next,  a  checked  shirt,  an  empty  flask, 
and  a  hair  brush;  the  third  contains 
an  empty  flask,  a  hair  brush,  and  a 
checked  shirt.  Then  comes  a  bag 
which  actually  contains  a  large  portion 
of  dirty  striped  linen,  which  one  of  the 
men  engaged  in  the  search  begins  to 
rummage  with  a  minuteness  and  curi- 
osity which,  after  the  very  general  way 
of  disposing  of  the  other  things,  seems 
quite  surprising.  The  truth  is,  the 
man  has  smelt  brandy  in  the  clothes, 
and  is  looking  out  for  the  bottle.  His 
search  for  it  is  very  much  like  that  of 
Page  for  Falstaff  in  the  buck-basket,' 


FAMOUS  COMMERCIAL  RESORTS  AND  LOCALITIES. 


295 


and,  as  it  turns  out, 
cessful. 


is  as  little  sue- 


Business  in  London  at  Four  ©'Clock. 

A  GRAPHIC  picture — though  not  very 
complimentary — of  "  Commercial  Lon- 
don "  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
may  be  seen  in  the  following,  from  the 
pen  of  North  : — Attorneys  are  cheating 
their  clients,  or  assisting  them  to  cheat 
other  people.  Merchants  are  calculat- 
ing the  chances  of  the  markets,  like 
gamblers  inventing  martingales.  Clerks 
are  adding  up  figures  as  clocks  add  up 
minutes.  Cashiers  and  secretaries  are 
reflecting  on  the  facilities  of  an  im- 
promptu voyage  to  California.  Direc- 
tors of  companies  are  "cooking"  the 
accounts  of  their  shareholders.  Waiters 
at  Joe's,  Sam's,  Tom's,  Betsy's,  and 
other  chop  houses,  whose  proprietors 
are  apparently  more  proud  of  their 
Christian  names  than  usual,  order 
countless  chops,  through  patent  gutta- 
percha telegraphs.  Cooks  baste  them- 
selves with  half  and  half,  while  roast- 
ing before  their  fires,  like  Fox's  mar- 
tyrs, bound  to  the  steaks  of  their  ty- 
rants. Crossing-sweepers  are  industri- 
ously cleaning  streets  as  dry  as  carpets, 
and  begging  of  passengers  as  charitable 
as  cannibals.  Usurers  are  meeting  gen- 
tlemen who  want  to  borrow  money  at 
any  rate  of — non-payment.  Adven- 
turers are  keeping  appointments  with 
capitalists  they  hope  to  drag  into 
speculations  ;  capitalists  are  contriving 
monopolies  by  which  to  crush  non-cap- 
italist adventurers.  Stock  brokers  are 
playing  money  tricks  on  the  Stock  Ex- 
change. Hebrew  gold-kings  are  manu- 
facturing intelligence  to  astonish  the 
stock  brokers.  Couriers  are  dashing 
off  with  the  commands  of  London 
financiers  to  foreign  potentates.  Mes- 
sengers are  arriving  from  the  sham,  en- 
treating aid  from  the  real  sovereigns  of 
Europe.  And  the  plenipotentiaries  of 
that  greater  monarch  still — the  daily 
press  —  are    calmly    overlooking    the 


whole  anthill,  with  sublime  indiffer- 
ence to  the  struggles  of  its  busy  insects, 
and  generalizing  for  millions  the  knowl- 
edge which,  even  to  those  in  the  midst 
of  the  bustle,  is  too  often  but  semi-ob- 
scurity and  chromatropic  confusion. 


Merchants  and  Susiness  Resorts  in 
Moscow. 

The  mercantile  portion  of  Moscow 
presents  characteristics  peculiarly  its 
own.  The  quarter  in  which  the  retail 
business  is  carried  on  is  called  Kitai- 
gorod,  or  Chinese  Town,  a  name  which 
it  obtained  in  the  earliest  times  as  the 
seat  of  the  Chinese  trade.  At  present 
it  contains  two  Gostivie  dvori,  or  ba- 
zaars, resembling  that  of  St.  Petersburg 
in  arrangement,  but  far  surpassing  it 
in  variety  and  amount  of  business. 
One  can  hardly  think  of  a  desirable 
object,  for  the  sale  of  which  a  row  of 
stalls  is  not  to  be  found  there.  Each 
dealer  both  buys  and  sells  in  his  own 
line  of  business.  Specie  is  also  ranked 
among  the  articles  of  commercial  traf- 
fic. The  current  coins  of  all  countries 
are  to  be  purchased,  as  well  as  those 
which  time  or  circumstances  have  con- 
verted into  mere  articles  of  curiosity. 

The  mercantile  population  of  Mos- 
cow cling  to  the  same  antique  habits 
which  distinguish  the  commercial 
classes  in  St.  Petersburg;  indeed,  na- 
tionality is  much  more  developed  in 
the  former  place.  St.  Petersburg  is  a 
chameleon,  the  color  of  which  changes 
from  contrast.  The  foreigner  thinks  it 
Russian,  while  to  the  native  of  Moscow 
it  appears  a  foreign  city.  The  comfort- 
able tradesmen  in  Moscow  have  a  quar- 
ter to  themselves ;  and  while  their  ser- 
vants keep  the  shops,  the  bearded 
owners  chat  with  one  another  in  the 
street.  They  live  in  indolent  resigna- 
tion on  whatever  fortune  sends  them, 
and  their  language  is  proverbially  that 
of  careless  indifference. 


296 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Railway  Clearing  House. 

On  account  of  the  difficulty  wliich 
the  multitude  of  English  railway  com- 
panies found  in  keeping  their  mutual 
accounts,  they  adopted,  some  years  ago, 
a  system  analogous  to  that  of  the 
"  clearing  house  "  established  by  bank- 
ers and  merchants  in  large  cities.  The 
clearing  house,  carried  on  in  the  inter- 
est of  mercantile  classes,  is,  it  is  known, 
an  establishment  which  keeps  up  a  sort 
of  imaginary  debtor  and  creditor  ac- 
count with  all  the  bankers  and  mer- 
chants. The  latter  send  their  bills  and 
checks,  not  to  each  other,  for  payment, 
but  to  the  clearing  house,  where  they 
are  sorted  and  classed  under  the  name 
of  the  firm  which  is  to  pay  them.  As 
four  o'clock  approaches,  each  banker's 
debits  for  the  day  are  arranged  in  one 
column  in  a  printed  form,  and  his  cred- 
its in  the  other ;  and  the  payment  of  a 
small  sum  of  money,  either  to  him  or 
by  him,  may  balance  a  complicated  list 
of  large  sums. 

It  is  this  convenient  principle,  as  ap- 
plied in  their  mutual  dealings  in  re- 
spect to  passengers,  merchandise,  mile- 
age, and  lost  luggage,  which  the  rail- 
way companies  have  adopted.  In  a 
street  near  the  vast  Euston  station — the 
great  root  whence  most  of  the  railroad 
lines  spring — is  a  plain  doorway,  with 
a  plain  plate  bearing  the  plain  inscrip- 
tion— Railway  Clearing  House. 

Few  passers  by  ever  think,  or  could 
think  to  any  purpose,  of  what  is  done 
within  that  doorway  ;  few  would  ima- 
gine that  commercial  accounts  to  a  stu- 
pendous extent  are  there  daily  settled, 
by  clerks  more  numerous  and  in  rooms 
more  extensive  than  those  employed 
by  the  most  world-renowned  banker. 
The  building  was  constructed  at  the 
joint  expense  of  all  the  companies, 
who  also  bear  the  charge  of  salaries 
and  office  expenses.  The  companies  all 
elect  deputies  or  delegates,  who  form, 
collectively,  a  committee  for  managing 
afi*airs — or  rather,  there  is  a  manager. 


to  carry  on  all  the  operations  of  the  es- 
tablishment, while  the  delegates  attend 
principally  to  seeing  after  the  interests 
of  their  respective  companies.  There 
are  several  hundred  clerks,  who  have 
the  management  and  adjustment  of  ac- 
counts, and  the  amount  involved  annu- 
ally is  said  to  be  from  thirty  to  forty 
million  dollars.  .  There  is  an  excellent 
library,  news  room,  reading  room,  etc., 
combined  with  the  vast  business  apart- 
ments of  this  great  concern. 


Lloyd's  Establishment,  London. 

The  designation  Lloyd's,  so  well 
known  in  the  mercantile  world,  origi- 
nated with  a  person  of  the  name  of 
Lloyd,  who  kept  a  cofiee  house  in  Ab- 
church  lane,  Lombard  street.  From 
the  vicinity  of  this  house  to  the  old 
royal  exchange,  it  speedily  became  a 
rendezvous  of  merchants  for  news,  and 
for  the  transaction  of  business.  It  was 
afterward  removed  to  Pope's  Head  al- 
ley, and  thence  again,  in  1774,  to  the 
Royal  Exchange.  After  the  destruction 
of  the  Exchange,  in  1838,  by  fire,  which 
originated  in  Lloyd's,  the  business  was 
carried  on  in  the  South  Sea  House,  in 
Old  Broad  street,  where  it  remained 
until  the  opening  of  the  present  Royal 
Exchange  in  1844,  when  it  was  removed 
to  its  now  splendid  apartments. 

These  rooms  are  frequented  by  un- 
derwriters, merchants,  ship  owners,  ship 
and  merchandise  brokers,  and  others, 
chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 
shipping  intelligence,  and  of  transact- 
ing business  connected  with  marine  in- 
surance. The  principal  room  is  that  of 
the  underwriters,  in  which  two  enor- 
mous ledgers  lie  constantly  open ;  the 
one  containing  notices  of  speakings^  or 
ships  spoken  with,  and  arrivals  of  ves- 
sels at  their  various  destinations;  the 
other  recording  distances  at  sea.  The 
immense  amount  of  insurance  business 
done  at  Lloyd's  may  be  appreciated 
when  it  is  said,  that  the  value  of  the 
interest  annually  insured  at  the  present 


FAMOUS  COMMERCIAL  RESORTS  AND  LOCALITIES. 


297 


is  estimated  at  about  $200,000,000. 
The  shipping  intelligence  received  at 
Lloyd's  is  furnished  by  responsible 
agents,  in  the  especial  employ  of  the 
establishment,  in  almost  every  port. 


One  Thousand  Million  Pounds'  Busi- 
ness Annually  at  th.e  Liondon  Clear- 
ing House. 

On  his  "Visit  to  the  Bank  of 
France,"  by  Francis  Lloyd,  he  says: 
I  explained  to  the  regents  of  the  bank 
the  operations  of  the  London  Clearing 
House ;  that  system  so  economical  of 
time  and  trouble,  and  without  which 
concentration  and  rapid  settlement  the 
enormous  balances  between  the  bank- 
ing houses  in  the  great  emporium  of 
the  commercial  world  could  not  be  so 
promptly  struck — the  wheels  of  our 
complicated  monetary  system  could 
not  revolve  so  evenly  and  quickly.  I 
have  always  thought  that  the  system 
of  making  bills,  drawn  from  whatever 
quarter  of  the  world,  or  from  whatever 
town  or  village  in  Great  Britain,  upon 
all  parts  of  Great  Britain,  payable  in 
one  place — that  is,  as  effected  daily  by 
one  hour's  adjustment  of  the  clearing 
house — that  such  united  regulation  and 
acceleration  of  finance  are  to  the  com- 
plex machinery  of  banking  what  the 
flywheel  and  governor  are  to  the  steam 
engine. 

Imagine  the  regent's  surprise  when  I 
told  him  that  in  the  London  clearing 
room — a  plain  room,  on  part  of  the  site 
of  the  old  post  office  in  Lombard  street 
— a  clerk  from  each  private  bank  in 
London  attended  twice  a  day  but  for 
half  an  hour ;  and  commercial  obliga- 
tions were  collectively  discharged  to  the 
amount  of  three  millions  sterling  every 
day  in  the  year,  with  not  more  than  a 
fifteenth  of  this  sum  in  bank  notes. 
That,  as  to  using  coin  (silver  and  cop- 
per), I  could  readily  picture  to  myself 
the  contemptuous  and  derisive  expres- 
sion of  the  face  which  the  most  juve- 
nile of  those  clearing  clerks  would  as- 


sume at  the  bare  suggestion.  A  thou- 
sand millions  of  pounds  sterling,  I  told 
him,  were  paid  last  year  in  this  room 
by  those  clerks,  not  more  than  forty  in 
number — a  sum  larger  than  the  nation- 
al debt ;  and  that  all  the  money  used 
for  the  operation — this  balancing  of  a 
year's  commercial  enterprise  in  all  quar- 
ters of  the  globe — was  effected  without 
a  single  error  or  moment's  delay,  and 
with  bits  of  paper  only,  viz.,  the  promis- 
sory notes  of  the  Bank  of  England. 


'Change  Alley  as  a  Business  Resort. 

The  centre  of  financial  jobbing  in 
London  is  in  'Change  alley  and  its  ad- 
jacencies. The  limits  are  easily  sur- 
rounded in  a  minute  and  a  half.  Step- 
ping out  of  Jonathan's  into  the  alley, 
you  turn  your  face  fiill  south ;  moving 
on  a  few  paces,  and  then  turning  due 
east,  you  advance  to  Garraway's ;  from 
thence,  going  out  at  the  other  door, 
you  go  on  still  east  into  Birchin  lane, 
and  then,  halting  a  little  at  the  sword- 
blade  bank,  you  immediately  face  to 
the  north,  enter  Comhill,  visit  two  or 
three  petty  provinces  there  on  your 
v/ay  to  the  west;  and  thus  having 
boxed  your  compass,  and  sailed  round 
the  stock-jobbing  globe,  you  turn  into 
Jonathan's  again.  Such  is  the  descrip- 
tion given  by  a  pamphleteer  of  this 
depot  of  the  dealers  and  jobbers  in  the 
funds  and  stocks  market — long  so  fa- 
mous throughout  the  business  world. 
Here  assembled  the  sharper  and  the 
saint ;  here  jostled  one  another  the  Jew 
and  the  Gentile ;  here  met  the  courtier 
and  the  citizen ;  here  the  calmness  of 
the  gainer  contrasted  with  the  despair 
of  the  loser ;  and  here  might  be  seen 
the  carriage  of  some  minister,  into 
which  the  head  of  his  broker  was  anx- 
iously stretched,  to  gain  the  intelli- 
gence which  was  to  raise  or  depress 
the  market.  In  one  corner  might  be 
witnessed  the  anxious,  eager  counte- 
nance of  the  occasional  gambler,  in 
strange  contrast  with  the  calm,  cool 


298 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


demeanor  of  the  man  whose  regular 
trade  it  was  to  deceive.  In  another, 
the  Hebrew  measured  his  craft  with 
that  of  the  Quaker,  and  scarcely  came 
off  victorious  in  the  contest. 


Amusing  Perplexities  at  the  Custoxn 
House. 

The  occasional  importation  of  arti- 
cles which  are  not  enumerated  in  the 
tariff  of  custom-house  duties  is  in  some 
instances  productive  of  amusing  per- 
plexity. A  singular  case  of  this  nature 
occurred  once  at  the  London  custom 
house,  the  solution  of  which  was  beyond 
the  skill  of  all  the  officials,  and  was 
only  reached  at  last  by  the  native  power 
of  the  article  itself.  This  case  was  the 
importation  of  some  ice  from  Norway. 
A  doubt  was  started  as  to  what  duty  it 
ought  to  pay,  and  this  point  was  re- 
ferred from  the  custom  house  to  the 
treasury  department,  and  from  the 
treasury  to  the  board  of  trade.  Oddly 
enough,  it  was  the  opinion  of  the  latter 
officials,  that  the  ice  might  be  intro- 
duced on  the  payment  of  the  duty  on 
dry  goods— but,  as  the  thing  turned  out, 
"  the  ice  was  dissolved  before  the  ques- 
tion was  solved."  In  another  case,  the 
officials  came  to  an  equally  dead  lock  : 
A  gentleman  had  imported  a  mummy 
from  Egypt,  and  the  officers  of  the  cus- 
toms were  not  a  little  puzzled  as  to 
what  to  do  with  this  non-enumerated 
article.  These  remains  of  mortality — 
muscles  and  sinews,  pickled  and  pre- 
served three  thousand  years  ago — could 
not  be  deemed  a  raw  material,  and, 
therefore,  upon  deliberation,  it  was  de- 
termined to  tax  them  as  a  manufac- 
tured article.  The  importer,  anxious 
that  his  mummy  should  not  be  seized, 
concluded,  before  the  decision  was 
made,  just  to  state  its  value  at  two 
thousand  dollars — an  unfortunate  de- 
claration, which  cost  him  one  thousand 
dollars,  being  at  the  rate  of  fifty  per 
cent,  on  the  "manufactured  merchan- 
dise." 


Duty  on  Pictures. 

Mr.  N.,  an  American,  used  to  relate, 
with  much  good  humor,  the  following 
adventure,  which  happened  to  him  on 
his  arrival  at  the  custom  house  at  Do- 
ver, England.  Being  an  amateur  of 
pictures,  he  had  brought  with  him  a 
view  of  the  Falls  of  Niagara,  which  he 
had  himself  painted  during  his  resi- 
dence in  Canada.  The  size  of  the  pic- 
ture was  about  six  square  feet,  and  as 
the  duty  on  painted  canvas  was  rated 
at  one  guinea  the  foot,  the  demand  was 
consequently  the  very  considerable  one 
of  six  guineas.  Mr.  N.  demurred  to 
such  a  charge  on  a  picture  of  no  value 
to  any  one  but  himself,  and  appealed 
to  the  director  of  the  customs,  who, 
however,  informed  him  that  the  regula- 
tion was  positive,  and  could  not  be  de- 
parted from.  Mr,  N.  still  complained 
of  the  exorbitant  duty.  "  Very  well," 
said  the  director,  "I  only  know  one 
way  for  you  to  avoid  the  payment  of 
it;  leave  your  picture  here  for  six 
months ;  as  you  are  the  sole  proprietor, 
no  one  will  claim  it,  and  at  the  end  of 
that  period  I  shall  put  it  up  for  sale. 
Of  course,  no  one  will  purchase  such  a 
horrid  daub,  which  is  certainly  not 
worth  six  shillings,  and  you  will  then 
have  it  for  nothing."  With  this  timely 
advice  Mr.  N.  complied,  and  in  due 
season  obtained  his  picture. 


Higrh  'Changre  Hours. 

High  'change  hour  is  fixed  at  one 
o'clock  by  the  merchants  of  Philadel- 
phia. New  York  exchange  assembles 
at  two  and  three  quarters  o'clock,  but 
is  not  fully  attended  until  three  and 
one  quarter  o'clock.  In  Liverpool,  the 
hours  are  from  two  to  five  o'clock; 
and,  if  the  visitor  wishes  to  be  sure  of 
seeing  the  persons  who  frequent  it,  he 
may  be  obliged  to  wait  or  waste  three 
hours  before  he  can  accomplish  his 
purpose.  In  the  London  exchange, 
the  crowd  begins  to  pour  in  at  four 


FAMOUS  COMMERCIAL  RESORTS  AND  LOCALITIES. 


299 


o'clock,  and  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour  it 
is  "  high  'change."  At  half  past  four 
it  ceases,  when  beadles  go  round  with 
large  bells,  with  which  they  make  such 
a  deafening  noise  that  the  assembly  is 
soon  dispersed,  the  gates  are  locked, 
and  no  one  is  allowed  to  enter  till  the 
next  day. 

In  European  cities,  all  the  principal 
houses  or  firms  have  regular  places  of 
resort  on  'change.  For  example,  Mr. 
Rothschild  is  always  to  be  found,  on 
foreign  post  days,  on  the  "  Italian 
Walk ; "  the  Messrs.  Baring,  Brothers 
&  Co.  are  to  be  found  at  the  column 
which  they  have  frequented  for  years  ; 
those  merchants  who  are  in  the  Ameri- 
can trade  frequent  the  "  American 
Walk ;  "  those  who  are  in  the  Russian 
and  Swedish  trade  frequent  the  "  Bal- 
tic Walk ; "  and  those  in  the  German 
trade,  frequent  the  "  Hamburg  Walk." 

In  Amsterdam,  the  exchange  bell  be- 
gins to  ring  at  half  past  two  o'clock,  and 
if  all  persons  who  wish  to  enter  the  gates 
before  the  clock  strikes  three,  do  not 
succeed  in  getting  in,  they  are  com- 
pelled to  pay  a  small  fee,  amounting  to 
eight  or  ten  cents,  for  admission.  If 
any  one  wishes  to  enter  at  half  past 
three,  he  is  obliged  to  pay  a  fine  of 
half  a  guilder.  So  much  importance 
is  attached  to  regular  attendance  on 
'change,  that  if  a  house  is  not  repre- 
sented, either  personally  or  by  one  of 
the  confidential  clerks,  it  is  considered 
that  a  death  has  occurred  in  the  family 
of  some  one  of  the  partners,  or  that  bank- 
luptcy  or  some  other  misfortune  has  oc- 
curred. High  'change  at  Antwerp  is  at 
five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  the 
gates  are  closed,  after  which,  to  gain  ad- 
mittance, a  fee  of  half  a  franc  is  paid. 


First  East  India  Company  House. 

The  tradition  is,  that  the  East  India 
Company,  incorporated  December  31, 
1600,  first  transacted  their  business  in 
the  great  room  of  the  Nag's  Head  inn, 
opposite  St.  Botolph's  church,  Bishops- 


gate  street.  The  maps  of  London,  soon 
after  the  great  fire  of  1666,  place  the 
India  House  on  a  part  of  its  present  site 
in  Leadenhall  street.  Here  originally 
stood  the  mansion  of  Alderman  Kerton, 
built  in  the  reign  of  Edward  the  Sixth, 
rebuilt  on  the  accession  of  Elizabeth, 
and  enlarged  by  its  next  purchaser.  Sir 
W.  Craven,  lord  mayor  in  1610.  Here 
was  born  the  great  Lord  Craven,  who, 
in  1701,  leased  his  house  and  a  tenement 
in  Lime  street  to  the  company,  at  one 
hundred  pounds  a  year.  A  scarce 
Dutch  etching,  still  preserved,  shows 
this  house  to  have  been  half  timbered, 
its  lofty  gable  surmounted  with  two 
dolphins  and  a  figure  of  a  mariner,  or, 
as  some  say,  the  first  governor;  be- 
neath are  merchant  ships  at  sea,  the 
royal  arms,  and  those  of  the  company. 
This  famous  and  grotesque  structure 
was  taken  down  in  the  year  1726,  and 
upon  its  site  was  erected  the  old  East 
India  House,  portions  of  which  yet  re- 
main— although  the  present  stone  front, 
two  hundred  feet  long,  and  a  great  part 
of  the  house,  was  built  in  1798. 


Homance  and  Trade. 

There  is  nothing  so  sentimental  in 
the  columns  of  a  daily  new^spaper  as 
the  article  devoted  to  the  state  of  the 
markets.  We  seldom  peruse  it — quoth 
Punch — without  a  tendency  to  tears, 
which  are  only  checked  by  the  recol- 
lection that  it  is  only  on  bags  of  coffee, 
bales  of  cotton,  parcels  of  pepper,  and 
barrels  of  flour,  that  we  are  exhausting 
our  useless  sympathy. 

We,  however,  defy  any  one  to  be 
otherwise  than  moved  by  the  descrip- 
tion of  the  markets,  which  is  evidently 
the  production  of  a  writer  who  luxuri- 
ates in  a  strain  of  melancholy  tender- 
ness, that  is  excluded  by  universal  con- 
sent from  every  other  portion  of  the 
newspaper.  The  literary  sentimentalist, 
finding  no  market  among  the  booksel- 
lers for  his  goods,  has  gone  to  the  very 
markets  themselves,  and  has  secured  a 


300 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


corner  in  tlie  journals,  where  he  may- 
indulge  without  restraint  his  tendency 
to  pathos. 

Let  us  take  a  specimen  of  that  affect- 
ing style  of  writing,  which  has  found 
its  way,  appropriately  enough,  to  Min- 
cing Lane  :  "  An  improved  feeling  has 
again  begun  to  show  itself  in  the  coffee 
market,  where  dulness  had  until  lately 
prevailed,  and  sugars  began  to  assume 
a  livelier  aspect." 

Surely  this  must  be  written  by  some 
fashionable  novelist  "  out  of  luck," 
whose  Rosa-Matilda-isms,  that  once 
used  to  cloy  the  circulating  libraries 
with  their  sweetness,  have  rushed  to 
the  sugar  cask  as  the  only  alternative 
to  avoid  the  butter  shop.  Substitute 
Augustus  Danvers  for  the  "  coffee  mar- 
ket," insert  Rosalie  in  the  place  of  "  su- 
gars," and  we  get  a  sentence  that  would 
seem  to  form  part  of  a  melting  novel 
of  ten  years  back,  when  the  writers  of 
the  same  sort  of  stuff  could  command 
their  three  or  five  hundred  pounds  for 
an  adequate  lot  of  it.  The  paragraph, 
as  amended,  will  stand  thus  :  "  An  im- 
proved feeling  had  again  begun  to 
show  itself  in  Augustus  Danvers  (the 
coffee  market),  where  dulness  had  until 
lately  prevailed,  and  Rosalie  (sugars) 
began  to  assume  a  livelier  aspect." 

We  know  nothing  of  the  mysteries 
of  what  is  termed  the  "  staff"  of  a  daily 
paper ;  but  we  certainly  picture  to  our- 
selves the  writer  of  the  markets  as  a 
pale  gentleman,  with  a  forehead  bared 
to  its  highest,  a  Byron  tie,  a  turned- 
down  shirt  collar,  and  a  melancholy 
cast  of  countenance,  with  a  feminine 
tinge  of  the  romantic.  We  can  imagine 
him  walking  moodily  about  the  mar- 
kets, looking  out  anxiously  for  a 
glimpse  of  gloom  in  sugars,  and  feel- 
ing an  indescribable  satisfaction  in  the 
dulness  of  peppers.  Why  is  it  neces- 
sary that  wool  should  be  "  flat,"  Bengal 
figs  "low,"  indigo  "dull,"  rice  "de- 
pressed," and  everything  that  seems 
nice  and  eatable  so  vrretchedly  low- 
spirited  ?    It  is  seldom  we  meet  with  a 


bit  of  sensible  "  firmness  "  in  something 
or  other ;  but,  even  if  we  do,  we  are 
told  of  a  "  tendency  to  give  way,"  be- 
fore we  get  to  the  end  of  the  article. 


Hall  of  tlie  St.  Petersburg:  Exchange. 

The  hall  of  the  Exchange  in  St.  Pe- 
tersburg is  one  of  the  most  rare  places 
of  business  which  our  planet  affords. 
It  is  built  only  for  whispers.  An 
audible  conversation  was  never  held 
there.  Nothing  is  spoken  aloud  save 
mere  bagatelles.  "  How  is  your  good 
lady  ?  "  "  Oh,  we  enjoyed  exceedingly 
our  water  party  yesterday ;  we  were  at 
this  place  and  that,  at  such  a  one's  and 
such  a  one's."  "  Yes,  I  admit  that  A 
gives  excellent  dinners,  but  I  find  my- 
self more  comfortable  at  B's."  Nothing 
but  this  kind  of  conversation  is  spoken. 
But  when  two  persons  are  seen  to  put 
their  heads  together,  talk  in  the  lowest 
whispers,  and  palisade  themselves  in  a 
circle  with  their  backs,  so  that  not  a 
wedge  could  get  into  it,  then  there  is 
surely  something  in  the  wind,  a  hargain 
has  been  made — the  whispering  has  led 
to  some  result.  "  Yes,  sir."  "  No,  eir." 
"  Too  much — three  thousand — four — 
twenty — a  hundred  thousand."  "  Oc- 
tober." "  November,"  "  London." 
"  Hull."  "  Baltimore."  "  Well,  I  will 
take  it."  "  Done  !  that  is  settled  then, 
Mr.  Curtins." 

In  the  six  side  rooms,  the  sugar  ba- 
kers, and  the  dealers  in  tallow,  corn, 
and  timber)  have  established  them- 
selves, though  without  any  formal 
regulation  to  that  effect;  and  each 
class  has,  from  habit,  taken  possession 
of  a  particular  spot.  These  are  com- 
posed almost  exclusively  of  Russians, 
with  and  without  beard,  some  old  men 
still  in  kaftans,  others  in  modern 
French  coats.  Between  them  and  the 
lords  of  the  sea  in  the  centre,  are  the 
German  brokers,  with  silver  marks  at 
the  button  hole.  Lastly,  in  the  outer- 
most circles,  are  the  "  artelschtschiki," 
a  sort  of  messenger  class,  for  carrying 


FAMOUS  COMMERCIAL  RESORTS  AND  LOCALITIES. 


301 


letters  or  money,  and  performing  other 
errands,  one  of  whom  constantly  at- 
tends every  Petersburg  merchant ;  and 
these  are  always  Russians. 

This  assemblage  of  the  mercantile 
classes  of  St.  Petersburg  is  certainly 
the  largest  company  of  respectable  and 
polished  men  that  is  to  be  seen  in  Rus- 
sia, without  order  or  cross  of  any  kind. 
Besides  these  silver  marks,  which  are 
worn  by  the  brokers  in  their  business, 
as  a  sign  that  they  have  been  duly  ap- 
pointed and  sworn,  and  medals  of 
a  pound  weight  hanging  about  the 
necks  of  a  few  of  the  Russian  mer- 
chants, no  distinctions  are  seen — noth- 
ing but  black  frocks  and  simple  green 
surtouts.  An  observer  has  here  ah  ex- 
cellent opportunity  of  studying  the 
Russian  commercial  character,  and  will 
be  struck  with  the  difference  in  manner 
and  other  respects  between  the  mer- 
chants of  St.  Petersburg  and  those  of 
any  other  city. 


Men  of  Letters  frequenting  the  Share 
Mart. 

The  Hotel  de  Soissons,  in  Paris,  was 
made  famous  for  a  time  as  the  head- 
quarters of  John  Law,  while  blowing 
his  Mississippi  bubbles.  All  classes 
were  represented  in  the  eager  throng 
that  besieged  that  mart  of  financial 
lunacy.  This  hotel  was  the  property 
of  the  Prince  de  Carignan,  together 
with  the  adjoining  garden  of  several 
acres  in  the  rear.  Law  became  the 
I^urchaser  of  the  hotel,  at  an  enormous 
price,  paying  for  it  out  of  his  prodig- 
ious stock-jobbing  gains, — the  prince 
reserving  to  himself  the  magnificent 
gardens  for  his  personal  profit.  They 
contained  fine  statues,  beautiful  foun- 
tains, and  various  other  embellishments 
and  decorations. 

As  soon  as  Law  was  installed  in  his 
new  abode,  an  edict  was  published  (for 
there  were  high  officials  involved  in 
Law's  project),  forbidding  all  persons 
to  buy  or  sell  stock  anywhere  but  in 


the  gardens  of  the  Hotel  de  Soissons. 
In  the  midst,  among  the  trees,  about 
five  hundred  small  tents  and  pavilions 
were  erected,  for  the  convenience  of  the 
stock-jobbers.  Their  various  colors, 
the  gay  ribbons  and  banners  which 
floated  from  them,  the  busy  crowds 
which  passed  continually  in  and  out — 
the  incessant  hum  of  voices,  the  noise, 
the  music,  the  strange  mixture  of  busi- 
ness and  pleasure  on  the  countenances 
of  the  throng,  all  combined  to  give  the 
place  an  air  of  enchantment  that  quite 
enraptured  the  Parisians.  The  Prince 
de  Carignan  made  enormous  i^rofits 
while  the  delusion  lasted. 

As  is  well  known,  all  classes  became 
enamored  with  Law's  dazzling  promises 
of  cent,  per  cent,  for  their  investments  ; 
at  any  rate,  the  exceptions  were  so  rare 
as  to  attract  attention.  One  day,  two 
sober,  quiet,  and  philosophic  men  of 
letters,  M.  de  la  Motte  and  the  Abb6 
Terrason,  were  heard  to  congratulate 
each  other  that  they,  at  least,  were  free 
from  this  strange  infatuation.  A  few 
days  afterward,  as  the  worthy  Abb6 
was  coming  out  of  the  Hotel  de  Sois- 
sons, whither  he  had  gone  to  buy  shares 
in  the  Mississippi,  whom  should  he  see 
but  his  friend  La  Motte  entering  for 
the  same  purpose. 

"  Ha  ! "  said  the  Abbe,  smiling,  "  is 
that  you  f  " 

"  Yes,"  said  La  Motte,  pushing  past 
him  as  fast  as  he  was  able ;  "  and  can 
that  be  you  ?  " 

The  next  time  the  two  scholars  met, 
they  talked  of  philosophy,  of  science, 
and  of  religion,  but  neither  had  cour- 
age for  a  long  time  to  breathe  a  syl- 
lable about  the  Mississippi.  At  last, 
when  it  was  mentioned,  they  agreed 
that  a  man  ought  never  to  swear 
against  his  doing  any  one  thing,  and 
that  there  was  no  sort  of  extravagance 
of  which  even  a  wise  man  was  not  ca- 
pable. 

Something  like  this  was  the  case  of 
Gay,  the  poet.  Receiving  a  present 
from  his  friend  Mr.  Scraggs  of  some 


302 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


South  Sea  stock,  he  once  supposed  him- 
self to  be  master  of  twenty  thousand 
pounds.  His  friends  persuaded  him 
to  sell  his  share,  but  he  dreamed  of 
dignity  and  splendor,  and  could  not 
bear  to  obstruct  his  own  fortune.  He 
was  then  importuned  to  sell  as  much  as 
would  purchase  a  hundred  a  year  for 
life,  "  which,"  says  Fenton,  "  will  make 
you  sure  of  a  clean  shirt  and  a  shoulder 
of  mutton  every  day."  This  counsel 
was  rejected ;  the  profit  and  principal 
were  lostj  and  Gay  sunk  under  the  ca- 


lamity so  low  that  his  life  became  in 
danger. 

It  will  hardly  be  wondered  at,  how- 
ever, that  literary  men  should  have 
been  thus  beguiled,  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  so  multitudinous  was  the  crowd 
around  Law's  quarters,  and  so  eager 
were  all  classes  of  the  population  to 
buy  the  stock,  that  a  hump-backed 
man  who  stood  in  the  street  gained 
considerable  sums  by  lending  his  hump 
as  a  writing  desk  to  the  anxious  specu- 
lators ! 


PAET  SIXTH. 


Anecdotes  of  Commebgial  Abt  and  Pbhaseoloot. 


PAET    SIXTH. 

Anecdotes  of  Commercial  Art  and  Phraseology. 

ADVEUTISEMENTS,    SIGN   BOARDS,  TRADE    MARKS,    TOKENS,    ENVELOPES,    LABELS,    INSCRIPTIONS, 
MOTTOES,   AND  TERMS — QUAINT,    CURIOUS,    GROTESQUE,    INGENIOUS,   AND   LAUGHABLE. 


The  great  skill  in  an  advertiser  is  chiefly  seen  in  the  style  which  he  makes  use  of.     He  is  to  men- 
tion "  tbe  universal  esteem  or  general  reputation"  of  things  that  were  never  heard  of.— Tatler, 

Liberal  trade  ia  good  scholarship  popularized,  and  commerce  is  literature  on  a  sign  board.— Anon. 


Adepts  in  Commercial  Puffing-. 

Packwood,  some  fifty  years  ago,  led 
the  way  in  England  of  liberal  and  sys- 
tematic advertising,  by  impressing  his 
razor  strop  indelibly  on  the  mind  of 
every  bearded  member  of  the  kingdom. 
Like  other  great  potentates,  he  boasted 
a  laureate  in  his  pay,  and  every  one 
remembers  the  reply  made  to  the  indi- 
viduals so  curious  to  know  who  drew 
up  his  advertisements:  "La,  sir,  we 
keeps  a  poet !  " 

But  by  universal  consent,  the  world 
has  accorded  to  the  late  George  Robins 
the  palm  in  this  style  of  commercial 
puffing.  His  advertisements  were 
really  artistically  written.  Like  Mar- 
tin, he  had  the  power  of  investing 
every  landscape  and  building  that 
he  touched  with  an  importance  and 
majesty  not  attainable  by  meaner 
hands.  He  did  perhaps  go  beyond  the 
yielding  line  of  even  poetical  license, 
when  he  described  one  portion  of  a  para- 
dise he  was  about  to  subject  to  public 
competition,  as  adorned,  among  other 
charms,  with  a  "  hanging  wood,"  which 
the  astonished  purchaser  found  out 
meant  nothing  more  nor  less  than  an 
old  gallows.  But  then  he  redeemed 
20 


slight  manoeuvres  of  this  kind  by 
touches  which  displayed  a  native  and 
overflowing  genius  for  puffing.  On 
one  occasion,  he  had  made  the  beauties 
of  an  estate  so  enchanting,  that  he 
found  it  necessary  to  blur  it  by  a  fault 
or  two,  lest  it  should  prove  too  bright 
and  good  "  for  human  nature's  daily 
food."  "  But  there  are  two  drawbacks  to 
this  property,"  sighed  out  this  Apostle 
of  the  Mart,  "  the  litter  of  the  rose  leaves 
and  the  noise  of  the  nightingales!''^  Cer- 
tainly the  rhetoric  of  exquisite  puffing 
could  no  farther  go. 


"Up  to  Snuff." 
Li  the  days  when  every  London  shop- 
keeper had  a  sign  hanging  out  before 
his  door,  a  dealer  in  snuff  and  tobacco 
on  Fish-street  hill  carried  on  a  large 
trade,  especially  in  tobacco,  for  his  shop 
was  greatly  frequented  by  sailors  from 
the  ships  in  the  river.  In  the  course 
of  time,  a  person  of  the  name  of  Farr 
opened  a  shop  nearly  opposite,  and 
hung  out  his  sign  inscribed : 

"  The  best  Tobacco  hy  Farr:' 

This— like  the  shoemaker's  incription, 
"Adam  Strong  Shoemaker,"  so  well 
known — attracted  the  attention  of  the 


306 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


sailors,  who  left  the  old  shop  to  buy 
"the  best  tobacco  by  far."  The  old 
shopkeeper,  observing  that  his  oppo- 
nent obtained  much  custom  by  his  sign, 
had  a  new  one  put  up  at  his  door,  in- 
scribed : 

"  Far  better  Tobacco  than  the  best  Tobacco 
by  Farr:' 
This  turned  the  tide  of  trade — his 
customers  came  back — and  finally  his 
opponent  found  himself  so  "  far  "  in  the 
background  as  to  be  obliged  to  give 

up  business. 

♦ 

Irish  Pun  on  a  Sign. 

Aif  Irishman  once  saw  the  popular 
sign  of  the  Rising  Sun  near  Seven  Dials, 
beneath  which  the  name  of  the  jovial 
landlord,  Aaron  Moon,  was  written 
with  only  the  initial  letter  of  the  Chris- 
tian name,  whereupon  he  exclaimed  to 
a  friend :  "  Och  !  Phelim,  dear,  see  here. 
They  talk  of  Irish  bulls ;  why,  here's  a 
fellow  now,  who  puts  up  the  Rising  Sun, 
nnd  calls  it  A  Moon  !  " 


Dean  Swift  and  the  Barber's  Sigm. 

Dean  Swift,  while  resident  on  his 
living  in  the  county  of  Meath,  was  daily 
shaved  by  the  village  barber,  who  be- 
came a  great  favorite  with  him.  Razor, 
while  lathering  him  one  morning,  said 
he  had  a  great  favor  to  request  of  his 
reverence — that  his  neighbors  had  ad- 
vised him  to  take  the  little  public 
house  at  the  corner  of  the  churchyard, 
which  he  had  done,  in  the  hope  that 
by  uniting  the  profession  of  publican 
with  his  own,  he  might  gain  a  better 
maintenance  for  his  family. 

"  Indeed,"  said  the  dean,  "  and  what 
can  I  do  to  promote  this  happy  union?  " 

"  And  please  you,"  said  Razor,  "  some 
of  our  customers  have  heard  much  of 
your  reverence's  poetry ;  so  that,  if  you 
would  but  condescend  to  give  me  a 
smart  little  touch  in  that  way,  to  clap  un- 
der my  sign,  it  might  be  the  making  of 
me  and  mine  forever." 


"But  what  do  you  intend  for  your 
sign  ?  "  says  the  dean. 

"  The  jolly  barber,  if  it  please  your 
reverence,  with  a  razor  in  one  hand  and 
a  full  pot  in  the  other." 

"  Well,"  rejoined  the  dean,  "  in  that 
case  there  can  be  no  great  difficulty  in 
supplying  you  with  a  suitable  inscrip- 
tion." So  taking  up  his  pen,  he  in- 
stantly scratched  the  following  "  smart 
little  touch  "  of  a  couplet,  which  was 
affixed  to  the  sign,  and  remained  there 
for  many  years : 

"  Rove  not  from  pole  to  pole,  but  step  in 
here, 
Where  nought  excels  the  shaving  but — the 
Jeer." 


Killbury  and  Maimswortli  Railway's 
Advertisement. 

The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Kill- 
bury  and  Maimsworth  line  of  Railway, 
respectfully  announce  that  they  intend 
starting  Excursion  Trains  during  the 
present  season,  to  run  at  greatly  reduced 
fares,  setting  out  from  Killbury  in  the 
morning,  getting  to  Maimsworth  at 
twelve,  and  returning,  with  as  many 
passengers  as  are  capable  of  being 
brought  back,  every  hour  of  the  fore- 
noon, up  to  twelve  o'clock,  or  later, 
according  to  the  state  of  the  engines, 
and  the  breakdowns  and  collisions — 
depending  on  management  of  the  en- 
gineers, brakesmen,  and  the  rest  of  the 
Company's  employes.  Owing  to  the 
prevailing  competition  occasioned  by 
the  overcrowded  state  of  the  medical 
profession,  the  Company  have  been  en- 
abled to  secure  the  services  of  a  numer- 
ous staff  of  experienced  surgeons,  who 
will  accompany  each  train,  together 
with  a  large  body  of  dressers  from  the 
principal  hospitals,  to  act  as  their  as- 
sistants— thus  seeing  practice,  for  which 
so  large  a  field  is  afforded  by  the  Kill- 
bury  and  Maimsworth  line.  Medical 
students  will  find  splendid  opportuni- 
ties for  amateur  surgery  in  these  excur- 
sions. Amputations  (under  chloroform, 
several  carboys  of  which  have  been  ob- 


COMMERCIAL  ART   AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


307 


tained  expressly  for  these  excursions) 
at  the  shortest  notice.  Tourniquets, 
with  directions  for  use,  in  each  car. 
Splints,  bandages,  and  every  other  com- 
fort and  convenience  for  the  mutilated, 
in  abundance  (supplied  by  the  Com- 
pany's own  manufactory),  gratuitously 
furnished. 


Earliest  Printed  Advertisements. 

The  very  first  advertisement  discov- 
erable in  any  newspaper  is  one  which 
refers  to  the  theft  of  two  horses.  It  is 
contained  in  an  early  number  of  an 
English  newspaper  called  the  Impartial 
Intelligencer^  published  in  the  year 
1648,  and  consequently  now  consider- 
ably more  than  two  centuries  old.  It 
was  inserted  by  a  gentleman  of  Can- 
dish,  in  Sufiblk.  After  this,  these  noti- 
fications are  very  few  and  far  between 
for  several  years,  until  the  era  of  the 
London  Gazette. 

Next  to  the  above,  in  point  of  prece- 
dence, so  far  as  an  active  search  among 
the  earliest  newspapers  can  be  relied 
on,  is  an  advertisement  relating  to  a 
book,  which  is  entitled  : 

"  IRENODIA  GRATULATORIA,  an  He- 
oick  Poem  ;  being  a  congratulatory  pane- 
gyrick  for  my  Lord  GeneraFs  late  return, 
summing  up  his  successes  in  an  exquisite 
manner. 

"  To  be  sold  by  John  Holden,  in  the  New 
Exchange,  London.  Printed  by  Tho.  New- 
court,  1652." 

The  above  appeared  in  the  January 
number  of  the  Parliamentary  paper, 
Mercurius  Politicus.  It  is  evidently  a 
piece  of  flattery  to  Cromwell  upon  his 
victories  in  Ireland.  Booksellers  ap- 
pear, therefore,  to  have  been  the  first  to 
take  advantage  of  this  then  new  me- 
dium of  publicity,  and  they  have  con- 
tinued to  avail  themselves  very  liberally 
of  its  benefits  up  to  the  present  day. 


Boston  Merchants'  Business  Marks  or 
Tokens. 

There  are  some  interesting  speci- 
mens of  New  England  merchants'  marks, 
or  tokens,  of  an  ancient  date,  still  in 
existence.  Among  these  are  those  of 
Thomas  Sandbrook,  of  Boston,  and 
William  Holmes — the  former  bearing 
the  initials  T.  S.,  with  the  triangle  and 
cross ;  the  latter,  W.  H.,  with  a  rude 
figure  of  a  tree  between.  Another  is 
that  of  John  Mills,  of  Boston,  1651; 
James  Astwood,  of  Roxbury,  1653 ; 
and  Nicholas  Busby,  of  Watertown, 
1657.  That  of  Mills  bears  the  initials 
I.  M.,  the  triangle  and  cross  at  top,  a 
heart  pierced  with  an  arrow  at  the  bot- 
tom, six  stars,  and  some  other  figures  ; 
that  of  Astwood,  the  initials  I.  A.,  with 
a  branch  between  them ;  and  that  of 
Busby,  the  initials  N.  B.  united,  the 
triangle,  some  scrolls,  etc. 


New  York  Business  Tokens. 

Occasional  memorials  of  old  New 
York  business  firms,  of  the  last  century, 
come  to  light,  and  are  of  peculiar  in- 
terest. A  piece  in  copper,  issued  by 
Messrs.  Matts,  New  York  jewellers,  in 
1789,  appears  to  have  been  the  first 
business  token  put  in  circulation  in 
that  city.  It  bears  on  one  side  a  clock, 
on  the  other  an  American  eagle  ;  one  of 
these  was  sold  at  auction,  a  short  time 
ago,  for  $1.63i.  Talbot,  Allum  &  Lee, 
New  York,  merchants  in  the  India 
trade,  issued  their  "  one  cent "  in  1794 
-^having  an  emblematic  figure  of  liber- 
ty guarding  a  bale  of  goods  on  one 
side,  and  a  ship  under  full  sail  on  the 
other ;  one  of  these  tokens,  issued  in 
1794,  was  sold  at  auction  for  the  sum 
of  $1.25,  and  another,  issued  by  this 
house  in  1795,  brought  $2.25. 


Inscriptions  on  Trade  Coins. 

The  trade  coins,  once  so  common 
among  British  shopkeepers,  usually 
bore  on  one  side  the  issuer's  name,  and 


308 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


on  the  other  his  address  and  calling ; 
sometimes  a  sign  and  date.  Few  trades 
■were  unrepresented  in  this  way,  as  the 
coins  still  preserved  show. 

Some  of  these  country  trade  coins 
bear  a  simple  promise  to  pay,  as  "  I 
will  exchange  my  one  penny ;  "  or  an 
announcement,  "  I  pass  for  a  half  penny 
in  Leeds ;  "  "I  am  for  a  public  good  in 
Cockermouth."  Another,  combining  a 
request  and  a  prayer,  "  Send  me  to  the 
mercer  of  Knox  Hall  —  God  grant 
peace."  One  says,  "  Paines  bring 
gaines ;  "  another  that,  "  Plain  dealing 
is  best."  W.  Wakeling  shows  his  loyal- 
ty with  "  Vive  le  Roy  in  Uttoxeter ;  " 
while  another  shopkeeper  profanely 
exclaims,  "  Touch  not  mine  anointed, 
and  do  my  profits  no  harm."  There  is 
a  mock  humility  in  "  Poore  Ned,  of 
Feversham  ;  "  unintelligible  quaintness 
in  "  Pharaoh  in  Barley ;  "  and  a  ming- 
ling of  the  practical  and  poetical  in 
such  inscriptions  as 


and 


"  Welcome  you  be 
To  trade  with  me," — 

"  Although  but  brass, 
Yet  let  me  pass." 


Scotch  Tobacconist's  Motto. 

Persons  who  retire  from  trade  are 
sometimes  disposed,  from  a  false  shame, 
to  conceal  the  mode  by  which  they  ac- 
quired their  wealth.  A  notable  excep- 
tion to  this  occurred  in  the  case  of  a 
Mr.  Gillespie,  a  tobacconist,  in  the  city 
of  Edinburgh.  Having  acquired  an 
ample  fortune  by  the  sale  of  snuff  at  the 
end  of  the  American  war,  he  set  up  a 
carriage ;  and,  lest  the  public,  or  liim- 
self,  might  forget  how  he  had  acquired 
the  means  of  keeping  one,  to  arms  of 
three  snuff  boxes  rampant,  he  added 
the  following  doggerel  couplet  as  a 
motto : 

"  Who  would  have  thought  it, 
That  noses  could  have  bought  it  ?  " 


Mottoes  in  Ancient  Times. 

When  printed  books  first  became  an 
article  of  sale,  they  found  such  eager 
purchasers,  that  spurious  and  imperfect 
editions  of  the  more  celebrated  works 
began  to  be  circulated.  To  remedy 
this  evil,  and  to  give  security  and  pro- 
tection to  those  printers  whose  publica- 
tions combined  great  literary  merit 
with  rare  typographical  excellence, 
princes  and  potentates  granted  them 
permission  to  use  on  the  title  page 
some  symbol  and  motto,  to  counterfeit 
which  was  legally  as  well  as  morally 
criminal. 

Thus,  Aldus  Manutius,  who  estab- 
lished the  famous  Aldine  press  at 
Venice,  and  was  the  inventor  of  the 
type  called  Italic,  adopted  for  his  sign 
on  his  title  pages  a  dolphin  and  anchor. 
Henry  Stephens,  the  founder  of  the 
celebrated  family  of  printers  of  that 
name,  when  established  at  Paris,  took 
for  his  symbol  an  olive  tree,  and  which 
long  continued  to  be  used  by  his  son. 

One  of  the  earliest  printers,  of  much 
celebrity  in  England,  was  Henry  Day ; 
upward  of  two  hundred  works  issued 
from  his  press,  all  distinguished  by  his 
symbol — the  rising  sun,  with  a  boy 
awaking  his  companion  with  the  words, 
"Arise,  for  it  is  day  !  "  in  allusion  to 
the  dawning  day  of  the  Protestant  Ref- 
ormation. Christopher  Plantin,  of  Ant- 
werp, adopted  for  his  emblem  and 
motto  a  hand  and  pair  of  compasses, 
with  Lahore  et  Constantia — "  By  labor 
and  perseverance : "  he  stuck  to  his 
own  motto,  and  became  very  rich  and 
eminent.  Juan  de  la  Cuesta,  of  Madrid, 
the  printer  and  publisher  of  the  first 
edition  of  "  Don  Quixote,"  took  for  his 
device  a  stork,  surrounded  by  ihe 
words  Poet  tenebras,  spero  lucem — "  After 
the  darkness,  I  expect  light." 


English.  Business  Mottoes. 

The  great  trading  and  business  com- 
panies in  England,  which  were  estab- 


COMMERCIAL   ART   AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


309 


lished  before  the  Reformation,  and  en- 
joyed exclusive  monopolies  by  royal 
grant,  had  each  its  patron  saint,  to 
■whom  altars  were  built  in  the  churches 
of  which  they  held  the  control — the 
saint  being  generally  chosen  from  some 
relation,  suf)posed  or  real,  to  the  craft 
or  mystery  of  the  company.  Thus,  the 
fishmongers  chose  St.  Peter,  and  met  in 
St.  Peter's  Church ;  the  drapers  chose 
the  Virgin  Mary,  "  Mother  of  the  Holy 
Lamb,  or  fleece,"  and  assembled  for 
their  ecclesiastical  services  in  St.  Mary 
Bethlem  Church ;  the  merchant  tailors 
selected  as  their  patron  saint,  St.  John 
the  Baptist,  as  the  messenger  or  proph- 
et who  announced  the  advent  of  the 
"  Holy  Lamb  ;  "  and  the  goldsmiths' 
patron  was  St.  Dunstan,  reputed  to 
have  been  a  fellow  craftsman.  Their 
liveries  also  bore  their  mottoes :  that 
of  the  skinners  was,  "  To  God  be  all 
the  glory  ;  "  that  of  the  grocers,  "  God 
grant  grace  ;  "  the  clothvvorkers'  was, 
"  My  trust  is  in  God  alone  ;  "  the  iron- 
mongers', "  God  is  our  strength  ;  "  and 
the  drapers',  "  Unto  God  be  honor  and 
glory." 

Fresh,  Gems  from.  Engrlish.  Advertising 
Colum.ns. 

The  English  journals  continue  to 
furnish,  now  and  then,  an  emerald  of 
the  first  water,  in  the  way  of  ambigu- 
ous advertisements — as  complete  a  tri- 
umph, indeed,  over  Lindley  Murray,  as 
was  that  of  Wellington  over  Napoleon. 
The  two  specimens  which  follow,  taken 
from  a  London  jjaper,  appeared  under 
the  head  of  "  For  sale  :  " 

"  Pianoforte— Cottage,  7  octaves  —  the 
property  of  a  Lady  leaving  England,  in  re- 
mai'kably  elegant  Walnut  Case  on  beautifully 
carved  supports.  The  tone  is  superb,  and 
eminently  adapted  for  any  one  requiring  a 
first-class  instrument.  Price,  22  guineas, 
cost  double  three  months  since." 

We  have  heard  of  Arion  riding  on  a 
dolphin,  and  of  the  wise  men  of  Goth- 
am who  went  to  sea  in  a  bowl;  we 
have  heard  of  Helle  on  her  ram,  and  of 


Europa  on  her  bull ;  but  we  never  be- 
fore heard  of  a  lady  designing  to  cross 
the  English  Channel  in  a  remarkably 
elegant  walnut  case  with  beautifully 
carved  supports.  Indeed,  we  might  go 
so  far  as  to  ask — as  probably  every 
reader  of  the  advertisement  would  be 
led  to — whether  the  "  beautifully  carved 
supports  "  are  those  of  the  walnut  case 
or  of  the  lady  herself.  In  either  case, 
they  would  seem  equally  ill  adapted  to 
struggle  with  the  winds  and  billows. 

The  other  advertisement  referred  to 
is  as  follows : 

"  Business  Chance. — To  be  disposed  of, 
a  Genuine  Pried  Fish  Business,  at  the  West 
End." 

The  meaning  of  this  advertisement 
is  quite  as  obscure  as  that  of  the  first. 
Does  the  genuineness  apply  to  the  busi- 
ness, to  the  fish  as  objects  of  ichthyol- 
ogy, or  the  manner  in  which  they  are 
fried  ?  We  can  guess  what  is  meant 
by  Genuine  Patent  Medicines,  Genuine 
Bear's  Grease,  etc,  but  "  Genuine  Fried 
Fish,"  and  still  more,  a  "  Genuine  Fried 
Fish  Business,"  is  something  hopelessly 
beyond  us.  There  was  a  time  when 
we  did  not  know  what  was  meant  by 
an  "  old  fish  for  a  mast,"  but,  thanks 
to  many  kind  friends,  we  know  now 
very  well.  Perhaps  a  like  confession 
of  ignorance  may  lead  to  our  enlighten- 
ment on  the  possibly  kindred  subject 
of  this  "  Genuine  Pried  Pish  Business, 
at  the  West  End." 


An  TJntried  Method. 

There  seems  to  be  no  end  to  the 
new  advertising  projects  which  are 
daily  springing  up  in  all  directions. 
There  is,  however,  still  one  method  of 
advertising  left  untried,  and  it  is  a 
wonder  no  one  makes  the  experiment. 
Umbrellas  are  still  left  blank— their  am- 
ple and  conspicuous  surface  bearing  no 
announcement  of  any  new  pill,  new  ad- 
hesive gum,  bankrupt's  sale,  or  "  What 
is  it  ? "    It  is  pretty  certain  that  the 


310 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


umbrella,  with  its  little  brood  of  para- 
solettes,  sunshades,  etc.,  is  destined  to 
become  a  tremendous  vehicle  for  infor- 
mation. An  umbrella  maker  might  try 
the  experiment  by  placing  a  puffing 
broadside  on  all  the  articles  of  his  own 
manufacture.  Or  perhaps  it  would  be 
a  better  plan — as  some  persons  might 
foolishly  object  to  caiTy  an  advertising 
or  pictorial  umbrella — that  on  wet  days 
there  should  be  stations,  with  placards 
ready  printed,  to  be  pasted  on  (for  a 
consideration)  to  the  umbrellas  of  any 
one  who  might  be  disposed  to  combine 
profit  with  convenience. 


Classical  Shop  Langruag-e. 

To  use  plain  and  pure  English  seems 
now  quite  foreign  to  the  taste  of  many 
shopkeepers.  French  is  pressed  into 
their  service  quite  as  much  as  Greek 
and  Latin,  and  by  ill-educated  tongues, 
which  talk  of  "  hany  other  harticle,"  it 
is  not  easy  to  imagine,  without  having 
the  headache,  how  the  French  language 
must  be  mispronounced.  One  can 
hardly  ever  take  up  a  newspaper,  now- 
a-days,  without  seeing  an  advertise- 
ment of  some  "  recherche  stock  of 
goods"  which  are  to  be  disposed  of 
forthwith,  "aa/is  reserve."  A  hair- 
dresser now  styles  himself  in  general  an 
artiste^  and  advertises  to  the  universe 
his  famed  esprit  de  molette^  or  louquet 
de  Rhine.  One  enterprising  dealer  has 
•  had  the  courage  to  combine  his  classics 
with  his  French,  and  to  advertise  for 
sale  a  lot  of  troche  madapolums^  which 
must  be  something  rather  curious  if 
they  at  all  be  really  like  their  name. 
Corsets  and  chapeau  have  quite  sup- 
planted such  old  English  words  as 
"  stays  "  and  "  bonnet ;  "  and  of  course 
no  upper-ten  dressmaker  would  ever 
dream  of  naming  petticoats  by  any 
other  term  than  jupes.  Why  this  is  so, 
it  would  be  difficult  to  say ;  nor  is  it 
very  easy  to  guess  why  in  a  newspaper 
professedly  intended  for  circulation 
among  those  who  speak  the  English 


language,  U  sommier  elastique  portatif 
should  be  advertised,  when  "  portable 
spring  mattress  "  is  vastly  more  intelli- 
gible and  far  more  easily  pronounced. 


Chinese  Trade  PuflB.ng. 

The  advertisement  of  Messrs.  Chops 
&  Co.,  the  great  Chinese  firm  in  Lon- 
don— as  it  appears  in  the  columns  of 
Punch — is  formed  after  the  choicest 
models  of  English  and  American  trade- 
puffers,  as  the  following  will  show  : 

We,  Chop-chin,  Chop-lip,  Circassian- 
cree,  &  Co-cree,  having,  in  the  pleni- 
tude of  our  hearts,  set  uj)  a  shop  in  the 
very  bowels  of  this  barbarian  city,  now 
graciously  invite  all  to  come  and  feast 
on  the  wonders  of  our  celestial  genius. 
If,  after  this  glorious  proclamation,  ye 
will  come  and  look,  then  most  assuredly 
will  we  benignantly  smile  ;  and  if,  fur- 
ther, ye  should  buy,  we  will  as  assured- 
ly laugh  very  heartily.  Delay  not ! 
hasten,  hasten  ! !   be  speedy  ! ! 

Our  luxuriant  and  nourishing  Tartar 
Cream,  eo  highly  sought  for  by  the 
Chinese  to  polish  and  finish  off  their 
tails,  is  much  recommended  for  pro- 
ducing a  beautiful  head  of  hair. 

The  True  Keying  Cold  Cream  the 
Messrs.  Chops  can  safely  recommend, 
it  having  been  used  for  many  years  on 
the  nose  of  the  Jolly  Keying,  when 
heated  by  a  vast  multitude  of  red 
bunkles,  occasioned,  it  was  believed,  by 
a  constant  flow  of  good  spirits. 

Since  the  arrival  of  the  Messrs.  Chops 
into  this  country,  they  have  witnessed 
the  fashion  of  reducing  all  things  to 
the  smallest  possible  size  and  lightest 
conceivable  weight.  Under  this  im- 
pression, we  have  manufactured  the 
smallest,  lightest,  and  most  shallow 
pots  ever  beheld  ;  two  will  go  into  a 
pillbox,  and  any  six  can  be  carried  in 
a  gentleman's  waistcoat  pocket.  Each 
pot  48.  6^.,  being  only  one  shilling 
more  than  the  usual  large  and  clumsy 
pots  sold  at  perfumers. 

The  Imperial  Dentifrice,  for  procur- 


COMMERCIAL  ART  AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


311 


ing  a  beautiful  set  of  teeth,  is  composed 
of  pulverized  bricks  from  tbe  Porcelain 
Tower,  Nankin.  The  wonders  of  this 
beautiful  powder  can  be  at  once  dis- 
covered by  merely  buying  a  pot. 


Commercial  Envelopes,  Wrappers, 
liabels,  etc. 

To  such  a  degree  is  the  ornamental 
enveloping  of  the  objects  of  commerce 
and  the  products  of  industry  now  car- 
ried on,  in  some  departments  of  trade, 
that  the  outside  aspects  of  certain 
goods,  in  the  popular  estimate,  actually 
outvies  the  goods  themselves — the  de- 
corated packing  case  surpasses  its  con- 
tents— the  shell  excels  the  kernel.  In- 
deed, this  is  the  Tcey  to  the  whole  busi- 
ness :  the  plainest  envelope  would  answer 
all  the  purposes  of  the  most  luxurious 
and  ornamental  one,  with  a  single  ex- 
ception— it  would  not  sell  the  article  ! 

The  most  expensive  of  the  articles 
which  may  be  classed  as  commercial 
envelopes,  is  the  envelope  of  the  jeicel- 
ler — the  morocco  case,  lined  with  silk 
velvet.  The  gold  watch,  the  costly 
ring,  the  bracelet,  the  gem,  are  present- 
ed to  the  buyer  in  a  morocco  case, 
which,  however  costly  it  may  be  in  it- 
self, forms  a  very  trifling  item  in  the 
bill.  Much  capital  is  invested  and 
much  skill  employed  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  these  articles. 

It  is  the  paper  maker  who  is  the  great 
source  of  the  commercial  envelope.  The 
dress  boxes,  cap  boxes,  flower  boxes, 
pattern  boxes,  lace  boxes,  and  all  that 
legion  of  envelopes,  of  every  shape  and 
size,  are  made  of  j)aper,  in  some  of  its 
numberless  forms,  such  as  card  board, 
mill  board,  etc.  There  is  no  limit  to 
articles  of  this  description,  comprising 
the  finest  and  whitest,  or  plain,  or 
grained,  or  embossed,  with  the  most 
elaborate  designs,  or  spread  with  gor- 
geous arabesques  and  radiant  with 
gold. 

The  pictorial  element  comes  largely 
into  play  in  the  various  kinds  of  paper 
boxes  and  envelopes;   and  it  is  said 


that  none  of  the  pleasing  discoveries  in 
chromo-typography,  chromo-lithogra- 
phy,  and  block  printing  in  colors,  would 
have  proved  profitable,  but  for  the  use  to 
which  they  are  applied  by  the  makers 
of  j)aper  boxes  and  ornamental  wrappers 
of  various  kinds.  The  perfumer, 'the 
fancy  stationer,  the  lace  man,  the  glove 
maker,  are  the  wholesale  patrons  of  those 
beautiful  arts,  and  not  the  public,  who 
admire  their  cliefs-d'' o&uvre  in  the  shop 
windows,  but  rarely  purchase.  It  is  by 
the  sale  of  tens  and  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  small  colored  designs  and  vig- 
nettes, which  are  in  demand  to  envel- 
ope the  scents,  the  soaps,  the  cutlery, 
the  conserves,  the  toilet  gear  of  the  la- 
dies, or  the  choice  filigree  stationery 
they  use,  that  the  chromo-photograph- 
er  is  paid.  For  every  picture  which 
the  chromo-typographist  sells  as  a 
picture,  a  hundred  at  least  are  nomi- 
nally given  away  as  part  and  parcel  of 
the  envelope  to  some  kind  of  merchan- 
dise. This  luxurious  species  of  envel- 
ope originated  in  Paris,  and  is  there 
manufactured  most  extensively,  and 
sent  in  exquisite  parcels  to  almost 
every  part  of  the  world. 

A  rival  of  the  paper-box  maker  is  the 
worTc&r  in  metal.  The  thinnest  sheet  or 
film  of  lead,  or  tin,  or  brass,  or  bronze, 
may  be  pressed  in  the  form  of  a  box 
and  its  cover,  with  an  endless  variety 
of  most  attractive  patterns.  Millions 
of  these  metal  envelopes  are  used,  some 
of  them  being  exceedingly  handsome 
and  perfect  in  design,  and  of  course 
helping  largely  the  sale  of  the  articles 
to  which  they  are  applied. 

The  glass  blower  is  another  important 
agent  in  the  fabrication  of  commercial 
envelopes.  The  dealers  in  scents  and 
odors  know  full  well  that  it  is  the  bot- 
tle^ more  than  anything  else,  which  re- 
commends and  sells  the  perfume,  and 
they  spend  infinitely  more  time  and 
trouble,  and — it  may  as  well  be  told — 
capital,  too,  in  elaborating  a  new  toilet 
bottle,  than  they  do  in  the  composition 
of  its  contents.    A  delicious  scent — the 


312 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"  extract  of  a  thousand  flowers,"  for  in- 
stance— may  be  concocted  from  essence 
of  lavender,  a  modicum  of  eau  de  Co- 
logne, and  a  trifle  of  attar  of  roses,  ho- 
moeopatliically  diffused  in  an  ocean  of 
aqua  pura — and  may  be  varied  ad  in- 
finitum by  the  least  change  in  the  in- 
gredients; but  the  lottle^  which  is  to 
glitter  on  the  toilet  table,  demands  all 
the  genius  of  the  artist  and  the  skill  of 
the  craftsman.  It  is  here  the  chief  diflS- 
culty  lies — to  achieve  a  two-ounce  bot- 
tle of  classical  design,  toned  down  to 
the  modern  standard  of  dressing-room 
elegance;  he  is  a  lucky  man  indeed 
who  will  accomplish  it,  and  may  reck- 
on upon  an  influx  of  profit  compared  to 
which  cent,  per  cent,  is  mere  zero. 

The  potter  is  in  still  greater  request 
than  the  glass  blower,  among  a  certain 
class  of  dealers.  Not  to  detail  the  va- 
rious jars  and  earthen  bottles  which  he 
makes  for  trade  purposes,  there  is  a 
shallow  pot  and  cover,  varying  in  di- 
ameter from  two  inches,  or  less,  to  eight 
inches  or  more,  and  formed  of  every 
species  of  ceramic  compound,  from 
plainest  delf  to  finest  porcelain,  the 
demand  for  which  is  almost  incredible. 
They  are  used  as  the  deposits  of  poma- 
tums, hair  paste,  cold  cream,  "  bear's 
grease,"  and  so  on.  There  are  also 
larger  ones,  for  other  purposes,  some  of 
which  are  moulded  with  great  care, 
and  delicately  painted  by  hand  with 
groups  of  flowers  or  small  landscapes. 


Literature  and  Groceries.  ^ 

Pope's  saying,  that  "  a  little  learn- 
ing is  a  dangerous  thing,"  is  pretty 
well  verified  in  the  following  inscrip- 
tion over  the  door  of  a  trader  in  Hel- 
ton East,  England,  and  which  very 
naturally  arrests  the  attention  of  the 
passers  by : 

Watkinson's 

Acadamy ; 

Whatever  man  has  done  man  may  do. 

Also 

Dealer  in  Groceries, 

&c. 


Sigmboard  Ptmctuation. 

Painters  of  signboards  are  too  often 
negligent  or  incompetent  in  the  matter 
of  punctuation.  They  either  indulge 
themselves  in  a  redundancy  of  stops,  or 
totally  omit  them.  In  the  latter  case 
there  will  sometimes  be  met  with  such 
non-punctuated  inscriptions  as — "  A 
Wood  Smith,"  "  Lamb  Butcher,"  "  Clay 
Baker,"  "Winch  Turner,"  "Peacock 
Builder,"  "Gay  Painter,"  "Church 
Saddler,"  "  Moon  Gilder,"  &c. 


"For  Her  Majesty." 

A  TRAVELLER  in  England,  in  a  pe- 
destrian tour  through  the  principal 
business  streets,  speaks  of  the  amuse- 
ment afforded  him  on  reading  the  in- 
scriptions on  the  ancient  signboards; 
one  was  coat  maker,  hat  maker,  boot 
or  spur  maker,  and  so  on,  "  for  his 
Majesty."  Another — frock  maker,  cape 
maker,  corset,  or  glove  maker,  "  for 
her  Majesty."  Thousands  are  "li- 
censed" to  sell  tea,  sugar,  and  coffee, 
l^rovisions,  snuff  and  tobacco,  porter 
and  pies,  hay  and  straw,  etc.,  and  this 
is  duly  specified  on  the  board.  On  the 
front  of  a  three-story  building,  in  large 
letters,  reaching  from  top  to  bottom, 
was  the  following :  "  Sight  restored, 
and  Headache  cured,  by  Grindstone's 
celebrated  Eye  Snuff— sold  here ; " 
something  rather  hard  and  gritty,  it 
would  seem,  this  process  of  curing  eyes 
by  a  grindstone.  Many  have  on  their 
signboards,  under  their  name,  the  num- 
ber of  years  they  have  done  business  in 
that  house  ;  as  "John  Thomas,  Wine 
Dealer,  since  1794," — thus  signifying 
that  he  is  a  man  of  steady  habits  to  re- 
side and  do  business  in  the  same  house 
for  scores  of  years.  Some  of  the  signs 
state  that  father  and  son  have  done 
business  on  the  same  spot  for  one  hun- 
dred years  and  upward. 


COMMERCIAL  ART  AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


313 


Evasions  of  Trade  Marks. 

An  English  journal  gives  an  account 
of  several  remarkable  evasions  of  trade 
marks,  some  of  which,  at  least,  can 
scarcely  be  heard  of  without  a  smile. 
A  Burlington  Arcade  "  Perruquier  "  in- 
troduced a  Medicated  Mexican  Balm, 
to  which  he  prefixed  his  name  ;  where- 
upon a  neighbor  speedily  advertised 
his  Medicated  Mexican  Balm.  A  quar- 
rel and  a  lawsuit  ensued,  ending  in 
the  award  of  protection  to  the  trade 
mark. 

Prof.  H.'s  pills  and  ointments  may  or 
may  not  be  worthy  of  the  puffery  which 
surrounds  them ;  but  by  all  business 
men  it  must  be  regarded  as  an  obvious- 
ly mean  trick  when  another  person, 
taking  advantage  of  the  same  name, 
opened  a  shop  within  the  distance  of  a 
few  houses,  and  advertised,  in  the  same 
surname,  pills  and  ointment,  and  which 
was  another  case  brought  before  the 
law  courts. 

A  third,  and  quite  a  curious  case,  ex- 
hibited the  following  facts  :  Mr.  Craw- 
shay,  the  eminent  ironmaster  of  South 
Wales,  marks  his  iron  "  W.  Crawshay," 
or  "  W.  C,"  enclosed  in  a  ring.  One 
day  he  observed  on  a  wharf  some  bars 
of  iron  bearing  a  mark  which  he  sup- 
posed to  be  his  own,  but  which,  on 
closer  inspection,  he  found  to  be  "  "W. 
0.,"  enclosed  in  a  ring.  He  ascertained, 
moreover,  that  this  mark  commonly 
passed  in  the  Turkish  market  for  his 
own  (Crawshay's)  mark.  Although 
this  trade  mark  was  not  exactly  like 
Crawshay's,  yet  the  O,  which  was  sub- 
stituted for  the  C,  was,  when  combined 
with  the  W  and  the  ring,  a  proof  of 
imitation.  That  Thompson,  the  pro- 
prietor of  this  iron,  was  aware  of  the 
imitation,  was  made  clear;  but  there 
was  an  absence  of  technical  proof  of 
an  intention  to  imitate. 

Mr.  Linnell,  the  distinguished  paint- 
er, painted  a  picture,  and  put  his  name 
to  it ;  a  copy  of  this  picture,  name  and 
all,  got  into  the  market.  That  this  was 


an  infringement  of  a  trade  mark,  and 
something  worse,  was  clear  enough,  yet, 
through  the  inconsistencies  of  the  law, 
the  perpetrator  of  the  fraud  escaped 
both  on  the  charge  of  forgery  and  on 
that  of  obtaining  money  on  false  pre- 
tences. 

One  George  Borwick  invented  what 
he  called  baking  powder,  and  ^gg 
powder,  sold  in  packets,  with  his  name 
printed  on  the  wrapper.  Another  deal- 
er, failing  to  sell  his  own  baking  pow- 
der, applied  to  a  printer  to  print  ten 
thousand  labels  as  nearly  as  possible 
like  Borwick's,  except  the  signature. 
This  signature  had  been  rendered  in- 
visible by  the  peculiar  wrapping  of 
Borwick's  packets,  until  the  wrapper 
was  torn  off;  and  therefore  the  cunning 
cheat  deemed  himself  in  this  particular 
safe.  Many  of  these  deceptive  packets 
were  sold  as  Borwick's,  before  the 
scheme  was  discovered. 

Foreign  manufacturers  have  in  many 
cases  had  to  vindicate  themselves 
against  the  arts  of  nimble-witted  and 
unprincipled  English  adventurers.  The 
never-dying  Jean  Maria  Farina  had 
once  to  go  into  an  English  court  of 
law,  to  demand  justice  for  his  trade 
mark.  Relying  on  the  confusion  be- 
tween the  many  eau-de-Cologne  makers 
who,  in  almost  every  part  of  the  world, 
assume  that  cognomen,  an  English 
printer  imitated  a  label  with  the  signa- 
ture, "  Jean  Maria  Farina,  gegenviber 
dem  Julich  Platz,"  with  a  peculiar 
flourish,  and  a\so  a  stamp  and  seal. 
Although  a  Prussian  subject,  Farina 
was  able,  in  this  particular  instance,  to 
obtain  justice  in  an  English  court  of 
law. 

Another  instance  is  that  of  the  Col- 
lins Company,  manufacturers  of  edge 
tools,  Hartford,  Conn.  They  stamp  on 
their  manufactured  articles  the  words, 
"  Collins  &  Co.,  Hartford,  cast  steel, 
warranted,"  and  also  affix  labels  on 
which  is  printed,  "  Look  out  for  the 
stamp  Hartford^  if  you  want  the  genu- 
ine  Collins  &  Co."      A   Birmingham 


314 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


(England)  merchant  was  clearly  proved 
to  have  imitated  the  trade  mark  and 
labels  of  this  company,  and  to  have 
been  in  the  habit  of  sellmg  and  export- 
ing tools  so  stamped  as  being  the  tools 
of  the  company.  The  latter  got  the 
merited  justice  in  this  case. 


Shop  and  Business  Signs :   Ancient 
lExamples. 

The  bearing  of  devices  over  the  doors 
of  shops  and  other  places  of  business, 
was  a  very  common  practice  before  the 
introduction  of  the  plan  of  numbering 
the  houses,  which  did  not  take  place 
until  about  one  hundred  years  ago. 
The  sign  of  the  house  in  Bread  street, 
where  Milton's  father  resided,  was  a 
spread  eagle,  which  appears  to  have 
been  the  arms  of  that  family.  Remains 
of  this  custom  are  still  to  be  observed 
in  several  parts  of  London,  and,  as  is 
pretty  well  known,  the  Messrs.  Hoares, 
the  bankers,  in  Fleet  street,  retain  to 
this  day  over  the  door  the  symbol  of  a 
leather  bottle,  gilt ;  and  the  same  was 
also  represented  on  their  notes  which 
they  formerly  issued.  The  Messrs. 
Gostlings  also  retain  their  sign  of  the 
three  squirrels,  and  Strahan,  Paul  & 
Co.,  the  sign  of  the  golden  anchor. 

The  three  gilt  balls  so  commonly 
hung  out  as  signs  at  pawnbrokers' 
shops,  and  by  the  mass  humorously 
said  to  indicate  that  it  is  two  to  one 
the  things  pledged  are  never  redeemed, 
were  in  reality  the  arms  of  a  set  of  mer- 
chants from  Lombardy,  who  were  the 
first  that  publicly  lent  money  on 
pledges;  these  merchants  borrowed 
this  triple  symbol  from  the  great  mer- 
chant, De  Medicis.  They  dwelt  to- 
gether in  a  street,  from  them  named 
Lombard  street,  in  London,  and  also 
gave  their  name  to  another  in  Paris. 
The  appellation  of  Lombard  was  for- 
merly all  over  Europe  considered  as  sy- 
nonymous with  that  of  usurers. 

The  barber's  pole  has  been  the  sub- 
ject of  many  conjectures,  some  conceiv- 
ing it  to  have  originated  from  the  word 


poll  or  head,  with  several  other  con- 
ceits as  far-fetched  and  unmeaning; 
but  the  true  intention  of  that  party- 
colored  staff  was  to  show  that  the  mas- 
ter of  the  shop  practised  surgery,  and 
could  breathe  a  vein  as  well  as  mow  a 
beard.  The  white  band  which  encom- 
passes the  staff  was  meant  to  represent 
the  fillet  thus  elegantly  twined  about  it. 


Fresh  Sea-water. 

Over  a  door  on  the  road  from  Brigh- 
ton to  Lewes,  is  a  signboard  with  the 
very  intelligible  announcement — "  Fresh 
sea-water  sold  here.'''' 


Titles  of  Business  Firms. 

One  of  the  most  expressive  titles  of  a 
mercantile  firm  that  could  be  met  with, 
is  that  of  "  Call  &  Switchem,"  which  is 
painted  in  golden  letters  on  a  sign  in 
one  of  the  eastern  cities ;  also  another, 
that  is  equally  unique,  viz.,  "  Bangs  & 
Swett ; "  and  that  of  "  Lanceman  & 
Payne."  "  Neal,  Pray  &  Co.,"  is  the 
title — sufficiently  devotional,  certainly 
— of  another  firm.  But  the  following 
"  beats  all."  Two  attorneys,  who  were 
many  years  ago  in  partnership,  had  for 
the  name  of  their  firm,  "Catchum  & 
Chetum ; "  but  as  the  singularity  and 
ominous  juxtaposition  of  the  words  led 
to  many  a  disparaging  joke  from  the 
passers  by,  the  men  of  law  attempted 
to  destroy  in  part  the  efl'ect  of  the  odd 
association,  by  the  insertion  of  the  ini- 
tials of  their  Christian  names,  which 
happened  to  be  Isaac  and  Uriah ;  but, 
in  reality,  this  made  the  matter  ten 
times  worse,  for  the  inscription  ran, 
"  I.  Catchum  &  U.  Chetum,"  and  peo- 
ple could  not,  for  the  life  of  'em,  dis- 
possess their  minds  or  imaginations  of 
"  high  doings  "  in  said  law  office. 


Arms  and  Seal  of  the  Bank  of  Ireland. 

The  arms  and  seal  of  the  Bank  of 
Ireland  are :  Hibemia  bearing  a  crown, 


COMMERCIAL  ART  AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


315 


as  a  symbol  of  lier  independence ;  an 
anchor  in  her  hand,  to  denote  the  sta- 
bility of  her  commerce,  with  the  words 
"  Bank  of  Ireland ;  "  and  under  the 
anchor,  '•''Bona fide  respuhliccB  stdbilitas'''' 
— intimating  that  the  existence  of  a 
people  depends  upon  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  their  public  debts. 


Unexampled  Enterprise :   The  Chinese 
Wall  for  Advertisements. 

An  enterprising  and  opulent  bill- 
sticker  has,  it  is  privately  understood, 
made  offers  to  the  leader  of  the  Chi- 
nese insurgent  forces  to  rent  of  him,  in 
the  event  of  his  being  made  emperor, 
the  renowned  wall  of  China.  The  sum 
offered  has  not  transpired,  but  it  is 
said  to  be  something  extremely  muni- 
ficent. 

It  is  the  bill  sticker's  intention,  as 
soon  as  he  obtains  an  imperial  grant, 
to  form  a  company  of  persons  who 
spend  large  sums  of  money  every  year 
in  advertisements,  and  to  cover  the  en- 
tire length  of  the  wall  with  their  bills 
and  posters,  a  larger  price  being,  of 
course,  charged  for  those  which  will  be 
posted  outside  than  for  those  inside 
the  wall,  where  comparatively  but  few 
people  will  be  able  to  see  them.  The 
bills  will  be  in  English,  or  specially 
translated  into  Chinese,  at  the  option 
of  the  advertiser.  In  the  event  of  China 
being  thrown  open  to  universal  com- 
merce— and  there  is,  at  present,  every 
prospect  of  such  a  fact— it  will  be  at 
once  seen  what  "a  desirable  medium 
for  advertisements  "  this  national  post- 
ing-station will  be.  So  favorably  is 
the  scheme  entertained,  by  some  lead- 
ing advertisers,  that  already  twelve 
thousand  miles  of  that  part  of  the  wall 
which  runs  through  the  most  densely 
populated  districts  of  the  empire,  has 
been  bespoken  at  an  enormous  rental. 

The  company  will  be  announced  at  a 
future  day,  and  it  is  expected  that  the 
shares  will  be  quoted  on  'Change  at  a 
heavy  premium  the  very  first  day.  A 
good  judge  has  been  heard  privately 


to  say,  that  next  to  a  celebrated  mil- 
lionnaire's  property,  it  will  be  the 
largest  hoarding  in  the  world,  and 
there  is  no  doubt  it  will  be.  All  the 
pufiing  tailors,  pill  merchants,  quack- 
medicine  sellers,  etc.,  are  actively  on 
the  look  out — though,  in  the  present 
case,  instead  of  trying  to  "  drive  one 
another  to  the  wall,"  as  is  too  generally 
the  case  among  competitors,  each  one 
is  doing  all  he  can  to  keep  the  rest 
from  that  position.  Professor  Liebig's 
testimonial  in  favor  of  bitter  beer  is  al- 
ready printed  in  all  the  Chinese  dia- 
lects, only  waiting  to  be  posted  up. 


First  Trade  Advertisement. 

With  the  exception  of  quack-medi- 
cine and  book  advertisements,  the  first 
record  of  a  tradesman  turning  the 
newspaper  to  account  in  making 
Imown  his  goods  to  the  public,  is  in 
1658.  Independently  of  its  being  in 
itself  a  curiosity,  it  possesses  a  very 
strong  interest,  from  the  fact  that  it 
marks  the  introduction  of  a  new  article 
of  food  and  commercial  traflac.  The 
advertisement  reads  thus : 

THAT  Excellent  and  by  all  Physitians  ap- 
proved China  drink  called  by  the  Chineans 
Tcha^  by  other  Nations  Tay  alias  Tee,  is 
sold  at  the  Sulianess  Head  Cophee  House 
in  Sweetings  Rents,  by  the  Royal  Ex- 
change, London. — Mercurius  FoliticuSy 
September  30,  1658. 

This  is  undoubtedly  the  earliest  au- 
thentic announcement  yet  made  known, 
of  the  public  sale  in  England  of  this 
now  universal  beverage.  The  mention 
of  "  cophee  house  "  proves  that  the  sis- 
ter stimulant  had  already  got  a  start. 


"Tight  Times." 

That  financial  visitor,  of  such  bad 
renown,  "  Tight  Times,"  is  thus  set  off: 

He  may  be  seen  on  'Change  every 
day.  He  bores  our  merchants,  and 
seats  himself  cozily  in  lawyers'  offices. 
He  is  everywhere. 


316 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


A  great  disturber  of  the  public  quiet, 
a  pestilent  fellow,  is  this  same  Tight 
Times.  Everybody  talks  about  him ; 
everybody  looks  out  for  him ;  every- 
body hates  him ;  and  a  great  many  hard 
words  and  not  a  few  profane  epithets 
are  bestowed  upon  him.  Everybody 
would  avoid  —  "  cut "  him,  if  they 
could;  everybody  would  hiss  him 
from  'Change,  hustle  him  out  of  the 
street,  kick  him  from  the  banks,  throw 
him  out  of  the  stores,  out  of  the  hotels 
— but  they  carCt.  Yes,  Tight  Times  is 
a  bore — he  will  stick  like  a  brier. 

An  impudent  fellow,  too,  is  Tight 
Times.  Ask  for  a  discount,  and  he 
looks  over  your  shoulder,  winks  at  the 
cashier,  and  your  note  is  thrown  out. 
Ask  a  loan  of  the  usurers  at  one  per 
cent,  per  month,  he  looks  over  your  se- 
curities, and  marks  "  two  and  a  half." 
Present  a  bill  to  your  debtor.  Tight 
Times  shrugs  his  shoulders,  rolls  up  hfs 
eyes,  and  you  must  "  call  again."  A 
wife  asks  for  a  fashionable  brocade  and 
a  daughter  for  a  new  bonnet;  Tight 
Times  puts  in  his  caveat,  and  the  bro- 
cade and  bonnet  are  postponed. 

A  great  depredator  in  stocks  is 
Tight  Times.  He  steps  in  among  the 
bankers,  and  down  go  the  "  favorites 
of  the  market."  He  goes  along  the 
railroads  in  process  of  construction, 
and  the  Irishmen  throw  down  their 
shovels  and  walk  away. 

A  famous  exploder  of  bubbles  is  Mr. 
Tight  Times.  He  looks  into  the  affairs 
of  gold  companies,  and  they  fly  to 
pieces ;  into  "  kiting  "  banks,  and  they 
stop  payment.  He  walks  around  "  cor- 
ner lots,"  draws  a  line  across  litho- 
graph cities,  and  they  disappear.  He 
leaves  his  footprints  among  mines,  and 
the  rich  metal  becomes  dross.  He 
breathes  upon  the  cunningest  specula- 
tions, and — they  burst  like  torpedoes. 

A  hard  master  for  the  poor  is  this 
Tight  Times — a  cruel  enemy  to  the  la- 
boring classes.  He  takes  the  mechanic 
from  his  bench,  the  laborer  from  his 
work,  the  hod  carrier  from  his  ladder. 


He  runs  up  the  prices  of  provisions, 
and  he  runs  down  the  wages  of  toil. 
He  runs  up  the  prices  of  food,  and  he 
runs  down  the  ability  to  purchase  it  at 
any  price.  His  picture  is  hung  up  in 
everybody's  memory. 


Irish  Advertisement. 

The  Edinburgh  Remew,  in  an  article 
on  Plowden's  History  of  Ireland,  where- 
in the  historian  has  much  to  say  of  the 
splendid  efforts  of  the  Irish  literati — 
their  essays,  histories,  and  learned  effu- 
sions, or  rather  the  assumed  absence  of 
such,  on  account  of  the  wicked  irrup- 
tion of  the  Danes  in  the  ninth  and 
tenth  centuries — says  that  in  such  an 
apology  there  is  something  that  strong- 
ly reminds  one  of  the  Irish  advertise- 
ment : 

"  Lost,  on  Saturday  last,  but  the  loser 
does  not  know  when  or  where,  an  emp- 
ty sack,  with  a  cheese  in  it.  On  the 
sack  the  letters  '  P.  G.'  are  marked,  but 
so  completely  worn  out,  as  not  to  be 
legible." 


Carmeline  the  Dentist's  Sig-n. 

Carmeline,  the  famous  toothdrawer 
and  maker  of  artificial  teeth,  had  his 
portrait  painted  and  placed  in  his 
chamber  window,  with  a  motto  taken 
from  Virgil's  line  of  the  Golden  Bough, 
in  the  sixth  book  of  the  ^neid  : 
"  Uno  avulso,  non  deficit  alter." 

The  application  of  this  line  [When 
one  is  drawn  out,  another  is  never 
wanting]  was  extremely  happy. 


Criticism  of  a  Hatter's  Sigrn. 

A  JOURNEYMAN  hatter,  a  companion 
of  Dr.  Franklin,  on  commencing  busi- 
ness for  himself,  was  anxious  to  get  a 
handsome  signboard  with  a  suitable 
inscription.  This  he  composed  himself, 
as  follows  :  "  John  Thompson,  hatter, 
mahes  and  sells  hats  for  ready  rmney^'' 
with  the  figure  of  a  hat  subjoined.   But 


COMMERCIAL  ART  AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


Si*? 


he  tliought  lie  would  submit  it  to  his 
friends  for  criticism — and  amendments, 
if  susceptible  of  any. 

The  first  he  showed  it  to  thought 
the  word  liatter  tautologous,  because 
followed  by  the  words  "  makes  hats," 
which  of  themselves  showed  he  was  a 
hatter.  It  was  struck  out.  The  next 
observed  that  the  word  makes  might 
as  well  be  omitted,  because  his  custo- 
mers would  not  care  who  made  the 
hats — if  good,  and  to  their  mind,  they 
would  buy,  by  whomsoever  made.  He 
struck  that  out  also.  A  third  said,  he 
thought  the  words  for  ready  money 
were  useless ;  as  it  was  not  the  custom 
of  the  place  to  sell  on  credit,  every  one 
who  purchased  expected  to  pay.  These 
too  were  parted  with,  and  the  incrip- 
tion  then  stood,  "  John  Thompson  sells 
hats."  "  Sells  hats  ! "  says  his  next 
friend  ;  "  why,  who  expects  you  to  give 
them  away?  What,  then,  is  the  use 
of  the  word  ? "  It  was  struck  out,  and 
"  hats  "  was  all  that  remained  attached 
to  the  name  of  John  Thompson.  Even 
this  inscription,  brief  as  it  was,  was 
reduced  ultimately  to  John  Thompson, 
with  the  figure  of  a  hat  subjoined. 


Cabalistic  Sig-n  for  an  Alehouse. 

The  keeper  of  a  paltry  Scotch  ale- 
house having  on  his  sign,  after  his 
name,  the  letters  M.  D.  F.  R.  S.,  a  phy- 
sician, who  was  a  member,  or  fellow,  of 
the  Royal  Society,  asked  him  how  he 
presumed  to  affix  those  letters  to  his 
name.  "  Why,  sir,"  said  the  publican, 
"  I  have  as  good  a  right  to  them  as  you 
have."  "  What  do  you  mean,  you  im- 
pudent scoundrel  ? "  replied  the  doctor. 
"  I  mean,  sir,"  retorted  the  other,  "  that 
I  was  Drum  Major  of  the  Royal  Scots 
Fusileers." 


Pleasant  History  of  a  Familiar  Word. 

Some  signboards  have  much  of  his- 
tory connected  with  them.  A  slight 
instance  of  this  sort  is  as  follows :  Be- 


fore the  year  1730,  the  English  publi- 
cans sold  to  the  thirsty  souls  of  their 
day  three  sorts  of  beer,  which  they 
drew  from  different  casks  into  the  same 
glass,  and  gave  to  this  mixture  the  name 
of  half-and-half  The  owner  of  one  of 
these  resorts  (history  has  handed  down 
the  name),  Horwood,  wishing  to  spare 
himself  the  trouble  of  performing  this 
task  so  constantly  during  the  day,  hit 
upon  brewing  the  beer  which  would 
combine  the  qualities  of  all  these  beers. 
To  this  compound  he  gave  the  name 
6f  "  Entire,"  which  has  adhered  to  it 
till  this  day,  at  least  on  the  signboards. 
It  was  afterward  christened  '•'"porter^"' 
because  principally  drunk  by  that 
class. 


Streets  and  Shop  Sig-ns  in  Canton. 

The  streets  oi  Canton  present,  to  a 
stranger,  an  extraordinary  sight ;  they 
are  very  narrow,  and  hung  about  in  all 
directions  with  signs  and  advertise- 
ments. Every  shop  has  a  large  upright 
board  on  each  side  of  the  door,  usually 
painted  white,  and  on  it,  in  red  or 
black  letters,  is  inscribed  a  list  of  all 
the  articles  sold.  Other  signs  are  hung 
over  the  street,  and  some  are  fixed  to 
poles  reaching  from  one  side  of  the 
street  to  the  other.  Many  of  these  dis- 
play puffing  advertisements,  such  as — 
"  Tills  Old  Established  Shop,''^  etc.  ; 
"  The  Refulgent  Sign  :  Original  MaJcer 
of  the  finest  quality  of  Gaps,''''  etc. ;  "  Can- 
ton Security  Banking  Establishment  ;^'' 
and  "  No  two  Prices  at  this  Shop  "  is  a 
very  cornmon  notification.  The  Chi- 
nese writing  looks  very  w^ell  in  this 
way;  and  being  generally  red  letters 
upon  white,  black  upon  red  or  yellow, 
and  blue  upon  white,  the  array  of  signs 
presents  a  most  gaudy  and  extraordi- 
nary appearance. 


Ancient  Pictorial  Signboards. 

It  became  quite  customary,  in  the 
seventeenth   century,    among    English 


318 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


traders,  to  have  emblazoned  some  ani- 
mal or  object  spreading  upon  tbe  sign- 
boards, in  order  more  effectually  to 
catch  the  eye.  In  course  of  time,  when 
fancy  became  capricious,  something 
more  grotesque  or  piquant  was  adopt- 
ed, such  as  blue  boars,  black  swans, 
red  lions,  flying  pigs,  hogs  in  armor, 
swans  with  two  necks,  and  all  such 
queer  skimble-skamble  stuff.  Then 
there  were  multitudes  of  compound 
signs,  such  as  the  fox  and  seven  stars, 
ball  and  neat's  tongue,  dog  and  grid- 
iron, sheep  and  dolphin,  pig  and  whis- 
tle. These  comical  combinations  seem 
to  have  originated  in  the  apprentice 
quartering  his  master's  symbol  with 
his  own,  like  the  combined  but  very 
dissimilar  arms  of  a  matrimonial 
heraldic  alliance.  Some  curious  in- 
stances of  this  kind  are  given  on 
another  page  of  this  department  of 
Anecdotes* 

In  not  a  few  instances — which  can 
be  traced  to  the  ignorance  of  the  peo- 
ple, or  the  customary  contraction  or 
abbreviation  of  speech — these  absurd 
emblems  became  most  ridiculously  per- 
verted. Thus,  the  Bologne  mouth,  the 
mouth  of  the  harbor  of  Bologne,  in 
France,  became  the  "  bull  and  mouth  ; " 
a  noted  traveller's  inn  in  St.  Martin's 
lane,  the  Satyr  and  Bacchanals,  became 
the  "  devil  and  bag  of  nails ;  "  and  the 
praiseworthy  legend  or  phrase,  "  God 
encompasseth  us,''''  became,  after  being 
many  times  mouthed  over  by  vari- 
ous provincial ists,  profanely  metamor- 
phosed into  the  "  goat  and  cow  passes." 
These  signs,  which  then  projected  into 
the  street  at  all  lengths  and  angles, 
where  they  swung  from  their  elegant 
and  elaborately  curled  iron  supports, 
creaked  to  and  fro,  most  hideously, 
with  every  blast. 


mouth,  stepped  quietly,  one  day,  into 
the  well-known  establishment  of  "  Call 
&  Tuttle,"  Boston,  and  quietly  re- 
marked to  the  clerk  in  attendance, 
"I  want  to  tuUh:'  "What  do  you 
mean,  sir  ? "  "  Well,  I  want  to  tuttle  : 
noticed  the  invitation  over  your  door, 
so  I  ^called,''  and  now  I  should  like 
to  tuttle  !  "  He  was  ordered  to  leave 
the  establishment,  which  he  did,  with 
an  assumed  look  of  angry  wonder,  and 
facetiously  grumbling  to  himself,  "  If 
they  don't  uant  strangers  to  '  call  and 
tuttle,'  what  do  they  put  up  a  sign  for, 
calling  'em  in  to  do  it  ? " 


Joke  npon  a  Boston  Sign. 

A  FOLEJm-LOOKiNG  fellow,  with  a 
certain  air  of  dry  humor  about  the 
corners    of   his   rather  sanctimonious 


"Cotton  is  auiet." 

In  consequence  of  the  snow,  says 
Punch,  Liverpool  was  last  w^eek  in  a 
state  of  isolation  from  the  rest  of  the 
world,  there  being  no  traflic  by  rail 
or  news  by  letter,  and  indeed  nothing 
by  which  any  idea  could  be  formed 
of  the  doings  or  condition  of  the  Liv- 
erpoolians.  Of  course,  indefatigable 
efforts  were  made  to  open  the  com- 
munication with  the  metropolis ;  but 
all  was  in  vain,  for  the  ordinary  electric 
telegraph  had  got  into  a  state  of  en- 
tanglement through  the  ice  and  snow, 
thus  baffling  all  hopes  of  hearing  any- 
thing from  Liverpool. 

Bills  were  falling  due  in  London,  and 
were  being  dishonored  for  want  of 
"  advice ; "  commercial  firms  were  fall- 
ing into  discredit,  and  all  for  want  of 
communication  with  the  north;  when 
at  last,  after  almost  superhuman  en- 
deavors, it  was  announced  that  the 
magnetic  telegraph  had  succeeded  in 
bringing  news  from  Liverpool.  Every- 
body rushed  to  the  second  edition  of 
the  morning  papers,  to  drink  in  the 
long  looked-for  news,  when  public 
curiosity  was  put  in  possession  of  the 
fact,  that  by  tremendous  energy,  a  com- 
munication had  reached  London, 
bringing  the  news  that  "  Cotton  is 
quiety  We  cannot  judge  of  the  effect 
of  this  intelligence  on  the  commercial 


COMMERCIAL  ART  AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


319 


world,  but,  to  us,  it  seems  as  though 
the  result  of  the  telegraphic  achieve- 
ments had,  after  "  much  cry,"  ended 
in  "  little  wool  " — though  there  might 
be  a  fair  supply  of  cotton. 

We  had  no  idea  that  the  condition 
of  this  raw  material  was  of  such  vital 
consequence  as  to  make  it  paramount 
to  every  other  subject  of  curiosity. 
We  shall,  however,  henceforth,  look 
out  for  the  bulletins  about  cotton  with 
unprecedented  anxiety  and  interest. 
If  we  can  only  be  assured  by  the  paper 
on  our  breakfast  table  that  "  cotton  has 
had  a  quiet  night  and  is  better,"  we 
shall  have^  all  our  mental  trepidations 
soothed,  and  shall  even  be  contented 
with  the  knowledge  that  "  cotton  is 
not  worse  " — or  worsted. 


Stock  Terms  in  the  Sickroom. 

M.  DE  Chirac,  a  celebrated  physi- 
cian, had  bought  some  joint-stock 
shares  at  what  proved  an  unlucky 
period,  and  was  very  anxious  to  sell 
out.  The  stock,  however,  continued 
to  fall  for  two  or  three  days,  much  to 
his  alarm.  His  mind  was  filled  with 
morbid  concern  in  regard  to  the  sub- 
ject, when  he  was  suddenly  called 
upon  to  attend  a  lady  who  im- 
agined herself  unwell.  He  arrived, 
was  shown  up  stairs,  and  at  once  felt 
the  lady's  pulse.  "It  falls!  it  falls! 
good  God  !  it  falls  continually  ! "  said 
he  musingly  though  audibly,  while 
the  lady  looked  up  in  his  face  all 
anxiety  for  his  opinion.  "  Oh,  M.  de 
Chirac,"  said  she,  starting  to  her  feet 
and  ringing  the  bell  for  assistance,  "  I 
am  dying!  I  am  dying!  it  falls— it 
falls— it  falls!"  "What  falls?"  in- 
quired the  doctor  in  amazement.  "  My 
pulse  !  my  pulse  ! "  said  the  lady ;  "  I 
must  be  dying  !  "  "  Calm  your  appre- 
hensions, my  dear  madam,"  said  M.  de 
Chirac,  "  I  was  speaking  of  the  stocks. 
The  truth,  is,  I  have  been  a  great  loser, 
and  my  mind  is  so  disturbed,  I  hardly 
know  what  I  have  been  saying." 


Phenomena  Extraordinary. 

The  following  announcement  of 
facts,  taken  from  a  city  advertising 
column,  may  fairly  be  said  to  come 
under  the  head  of  "  phenomena  extra- 
ordinary." In  one  place  it  is  announced 
that  there  may  be  had  "  An  airy  bed- 
room for  a  gentleman  twenty-two  feet 
long  by  fourteen  feet  wide  ; " — the  bed 
room  ought,  indeed,  to  be  airy,  to  ac- 
commodate a  gentleman  of  such  tre- 
mendous dimensions.  Again,  one  may 
read  of  "  A  house  for  a  family  in  good 
repair,"  which  is  advertised  to  be  let 
with  immediate  possession ; — a  family 
in  good  repair  meaning,  no  doubt,  one 
in  which  none  of  the  members  are  at 
all  "  cracked."  Another  oddity  in  this 
line,  is  an  announcement  of  there  being 
now  vacant  "  A  delightful  gentleman's 
residence ; "  the  "  delightful  gentle- 
man" must  be  rather  proud  of  his 
delightful  qualities,  to  allow  himself 
to  be  thus  strangely  advertised  A 
rare  bit  in  this  way,  in  addition  to 
the  above  morceaux^  is  an  advertise- 
ment offering  a  reward  for  "  a  large 
Spanish  blue  gentleman's  cloak,  lost 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  market." 
The  fact  can  easily  be  realized,  of  a 
gentleman  looking  rather  blue  at  the 
loss  of  his  cloak ;  still  there  is  some- 
thing rather  unaccountable  in  his 
advertising  the  fact  of  his  blueness  in 
connection  with  the  loss  of  his  gar- 
ment. 


Q,uack  Advertisement  Two  Centuries 
A^o. 

That  great— though  not  quite  the 
earliest — progenitor  of  the  newspaper 
tribe,  the  London  Gazette^  of  Nov. 
16th,  1660,  shows  that  the  quack  frater- 
nity of  that  day  were  the  first  to  avail 
themselves  of  its  pages  to  make  knov.m 
their  nostrums.  It  is  really  astonish- 
ing to  see  what  an  ancestry  some  of  the 
quack  medicines  of  the  present  day 
have  had.  "  Nervous  powders,"  speci- 
fics for  gout,  rheumatism,  etc.,  seized 


320 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


upon  the  newspapers  almost  as  early  as 
they  were  published.  Here  is  a  speci- 
men of  the  above  date — rising  two 
hundred  years  ago — which  might  still 
serve  as  a  model  for  such  announce- 
ments : 

"  Gentlemen^  you  are  desired  to  take 
notice,  That  Mr.  'nieoj)hilus  Buclcworth  doth 
at  his  house  on  Mile-end-Green.,  make  and 
expose  to  sale,  for  the  publick  good,  those 
so  famous  Lozenges  or  Pectorals  approved 
for  the  cure  of  Consumption,  Coughs,  Ca- 
tarrhs, Asthmas,  Hoarseness,  Strongness  of 
Breath,  Colds  in  General,  Diseases  incident 
to  the  Lungs,  and  a  sovereign  Antidote 
against  the  Plague,  and  all  other  contagious 
Diseases,  and  obstructing  of  the  Stomach : 
and  for  more  convenience  of  the  people, 
constantly  leaving  them  sealed  up  with  his 
coat  of  arms  on  the  papers,  with  Mr.  Rich. 
Zowndes  (as  formerly),  at  the  sign  of  the 
White  Lion,  near  the  little  north  door  of 
PauFs  Church;  Mr.  Henry  Seile,  over 
against  S.  Dunstan's  Church  in  Fleet  Street : 
Mr.  William  Milward  at  Westminster  Hall 
Gate ;  Mr.  John  Place,  at  FurnivaVs  Inn 
Gate  in  Holborn ;  and  Mr.  Robert  Horn,  at 
the  Turk's  head  near  the  entrance  of  the 
Royal  Exchange,  Booksellers,  and  no  others. 

"  This  is  published  to  prevent  the  designs 
of  divers  Pretenders,  who  counterfeit  the  said 
Lozenges  to  the  disparagement  of  the  said 
Gentleman,  and  great  abuse  of  the  people. — 
Mercuritis  Politicus,    Nov.  16,  1660." 


Baking  and  Banking-. 

A  SAD  blunder  is  mentioned  by  a 
writer  in  "  Harper's,"  showing  that  the 
best  signs  do  fail  sometimes.  He  says 
that  old  Mr.  Spoon  kept  a  cake  and 
beer  shop  in  the  village,  and  made  a 
fortune  in  the  business,  leaving  his 
money  and  the  stand  to  his  only  son, 
who  has  long  been  flourishing  on  his 
father's  profits,  and  turning  up  his  nose 
at  the  baking  business  as  altogether 
beneath  a  sprig  of  his  quality.  As 
soon  as  the  old  man  was  fairly  under 
the  sod,  the  rising  son  fitted  up  the 
shop  on  the  corner,  put  in  a  show 
window,  through   which  a  heap    of 


bills  and  shining  gold  was  seen,  and 
over  the  door  he  spread  a  sign  in  hand- 
some gilt  letters — "  Banking  House." 
He  was  now  in  a  new  line,  adapted  to 
his  taste  and  genius.  One  day,  as  he 
was  lolling  over  the  counter,  a  stranger 
drove  his  horses  close  to  the  door,  and 
called  out  to  the  new  broker  :  "  I  say. 
Mister,  got  any  crackers  ? "  Spoon  (very 
red  and  indignant)  :  "  Kone  at  all ; 
you've  mistaken  the  place."  "Any 
cakes,  pies,  and  things  ? "  "  No,  sir  !  " 
— accompanied  by  a  look  intended  as 
an  extinguisher.  Stranger  (in  turn 
getting  red)  :  "  Then  what  on  airth 
makes  you  have  *  Bakin'  House  ' 
writ  in  sich  big  letters  over  your  door 
for  ?  Tell  me  that !  "  The  difiference 
between  *'  baking  "  and  "  baulking  " 
was  not  so  great  as  young  Spoon  sup- 


Questionable  Sign  for  a  Clothier. 

A  SIGN  painter  being  called  upon  to 
letter  the  front  of  a  large  general  cloth- 
ing establishment,  finished  one  line 
across  the  whole  front  thus  : 

"  Dealer  in  all  Sorts  of  Ladies'  " 

— and  finding  his  ladder  too  long  to 
paint  the  next  line,  returned  to  his 
house  to  get  one  of  suitable  length; 
but  stepping  unguardedly  upon  a 
stone,  it  turned  his  foot  up,  spraining 
his  ankle,  so  that  he  could  not  finish 
the  lettering  till  the  next  day. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  people — rea- 
sonably enough — stared  at  the  new 
sign,  and  many  of  them,  knowing  the 
character  of  the  man  to  be  strictly  in 
keeping  with  that  of  a  good  husband, 
father,  and  citizen,  it  was  certainly  un- 
accountable ;  as  ^'-  all  sorts  of  ladies^'' 
in  a  city  like  New  York,  comprised 
commodities  at  their  antipodes,  the 
best  and  worst  on  earth. 

The  citizens  made  themselves  busy 
that  day  in  surmises,  scurrilous  innuen- 
does, and  injurious  quizzings ;  which 
could  be  hardly  overcome  when  the  fin- 


COMMERCIAL  ART  AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


321 


ishiiig  lettering,  ^^  and  Oentlemen's  ready- 
made  Clothing,''^  was  at  last  added. 


Out  of  Style. 

One  of  tlie  most  eminent  painters 
of  signs,  in  London,  was  Mr.  Wale, 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Royal  Acad- 
emy, and  who  was  appointed  the  first 
professor  of  perspective  in  that  institu- 
tion. The  most  notable  of  his  achieve- 
ments in  signboards,  was  a  whole 
length  of  Shakspeare,  about  five  feet 
high,  which  was  executed  for  and  dis- 
played at  the  door  of  a  public  house, 
at  the  northwest  corner  of  Little  Russell 
street,  Drury  Lane.  It  was  enclosed  in 
a  sumptuously  carved  gilt  frame,  and 
suspended  by  rich  ironwork,  the  cost 
being  several  hundred  pounds.  But 
this  splendid  and  costly  object  for  at- 
tracting trade  did  not  hang  long, 
before  it  was  taken  down,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  act  of  parliament  which 
was  passed  for  removing  signs  and 
other  obstructions  from  the  streets  of 
London.  Such  was  the  total  change 
of  style  and  fashion,  and  the  universal 
disuse  of  such  signs,  that  this  costly 
representation  of  the  great  dramatist 
was  sold  for  hardly  more  than  its  value 
as  oven  wood,  to  a  broker,  at  whose 
door  it  stood  for  several  years,  until  it 
was  totally  destroyed  by  the  weather 
and  various  accidents. 


Natural  Advertising. 

Several  years  ago,  and  soon  after 
the  "  anti-license  law  "  went  into  force 
in  the  Green  Mountain  State,  a  traveller 
stopped  at  a  village  hotel  and  asked 
for  a  glass  of  brandy.  "Don't  keep 
it,"  said  the  landlord  ;  "  forbidden  by 
law  to  sell  liquor  of  any  kind."  "  The 
deuce  you  are  ! "  retorted  the  stranger 
incredulously.  "  Such  is  the  fact," 
replied  the  host ;  "  the  house  don't 
keep  it."  "  Then  bring  your  own 
bottle,"  said  the  traveller,  with  decis- 
ion ;  "  you  needn't  pretend  to  me  that 
21 


you  keep  that  face  of  yours  in  repair  on 
water."  The  landlord  laughed  heartily, 
and  his  "  private  "  bottle,  advertised  so 
well  in  his  phiz,  was  at  once  forth- 
coming. No  mere  decanters  or  arti- 
ficial signs  were  needed  in  his  case. 


Class  Advertisements  in  City  Papers. 

Both  in  Europe  and  the  United 
States  there  are  newspapers  which  are 
distinguished  by  class  advertisements. 
The  London  Times,  in  its  multifarious 
announcements,  may  be  said  to  have 
no  speciality  in  this  respect.  But  the 
Morning  Post,  of  the  same  city,  almost 
exclusively  monopolizes  the  advertise- 
ments which  relate  to  fashions  and 
high  life ;  the  Morning  Advertiser,  the 
organ  and  property  of  the  liquor  ven- 
dors, obtains  the  lion's  share  of  what- 
ever pertains  to  that  craft ;  the  Morning 
Herald,  even  yet,  though  its  circulation 
is  greatly  reduced,  contains  a  goodly 
array  of  auction  sales  of  property ;  the 
Era,  and  Sunday  Times  contain  a  ma- 
jority of  theatrical  advertisements; 
the  Shipping  Gazette  chronicles  the 
times,  rates,  and  ports  of  departure,  for 
the  commercial  marine ;  Bell's  Life  is 
devoted  to  the  sporting  fraternity ;  the 
Athenaeum  has  the  principal  portion 
of  the  book  advertisements — and  so 
on,  through  an  extensive  series. 

In  the  city  of  New  York,  the  Herald 
and  the  Sun  may  be  said  to  engross  the 
greater  part  of  the  "wants"  and 
"  boarding  "  advertisements  ;  the  Tri- 
bune and  Evening  Post  have  a  consid- 
erable proportion  of  the  literary  and 
real  estate  announcements ;  the  Courier 
and  Enquirer,  or  the  World,  is  a  favor- 
ite organ  of  the  auctioneers ;  the  Jour- 
nal of  Commerce,  Commercial  Adver- 
tiser, and  Express,  have  their  full  share 
of  the  shipping  notices;  the  Daily 
Times  engrosses  a  liberal  share  of  the 
banking  and  financial  advertisements ; 
and  the  other  dailies  and  weeklies 
combine,  more  or  less,  all  these  varie- 


322 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


ties,    without    being    considered    the 
medium  of  any  one  kind  in  particular. 


First  Advertisement  in  America. 

The  first  newspaper  in  America 
(with  the  exception  of  a  solitary  copy 
issued  in  1690),  the  "iVezcs  Letter^^ 
published  in  Boston,  Sept.  24th,  1704, 
contained  a  notice  by  the  publisher, 
inviting  advertisements;  and  in  the 
succeeding  number.  May  1st,  1704,  was 
one  response — the^rs^  newspa'per  adver- 
tisement in  America^  as  follows : 

"Lost  on  the  10.  of  April  last,  off  Mr. 
Shippens's  Wharf  in  Boston^  Two  Iron  An- 
vils, weighing  between  120  and  140  pound 
each :  Whoever  has  taken  them  up,  and 
will  bring  or  give  true  intelligence  of  them 
to  John  Campbclj  Post-Master,  shall  have  a 
sufficient  reward." 

The  charges  for  advertising  then,  as 
given  in  the  first  number  of  the  "  JVetcs 
Letter,''^  were  to  be  "at  a  Reasonable 
Rate,  from  Twelve  Pence  to  Five  Shil- 
lings, and  not  to  exceed :  Who  may 
agree  with  John  Camplel,  Post-master 
of  Boston^ 

Compare  the  above  with  the  seven 
solid  columns  which  sometimes  consti- 
tute a  single  advertisement  in  city 
newspapers  at  the  present  day  ! 


•*  Punch  "  on  Commercial  Phraseology. 

In  the  intelligence  from  the  Brazils, 
last  week,  we  met,  says  Punch,  in  one 
of  the  papers,  with  the  following  curi- 
ous paragraph :  "  Dry  Germans  opened 
at  59i  reals,  but  declined  to  58  for 
half  ox,  half  cow,  and  60  for  ox,  this 
quotation  being  merely  nominal." 

The  above  is  a  complete  mystifica- 
tion. Of  course,  in  our  travelling  ex- 
periences, we  have  met  with  many 
"  dry  Germans,"  but  we  little  sus- 
pected that  they  ever  formed  an  article 
of  commerce.  Besides,  who  could 
wish  to  purchase  a,  "  dry  German "  ? 
Then  the  question  arises,  how  do  you 
dry  a  German  ?    After  this,  comes  the 


further  mystery  of  his  being  "  opened." 
It  is  rather  undignified  to  talk  in  this  way 
of  a  "  dry  German,"  as  if  he  were  no  bet- 
ter than  a  dried  haddock,  or  a  cured  her- 
ring, or  a  Teutonic  mummy,  that  had  the 
accumulated  dust  and  cobwebs  of  cen- 
turies upon  him.  However,  we  are  so 
far  pleased  as  to  notice  that  "  dry  Ger- 
mans" fetch  so  good  a  price — in  the 
"  dry  goods  "  market,  we  suppose.  It 
is  more  than  zee  should  feel  inclined  to 
give  for  such  a  specimen  of  dried  meta- 
physics and  transcendentalistic  Kant- 
ism. 

But  another  puzzle  that  bewilders  us 
still  more  is  the  revelation  that  your 
"  dry  German  "  is  "  half  ox,  half  cow." 
We  have  heard  of  the  multifarious 
nature  pertaining  to  an  Irish  lull,  and 
of  a  vache  Fspagnole,  and  of  other 
curiosities  belonging  to  the  animal 
kingdom;  but  we  must  confess  that 
such  an  ethnological  specimen  as  a 
"  dry  German,"  who  was  at  the  same 
time  "  half  ox,  half  cow  " — having  the 
head  of  an  ox  and  the  tail  of  a  cow, 
perhaps — never,  fortunately  for  us, 
crossed  our  scientific  path  before.  We 
are  so  mystified  that  we  must  write  to 
Prof  O.  on  the  subject,  though  it  looks 
very  suspiciously  as  if  Barnum,  under 
a  strong  attack  of  "  animal "  spirits, 
had  had  a  hand  in  stitching  this  new 
hybrid  together,  for  the  enrichment  of 
his  Museum.  However,  our  Foreign 
Office,  that  always  evinces  such  a 
strong  sympathy  for  German  interests, 
should  take  the  matter  up.  If  slavery 
is  abolished,  why,  we  want  to  know, 
are  "  dry  Germans  "  thus  off'ered  pub- 
licly for  sale  ? 


Dialects  of  Different  Trades. 
Every  trade  has  its  own  peculiarities 
and  its  own  dialect.  Stage  drivers  and 
hostlers  have  a  language  of  their  own. 
Hod  carriers  and  masons  always  speak 
understandingly  to  each  other,  if  not 
to  strangers.  Thieves  and  gamblers 
have  their  own  phrases,   and   house- 


COMMERCIAL  ART   AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


323 


breakers  their  signs ;  all  of  which  is  as 
unintelligible  to  the  uninitiated  as  so 
much  Greek. 

Drygoocls  dealers  and  grocers  have 
a  language  of  their  own.  In  speaking 
of  the  standing  of  a  countryman,  they 
often  say  he  is  good—thej  have  sold 
him,  or  are  going  to  sell  him — which 
means,  not  that  they  have  sold  Mm 
for  a  price,  but  that  they  have  trusted 
him  with  a  certain  amount  of  goods. 
They  are  never  heard  to  say  they  have 
bought  him.  So  at  auction  sales  they 
have  signs ;  if  they  want  to  bid  two 
dollars  a  dozen  for  a  box  of  gloves,  or 
two  dollars  apiece  for  a  box  of  ribbons, 
they  hold  up  two  fingers; — and  if  a 
business  man  is  in  an  omnibus  and 
wants  the  driver  to  take  pay  for  one, 
when  he  hands  up  a  quarter  he  will 
hold  up  one  finger  to  him,  while  a  law- 
yer or  mechanic  will  bawl  out,  ''  One — 
take  out  one,  one,  one." 

Grocers  talk  about  things  in  their 
trade  being  heavy,  hard,  quick,  slow, 
and  easy.  Thus  feathers  may  be  heavy, 
cotton  down,  pork  slow,  beef  quick, 
oranges  flat,  &c. 

Brokers  have,  like  all  others,  a  lan- 
guage of  their  own.  Thus,  "  b  3  " 
means  that  the  buyer  has  the  privilege 
of  taking  the  stock  any  time  within 
three  days;  "b  30,"  within  thirty 
days.  If,  for  instance,  A  buys  one 
hundred  shares  of  Canton,  of  B,  b  30, 
he  can  call  upon  B  to-morrow,  or  next 
day,  or  next  week,  or  whenever  he 
chooses,  for  the  stock,  and  B  must 
deliver  it.  "  S  30 "  means  the  seller 
has  the  privilege  of  delivering  it  at 
any  time  he  chooses  within  thirty 
days.  The  seller  is  always  entitled  to 
interest  on  stocks  sold  on  time. 
"Thwk"  means  this  week;  "  nwk," 
next  week;  "  opg,"  opening  of  the 
transfer  books,  which  are  closed  for  the 
time  to  make  dividends. 


Trade  Placards  and  Shop  Bills. 
Notwithstanding  the  frequent  an- 
nouncement to  be  met  with,  "  SticJc  no 


Bilh^''  bills  are  stuck  somewhere,  every- 
where, and  the  trade  of  the  bill-sticker, 
though  not  down  in  the  cyclopaedias 
of  commerce,  is  such  as  makes  him  a 
definite,  genuine,  distinct  character — 
one  who  keeps  alive  other  trades — and 
who  may  also  be  said  to  live  in  the  eye 
of  the  public  as  literally  as  any  other 
man  of  his  day.  If  not  a  literary  man, 
he  may  at  least  rank  as  a  commercial 
publisher,  largely  patronized  by  almost 
all  trades. 

There  is  one  singularity  in  the  fol- 
lower of  this  profession,  which  to  many 
is  a  mystery — that  he  invariably  pastes 
over  his  bills  on  both  sides;  having 
stuck  them  to  the  wall  or  boarding, 
he  is  not  content  with  that,  but  imme- 
diately gives  them  a  coat  of  paste  on 
the  outer  and  printed  side  as  well. 
This,  which  appears  to  others  a  sheer 
w^ork  of  supererogation,  is  perhaps 
mysteriously  connected  with  some  im- 
portant element  in  the  process;  he 
knows. 

But  if  in  this  point  of  his  art  he 
puzzles  others,  he  himself  is  sometimes 
in  as  odd  a  predidament — for  instance, 
when  he  has  a  batch  of  announcements 
in  Hebrew,  addressed  to  the  "  children 
of  Israel."  While  conning  the  square 
letters,  he  will  get  perplexed  indeed 
as  to  which  end  of  the  poster  has  the 
most  right  to  stand  uppermost  on  the 
wall ;  and,  when  the  spectators  cannot 
help  him  to  a  conclusion,  he  will  solve 
the  problem  in  a  sort  of  hit-or-miss 
way,  by  placing  a  couple  of  copies  side 
by  side,  one  on  its  head,  the  other  on 
its  feet,  in  accordance,  it  may  be  sup- 
posed, with  the  prudent  maxim,  that  it 
is  better  to  lose  a  part  than  to  risk  the 
whole. 

This  bill  sticking  is,  after  all,  more 
of  an  art  than  shopkeepers  who  make 
use  of  it  are  accustomed  to  consider. 
Said  an  adept  in  the  business — the  very 
apostle  of  it  in  one  of  the  large  cities 
— a  little  old  man  with  a  wooden  leg, 
equipped  with  a  long  cross-stick  and 
an  equally  long  hook  upon  his  shoul- 


324 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


der,  and  a  majestic  pot  of  paste  in 
front — "  These  young  fellows,  sir,  are 
quite  unfit  for  their  business.  They 
do  not  know  what  they  ought  to  do, 
and  sometimes  they  will  not  even  do 
what  they  know  they  ought.  "When 
/undertake  a  bill,  I  go  over  the  whole 
town  with  it.  I  paste  it  from  end  to 
end!  I  also  take  care  never  to  cover 
over  a  bill  too  soon.  In  fact,  sir,  I  do 
justice  to  my  business  as  a  business 
man,  which  they  never  think  of  doing. 
Then,  sir,  how  can  they  pretend  to 
paste  a  bill  with  me  ?  Why,  tliey  have 
not  the  machinery !  (glancing  at  his 
cross-stick  and  hook). 

He  added — 'I'll  give  out  a  shop- 
bill,  too,  sir,  with  any  man  in  tlie 
country.  Some  that  pretend  to  do 
it,  give  their  bills  to  anybody  who 
will  take  them.  Now,  /  give  them 
only  to  people  who  are  going  in  the 
direction  of  the  shop.  Some  give  them 
to  people  who  they  can  see  at  a  glance 
are  too  poor  to  buy  goods — /  give 
them  only  to  people  who  can.  It 
requires  some  study,  sir,  to  give  out  a 
shop  bill  rightly  ! " 


Odd  Comminglingrs. 

The  subject  of  commercial  art  finds 
abundance  of  material,  and  of  the 
greatest  variety,  in  the  pictorial  signs 
and  embellishment  of  ware  now  so 
much  in  vogue.  Painting  stops  to 
make  progress  along  with  the  crafts 
of  buying  and  selling ;  nor  is  the  sister 
art  of  sculpture  discountenanced  by 
the  disciples  of  trade,  for  now  and 
then  the  bust  of  some  great  man  is 
found  presiding  over  the  stock  of  some 
petty  trade — Sir  Isaac  Newton  among 
piles  of  potatoes,  and  Shakspeare  and 
Milton  imbedded  among  the  thread, 
wax,  heel  ball,  and  sparables  of  the 
retail  leather  seller. 

Sometimes  a  tradesman  shows  his- 
torical proclivites.  Some  remarkable 
event  of  ancient  or  modem  days — some 
battle,  siege,   earthquake,  or    terrible 


volcanic  eruption  is  delineated  in  his 
shop  window,  as  a  background  to  his 
goods.  Thus,  the  earthquake  of  Lis- 
bon, the  overwhelming  of  Pompeii,  or 
the  forcing  of  the  Northwest  Passage, 
are  events  sought  to  be  illustrated  to 
the  spectator's  mind  by  the  destruc- 
tion of  vermin  by  Dosem's  Patent 
Cockroach  Exterminator,  or  the  new- 
ly invented  heel  tips  by  Simon  Bend- 
leather. 

With  eating  houses  and  cofiee  shops, 
the  pictorial  subject  generally  consists 
of  a  loaf,  or  two  loaves,  of  bread,  a 
wedge  of  cheese  on  a  plate  of  the  wil- 
low pattern,  a  lurajD  of  "  streaky  bacon," 
a  cup  appearing  to  be  full  of  coffee,  or 
a  tankard  of  beer,  a  lump  of  butter  on 
a  plate,  and  a  knife  and  fork — perhaps 
a  bunch  of  radishes  and  a  red  herring, 
eloquent  of  relish. 

The  fishmongers  are  not  so  generally 
given  to  the  public  patronage  of  art, 
but  the  pedestrian  will  come  now  and 
then  upon  a  really  well-painted  picture 
gracing  the  wall  or  panel  of  the  fish- 
monger's stand.  It  may  be  a  group 
of  fish  in  the  grand  style — salmon, 
cod,  frost  or  silver  fish,  among  which 
crabs  and  lobsters  seem  temptingly 
dripping  with  the  salt  ooze ;  or,  it 
may  be,  a  coast  scene,  with  the  bluff 
fishermen  up  to  their  waists  in  the 
brine,  dragging  their  nets  upon  the 
beach,  which  is  covered  with  their 
spoils.  But  whatever  it  is,  it  is  sure  to  be 
pretty  well  done,  if  executed  under  the 
artistic  auspices  of  the  fishmonger. 


Very  Express-ive. 

The  symbol  long  adopted  by  the 
American  Express  Company  was  the 
picture  of  a  dog  guarding  a  safe. 
Their  new  building  upon  Hudson 
street.  New  York,  is  adorned  with 
a  fine  bas-relief  of  that  appropriate 
emblem  of  care  and  fidelity,  sculptured 
in  marble.  A  symbol,  less  felicitous, 
used  by  an  express  manager,  was  a 
greyhound  running  at  full  speed — m- 


THE  HIDE  DEALER'S  SIGN. 


COMMERCIAL  ART  AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


325 


tended  probably  to  indicate  despatch. 
Unfortunately  for  his  customers  it  ob- 
tained at  length  a  more  pregnant  sig- 
nificance, for  the  manager  himself  ran 
away.  It  only  wanted  a  sack  of  gold 
on  the  back  of  the  "  hound,"  to  render 
the  picture  perfect.  Another  express 
emblem,  used  somewhere,  has  been 
that  of  a  deer,  going  at  the  rate  of 
1.20,  to  signify  speed.  Harnden's  em- 
blem upon  a  circular  advertising  the 
first  express  between  the  New  World 
and  the  Old,  was  a  vignette  representing 
the  two  hemispheres,  with  himself 
striding  from  one  to  the  other — one 
foot  being  on  the  American  shore,  and 
the  other  on  "  the  chalky  clifis  of  Al- 
bion ; "  while  upon  his  back  he  carried 
a  bag  of  newspajDcrs,  letters,  etc.  If, 
in  spanning  the  ocean  in  that  figura- 
tive way,  it  ever  occurred  to  the  fruitful 
brain  of  Harnden  that  a  suspension 
bridge  might  at  some  future  day  serve 
the  same  purpose,  he  wisely  kept  the 
crotchet  to  himself. 


Pawnbrokers'  Three  Balls. 

Though  the  fact  is  generally  ad- 
mitted that  the  three  golden  balls  of 
the  pawnbrokers  had  their  origin  with 
the  Italian  bankers — the  Lombards — 
it  is  an  interesting  point  quite  gener- 
ally overlooked  in  connection  with 
this  fact,  that  the  greatest  of  those 
traders  in  money  were  the  celebrated 
and  eventually  princely  house  of  the 
Medici  of  Florence.  They  bore  pills 
on  their  shield — and  those  pills,  as 
usual  then,  were  gilded— in  allusion 
to  the  professional  origin  from  whence 
they  had  derived  the  name  of  Medici  ; 
and  their  commercial  agents  in  Eng- 
land and  other  countries  put  that  ar- 
morial bearing  over  their  doors  as 
their  sign,  and  the  great  reputation  of 
that  house  induced  others  to  put  up 
the  same  sign. 


Hide  Dealer's  Sign :  Rare  Bit  of 
Philosophy. 

The  proprietor  of  a  tanyard  adja- 
cent to  a  certain  town  in  Virginia, 
concluded  to  build  a  stand,  or  sort  of 
store,  on  one  of  the  main  streets,  for 
the  purpose  of  vending  his  leather, 
buying  raw  hides,  and  the  like.  After 
completing  his  building,  he  began  to 
consider  what  sort  of  a  sign  it  would 
be  best  to  ]3ut  up  for  the  purpose  of 
attracting  attention  to  his  new  estab- 
lishment ;  and  for  days  and  weeks  he 
was  sorely  puzzled  on  this  subject. 
Several  devices  were  one  after  the 
other  adopted,  and,  on  further  consid- 
eration, rejected. 

At  last  a  happy  idea  struck  him. 
He  bored  an  auger  hole  through  the  door 
post,  and  sticch  a  calfs  tail  into  it,  icith 
the  hushy  end  flaunting  out.  After  a 
while,  he  noticed  a  grave-looking  per- 
sonage standing  near  the  door,  with  his 
spectacles,  gazing  intently  on  the  sign. 
And  there  he  continued  to  stand,  dumb- 
ly absorbed,  gazing  and  gazing,  until 
the  curiosity  of  the  hide  dealer  was 
greatly  excited  in  turn.  He  stepped 
out  and  addressed  the  individual : 

"  Good  morning,"  said  he. 

"  Morning,"  said  the  other,  without 
moving  his  eyes  from  the  sign. 

"You  want  to  buy  leather?"  said 
the  storekeeper. 

"  No." 

"  Do  you  want  to  sell  hides  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  a  farmer." 

"  No." 

"  A  merchant,  maybe." 

"  No." 

"  Are  you  a  doctor  ? " 

"  No." 

"  "What  are  you,  then  ?  " 

''I'm  a  philosopher.  I  have  been 
standing  here  for  an  hour,  trying  to 
see  if  I  could  ascertain  how  that  calf  got 
through  that  auger  hole  !  " 


826 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


liatin  on  Business  Sig-ns. 

There  went  from  the  good  city  of 
Baltimore,  some  years  ago,  to  Norfolk 
Va.,  a  painter  of  signs,  who  professed 
to  know  a  thing  or  two  beyond  the 
general  run  of  his  craft.  He  took  very 
readily,  for  in  truth  he  was  no  mean 
workman.  Upon  every  sign  that  he 
painted,  he  put  his  "  imprint,"  Sprague 
(that  was  his  name),  to  which  he  com- 
placently added  the  Latin  word  fecit. 
The  unlearned,  "  the  little  boys  and  all," 
supposing  the  two  words  to  constitute 
the  name  of  the  painter,  accosted  him 
everywhere  as  Mr.  Fecit,  Mr.  Sprague 
Fecit,  until  the  poor  fellow,  annoy- 
ed to  death  by  the  ridicule  which 
his  little  learning  had  brought  upon 
him,  ran  away.  He  was  some  years 
after  succeeded  by  another  knight  of 
the  brush,  from  the  same  goodly  city, 
who  was  something  of  a  humorist, 
and  disposed  to  throw  Latin,  like 
physic,  to  the  dogs.  He,  too,  painted 
many  signs  there,  but  was  content  to 
boast  of  his  work  in  plain  English,  as 
might  be  seen  by  the  modest  inscrip- 
tion, customary  with  him — "  Coppuch 
did  it:' 


Shopkeepers'  Nomenclature  of  Goods. 

OxE  can  hardly  get  an  idea  of  how 
extensively  diffused  is  the  knowledge 
of  languages  in  a  community,  at  the 
present  day,  without  taking  notice  of 
the  signboard  and  shop  announcements 
which  meet  the  eye  at  every  turn.  In- 
deed, a  walk  along  any  of  the  principal 
shopping  thoroughfares  of  a  city,  will 
very  naturally  excite  one's  curiosity  as 
to  the  source  whence  so  many  traders 
derive  their  Greek,  etc. 

Thus,  a  tailor  draws  attention  to  his 
"anaxyridian  trousers" — presumed  to 
convey  the  idea  of  braceless  and  stay- 
less  trousers,  using  Greek  as  the  tai- 
lor would  have  it  used.  A  shop  is  called 
an  "  emporium  "  or  "  bazaar."  Some- 
times the  names  given  to  woven  goods 
is  an  elaborate  combination  of  Greek  or 


Latin  syllables,  to  denote  in  some  degree 
the  quality  of  the  cloth ;  sometimes  it  is 
an  imported  French  or  Italian  or  Span- 
ish name. 

Among  cotton  goods  may  be  found 
saccharillas,  nainsooks,  tarlatans,  su- 
rougs,  grandvilles,  Selampores,  denims, 
panos  da  Costa,  Polynesian  swansdown 
(did  the  cotton  come  from  the  breast 
of  a  swan,  or  did  it  grow  in  Polyne- 
sia ?),  doeskins  and  moleskins  and 
lambskins,  coutils  (sometimes  inele- 
gantly corrupted  into  "  cowtails  "),  and 
a  host  of  other  examjDles. 

The  woollen  and  worsted  people  are 
not  less  liberal  in  nomenclature,  for 
they  give  us  anti-rheumatic  flannel, 
swanskin,  valencias,  reversible  Witneys, 
double-surfaced  beavers,  Himalayas, 
satin-faced  doeskins  (a  doe  would 
liardly  know  himself  with  such  a  face), 
fur  James  beavers,  Moscow  beavers, 
Alpa  Viennas,  three-point  Mackinaws, 
barege-de-laine,  Saxe-Coburgs,  Orleans, 
napped  pilots,  double  Napiers,  ele- 
phanta  ribs,  elephant  beavers  (un- 
known to  naturalists,  certainly),  rhi- 
noceros skins,  paramattas,  barracans, 
moskittos,  stockinettes,  wildboars,  ura- 
venas  ponchos,  princettas,  plainbacks, 
fearnoughts,  chameleons,  figured  Amo- 
zonians  (exclusively  for  female  wear  ?), 
alpaca  inkas  and  madelinas,  velillos, 
and  cristales,  and  cubicas,  and  Circas- 
sians, madonnas,  balzarines,  durants, 
and  cotillons,  Genappes,  Henriettas, 
rumswizzles — all,  be  it  observed,  varie- 
ties of  woollen  and  worsted  goods. 

Nor  do  the  silk  dealers  forget  to  sup- 
ply us  with  mayonettes,  diaphanes, 
glac6  gros  d'Afrique,  brocatelles,  bar- 
rattheas,  armayine  royales,  Balmorals, 
paraphantons,  Radzimores,  moire  an- 
tiques, Algerias,  levantines,  and  other 
oddly  named  goods. 

The  linen  folks,  too,  have  their  own 
favorite  list ;  such  as  dowlases,  ducks, 
drills,  huckabucks,  gray  Baden-Badens, 
drabbets,  crankies,  commodores,  Wel- 
lingtons, dustings,  paddings,  Osna- 
burgs,  Ficklenburgs,  Silesias,  platillas, 


COMMERCIAL  ART  AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


327 


estapillas,  bretanas,  creas  legitimas, 
etc. 

The  loot  and  shoe  fraternity  give  us 
a  verbal  crash  in  the  "red  morocco 
leg  patent  goloshed  vandyked  button 
boot,"  and  the  "ladies'  ottoman  silk 
goloshed  elastic  button  gaiter ;  "  and 
the  more  classical  "  soccopedes  elasti- 
cus."  The  "  pannuscorium  boots" 
ought,  surely,  to  be  worn  by  every 
Latin  schoolboy;  and  the  "resilient 
boots  "  must  not  be  forgotten  by  fas- 
tidious pedestrians  of  a  lexicological 
turn. 

But  the  tailors  beat  the  shoemakers 
all  hollow  in  their  Latin  and  Greek. 
The  "  subclavien  sector  "  is  tremendous 
— ^it  sounds  so  surgical-like ;  it  is,  how- 
ever, simply  a  tailor's  measure,  and  an- 
other tailor's  measure  is  the  "  registered 
symmetrometer."  It  would  be  some- 
what hazardous  to  say  how  many 
learned  names  besides  "  siphonia  "  are 
given  to  waterproof  garments.  There 
is  also  the  "unique  habit,"  the  "bis- 
unique  or  reversible  garment,"  and  the 
"  monomeroskiton  "  (long  enough  to 
form  a  very  pretty  Greek  lesson),  or 
"  single-piece  coat,  cut  from  one  piece 
of  cloth."  Then  we  have  the  "  du- 
plexa,"  the  "registered  auto-crematic 
gown,"  and  the  "  patent  euknemeda." 

Nor  have  hats  and  lonnets  and  ho- 
siery and  shirts  been  left  unadorned 
with  Greek  and  Latin  trimmings  ;  wit- 
ness the  "  ventilating  chaco,"  or  for- 
eign hat.  But  the  "  korychlamyd  " — 
a  helmet  cap — is  a  crusher.  The  "  no- 
vum pileum  "  hat  suggests  the  very  du- 
bious query,  whether  the  Latins  ever 
wore  silk  hats.  The  "  areophane  bon- 
net," a  pretty  name  for  a  pretty  gar- 
ment, is  too  transparently  beautiful  to 
seem  like  hard  Greek.  As  to  "  goffered 
crinoline,"  we  can  only  hint  that  it  is 
used  for  garments  which  men  folk  are 
supposed  to  know  nothing  about.  The 
"  brayama  gloves  "  we  cannot  interpret, 
and  flatly  "  give  it  up  !  " 

Of  shirts^  the  "  el  dorado "  must 
surely  be  a  golden  fit ;  if  not,  then  we 


can  try  the  "  eureka,"  the  "  corazza," 
the  "  giubba,"  the  "  elastique  trans- 
pirante,"  the  "tourist  sottanello,"  the 
"  registered  sans-pli,"  and  others  so  be- 
dizened with  names  that  one  can  hard- 
ly recognize  them  as  plain,  honest, 
well-meaning  shirts. 

As  to  the  florid  and  prolific  nomen^ 
clature  of  the  patent-medicine  people, 
we  can  give  no  accurate  information, 
until  we  have  time  to  walk  leisurely 
among  them,  with  a  Greek  or  polyglot 
dictionary  in  hand. 

Pottery  used  to  be  pottery,  but  now 
it  is  "ceramic"  manufacture.  Burnt 
clay  would  be  a  poor,  dull  name  in- 
deed, but  "  terra  cotta  "  has  a  fine  aes- 
thetic sound  about  it.  Fine  China  is 
not  a  good  enough  name  for  statuette 
material — it  must  be  called  "Parian." 
The  good  people  of  yore  delighted  to 
look  at  a  magic  la7item^  but  now  it 
must  be  a  camera  obscura,  or  a  phan- 
tasmagoria, or  both ;  and  if  public,  the 
exhibition  must  be  called  by  the  name 
of  diorama,  cosmorama,  cyclorama,  pa- 
norama, polytechnic,  pantechnicon,  etc. 

A  rush  has  likewise  been  made  into 
Greek  and  Latin  by  musical  instrument 
malcers^  who  give  us  piccolos,  harmon- 
iums, microchordions,  microphonic 
pianos,  seolians,  ophicleides,  cornope- 
ans, floetinas,  flutinas,  accordions,  con- 
certinas, melodeons,  seraphines,  auto- 
phons,  serpentcleides,  enharmonic  gui- 
tars and  organs,  symphonions,  seolo- 
phons,  etc. 


Paying  at  *' Maturity." 

A  PROMINENT  mule  dealer,  doing 
business  in  Kentucky,  sold  a  lot  of 
stock  to  a  trader,  who  was  to  pay  him 
in  four  months — ^lawful  tender  in  Bour- 
bon. At  the  expiration  of  two  months 
the  trader  sent  him  an  accepted  bill  on 
New  York  for  half  the  money,  and 
wrote  him  he  would  pay  the  balance  at 
maturity.  After  overhauling  all  the 
maps  and  school  geographies,  he  goes 
down  to  the  store,  and  says,  "  See  here ! 


328 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


where  is  this  place  they  call  Maturity  ? 
I  can't  find  it  on  the  map,  and  I  have 
a  note  payable  there;  and  I  fear  I 
won't  be  able  to  get  there,  for  I  can't 
find  it  on  the  map  !  " 


"Ditto." 


An  honest  old  man,  rather  ignorant 
of  the  improved  method  of  abbrevia- 
tion or  j)hraseology  in  business  ac- 
counts, on  looking  over  his  grocer's 
bill,  occasionally  found  charges  like 
the  following :  "  To  1  lb.  tea— to  1  lb. 
ditto."  "  Wife,"  said  he,  "  this  'ere's  a 
putty  business ;  I  should  like  to  know 
what  you  have  done  with  so  much  of 
this  'ere  dittos  "  Ditto,  ditto,"  replied 
the  old  lady,  "  never  had  a  pound  of 
ditto  in  the  house  in  all  my  life  !  "  So 
back  went  the  honest  old  customer,  in 
high  dudgeon  that  he  should  have  been 
charged  with  things  that  he  had  never 
received.  "  Mr.  B.,"  said  he,  "  shan't 
stand  this — wife  says  she  hain't  had  a 
pound  of  this  tarnal  ditto  in  the  house 
in  her  life."  The  grocer,  thereupon, 
explained  the  meaning  of  the  term,  and 
the  customer  went  home  satisfied.  His 
wife  inquired,  if  he  had  found  out  the 
meaning  of  that  "  ditto."  "  Yes,"  said 
he,  "  as  near  as  I  can  get  the  hang  on't, 
it  means  that   I'm   an  old  fool,   and 

you're  ditto." 

♦ 

Where  *' Tariff"  came  from. 

Everybody  knows  the  meaning  of 
the  word  "tariff" — viz.,  a  fixed  scale 
of  duties,  levied  upon  imports.  Let 
any  one  turn  to  a  map  of  Spain,  and  he 
will  notice  at  its  southern  point,  and 
running  out  into  the  Straits  of  Gibral- 
tar, a  promontory  which,  from  its  posi- 
tion, is  admirably  adapted  for  com- 
manding the  entrance  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean sea,  and  watching  the  exit  and 
entrance  of  all  ships.  A  fortress  stands 
upon  this  promontory,  called  now,  as  it 
was  also  called  in  the  times  of  the 
Moorish  domination   in    Spain,   "  Ta 


rifa  ;  "  the  name,  indeed,  is  of  Moorish 
origin.  It  was  the  custom  of  the  Moors 
to  watch,  from  this  point,  all  merchant 
ships  going  into  or  coming  out  of  the 
midland  sea;  and,  issuing  from  this 
stronghold,  to  levy  duties  according  to 
a  fixed  scale  on  all  merchandise  passing 
in  and  out  of  the  Straits,  and  this  was 
called,  from  the  place  where  it  was 
levied,  "tarifa,"  or  "tarifi","  and,  in 
this  way,  the  word  has  been  acquired. 


Meaning:  of  "  Fund  "  and  *'  Stock." 

The  term  fund  was  applied  origin- 
ally to  the  taxes  or  funds  set  apart  as 
security  for  repayment  of  the  principal 
sums  advanced,  and  the  interest  upon 
them  ;  but  when  money  was  no  longer 
borrowed  to  be  repaid  at  any  given 
time,  the  term  began  to  mean  the  prin- 
cipal sum  itself.  These  facts,  of  course, 
apply  to  the  English  monetary  opera- 
tions. In  the  year  1751,  the  Govern- 
ment began  to  unite  the  various  loans 
into  one  fund,  called  the  consolidated 
fund — though  not  to  be  confused  with 
that  of  the  same  name  into  which  part 
of  the  revenue  is  collected ;  and  sums 
due  in  this  are  now  shortly  termed 
"  consols."  These  come  under  the  gen- 
eral denomination  of  "  stocks." 

lyierchants'  Kelig-ious  Formulss  or 
Phrases. 

There  are  many  little  religious  for- 
mulae, or  terms,  now  fallen  into  disuse, 
which  once  prevailed  universally  among 
those  engaged  in  the  various  depart- 
ments of  trade  and  commerce.  "  Laus 
Deo  "  (Praise  be  to  God)  was  once  the 
usual  heading  of  every  page  of  a  mer- 
chant's journal.  When  goods  were  sent 
to  some  foreign  port,  the  bill  of  lading, 
as  it  is  technically  termed,  invariably 
stated  that  they  had  been  "  shipped  ly 
the  grace  of  God  in  and  upon  the  good 
ship  " — called  by  such  a  name.  A  pol- 
icy of  insurance  against  sea  risks  still 
begins  with  the  words,  "  In  the  name  of 
Ood,  Amen  ;  "  and,  up  to  a  late  date, 


COMMERCIAL  ART  AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


829 


all     commercial     appointments     were 
made  "  God  willing." 


Responding:  to  an  Advertisement. 

An  important  mercantile  house  in 
New  York  had  occasion  to  advertise 
for  sale  a  quantity  of  Irass  hoppers,  such 
as  are  used  in  coffee  mills.  But  instead 
of  brass  hoppers,  the  newspaper  read 
grass  hoppers.  In  a  short  time  the  mer- 
chant's counting  room  was  thronged 
with  inquirers  for  the  new  article  of 
merchandise  thus  advertised. 

"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Invoice ;  how 
do  you  sell  grasshoppers  ? "  said  a  fat 
merchant ;  "  what  are  they  worth  a 
hogshead  ? " 

The  importer  was  astonished;  but 
before  he  had  time  to  reply,  in  came  a 
druggist,  who,  being  bent  on  specula- 
tion, determined  to  purchase  the  whole 
lot,  provided  he  could  get  them  low. 
Taking  the  importer  aside,  for  fear  of 
being  overheard  by  the  merchant,  he 
asked  him  how  he  sold  those  grasshop- 
pers— if  they  were  prime  quality,  and 
whether  they  were  to  be  used  in  medi- 
cine. The  importer  was  about  opening 
his  mouth  to  answer  in  an  angry  man- 
ner to  what  he  began  to  suspect  was  a 
conspiracy  to  torment  him,  when  a 
doctor  entered,  smelling  at  his  cane, 
and  looking  wondrous  wise. 

"  Mr.  Invoice,"  said  he,  "  ahem  !  will 
you  be  good  enough  to  show  me  a 
specimen  of  your  grasshoppers  ?  " 

"  Grasshoppers  !  grasshoppers  !  "  ex- 
claimed the  importer,  as  soon  as  he 
had  a  chance  to  speak,  "  what,  gentle- 
men, do  you  mean  by  grasshoppers  ? " 

"  Mean  ?  "  said  the  merchant,  "  why, 
I  perceive  you  have  advertised  the  ar- 
ticle for  sale." 

"  Certainly,"  said  the  druggist,  "  and 
when  a  man  advertises  an  article,  it  is 
natural  for  him  to  expect  inquiries  re- 
lating to  the  price  and  quality  of  the 
thing." 

"  Nothing  in  the  world  more  natu- 
ral," said  the  doctor.    "  As  for  myself,  I 


have  at  present  a  number  of  cases  on 
hand,  in  the  treatment  of  which  I 
thought  the  article  might  be  service- 
able. But  since  you  are  so — ahem  !  so 
uncivil — why,  I  must  look  out  else- 
where, and  my  patients — " 

"  You  and  your  patience  be  hanged ! " 
interrupted  the  importer ;  "  mine  is  fair- 
ly worn  out,  and  if  you  don't  explain 
yourselves,  gentlemen,  I'll  lay  this  poker 
over  your  heads ! " 

To  save  their  heads,  the  advertise- 
ment was  now  referred  to,  when  the 
importer  found  out  the  cause  of  his 
vexations,  by  reading  the  following: 
"  Just  landed,  and  for  sale  by  Invoice 
&  Co.,  ten  hogsheads  prime  grasshop- 
pers." 

♦ 

Business  FufBugr  Two  Hundred  Teaxs 
Ag-o. 

Some  two  centuries  ago,  the  number 
of  shopkeepers  in  England  had  got  to 
be  so  numerous,  that  they  commenced 
the  practice  of  genuine,  downright 
puffing — the  art  assuming  some  shapes 
hardly  ventured  upon  even  by  the 
boldest  at  the  present  day.  Some- 
times, for  example,  a  shopkeeper, 
scorning  a  direct  puff  advertisement 
of  his  articles,  commenced  with  ap- 
parent anger,  thus:  "Whereas  it  has 
been  maliciously  reported  that  A.  B.  is 
going  to  leave  off  business ;  "  and  then 
would  follow  an  earnest  assurance  that 
such  was  not  the  case — "  that  he  con- 
tinued, as  before,  to  sell  the  undermen- 
tioned articles,  at  lowest  prices."  A 
more  ingenious  plan  was  for  H.  Z.  to 
advertise  in  the  public  prints  that  a 
purse  of  gold,  of  large  amount,  with 
other  valuables,  had  been,  in  the  great 
hurry  of  business,  dropped  in  his  shop, 
and  would  be  restored  to  the  proper 
owner  on  describing  its  contents.  Of 
course,  every  one  was  disposed  to  deal 
with  such  an  honest  tradesman,  and 
the  latter  soon  found  his  supposititious 
purse  becoming  a  golden  reality  to 
him. 


330 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Transactions  in  the  Cab  Market. 

Though  the  numerous  fluctuations 
in  tlie  money  market  are  made  the  sub- 
ject of  acute  comments  in  the  public 
journals,  it  does  not  appear  that  any 
notice  is  taken  of  the  fluctuations  in 
the  cab  market,  -which  are  upon  a  very 
wide  and  extensive  scale.  A  reporter 
for  one  of  the  English  papers — more 
enterprising  than  its  contemporaries — 
quotes  as  follows : 

During  the  gloom  which  prevailed 
for  a  portion  of  the  past  week,  the  pat- 
ent safeties  without  the  coupon — or 
blind  for  wet  weather — were  done  at  a 
shilling  a  mile ;  and  the  reduced  fives 
— or  old  clarences,  that  will  hold  five 
at  a  cram — ^were  buoyant  at  eighteen 
pence,  with  a  prospect  of  improvement. 
Open  cabs  during  the  rain  were  steady 
at  nothing,  and  the  list  shows  no  tran- 
sactions. 

There  was  a  rush  of  bears  from  the 
Adelphic  Theatre,  which  caused  the 
cab  market  to  assume  a  very  active  ap- 
pearance for  a  short  time ;  and  fathers 
of  families,  with  their  children,  were 
done  at  a  very  high  figure,  with  a  pros- 
pect of  advance  at  the  settlement. 

"White  handkerchiefs  and  polished 
boots  were  freely  taken  at  lower  rates 
than  those  demanded  in  the  earliest 
part  of  the  day,  when  it  was  under- 
stood that  they  had  made  bargains  for 
time,  and  they  were  accordingly  made 
to  pay  for  the  accommodation  some- 
what heavily.  In  one  concern  there 
was  a  breaking  down,  and  a  conse- 
quent failure  in  making  the  deposits  at 
the  time  and  place  appointed.  This  is 
the  only  smash  in  the  cab  market  which 
we  have  to  report,  and  in  this  the  get- 
ting out  was  ultimately  arranged  to  the 
satisfaction  of  all  parties. 


Striking:  a  Barg-ain. 

AuBERY,  in  his  manuscript  collec- 
tions, relates  that  in  several  parts  of 
England,  when  two  persons  are  driving 


a  bargain,  one  holds  out  his  right  hand> 
and  says,  "  Strike  me ; "  and  if  the  other 
strike,  the  bargain  holds ;  whence  the 
phrase  "striking  a  bargain."  The 
practice  is  retained  in  the  custom  of 
saying  "  Done  "  to  a  wager  offered,  at 
the  same  time  striking  the  hand  of  the 
wagerer. 

"Five  Per  Cent." 

A  VERDANT-LOOKiNG  pcrson  Called 
upon  a  jeweller  in  Montreal,  and  stated 
that  he  had  managed  to  accumulate, 
by  hard  labor,  for  the  few  past  years, 
seventy-five  dollars,  which  he  wished 
to  invest  in  something,  whereby  he 
might  make  money  a  little  faster ;  and 
he  had  concluded  to  take  some  of  the 
stock  and  peddle  it  out.  The  jeweller 
selected  what  he  thought  would  sell 
readily,  and  the  new  peddler  started 
on  his  first  trip.  He  was  gone  but  a 
few  days  when  he  returned,  bought  as 
much  again  as  before,  and  started  on 
his  second  trip.  Again  he  returned,  and 
greatly  increased  his  stock.  He  suc- 
ceeded so  well,  and  accumulated  so 
fast,  that  the  jeweller  ventured,  one 
day,  to  ask  him  what  profit  he  obtain- 
ed on  what  he  sold  ?  "  Well,  I  put  on 
'bout  five  per  cent."  The  jeweller 
thought  that  a  very  small  profit,  and 
expressed  as  much.  "  "Well,"  said  the 
peddler,  "I  don't  know  as  I  exactly 
understand  about  your  "per  cent.;  but 
an  article  for  which  I  pay  you  one  dol- 
lar, I  generally  sell  for^^d." 


Historical  and  Poetical  Sigrns. 

It  is  related  of  a  barber  in  Paris, 
that,  to  establish  the  utility  of  his  bag 
wigs,  he  caused  the  history  of  Absalom 
to  be  painted  over  his  door ;  and  that 
one  of  the  profession,  in  an  English 
town,  used  this  inscription:  "Absa- 
lom, hadst  thou  worn  a  periwig,  thou 
hadst  not  been  hanged."  It  is  some- 
where told  of  another,  that  he  inge- 
niously versified  his  brother  peruke- 


COMMERCIAL  ART  AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


831 


maker's  inscription :  under  a  sign  which 
represented  the  death  of  Absalom,  and 
David  weeping,  he  wrote  thus  : 
"  0  Absalom  !  0  Absalom  ! 
0  Absalom  !  my  son, 
If  thou  hadst  worn  a  periwig, 
Thou  hadst  not  been  undone ! " 


Jemmy  Wrig-ht's  Modesty. 

Old  Jemmy  "Wright,  an  eccentric 
barber  of  wide  and  harmless  fame  in 
his  day,  opened  a  shop  under  the  walls 
of  the  King's  Bench  prison.  The  win- 
dows being  broken  when  he  entered  it, 
he  mended  them  with  paper,  on  which 
appeared  "  Shave  for  a  penny,"  with 
the  usual  invitation  to  customers. 
Whether  his  proximity  to  the  gray 
walls  of  a  prison  had  a  salutary  in- 
fluence in  developing  his  honest  traits, 
cannot  with  certainty  be  stated ;  but 
over  his  door  were  scrawled  the  follow- 
ing words,  which  exhibit  the  rare  busi- 
ness quality  of  a  man  speaking  a  better 
word  for  others  of  his  craft  than  for 
himself: 

"  Here  lives  Jemmy  Wright, 

Shaves  as  well  as  any  man  in  England, 
Almost — not  quite^ 


"  Take  Down  that  Old  Sign." 

One  summer  morning,  quoth  the 
Kiiickerboclcer,  Mr.  Leupp — well  known 
as  an  honored  merchant  in  New  York 
— was  standing  in  the  vestibule  of  the 
great  "  Leather  House,"  No.  20  Ferry 
street,  in  the  "  Swamp,"  when  some 
one,  passing  by  at  that  time,  and  look- 
ing up,  said,  "  Leupp,  why  don't  you 
take  down  that  old  sign,  '  Gideon 
Lee  '  ?  It's  all  worn  out ;  the  wood  has 
dropped  away  from  the  letters,  and  the 
paint  has  e'en  a'most  rolled  off  o'  them. 
Why  don't  you  take  it  down  and  split 
it  up  ? "  Leupp  looTced  at  his  inter- 
locutor, with  that  watery,  blue,  fuU- 
13upiled,  interior  German  eye  of  his, 
and  with  a  motion  of  his  hand  waved 
the  questioner    on    his  way,  without 


saying  a  word  in  reply.  The  memory 
of  that  name  was  precious  in  the  es- 
teem of  Mr.  Leupp.  And  there  it  is 
still,  in  the  old  place. 

Signs  are  very  curious  things.  Down 
in  Murray  street,  there  may  be  seen 
some  rusty,  dingy,  forbidding-looking 
iron  chests — but,  like  Gideon  Lee's 
sign,  they  are  types  of  something 
worthy  to  be  remembered;  they  are 
safes  that  have  been  tried  by  fierce 
flames  for  hours  upon  hours  together, 
and  yet  delivered  their  precious  and 
otherwise  irrecoverable  contents  un- 
harmed. And  in  West  street,  toward 
the  Battery,  there  is  another  "  case  in 
p'int," — a  ship  chandler's  sign,  an 
anchor,  that  "  held  wonderful  onto  a 
schooner,"  in  a  celebrated  September 
gale,  and  a  block  and  tackle  that  seem 
coeval  with  Sol  Gil's  midshipman  sign, 
so  reverenced  by  himself  and  Captain 
Cuttle. 


Charg-ing-  for  Advertisements. 

The  practice  of  charging  for  adver- 
tisements commenced  at  a  very  early 
period.  A  few  might  at  first  have 
been  inserted  gratuitously,  but  the 
revenue  flowing  from  this  source  was 
so  obvious  a  consideration,  that  the 
system  soon  began  of  charging  a  fixed 
sum  for  each.  In  the  Mercurius  Libra- 
rius,  a  bookseller's  paper,  it  is  stated 
that,  "  to  show  that  the  publishers  de- 
sign the  public  advantage  of  trade,  they 
will  expect  but  sixpence  for  inserting 
any  book,  nor  but  twelve  pence  for 
any  other  advertisement  relating  to  the 
trade,  unless  it  be  excessive  long."  The 
next  intimation  of  price  is  in  the 
Jockey^s  Intelligencer^  which  charged 
a  shilling  for  each,  and  sixpence  for 
renewing.  The  Observator,  in  1704, 
charged  a  shilling  for  eight  lines  ;  and 
the  Country  Gentleman'' s  Courant^  in 
1706,  inserted  advertisements  at  two 
pence  a  line.  The  PuUic  Advertiser 
charged  for  a  length  of  time  two  shil- 
lings for  each  insertion. 


332 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


The  Napoleon  of  Advertising". 

Perhaps  tlie  crowning  fact  in 
modern  advertising  is  that  whicli  is 
stated  by  Thackeray,  in  his  "  Journey 
from  Cornhill  to  Cairo,"  namely,  that 
"  WarreTh's  BlacMng  "  is  jjainted  up  over 
an  obliterated  inscription  to  Psamme- 
tichus  on  Pompey's  Pillar ! 

The  greatest  man  of  the  day,  how- 
ever, as  an  advertiser,  is  Holloway,  of 
London,  who  expends  the  enormous 
sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars  annually,  in  advertisements 
alone. 

His  name  is  not  only  to  be  seen  in 
nearly  every  paper  and  periodical  pub- 
lished in  the  British  Isles,  but,  as  if 
that  country  were  too  "  pent  up  "  for 
this  individual's  exploits,  he  stretches 
over  the  whole  of  India,  having  agents 
in  all  the  dififerent  parts  of  the  upper, 
central,  and  lower  provinces  of  that 
immense  country,  publishing  his  medi- 
caments in  the  Hindoo,  Ooordoo,  Gooz- 
ratee,  Persian,  and  other  native  lan- 
guages, so  that  the  Indian  public  can 
take  the  pills,  and  use  his  ointment,  as 
a  cockney  would  do  within  the  sound 
of  Bowbells. 

We  find  him  again  at  Hong  Kong 
and  Canton,  making  his  medicines 
known  to  the  Celestials  by  means  of  a 
Chinese  tranlation.  We  trace  him  from 
thence  to  the  Philippine  Islands,  where 
he  is  circulating  his  preparations  in 
the  native  languages.  At  Singapore 
he  has  a  large  depot ;  his  agents  there 
supply  all  the  islands  in  the  Indian 
seas.  His  advertisements  are  published 
in  most  of  the  papers  at  Sydney,  Ho- 
bart  Town,  Launceston,  Adelaide, 
Port  Philip,  and  indeed  in  almost 
every  town  of  that  region  of  the 
world. 

Returning  homeward,  his  pills  and 
ointment  are  found  on  sale  at  Valpa- 
raiso, Lima,  Callao,  and  other  ports  in 
the  Pacific.  Doubling  the  Horn,  w^e 
track  him  in  the  Atlantic:  at  Monte 
Video,    Buenos    Ayres,    Santos,    Rio 


Janeiro,  Bahia,  and  Pemambuco,  he  is 
advertising  in  Spanish  and  Portuguese. 

In  all  the  British  West  Indian  Is- 
lands, as  also  in  the  Upper  and  Lower 
Canadas,  and  the  neighboring  provin- 
ces of  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Bruns- 
wick, his  medicines  are  as  familiarly 
known,  and  sold  by  every  druggist,  as 
they  are  at  home. 

In  the  Mediterranean,  we  find  them 
selling  at  Malta,  Corfu,  Athens,  and 
Alexandria,  besides  at  Tunis,  and  other 
portions  of  the  Barbary  States. 

Any  one  taking  the  trouble  to  look 
at  the  Journal  and  Courier  of  Con- 
stantinople, may  find  in  these,  as  well 
as  other  papers,  that  Hollo  way's  medi- 
cines are  regularly  advertised  and  sell- 
ing throughout  the  Turkish  empire. 

And  even  in  Russia,  where  an  almost 
insurmountable  barrier  exists — the  laws 
there  prohibiting  the  entree  of  patent 
medicines — Holloway's  ingenuity  has 
been  at  work,  and  obviates  this  difficul- 
ty by  forwarding  supplies  to  his  agent 
at  Odessa,  a  port  situated  on  the  Black 
Sea,  where  they  filter  themselves  sur- 
reptitiously by  various  channels  into 
the  very  heart  of  the  empire. 

Africa  has  not  been  forgotten 
by  this  determined  "  benefactor "  of 
suffering  humanity ;  he  has  an  agent 
on  the  river  Gambia,  also  at  Sierra 
Leone,  the  plague  spot  of  the  world, 
the  inhabitants  readily  availing  them- 
selves of  the  ointment  and  pills. 

Thus  it  is  that  Holloway  has  made 
the  complete  circuit  of  the  globe,  com- 
mencing with  India,  and  ending  with 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  where  his 
medicines  are  published  in  the  Dutch 
and  English  languages. 


Business  Sigrnboards  in  Different 
Nations. 

The  Roman  traders  and  vendws  had 
their  signs ;  and  at  Pompeii  a  pig  over 
the  door  represented  a  wine  shop 
within. 

The  Middle  Ages  adopted  a  bush— 
"  Good  wine  needs  no  bush,"  &c.,  an- 


COMMERCIAL  ART  AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


333 


swering  to  the  gilded  grapes  at  a 
modern  vintner's.  The  bush  is  still  a 
common  sign.  At  Charles  the  First's 
death,  a  cavalier  painted  his  bush 
black.  Then  came  the  modern  square 
sign,  formerly  common  to  all  trades. 

Old  signs  are  generally  heraldric, 
and  represent  royal  bearings,  or  the 
blazonings  of  great  families.  Some 
of  these  will  be  found  briefly  noticed 
in  another  part  of  this  volume,  under 
the  title  of  "  Ancient  Pictorial  Sign- 
boards." The  White  Hart  was  pecu- 
liar to  Richard  the  Second  ;  the  White 
Swan,  of  Henry  the  Fourth  and  Edward 
the  Third  ;  the  Blue  Boar,  of  Richard 
the  Third;  the  Red  Dragon  came  in 
with  the  Tudors,  and  also  the  Rose 
and  Fleur  de  Lys ;  the  Bull,  the  Fal- 
con, and  Plume  of  Feathers  commemo- 
rated Edward  the  Fourth;  the  Swan 
and  Antelope,  Henry  the  Fifth;  the 
Greyhound  and  Green  Dragon,  Henry 
the  Seventh;  the  Castle,  the  Spread 
Eagle,  and  the  Globe  were  probably 
adopted  from  Spain,  Germany,  and 
Portugal,  by  inns  which  were  the 
resort  of  merchants  from  those  coun- 
tries. Then  there  were  the  Bear  and 
Ragged  Staff,  etc.,  and  some  the  origin 
of  which  is  lost  in  obscurity. 

Monograms  are  common  to  the  same 
period— as  Bait  and  Ton  for  Balton ; 
Hare  and  Tun,  for  Harrington.  The 
three  Suns  is  the  favorite  bearing  of 
Edward  the  Fourth;  and  all  Roses, 
red  or  white,  are  indications  of  politi- 
cal predilections.  Other  signs — and 
these  are  naturally  very  numerous — 
commemorate  historical  events. 

The  Pilgrim,  Cross  Keys,  Salutation, 
Catharine  Wheel,  Angel,  Three  Kings, 
St.  Francis,  etc.,  are  mediaeval  signs. 
Many  of  these  became  curiously  cor- 
rupted, as  already  mentioned  in  the 
anecdotes  of  ancient  pictorial  sign- 
boards above  referred  to.  As  addi- 
tional examples  of  this  amusing  verbal 
change  may  be  mentioned  that  of  the 
Coeur  Dor6  (Golden  Heart)  to  the  Queer 
Door ;  Pig  and  Whistle — Peg  and  Was- 


sail Bow ;  the  Swan  and  Two  Necks — 
Two  Nicks ;  the  Goat  in  the  Golden 
Boots — from  the  Dutch,  Goed  in  der 
Gooden  Boote — Mercury,  or  the  God 
in  the  Golden  Boots;  the  Cat  and 
Fiddle— the  Caton  Fidele. 

The  Swan  with  Two  Nicks  repre- 
sented the  Thames  Swans,  so  marked 
on  their  bills  under  the  "  Conservatory  " 
of  the  Goldsmiths'  Company.  The 
Coach  and  Horses  pertain  to  the  times 
when  the  superior  inns  were  the  only 
posting  houses,  in  distinction  to  such 
as  bore  the  sign  of  the  Packhorse. 
The  Fox  and  Goose  denoted  the  games 
played  within;  the  country  inn,  the 
Hare  and  Hounds, .  the  vicinity  of  a 
sporting  squire. 

The  Puritans  altered  many  of  the  mo- 
nastic signs,  during  their  sway ;  such 
as  the  Angel  and  Lady,  to  the  Soldier 
and  Citizen.  The  Crusaders  brought 
in  the  signs  of  the  Saracen's  Head,  the 
Turk's  Head  and  the  Golden  Cross. 

In  the  various  business  signs  of  dif- 
ferent periods  may  be  read  every  phase 
of  ministerial  popularity,  and  all  the 
ebbs  and  flows  of  war — as,  the  Sir 
Home  Popham,  Rodney,  Shovel,  Duke 
of  York,  Wellington's  Head,  etc.  One 
such  sign,  in  Chelsea,  called  the  Snow 
Shoes,  still  indicates  the  excitement  of 
the  American  war. 

The  chemist's  sign  was  that  of  a 
dragon — some  astrological  device ;  the 
haberdasher  and  wool  draper,  the  gold- 
en fleece ;  the  tobacconist,  the  snuff- 
taking  Highlander ;  the  vintners,  the 
ivy  bush  and  the  bunch  of  grapes; 
and  the  church-and-state  bookseller, 
the  Bible  and  crown. 


Harlow's  Sig-n  Painting  Extra- 
ordinary. 

There  is  a  clever  anecdote  connect- 
ed with  the  ancient  and  celebrated  sign 
of  the  Queen's  Head,  Epsom.  This 
sign — that  is,  the  original,  for  the 
board  has  been  repainted — was  execut- 
ed by  Harlow,  an  eminent  artist,  and 
a  pupil  of  the  renowned  Sir  Thomas 


334 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Lawrence.  He  was  a  young  man  of 
consummate  vanity,  and  having  un- 
warrantably claimed  the  merit  of  paint- 
ing the  Newfoun<|land  dog  introduced 
in  Lawrence's  portrait  of  Mrs.  Anger- 
stein,  the  two  artists  quarrelled,  and 
Harlow  took  his  resentment  as  follows : 
He  repaired  to  the  Queen's  Head,  at 
Epsom,  where  his  style  of  living  hav- 
ing incurred  a  bill  which  he  could  not 
discharge,  he  proposed,  like  Morland, 
under  similar  circumstances,  to  paint  a 
signboard  in  liquidation  of  his  score. 
This  was  accepted.  He  painted  both 
sides :  the  one  presented  a  front  view 
of  her  Majesty,  in  a  sort  of  clever, 
dashing  caricature  of  Sir  Thomas's 
style;  the  other  represented  the  back 
view  of  the  queen's  person,  as  if  look- 
ing into  the  signboard — and  underneath 
was  painted,  "  T.  L.,  Greek  street,  So- 
ho."  When  Sir  Thomas  met  him,  he 
addressed  him  with,  "  I  have  seen  your 
additional  act  of  perfidy  at  Epsom; 
and  if  you  were  not  a  scoundrel,  I 
would  kick  you  from  one  end  of  the 
street  to  the  other."  "  There  is  some 
privilege  in  being  a  scoundrel,  for  the 
street  is  very  long,"  replied  Harlow, 
unabashed,  but  moving  out  of  reach  of 
the  threatened  demonstration. 


Free  Shave  and  a  Drink. 

There  was  once  a  barber  who  had 
on  his  sign  the  words — 

"  What  do  you  think 
I  will  shave  you  for  nothing 
And  give  you  something  to  drink." 
A  man  went  in  on  the  supposed  in- 
vitation,  and,   after    he  was     shaved, 
asked  for  something  to  drink.     "  No," 
said  the  barber,  "  you  do  not  read  my 
sign  right.     I  say,   '  What !    do    you 
think  I  will  shave  you  for  nothing, 
and  give  you  something  to  drink  ? ' " 


"Words  have  their  Meaning." 

A  MEDICINE  man  many  years  ago  had 
a  shop  in  Beekman  street,  New  York, 


where  he  sold  various  medicaments, 
which  were  duly  sign-ed  at  the  door, 
as  well  as  sealed  and  delivered  within. 
Conspicuous  among  these  signs,  was 
one  which  bore  the  following  inscrip- 
tion, namely,  "  The  Celebrated  Cure  for 
the  Spanish  Piles."  It  was  an  infallible 
specific  for  a  painful  malady,  the  ven- 
der said  one  day  to  a  friend,  "  but,  by 
gar !  nobody  come  to  buy  him  !  Yet 
his  sign  is  biggest  one  at  de  door  I " 
The  friend  looked  at  the  sign.  "  I  see 
how  it  is,"  said  he ;  "  nobody  Tiere  has 
the  Spanish  piles — your  sign  is  wrong. 
Have  it  changed  to  '  The  celebrated 
Spanish  cure  for  the  piles.'  "  This  ad- 
vice was  taken,  and  a  few  days  after, 
the  foreign  pot'ecary  met  his  adviser  in 
the  street,  when,  holding  out  his  hand, 
with  a  cordial  smile  and  a  fervent 
grasp,  he  said,  *  Aha  I  it  is  ver'  good  ; 
now  I  sell  de  Spanish  cure  ver'  moch ! 
Everybody  say  he  ver'  most  good 
t'ing  1 " 

French  Ideas  of  Advertising:. 

A  MARCHAND  de  papier — or  paper 
merchant — took  an  advertisement  of 
such  wares  to  a  provincial  newspaper 
in  France,  whose  regisseur  was  proprie- 
tor, printer,  and  all — besides  canydng 
on  a  little  of  another  kind  of  paper 
business.  The  gentleman  refused  to  in- 
sert the  advertisement. 

"Why  not?"  asked  the  dealer,  in 
astonishment.  "  Here's  the  money  down, 
if  you  are  afraid  of  that  I  " 

"Heu!  heu!"  said  the  editor,  "I 
neither  want  your  money  nor  your  ad- 
vertisement. I,  too,  sell  paper — fools- 
cap, quarto,  letter  paper,  fine,  coarse, 
and  demi-fine,  besides  envelopes,  cards, 
and  letters  of  faire-part^  of  deaths  and 
marriages,  all  in  the  newest  style — a 
very  large  assortment.  I  cannot  pub- 
lish the  advertisement  of  any  one  who 
would  undersell  my  paper.  What  would 
you  have  ? " 

Too  proud  to  make  vain  remon- 
strance, the  customer  went  away.    But 


COMMERCIAL  ART  AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


335 


in  a  few  days  returned  to  the  office, 
and  humbly  asked : 

"Monsieur,  have  you  an  attic  to 
let  ? " 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  I  don't  un- 
derstand your  question.  Pray,  now, 
what  p»-oject  can  you  have  in  respect  to 
my  attic  ?  " 

"Before  I  can  explain  my  inten- 
tions," the  merchant  replied,  "you 
must  answer  my  question,  whether  you 
have  an  attic  to  let  ? " 

"  No,  I  have  not." 

"  Very  well,  monsieur ;  I  can  now 
proceed  to  business  without  fear  of  a 
rebuff.  Please  inSv^rt  this  in  your  next 
number.  /  have  an  attic  to  let,  but  I 
thought  I  would  ask  whether  you  had 
one  to  let  also,  before  I  ventured  to 
present  the  advertisement." 


Pathos  and  Puffing"  Extraordinary. 

The  tone  of  sentiment  adopted  in 
advertising  the  death  of  a  trader  or 
man  of  business,  in  England,  not  unfre- 
quently  affords  matter  of  peculiar  enter- 
tainment. There  is  sometimes  a  face- 
tious— not  to  say  barefaced — union  of 
puff  and  despondency.  Here  is  one  of 
these  pseudo-lachrymose  specimens  of 
a  death :  "  Died,  on  the  11th  ultimo, 
at  his  shop  in  Fleet  street,  Mr.  Edward 
Jones,  much  respected  by  all  who  knew 
and  dealt  with  him.  As  a  man  he  was 
amiable,  as  a  hatter  upright  and  mod- 
erate. His  virtues  were  beyond  all 
price,  and  his  beaver  hats  were  only 
£1  4s.  each.  He  has  left  a  widow  to  de- 
plore his  loss,  and  a  large  stock,  to  be 
sold  cheap,  for  the  benefit  of  his  fam- 
ily. He  was  snatched  to  the  other 
world  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  just  as 
he  had  concluded  an  extensive  pur- 
chase of  felt,  which  he  got  so  cheap 
that  the  widow  can  supply  hats  at  a 
more  moderate  charge  than  any  house 
in  London.  His  disconsolate  family 
will  carry  on  the  business  with  punc- 
tuality." 


Alliteration  in  Advertising. 

Advertising,  now-a-days,  has  be- 
come reduced — or  elevated  ! — to  a  sci- 
ence. Somebody  alliterizes  in  this  man- 
ner, in  an  advertisement  of  an  asserted 
superior  article  of  marking  ink  :  to  wit, 
that  it  is  remarkable  for  "  requiring  no 
preparation,  preeminently  preengages 
peculiar  public  predilection ;  produces 
palpable,  plainly  perceptible,  perpetual 
perspicuities ;  penetrates  powerfully, 
precluding  previous  prerequisite  prep- 
arations ;  possesses  particular  preroga- 
tives ;  protects  private  property ;  pre- 
vents presumptuous,  pilfering  persons 
practising  promiscuous  proprietorship ; 
pleasantly  j)erfonning  plain  practical 
penmanship ;  perfectly  precludes  pue- 
rile panegyrics,  preferring  proper  public 
patronage." 


"  Universal  Stores." 

Royal  Tyleb,  the  famous  New 
Hampshire  wit,  thus  set  off,  in  parody, 
the  advertisements  of  the  "  Universal 
Stores,"  so  common  in  former  times : 

VARIETY    STORE. 

To  the  Literati  : 

Messrs.  COLON  &  SPONDEE, 

wholesale   dealers  in 
Verse,  Prose,  and  Poetry, 

beg  leave  to  inform  the  Public,  and  the  Learned 

in  particular,  that 

—previous  to  the  ensuing 

COMMENCEMENT  — 

They  propose  to  open  a  fresh  Assortment  of 

LEXICOGRAPHIC,  BURGURSDICIAN,  AND 

PARNASSIAN 

GOODS, 

suitable  for  the  season^ 
At  the  Room  on  the  Plain,  lately  occupied 
by  Mr.  Frederick  Wiser,  Tonsor^ 
if  it  can  be  procured — 
Where  they  will  expose  to  Sale — 
Salutatory  and  Valedictory  Orations,  Syllo- 
gistic and  Forensic  Disputations  and  Dia- 
logues among  the  living  and  the  dead — 
Theses  and  Masters,  Questions,  Latin,  Greek, 


336 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Hebrew,  Syriac,  Arabic,  and  the  ancient 
Coptic,  neatly  modified  into  Dialogues,  Ora- 
tions, etc.,  on  the  shortest  notice — with  Dis- 
sertations on  the  Targum  and  Talmud,  and 
Collations  after  the  manner  of  Kennicott — 
Hebrew  roots  and  other  Simples — Dead  Lan- 
guages for  living  Drones — Oriental  Lan- 
guages with  or  without  points,  prefixes,  or 
suffixes— Attic,  Doric,  Ionic,  and  -^Eolic  Dia- 
lects, with  the  Wabash,  Onondaga,  and  Mo- 
hawk Gutturals — Synalsephas,  Elisions,  and 
Ellipses  of  the  newest  cut — v's  added  and 
dovetailed  to  their  vowels,  with  a  small  as- 
sortment of  the  genuine  Peloponnesian  Na- 
sal Twangs — Classic  Compliments  adapted  to 
all  dignities,  with  superlatives  in  o,  and  ge- 
runds in  di,  gratis — Monologues,  Dialogues, 
Trialogues,  Tetralogues,  and  so  on,  from  one 
to  twenty  logues. 

Anagrams,  Acrostics,  Anacreontics,  Chro- 
nograms, Epigrams,  Hudibrastics,  and  Pane- 
gyrics, Rebuses,  Charades,  Puns,  and  Co- 
nundrums, by  the  gross  or  single  dozen. 
Sonnets,  Elegies,  Epithalamiums ;  Bucolics, 
Gearics,  Pastorals;  Epic  Poems,  Dedica- 
tions, and  Adulatory  Prefaces,  in  verse  and 
prose. 

Ether,  Mist,  Sleet,  Rain,  Snow,  Lightning, 
and  Thunder,  prepared  and  personified  after 
the  manner  of  Delia  Crusca,  with  a  quantity 
of  Brown  Horror,  Blue  Fear,  and  Child-Be- 
getting Love,  from  the  same  Manufactory ; 
with  a  pleasing  variety  of  high-colored  Com- 
pound epithets,  Avell  assorted — Farragoes, 
and  other  Brunonian  Opiates — Anti-Insti- 
tutes, or  the  new  and  concise  patent  mode 
of  applying /or^3/  letters  to  the  spelling  of  a 
monosyllable — Love  Letters  by  the  Ream — 
Summary  Arguments,  both  Merry  and  Seri- 
ous— Sermons,  moral,  occasional,  or  polemi- 
cal— Sermons  for  Texts,  and  Texts  for  Ser- 
mons— Old  Orations  scoured,  Forensics  fur- 
bished. Blunt  Epigrams  newly  pointed,  and 
cold  Conferences  hashed;  with  Extempora- 
neous Prayers,  corrected  and  amended — Al- 
literations artfully  allied — and  Periods  pol- 
ished to  perfection. 

Airs,  Canons,  Catches,  and  Cantatas — 
Fugues,  Overtures,  and  Symphonies,  for  any 
number  of  instruments — Serenades  for  Noc- 
turnal Lovers — with  Rose  Trees  full  blown, 
and  BlacJc  jokes  of  all  colors— Amen?,  and 
Hallelujahs,  trilled,  quavered,  and  slurred — 
with    Couplets,   Syncopations,    Minim    and 


Crotchet  Rests,  for  female  voices — and  Solosy 
with  the  three  parts,  for  hand  organs. 

Classic  College  Bows,  clear  starched,  lately 
imported  from  Cambridge,  and  now  used  by 
all  the  topping  scientific  connoisseurs  in  hair 
and  wigs,  in  this  country. 

Adventures,  Paragraphs,  Letters  from  Cor- 
respondents, Country  Seats  for  Rural  Mem- 
bei's  of  Congress,  provided  by  Editors  of 
Newspapers — with  Accidental  Deaths,  Bat- 
tles, Bloody  Murders,  Premature  News,  Tem- 
pests, Thunder  and  Lightning,  and  Hail- 
stones, of  all  dimensions,  adapted  to  the 
Season. 

Circles  squared,  and  Mathematical  Points 
divided  into  quarters,  and  half  shares ;  and 
jointed  Assymp totes  which  will  meet  at  any 
given  distance. 

Syllogisms  in  Bocardo,  and  Baralipton; 
Serious  Caution  against  Drunkenness,  etc., 
and  other  coarse  Wrapping  Paper,  gratis,  to 
those  who  buy  the  smallest  article. 


On  hand,  a  few  Tierces  of  Attic 
Salt — also,  Cash,  and  the  highest  price, 
given  for  Raw  Wit,  for  the  use  of  the 
Manufactory,  or  taken  in  exchange  for  the 
above  Articles. 


Buying:  a  Claizn. 

From  the  oil  diggings  a  correspon- 
dent of  Harper's  "  Drawer  "  writes,  un- 
der date  of  Oleana :  The  world  is  full  of 
good  things.  You  also  are  in  a  simi- 
lar state  of  repletion,  and  yet  the  half 
is  not  told.  There  are  many  things 
yet  unknown,  and,  let  us  hope,  many 
more  yet  to  happen.  We  live  in  the 
midst  of  a  good  thing — oil ;  good  for 
everything  under  the  sun  but  to  smell ; 
it  is  not  good  for  that.  Three  friends 
were  discussing  "  the  subject  "  (oil, 

of  courseX    Says  A :  "  Old  Billy  G 

has  bought  a  good  claim."  "  WTiat 
does  he  give  ? "  says  B.  "  One  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  a  quarter  of  the  oil 
for  a  quarter  of  the  claim,"  replied  A. 
"  Then,"  says  C,  "  as  a  matter  of  course, 
had  he  bought  the  whole  claim  he 
would  have  had  to  pay  four  thousand 
dollars  and  all  the  oiV  This  is  an 
opinion  as  is  an  opinion. 


COMMERCIAL  ART  AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


337 


Very  Racy. 

Peevious  to  the  destruction  of  the 
JSTatioual  Theatre  in  Boston,  one  of  the 
stores  in  the  basement  was  occupied  by 
one  Patrick  L  Grace.  A  wag  meeting 
a  friend  in  the  street,  and  knowing  his 
penchant  for  rare  and  exciting  sights, 
inquired  if  he  had  seen  the  pig  race  ? " 

"  Pig  race  ! "  repeated  Dapee,  "  no  ; 
I  never  heard  of  one  before.  Where  is 
it?" 

"  Down  to  the  National  Theatre ; 
you  had  better  go  down;  it's  worth 
seeing,"  was  the  answer. 

Dupee,  who  had  been  "  spoiling"  for 
something  new  in  the  way  of  amuse- 
ments, started  for  the  National  at  once, 
but  of  course  found  the  doors  closed, 
and  no  signs  of  any  race  around  there, 
except  the  human  race.  Feeling  that 
he  was  the  victim  of  a  "  sell,"  he  turned 
dryly  away,  when  his  eye  caught  Mr. 
Grace's  sign.  The  stupid  painter  had 
omitted  to  insert  any  punctuation,  and 
it  read  thus  :  PIGRACE. 

"Yery  good,"  remarked  Dupee; 
"that  does  look  like  a  pig  race,  sure 
enough ! "  and  off  he  hurried,  to  find 
a  victim  in  his  turn. 


Getting-  rid  of  his  Neighbor's 
Customers. 

In  the  pleasant  city  of  Canton,  Mis- 
sissippi, lives  a  worthy  landlord  by  the 
name  of  Colonel  Pierce.  Next  door  to 
the  Pierce  House  was  a  gunsmith's 
shop,  kept  by  Bob  Leonard,  whose 
chief  failing  was  the  love  of  fish,  squir- 
rels, etc.  When  Bob  wanted  a  day  in 
the  woods  he  had  no  scruples  about 
closing  up  his  establishment.  Of 
course  Bob's  customers  would  be  more 
numerous  on  the  days  the  shop  was 
closed.  Now  no  place  was  so  handy 
as  Colonel  Pierce's  for  the  disappoint- 
ed to  inquire,  "  Do  you  know  where 
Bob  Leonard  is  ? "  The  Colonel,  getting 
heartily  tired  of  the  annoyance,  be- 
thought him  of  a  plan  for  ridding  him- 
23 


self  of  the  trouble  of  answering.  He 
had  a  sign  painted,  and  hung  up  in  the 
most  conspicuous  part  of  the  ofl[ice, 
with  this  inscription  :  "  I  want  it  dis- 
tinctly understood  that  I  don't  know 
where  Bob  Leonard  is." 


Broadway  Sig-ns. 

Not  long  since  there  could  be  seen  a 
very  singular  and  purely  accidental  col- 
lection of  occupations  in  one  building 
on  Broadway — the  signs  across  the  front 
standing  out  like  some  great  Ogre's 
eyes,  nose,  and  mouth,  ready  to  gobble 
a  person  up.  The  first  floor,  occupied 
by  the  "  Broadway  Hestavrant,^^  where 
you  could  be  taken  in,  fed,  and  pre- 
pared; the  second  floor,  occupied  by 
the  "  Office  of  the  West  Point  Foundry,''' 
where  you  could  be  killed  by  the  latest 
inventions  ;  the  third  floor  occupied  by 
the  "  Office  of  Greenwood  Cemetery^ 
where  you  could  be  buried  in  the  most 
approved  style.  Feed,  Mil,  and  iuryj 
all  in  one  building. 


Pat's  Definition  of  Railroad  *'  Stock." 

Pat  Donahue  was  a  "  broth  of  a 
boy,"  right  from  the  "Gem  of  the 
Say,"  and  he  had  a  small  contract  on 
the  Conway  Railroad,  New  Hampshire, 
in  the  year  of  grace  1855,  in  which  he 
agreed  to  take  his  pay  part  in  cash, 
part  in  bonds,  and  part  in  stock.  The 
stock  of  this  road,  be  it  remembered — 
like  many  others — was  not  worth  a 
"  Continental,"  and  has  always  kept 
up  its  value  with  remarkable  uniformi- 
ty. In  due  time  Pat,  having  com- 
pleted his  job,  presented  himself  at  the 
treasurer's  ofiice  for  settlement.  The 
money,  the  bonds,  and  the  certificate 
of  stock  were  soon  in  his  possession. 

"  And  what  is  this  now  ? "  said  Pat, 
flourishing  his  certificate  of  stock,  bear- 
ing the  "  broad  seal "  of  the  corpora- 
tion. 

"  That  is  your  stock,  sir,"  blandly  re- 
plied the  treasurer. 


338 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"And  is  this  what  I'm  to  git  for 
me  labor  ?  "Wasn't  me  contract  for 
sthock  ? " 

"  Why,  certainly ;  that  is  your  stock. 
What  did  you  expect  ? " 

"  What  did  I  expect ! "  said  Pat,  ex- 
citedly ;  "  what  did  I  expect !  AYhy 
pigs,  and  shape,  and  horses,  shure  ! " 


Silk-Dyer's  Poetical  Si&n. 

Poor  Goldsmith's  familiar  and  touch- 
ing lines : 

"  When  lovely  woman  stoops  to  folly," 
fare  sadly  in  the  hands  of  a  silk-dyer, 
who  puts  on  his  sign  and  circular  this 
wicked  parody : 

*'  When  lovely  woman  tilts  her  saucer, 

And  finds  too  late  that  tea  will  stain — 
Whatever  made  a  woman  Grosser — 
What  art  can  wash  all  white  again  ? 

"  The  only  art  the  stain  to  cover, 
To  hide  the  spot  from  every  eye, 
And  wear  an  unsoiled  dress  above  her. 
Of  proper  color,  is  to  dye  I " 


Fnll-size  Headings  to  Advertise- 
ments. 

As  the  editor  of  "  old  Knick." 
vouches  for  the  strict  ter-ruth  of  the 
following  little  legend,  it  mS,y  be  safely 
assumed  to  be  strictly  ter-rue,  especially 
in  view  of  the  extrinsic  probability 
which  is  so  obvious  in  the  narration  : 

A  few  years  since,  the  writer  of  the 
following  sketch  was  one  of  the  editors 
and  proprietors  of  a  daily  and  weekly 
newspaper,  published  in  one  of  the 
large  towns  of  Western  New  York. 
Among  the  numerous  patrons  of  the 
paper  was  a  man  whom  I  shall  describe 
as  Levi  Lapp,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and 
a  very  clever  man  in  his  way,  but  as  the 
sequel  shows,  entirely  unacquainted 
with  the  art  which  claims  as  its  shining 
lights  the  names  of  Guttemberg  and 
Faust. 

Having  considerable  Yankee  adapt- 
edness  to  one  thing  or  the  other,  in  the 


useful  as  well  as  ornamental  line,  Mr. 
Lapp  had  recently  purchased  the  right 
to  manufacture  a  patent  pump,  which 
he  was  very  desirous  of  introducing  to 
the  public,  through  the  columns  of  our 
paper.  In  other  words,  he  wanted  to 
advertise  it,  and  in  the  course  of  con- 
versation about  the  price  and  other  de- 
tails, mentioned  to  me  that  he  would 
like  a  cut  of  his  new  pump  inserted  as 
a  heading  to  the  advertisement.  I  re- 
plied, "  Very  well,"  and  immediately 
asked,  "  Have  you  the  cut  here  ? "  He 
replied,  "  No,  but  I  have  got  one  at  my 
house,  and  vnW  fetch  it  in." 

In  a  day  or  two  Mr.  Lapp  came  into 
the  oflBce  with  a  hand-bill,  which  he 
unfolded,  and  which  contained  a  fac 
simile  of  the  pump  he  was  manufac- 
turing. 

He  said  to  me :  "  Now  you  can  get 
in  my  cut,  and  do  so  at  once,  for  I  wish 
to  see  it  in  print  in  your  paper." 

"  Where  is  your  cut  ? "  I  asked. 

"  On  the  bill,"  he  replied,  with  all 
the  seriousness  of  a  post  captain. 

I  then  told  him  that  it  would  require 
a  block  of  wood  cut  by  an  engraver  in 
the  shape  and  likeness  of  the  pump ; 
that  this  was  called  a  cut  or  engraving, 
and  that  it  would  have  to  be  used  in 
the  press,  in  connection  with  the  types, 
to  make  up  such  an  advertisement  as 
he  desired.  I  further  told  him  who 
could  do  the  job,  and  the  probable 
expense — some  fifteen  or  twenty  dol- 
lars. 

A  bright  idea  appeared  to  influence 
Mr.  Lapp,  and  he  informed  me  that  he 
thought  he  could  do  the  job  himself, 
and  save  just  so  much  outlay.  I  told 
him  if  he  could  it  would  suit  me 
equally  as  well;  but  I  thought  he 
would  find  it  a  trifle  difficult. 

We  separated,  and  I  saw  no  more 
of  Levi  Lapp  for  several  weeks.  In 
fact,  I  had  forgotten  all  about  the  mat- 
ter. One  morning,  bright  and  early, 
as  I  was  busy  at  the  desk,  in  came  Mr. 
Lapp,  in  a  great  hurry  and  bluster. 
He    quickly    explained    himself,    and 


COMMERCIAL  ART  AND  PHRASEOLOGY. 


339 


said  he  had  his  cut  finished,  and  had 
brought  it  as  a  heading  to  his  adver- 
tisement. 

I  said  :  "  Very  well.    Where  is  it  ? " 

He  answered :  "  Down  stairs." 

Without  giving  the  matter  a  mo- 
ment's thought,  I  said  to  him,  "  Bring 
it  up  ; "  and  he  instantly  left  the  room 
for  that  purpose. 

His  back  was  hardly  turned,  how- 
ever, before  the  thought  struck  me  that 
he  had  rather  a  huge  engraving  for  a 
paper  of  limited  size  like  ours.  And 
calling  to  the  foreman  to  see  if  I  was 
not  correct  in  my  opinion,  I  turned 
again  to  the  desk. 

The  foreman  was  back  in  an  instant, 
and  I  was  soon  aware  that  Levi  Lapp's 
bright  idea  had  grown  into  giant  pro- 
portions, and  that  the  engraving  or  cut 
he  had  brought  for  our  press  was  no 
less  than  a  'veritable  wood  pump  of  full 
size,  even  to  the  pump  log^  chain,  cranio 
and  water  spout. 

Lapp  was  proceeding  to  bring  his 
"  extended  cut "  into  our  establishment, 
but  at  that  very  moment  was  deterred 
from  executing  his  plan  by  the  shouts 
and  laughter  of  the  entire  printing  office 
force,  including  the  devil  himself,  who 
stood  at  the  windows  making  merry  at 
his  expense. 

The  true  condition  of  afiairs  slowly 
dawned  upon  Mr.  Lapp's  vision ;  and 
when  informed  that  he  had  made  a 
much  larger  "cut"  than  the  present 
condition  of  the  art  preservative  would 
justify,  he  hurriedly  replaced  his  "  en- 
graving" on  the  wagon  that  brought 
it  to  our  door  and  drove  off,  evidently 
making  a  greater  "  impression  "  in  this 
way  than  the  pump  could,  by  any  pos- 
sibility, have  made  in  our  limited  es- 
tablishment. 


Bush's  Celebrated  Figure-Heads. 

Edwakd  Cutbush  was  considered 
the  best  carver  of  his  day.  Among  his 
apprentices,  at  the  close  of  the  last 
century,  was  William  Rush,  of  Phila- 
delphia. When  Rush  first  saw,  on  a 
foreign  vessel,  a  walking  figure — most 
unusual,  in  that  day — he  instantly 
conceived  the  design  of  more  tasteful 
and  graceful  figures  than  had  been  be- 
fore executed.  He  at  once  surpassed 
his  master;  and  having  thus  opened 
his  mind  to  the  contemplation  and 
study  of  such  attitudes  and  figures  as 
he  saw  in  nature,  he  was  very  soon 
enabled  to  surpass  all  his  former  per- 
formances. Then  his  figures  began  to 
excite  admiration  in  foreign  ports.  The 
figure  of  the  "  Indian  Trader  "  to  the 
ship  "  William  Penn  "  (the  Trader  was 
dressed  in  Indian  habiliments),  excited 
great  admiration  in  London.  The  car- 
vers there  would  come  in  boats  and 
station  themselves  near  the  ship,  so  as 
to  sketch  designs  from  it.  They  even 
came  to  take  casts  of  plaster-of-Paris 
from  the  head.  This  was  directly  after 
the  Revolution,  when  she  was  com- 
manded by  Captain  Josiah.  When  he 
carved  a  river  god  as  the  figure  for  the 
ship  "  Ganges,"  the  Hindoos  came  off 
in  numerous  boats  to  pay  their  admira- 
tion, and  perhaps  reverence,  to  the  va- 
rious emblems  in  the  trail  of  the  image. 
On  one  occasion,  the  house  of  Nicklin 
&  Griffiths  actually  had  orders  from 
England  to  Rush  (fifty  years  and  more 
ago),  to  carve  two  figures  for  two  ships 
building  there.  One  was  a  female  per- 
sonation of  Commerce.  The  duties 
charged  in  that  instance  amounted  to 
more  than  the  first  cost  of  the  images 
themselves. 


PART  SEVENTH. 


Anecdotes  and  Things  IIemohable  congerninq 
Business  Transit  and  Communication. 


PAET  SEYES-TH. 

Anecdotes  and  Things  Memorable  concerning  Business  Transit  and 

Oonmmnication. 

SHIPPING,    STEAMBOATS,    RAILWAYS,     EXPRESSES,    TELEGRAPHS,    COACHES,    OMNIBUSES,    ETC.,— 
THEIR   OWNERS,    OFFICERS,    PATRONS,    AND  ATTACHES. 


The  heaven-conducted  prow 

Of  navigation  bold,  that  fearless  braves 

The  burning  line,  or  dares  the  wintry  pole. — Thomson. 

Soon  shall  thy  power,  unconquered  Steam  I  afar 
Drag  the  swift  barge  and  drive  the  rapid  car. 

Darwin  {more  than  ninety  years  ago'). 

Now  there  is  nothing  gives  a  man  such  spirits 
As  going  at  full  speed.— Don  Juan. 

No  longer  geeup  and  gee-ho, 
But  tiz— fiz-z  1  oft"  we  go  1— Anon. 


Purcliase  of  Jacob  Barker's  Ship  "  Uni- 
ted States"  by  the  Emperor  Nicholas. 

At  one  period  of  his  business  career, 
Jacob  Barker  was  extensively  engaged 
in  the  Russian  trade,  and  gave  the 
name  of  "  Russia  "  to  the  last  ship  he  had 
built.  Among  the  vessels  employed 
by  Mr.  Barker  in  his  Russian  business, 
•was  a  vei7  fine  New- York  built  ship, 
named  the  *'  United  States." 

This  ship  was  lying  at  anchor  at 
Cronstadt,  in  1829,  when  the  young 
emperor,  Nicholas,  passing  by  in  his 
barge,  on  his  way  to  the  inspection  of 
his  fleet,  being  attracted  by  her  fine 
appearance,  the  boatswain's  whistle  was 
sounded,  and  the  men  peaked  their 
oars,  while  the  emperor  took  a  full 
view  of  the  vessel ;  it  again  sounded, 
the  boat  went  round  the  ship,  and  then 
landed ;  the  captain  was  invited  on 
shore,  when  the  emperor  inquired  of 
him  if  his  ship  was  for  sale — and  if  so, 
what  was  the  price.  The  reply  was, 
"  She  was  for  sale  until  yesterday,  when 


a  charter  was  obtained,  to  take  a  car- 
go of  copper,  &c.,  to  Bordeaux — price, 
$50,000  ;  she  cannot  now  be  sold  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  charterers."  The 
emperor  responded :  "  I  will  send  down 
commissioners  to  inspect  the  vessel; 
if  they  report  favorably,  I  will  obtain 
the  consent  of  the  charterers,  and  give 
you  the  required  $50,000  for  the  ship." 
On  the  czar's  return  to  the  city,  he 
directed  his  minister  of  marine  to  con- 
fer with  the  charterers  ;  he  did  so,  and 
stipulated  to  pay  a  specified  amount  for 
their  annulling  the  charter,  provided 
she,  on  inspection,  should  prove  satis- 
factory— allowing  three  days  for  the 
examination.  She  proved  satisfactory. 
But  the  minister  of  marine  omitting  to 
give  the  notice  within  the  three  days, 
the  cargo  was  sent  down,  and  the  ship 
commenced  loading.  The  emperor 
passed  again  the  next  day,  and  per- 
ceived her  to  be  a  foot  and  a  half 
deeper  in  the  water  than  when  he 
resolved  to  make  the  purchase.    He 


344 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


returned  immediately  to  the  city,  and 
sent  for  the  minister  of  marine,  from 
whom  he  obtained  an  explanation.  In 
place  of  directing  him  to  disregard  the 
delay  in  giving  the  answer,  as  a  frivo- 
lous objection,  he  directed  him  to  in- 
form the  captain  that  he  might  proceed 
to  Bordeaux  with  his  cargo  ;  and  as  it 
would  be  too  late  to  return  that  season 
to  Russia,  he  might  go  to  the  United 
States  and  procure  another  cargo,  come 
back  with  it  to  Europe,  and  then  return 
to  St.  Petersburg,  when  he,  the  emper- 
or, would  take  the  ship  at  the  same 
price.  She  did  return,  was  received, 
and  promptly  paid  for,  the  royal  pur- 
chaser personally  superintending  the 
consummation  of  his  bargain. 

Such  high-minded  conduct,  such 
business-like  attention  to  mercantile 
usage,  on  the  part  of  a  crowned  head, 
is  seldom  met  with,  though  in  this  in- 
stance quite  consistent  with  the  auto- 
crat's well-known  respect  for  American 
merchants. 


**  Considering"  a  Ship  Bmlder. 

John  Morgan  was  a  merchant  and 
ship  owner,  formerly  residing  in  Penn- 
sylvania. He  made  a  contract  with  a 
builder  to  build  him  a  vessel.  When 
the  vessel  was  partly  finished,  and  he 
had  received  payment  for  all  he  had 
done,  he  went  to  Mr.  M.,  and  told  him 
that  he  had  ascertained  that  he  could 
not  build  the  vessel  for  the  price  agreed, 
as  he  should  lose  all  he  was  worth,  and 
perhaps  more,  and  had  therefore  con- 
cluded he  must  abandon  the  job  where 
it  was,  and  let  him  get  some  one  else 
to  finish  it.  This  was  a  poser  to  Mor- 
gan, who,  after  thinking  of  it  for  a 
few  moments,  said  to  him,  "  "Well,  well, 
you  go  on  with  it,  and  when  we  settle, 
I'll  consider  you ; " — which,  to  the 
builder,  was  satisfactory.  He  there- 
fore went  on  until  the  job  was  finished, 
Morgan  advancing  money  from  time  to 
time.  When  they  came  to  settle,  Mor- 
gan drew  his  check  for  the  balance  due 


according  to  contract.  The  builder 
stood  and  hesitated  for  a  while,  and 
then  said,  "You  know,  IMr.  Morgan, 
you  said  that  if  I  would  go  on  with 
the  job,  you  would — consider  me." 
"Well,  well,"  gruffly  replied  the  old 
man,  "  I  have  considered  yer^  and  con- 
sidered yer  a  great  fool  for  doin^  on't  so 
cheap." 

— ♦— — 

Imaginative  Expressmen— an 
Artificial  Corpse. 

It  is  quite  usual,  now-a-days,  to  send 
corpses  by  express.  But  the  business 
is  mry  unpopular  with  expressmen, 
especially  if  the  body  has  far  to 
travel. 

One  morning,  a  messenger,  having 
among  his  freight,  in  the  express  com- 
pany's car,  one  of  those  ominously 
oblong  boxes,  declared  confidentially 
to  the  conductor  of  the  train,  that  the 
body  inside  "  must  be  very  far  gene  in- 
deed— the  smell  of  it  fairly  upset  him." 
In  vain  he  tried  to  forget  it,  or  salubri- 
fy  the  odor  by  smoking  a  magnificent 
cigar.  The  smell  became  more  offen- 
sive to  him  every  minute  during  the 
long  night  that  he  was  whizzing  away 
with  it  over  the  rail  track  ;  and  before 
the  train  arrived  in  New  York,  it  af- 
fected him  so  much  that  he  could  not 
stay  in  the  car. 

When  the  drivers,  with  the  wagons 
of  the  New  York  office,  went  to  the  de- 
pot for  the  express  freight,  the  illness 
of  the  unfortunate  messenger  was  ob- 
vious, and  in  answer  to  inquiries,  he 
explained  the  cause.  All  eyes  at  once 
fell  on  the  oblong  box,  and  every  man 
held  his  nose.  It  was  decided  unani- 
mously that  it  was  too  far  gone  to  be 
taken  to  the  office,  and  as  the  railroad 
men  swore  (through  their  suppressed 
olfactories)  that  they  would  not  sufier 
it  to  remain  in  the  depot,  the  strongest- 
nerved  and  most  accommodating  driver 
present  took  it  to  the  "  dead  house," 
up  town. 

No  one  knew  where  the  obnoxious 
box  came  from.    It  was  usual  to  make 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND  COMMUNICATION. 


345 


a  special  bargain  in  such  cases,  but  no 
allusion  was  made  to  it  on  tlie  way 
bill.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  how- 
ever, the  mystery  was  solved.  A  gen- 
tleman came  into  the  express  office  in 
Broadway,  and  called  for  the  box. 

"  It  has  been  taken  to  the  dead 
4iouse,"  was  the  reply  of  the  clerk. 

"  The  dead  house  !  "  exclaimed  the 
applicant. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  rejoined  the  clerk,  firmly ; 
"we  couldn't  stand  it,  sir.  Too  far 
gone,  sir." 

"  Too  far  gone  !  "  was  the  quick  re- 
tort ;  "  I  should  think  so,  if  you  have 
sent  it  way  up  to  — th  street.  Explain 
yourself !     What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  mean  that  the  body  smelt  too  lad^ 
sir !  "  responded  the  clerk. 

"  Smelt  bad  !  "  cried  the  visitor ;  "  I 
have  handled  it  for  ten  years  past,  and 
I  never  yet  smelt  anything  but  the  var- 
nish, and  that  not  at  all  unpleasantly. 
Hang  it,  sir,  that  box  contains  my  man- 
nikin,  an  artificial  anatomy  or  model 

of  the  human  body.     I  am  Dr.  W , 

the  lecturer  on  physiology." 


Risks  and  Accidents  Insured  Against. 

It  would  appear  that  the  notion, 
broached  so  long  ago,  of  a  railway  in- 
surance office,  has  been  carried  into  ex- 
ecution. A  company  has  been  actu- 
ally started  at  Paris,  to  insure  persons 
against  railway  risks  and  accidents. 
The  directors  promise  to  give  so  much 
for  the  loss  of  an  arm,  a  leg — and  even 
the  value  of  a  burn  is  calculated  to  a 
nicety.  They  offer  annuities,  also,  to 
surviving  relations,  and  undertake,  free 
of  expense,  to  bury  any  one  who  has 
been  killed.  Similar  companies,  it  is 
thought,  would  be  desirable  in  other 
parts— say  in  our  own  Western  States. 
The  only  apprehension  is,  that  so  many 
railways  in  that  section  would  have  to  be 
rated  "  Doubly  Hazardous ;  "  and  that 
a  person  travelling  by  them,  would  be 
charged  at  the  same  rate  as  a  medical 
insurance  office  would  charge  a  person 


who  is  on  the  point  of  sailing  for  Sierra 
Leone. 


Pleating  Railways. 

Some  ingenious  gentleman  of  a  prac- 
tical turn  of  mind,  who  seems  to  think 
that  capital  does  not  get  sunk  rapidly 
enough  in  railways  of  the  usual  con- 
struction, has,  as  the  result  of  much 
speculation,  proposed  a  floating  line, 
which  will,  of  course,  if  carried  out,  be 
exposed  to  more  than  the  ordinary  fluc- 
tuations to  which  those  things  are  lia- 
ble. The  scheme  may  work  well 
enough  when  matters  go  on  smoothly, 
but  when  Neptune  has  a  bill — or  a  bil- 
low— to  take  up,  and  Boreas  may  be 
raising  the  wind  to  help  him  out,  it  is 
to  be  feared  the  traffic  on  the  floating 
line  would  be  entirely  swamped,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  difficulty  the  engineers 
might  experience  in  taking  their  loads. 
However,  the  committee  who  have  the 
subject  under  consideration,  may  be 
able  to  show  that  it  will  be  practicable 
to  outride  these  difficulties — which 
merely  suggest  themselves  at  first 
thought. 

♦ 

Superseding:  Steam. 

A  LETTER  in  Galignani's  Messenger 
having  fully  proved  the  facility  with 
which  tables  can  be  moved  by  means 
of  a  "  company  "  through  mere  volition, 
after  the  hands  of  the  company  have 
been  placed  for  a  short  time  on  the  ta- 
ble, it  is  proposed  that  a  company  shall 
be  formed  for  the  application  of  tabu- 
lar locomotion  to  practical  purposes — 
transportation  of  merchandise  and  the 
conveyance  of  passengers ;  to  be  called 
the  Locomotive  Table  Company.  The 
principal  object  of  the  association  will 
be  to  supersede  steam  engines  on  rail- 
ways ;  an  improvement  in  travelling  by 
which  it  is  hoped  many  serious  acci- 
dents will  be  prevented  which  would 
otherwise  have  occurred.  The  table 
will  be  placed  where  the  engine  is  at 


346 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


present,  in  front  of  the  train.  It  will 
go  on  grooved  castors,  and  a  certain 
number  of  the  directors  of  the  company 
will  be  seated  at  a  board  in  connection 
with  it,  which  will  insure  that  addi- 
tional guarantee  of  safety  so  much 
wanted  on  railroads.  The  expenses  in- 
volved in  carrying  out  the  company's 
object  will  not,  it  is  expected,  be  very 
considerable ;  but  shareholders  will  be 
required  to  pay  down  the  whole  of 
their  subscriptions,  as  the  projectors 
anticipate  some  little  difficulty  in  ob- 
taining credit. 


TTniversal  Salvagre  Company. 

Among  the  various  enterprises  to 
which  the  ingenuity  of  the  day  has 
turned  itself,  is  that  of  a  company 
which  advertises  to  raise  sunken  or 
wrecked  vessels,  all  over  the  world, 
and  divide  the  profits.  It  is  not  impos- 
sible that  this  very  promising  associa- 
tion may  in  time  be  followed  by  the  In- 
corporated Mudlarks,  or  Joint-Stock 
Dredging  Company — ^which,  indeed, 
the  first-named  concern  seems  in  fact 
to  be,  only  on  a  somewhat  extended 
principle.  Directors  are  already  ap- 
pointed, and  "  a  manager  afloat "  is  ad- 
vertised. It  is  to  be  hoped  that "  share- 
holders aground  "  will  not  be  the  end 
of  this  very  useful  nautical  enterprise. 


DisTnlssing  a  Shipmaster. 

One  of  the  most  faithful  shipmasters 
in  the  employ  of  Stephen  Girard  was 
Captain  Guligar.  He  had  been  seventeen 
years  in  his  service,  from  an  apprentice 
until  he  rose  to  the  command  of  one  of 
his  favorite  and  finest  ships.  Having 
thus  by  diligence  and  industry  been 
promoted  to  the  berth  of  first  officer, 
he  sailed  in  that  capacity  to  Batavia, 
in  the  Voltaire  or  Rousseau.  At  Bata- 
via the  captain  died ;  and  Guligar,  as 
first  officer,  took  the  command  of  the 
ship,  sailing  for  Holland  with  a  very 
rich  cargo,  and  arriving  at  an  excellent 


market.  From  Holland  he  brought  the 
ship  safe  into  the  port  of  Philadelphia, 
making  altogether  an  immensely  profit- 
able voyage  for  his  owner. 

Girard  having  concluded  to  repeat 
the  voyage  to  Batavia,  Captain  Guligar, 
being  either  averse  to  the  climate,  or 
from  some  other  cause,  observed  to  Mr. 
Girard,  "  that  if  he  had  no  objection, 
he  would  prefer  taking  the  command 
of  such  a  ship,"  naming  her,  which 
Girard  was  then  loading  for  a  port  in 
Europe.  Girard,  without  uttering  a 
syllable  in  reply,  called  to  his  clerk, 
and  directed  him  to  make  out  the  ac- 
counts of  Captain  Guligar  immediately. 
He  discharged  him  on  the  same  day 
from  his  employ,  saying :  "I  do  not 
make  the  voyage  for  my  captains,  but 
for  myself,"  a  declaration  which  no  one 
acquainted  with  him  could  possibly 
venture  to  dispute. 


Commercial  Importance  of  the  Cat. 

The  peculiar  relations  which  grimal- 
kin sustains  to  commerce  is  not  gener- 
ally known.  It  is  stated  in  a  London 
journal  that  marine  insurance  in  some 
parts  of  Europe  does  not  cover  damage 
done  to  cargo  by  the  depredations  of 
rats  ;  but  if  the  owner  of  the  cargo  thus 
damaged  can  prove  that  the  ship  was 
not  furnished  with  a  cat,  he  can  recover 
compensation  from  the  owner  of  the 
ship.  Again,  a  ship  that  is  found 
under  certain  circumstancea,  without  a 
limng  creature  on  hoard^  is  considered  a 
derelict,  and,  according  to  certain  con- 
ditions, a  forfeiture  to  the  sovereign, 
lords  of  the  admiralty,  and  other  in- 
terested parties.  And  it  has  not  unfi-e- 
quently  occurred,  after  all  the  crew 
have  been  lost,  or  the  ship  otherwise 
abandoned,  that  a  live  canary  bird, 
domestic  fowl,  but  most  frequently  a 
cat,  being  found  on  board,  has  saved 
the  vessel  from  being  condemned  as  a 
derelict.  Consequently,  the  ship  own- 
ers, considering  the  cat's  proverbial 
tenacity  of  life,  as  well  as  its  presence 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND   COMMUNICATION. 


847 


being  a  bar  to  claims  of  damage  by 
rats,  always  take  care  not  to  send  a 
sliip  to  sea  without  having  a  cat  on 
board. 


Reading-  the  Annual  Report. 

A  CERTAIN  little  railway,  the  route 
and  character  of  which  will  presently 
appear,  has  been  following  the  example 
of  larger  companies,  by  holding  a  gen- 
eral meeting,  presenting  a  report,  and 
performing,  on  its  own  snug  little  scale, 
all  the  operations  of  a  line  of  first-rate 
magnitude.  A  few  extracts  from  the 
report,  as  read  to  the  meeting,  are  here 
given  in  advance  of  its  publication  : 

"  Your  Directors  had  hoped  to  render 
this  a  favorite  trunk  line  for  the  con- 
veyance of  baggage  belonging  to  the 
boys  and  girls  going  home  for  the  holi- 
days from  the  various  boarding  schools 
in  the  neighborhood;  but  as  there  is 
not  as  yet  any  scholastic  establishment 
at  Wormwood  Scrubs,  nor  any  proba- 
bility of  a  large  juvenile  population  in 
the  Canal  Basin,  which  form  the  two 
termini  and  the  only  stations  on  the 
permanent  way,  there  has  been  as  yet 
no  chance  of  pushing  the  resources  of 
the  line  as  a  trunk,  or  even  a  carpet- 
bag line,  into  full  development. 

"  It  is  with  regret  that  your  Directors 
have  to  state  that  the  'branch'  con- 
cerns, commenced  last  year,  have  not 
yet  borne  any  fruit,  though  the  aspa- 
ragus cuttings  yielded  a  small  revenue 
— applicable  to  the  Holfast  Fund  in- 
tended as  superannuation  money  for  the 
one  fireman — and  some  of  the  cuttings 
remaining  uncut  from  last  year,  have  in 
due  course  run  to  seed,  with  a  view  to 
forming  the  seeds  of  future  prosperity. 

"  A  negotiation  was  undertaken  by 
your  Directors  with  the  Great  Western, 
for  the  sale  of  the  whole  of  their  plant 
(fixture  and  tools)  ;  but  as  the  most 
valuable  portion  was  a  lot  of  cabbage 
plants,  the  negotiation  fell  to  the 
ground  just  as  the  cabbages  were  shoot- 
ing out  of  it. 


''  The  canal  has  been  looked  at  with 
great  caution  by  your  Directors,  and  they 
have  in  fact  gone  very  deeply  into  it. 
They  have  also,  after  due  deliberation, 
abandoned  that  part  of  the  line  known 
as  the  Shepherd's  Bush  Clothes  Line, 
though  the  laundresses  have  been  hang- 
ing out  for  better  terms;  but  your 
Directors  prefer  the  chance  of  the  dry- 
goods  to  the  prospect  of  having  a  damp 
thrown  on  any  of  their  lines  by  a  class 
of  people  who  refused  to  stir  a  peg— or 
even  a  clothes  peg — to  meet  the  views 
of  the  proprietors. 

"  Your  Directors  are  still  undecided 
what  to  do  with  the  first-class  car  ori- 
ginally built  for  the  passenger  traffic  on 
this  line,  and  are  now  considering  a 
proposition  from  the  Messrs.  Wee,  the 
great  nurserymen,  who  have  made  an 
offer  for  the  car  without  its  wheels, 
with  a  view  to  its  conversion  into  a 
Chinese  summer  house,  or  an  extensive 
melon  frame." 

Every  separate  sentence  of  the 
above  report  was  received  with  shouts 
of  applause ;  and,  after  voting,  by  ac- 
clamation, to  the  chairman  of  the  Board, 
a  teacup  of  peanuts,  to  be  debited  to 
the  company's  treasury  when  the  re- 
ceipts should  warrant  the  expenditure, 
the  meeting  broke  up  with  a  vote  of 
confidence  in  everybody  and  every- 
thing. 

— « — 

Ask  any  Committee  Man. 

Did  you  ever  know  a  railway  from 
a  place  no  one  knows  where,  to  a 
place  no  one  ever  heard  of  before,  with 
branches  everywhere,  of  which  the 
gradients  were  not  easy,  the  cuttings 
few,  the  tunnelling  next  to  nothing, 
and  the  traffic  immense  ? 


Unparalleled  Railway  Damages. 

The  transaction  of  Lord  Petrie  with 
the  directors  of  the  Eastern  Counties 
Kailroad,  England,  stands  unparalleled, 
of  its  class,  in  railway  annals — the  Shy- 


348 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


lock,  perseveringly  exacting  his  full 
bond. 

Previous  to  the  company's  obtaining 
a  bill,  or  charter  it  appears  that  a  se- 
cret engagement  was  entered  into  with 
his  lordship  by  the  provisional  com- 
mittee, who  engaged  to  pay  him  the 
enormous  sum  of  six  hundred  thousand 
dollars^  nominally  for  the  land  through 
which  the  rail  was  to  pass,  but  really 
for  the  withdrawal  of  an  opposition 
which  might  have  been  disastrous  to 
the  road.  When,  however,  the  bill  was 
passed,  there  seems  to  have  been  some 
objection  to  fulfilling  the  contract,  on 
the  pretended  ground  of  misrepresenta- 
tion. Nor  did  the  directors  hesitate  to 
assert  that  to  fulfil  it  would  be  a  fraud 
on  the  proprietors,  the  legislature,  and 
the  public. 

But  if  the  company  were  unwilling 
to  pay  the  money,  his  lordship  was 
equally  unwilling  to  give  it  up.  He 
obtained  an  injunction  against  them ; 
he  opposed  and  prevented  them  from 
passing  through  his  grounds ;  he  har- 
assed and  irritated  them  as  they  had 
irritated  him,  and  with  far  more  effect. 
But  the  stake  was  too  great  to  yield 
quietly.  In  addition  to  the  money  in- 
volved. Lord  P.'s  pride  was  touched 
to  the  quick  by  the  treatment  he  re- 
ceived. 

The  company,  wishing  to  be  safe, 
appointed  seven  eminent  surveyors  to 
report  as  to  the  damage  likely  to  be 
caused  to  his  lordship's  estate ;  copies 
of  their  reports  were  forwarded  to  Lord 
P.,  and  an  offer  was  made  to  use  them 
as  the  basis  of  an  amicable  arrangement. 
His  lordship,  however,  positively  and 
squarely  declined  any  change  in  the 
terms  of  the  bond.  Finally,  the  direc- 
tors thought  it  best  to  stay  proceedings, 
and,  seeing  the  hopelessness  of  their 
case,  urged  a  decision  by  arbitration. 
Lord  P.,  however,  flatly  refused  all 
such  interference,  and  the  company  was 
emphatically  grounded ;  the  amended 
bill,  too,  which  they  had  caused  to  be 
brought  in  their  favor  before  the  legis- 


lature, seemed  little  likely  to  result  in 
any  good.  Still,  if  the  bill  were  aban- 
doned, the  compulsory  power  of  the 
company  by  its  first  act  would  soon 
cease  to  exist ;  and  even  if  they  gained 
a  chancery  suit  and  annulled  the  con- 
tract, their  opponent  might  refuse  to 
sell  his  land  at  all,  and  thus  a  gap  of 
six  unfinished  miles  grace  the  line. 

It  only  remained,  therefore,  for  the 
company  to  pay  the  money.  Thus  his 
lordship  beat  the  board,  and  exacted 
the  full  amount  of  his  bond — the  pro- 
digious sum  of  six  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  with  interest,  being  paid  for 
land  said  by  appraisers  to  be  possibly 
worth  twenty-five  thousand.  This  is 
believed  to  be  a  case  which  stands 
alone  by  itself,  in  respect  to  the  immense 
amount  involved  and  the  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances investing  the  whole  affair. 


S.ather  Ominous. 

The  directors  of  a  railway  company, 
it  is  announced,  made  a  few  days  since 
a  preliminary  "  trip  "  upon  the  newly 
completed  line.  There  have  been  so 
many  trips  and  slips  on  the  various  rail- 
ways, that  a  little  preliminary  practice 
of  that  work  might  prove  beneficial  to 
persons  who  prefer  making  a  rapid 
transit  by  steam  to  another  world,  to 
the  old-fashioned  and  tedious  mode  of 
travelling  by  post. 


Up  Trains  and  Down  Trains. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  an  *  Up 
Train '  ?  "  inquired  a  rural  passenger. 

"  A  train  whose  engine  explodes  and 
blows  up  the  whole  concern,  of  course," 
replied  the  conductor. 

"Then,*  what  do  you  mean  by  a 
'  Down  Train '  ? "  asked  verdant. 

"  What  else  could  it  be  but  a  train 
whose  engine  gets  off  the  track  and 
plunges  down  the  bank  or  into  the 
river,  with  the  cars  after  it  ? " 

"  To  which  of  the  two  does  this  'ere 
belong — eh  ? " 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND  COMMUNICATION. 


349 


"  We  can  answer  no  sucli  question  in 
advance ! " 


The  Ladder  of  Gold. 

In  1845,  when  the  new  railroad  ma- 
nia had  so  frantically  seized  upon  the 
English  populace,  the  iron  track  was 
familiarly,  and  yet  seriously,  termed 
the  ladder  of  gold,  and  all  classes  strug- 
gled for  a  foothold  that  should  enable 
them  to  ascend  its  beckoning  heights 
of  speedy  affluence.  The  facts  almost 
exceed  belief.  A  colony  of  solicitors, 
engineers,  and  seedy  accountants  set- 
tled in  the  purlieus  of  Threadneedle 
street.  Every  town  and  parish  in  the 
kingdom  blazed  out  in  zinc  plates  over 
the  doorways.  From  the  cellar  to  the 
roof,  every  fragment  of  a  room  held  its 
committee.  The  darkest  cupboard  on 
the  stairs  contained  a  secretary  or  a 
clerk.  Men  who  were  never  east  of 
Temple  Bar,  before  or  since,  were  now 
as  familiar  to  the  pavement  of  Moor- 
gate  street — the  great  rendezvous  of 
the  railway  craft — as  the  stock  brokers. 
Ladies  of  title,  lords,  members  of 
Parliament,  and  fashionable  loungers 
thronged  the  noisy  passages,  and  were 
jostled  by  adventurers,  by  gamblers, 
rogues,  and  impostors.  The  choicest 
phraseology  was  employed  in  picturing 
the  advantages  and  profits  of  the  differ- 
ent roads.  Everything  was  to  pay  a 
large  dividend;  everything  was  to 
yield  a  large  profit.  The  shares  of  one 
company  rose  2,400  per  cent.  From 
his  garret  in  some  nameless  suburb  the 
outcast  scamp  ;  from  his  West-end  ho- 
tel, the  spendthrift  fop ;  from  his  dim 
studio,  the  poor  artist ;  from  his  starved 
lodging,  the  broken-down  gentleman ; 
from  his  flying  address,  the  professional 
swindler;  from  his  fine  mansion,  the 
man  of  notoriety,  whose  life  was  a  daily 
fight  to  keep  up  appearances — all  these 
poured  into  Moorgate  street,  side  by 
side,  and  with  kindred  purposes,  every 
day.  Fraud,  fiction,  and  fun  made  up 
the  staple  of  these  flash  projects.    On 


one  ®f  the  contracts  the  name  of  a  half- 
pay  pensioner  for  £54  a  year  was  down 
for  £41,500 ;  a  curate,  known  to  be 
poor,  was  down  for  £35,000 ;  a  clerk, 
for  £50,000 ;  and  two  brothers,  sons  of 
a  charwoman  living  in  a  garret,  were 
down  for  £12,000  and  £25,000  respec- 
tively. Duchesses'  delicate  fingers  han- 
dled scrip ;  old  maids  inquired  with 
trembling  eagerness  the  price  of  stocks ; 
young  ladies'  eyes  ceased  to  scan  the 
marriage  list — deserting  this  for  the  ta- 
ble of  shares,  and  startling  their  lovers 
with  questions  respecting  the  opera- 
tions of  bulls  and  bears.  One  person 
was  a  director  in  twenty-three  compa- 
nies, a  second  in  twenty-two,  a  third  in 
twenty-one,  and  a  fourth  in  twenty. 
Thus  "  madness  ruled  the  hour."  On 
Thursday,  October  16,  1845,  the  Bank 
of  England  raised  the  rate  of  interest ; 
the  effect  was  immediate.  Men  looked 
doubtfully  and  darkly  at  each  other. 
The  panic  came,  and  the  crash  that  fol- 
lowed brought  a  haggard  shadow  upon 
the  path  of  peer  and  peasant,  and  a 
frightful  page  to  almost  every  family 
history. 

Oldest  Vessel  in  America. 

It  is  believed  that  the  oldest  vessel 
in  this  country,  of  American  build,  is 
the  barque  Maria,  of  which  a  New 
Bedford  (Mass.)  paper  of  Aug.  11, 
1859,  thus  speaks :  The  bark  Maria 
arrived  at  this  port  last  evening,  from 
a  three-years'  cruise  in  the  Indian 
ocean.  She  was  built  at  the  town  of 
Pembroke,  now  called  Hanson,  for  a 
privateer,  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
She  was  bought  by  William  Rotch,  a 
merchant  of  Nantucket,  afterward  of 
this  city,  in  the  year  1783,  and  in  the 
same  year  she  made  a  voyage  to  Lon- 
don with  a  cargo  of  oil.  Her  register 
is  dated  a.d.  1782,  and  she  is  conse- 
quently in  her  seventy-seventh  year. 
She  claims  to  be  the  first  ship  that  dis- 
played the  United  States  flag  in  a  Brit- 
ish port  after  the  Revolutionary  war, 


350 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


which  flag  is  now  in  existence,  though 
in  shreds.  Her  model  is  of  the  old 
French  construction,  tumbling  home, 
or  rounding  very  much  in  her  top 
sides,  and  she  is  consequently  very 
narrow  on  deck,  in  proportion  to  her 
size,  two  hundred  and  two  tons.  It  is 
said  that  there  stands  to  her  credit 
over  two  hundred  thousand  dollars; 
and  from  the  earliest  history  of  this 
ship,  she  never  has  been  any  expense 
by  loss  to  underwriters  except  once, 
and  that  to  a  very  small  amount. 


Names  of  Vessels  and  Trade  of  New 
York  in  1680. 

A  LIST  of  the  clearances  from  the 
port  of  Kew  York,  for  the  year  1680 
and  a  few  years  subsequent,  shows  the 
following  quaint  names  of  vessels  :  Re- 
store Peace,  Bachelor's  Delight,  the 
Golden  Hind,  Happy  Returne,  Prudent 
Mary ;  and  in  the  way  of  "  adventures  " 
— The  Brothers'  Adventure,  John's  Ad- 
venture, Nathaniel's  Adventure,  the 
Friends'  Adventure,  the  Best  Adven- 
ture, the  Drovers'  Adventure,  and  the 
Owners'  Adventure. 

The  foreign  ports  ^with  which  trade 
was  carried  on  in  those  days  were 
Barbadoes,  Jamaica,  the  Caribee  Isl- 
ands, Madeira,  Nevio,  Surinam,  Cura- 
goa,  Bermuda,  Providence  Islands, 
Fayal,  Madagascar,  Antigua,  the  Lee- 
ward Islands,  St.  Christopher's,  Monser- 
rat,  Newfoundland,  St.  Augustine,  St. 
Jago,  Honduras,  London,  Amsterdam, 
Isle  of  Man,  Falmouth,  Dover,  Cowes, 
Carlisle. 


Chirious  Division  of  Ships  into  Ounces. 

It  was  lately  stated  in  evidence  in  a 
bankruptcy  case  in  Wales,  that  the 
sixty-four  shares  into  which  a  vessel, 
the  ownership  of  which  was  connected 
with  the  case,  was  divided,  were  con- 
sidered equal  to  one  pound  avoirdupois, 
the  owner  of  four  shares  being  called 
the  owner  of  an  ounce,  of  two  shares  of 


half  an  ounce,  and  so  on.  This  resem- 
bles the  mode  of  division  among  the 
Romans. 


First  Vessel  in  the  World. 

The  first  vessel  of  which  we  have 
any  authentic  account — the  first  not 
only  in  point  of  time,  but  in  size,  and 
the  magnitude  of  purpose  for  which  it 
was  intended,  is  the  Ark.  The  more 
the  dimensions,  proportions,  and  ar- 
rangement of  this  wonderful  vessel  (as 
given  in  the  simple  but  comprehensive 
directions  for  its  construction  found 
recorded)  are  considered,  the  more 
does  one's  admiration  of  it  increase,  as 
a  work  of  nautical  art,  and  as  the  most 
perfect  adaptation  of  a  means  to  an 
end.  Her  tonnage,  estimated  from  the 
data  of  size  given,  must  have  been  for- 
ty-two thousand  four  hundred  and 
thirteen  tons,  equal  to  about  eighteen 
ships  of  the  line. 


Eng-lisb.  Hares  by  Express. 

A  TRICK  practised  considerably  of 
late  years,  by  rogues  in  the  name  of 
expressmen,  is  to  call  upon  people  at 
their  houses  with  bundles,  purporting 
to  have  come  by  express  from  a  dis- 
tance, upon  which  they  have  the  hardi- 
hood to  collect  charges.  Their  de- 
mands are  usually  paid,  and  their  vic- 
tims too  late  discover  that  they  have 
got  in  exchange  for  their  money  only  a 
parcel  of  paper  rags,  or  other  trash.  In 
one  instance,  a  box  of  "  game  "  was  left 
at  a  house  up  town.  New  York,  and 
"  twenty  shillings  charges  "  collected — 
the  rascal  remarking  that  he  believed 
it  was  English  hares.  The  lady  was  de- 
lighted with  the  idea  that  it  was  a 
present  from  a  very  dear  friend  in  Eng- 
land, and  she  was  dying  of  impatience 
until  her  servant  man  had  opened  it, 
and  discovered  that  it  contained  only  a 
deceased  cat  I 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND  COMMUNICATION. 


351 


Telegraph,  vs.  Express. 

"  Can  you  take  a  box  to  Albany  to- 
day ? "  was  the  question  of  a  good- 
looking  young  gentleman,  wbo  was 
trying  to  raise  a  crop  of  bair  on  bis 
upper  lip,  but  which  seemed  more 
like  the  down  on  the  south  side  of  a 
peach. 

"  We  will  start  it  to-day,  and  it  will 
arrive  in  Albany  some  time  during  the 
night,  provided  the  train  has  the  good 
luck  to  arrive  here." 

"  Oh,  but  it  must  reach  there  by  nine 
o'clock  to-night,  at  the  farthest." 

"  Had  you  not  better  send  it  by  tele- 
graph?—then  there  will  be  no  doubt 
of  its  arriving  in  time." 

"  The  telegraph  man  laughed  at  me 
when  I  asked  him  to  do  it,  and  said  I 
had  better  carry  the  box  to  Albany 
myself." 

"  As  it  is  now  near  five  o'clock,  and  it 
'  must '  be  there  by  nine,  you  had  bet- 
ter follow  his  advice.  Those  gentle- 
men who  work  the  telegraph  under- 
stand velocity  in  a  remarkable  degree, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  they  judged  cor- 
rectly when  they  advised  you  to  take  it 
there  yourself." 

"  I  suppose  they  judged  me  to  be  a 
fast  young  man,  from  the  observations 
they  made,  and  I  was  not  pleased  with 
them." 

"  They  seldom  form  an  incorrect 
opinion  of  those  persons  who  visit 
them,  and  I  doubt  much  whether  they 
were  mistaken  with  you." 

"  What  must  I  do,  then  ?  " 

"  Take  the  advice  of  the  telegraph 
operator." 

"  What !  and  carry  the  box  there 
myself?" 

"  Certainly.  You  know  it  must  be 
there  by  nine  o'clock,  and  I  know  of 
no  other  way  of  its  getting  there." 

And  such  impossibilities  are  expect- 
ed by  persons  every  day,  of  those  en- 
gaged in  the  express  business. 


Church  and  State  vs.  Railways. 

A  TRANSACTION  peculiarly  illustrat- 
ing the  character  and  policy  of  George 
Hudson  is  thus  related  :  In  negotiating 
for  the  Newcastle  and  Darlington  line, 
he  had  outwitted  the  Dean  and  Chap- 
ter of  Durham,  showing  the  vanity  of 
the  idea  that  the  "  Church  and  State  " 
could  interpose  to  stay  such  great  in- 
dustrial undertakings.  He  now  again 
visited  that  ancient  archiepiscopal  see, 
in  company  with  George  Stephenson, 
for  the  purpose  of  outwitting  the  share- 
holders of  the  Durham  junction,  by 
buying  up  the  railway  between  them. 
Great  was  the  astonishment  of  the  pub- 
lic when  they  came  to  hear  the  particu- 
lars of  the  affair.  A  railway  put  into 
the  pocket  of  an  engineer  and  director ! 
The  proprietors  did  not  so  slowly  re- 
cover from  their  surprise.  Mr.  Hudson, 
by  this  purchase,  which  he  handed  over 
to  the  company,  had  gained  a  further 
step  on  the  new  highway  to  the  north, 
a  further  security  for  carrying  out  un- 
checked all  his  plans,  and  sustaining 
without  impediment  the  whole  fabric 
of  his  power. 


Lliyd's  Nautical  Book. 

An  examination  of  this  curious 
British  commercial  catalogue,  and  in 
which  ten  thousand  five  hundred  and 
forty-eight  vessels  are  registered,  af- 
fords some  little  amusement  in  connec- 
tion with  the  names  most  popular,  or 
contrariwise,  among  British  merchants. 

The  largest  proportion  are  named 
after  their  owners,  or  some  member  of 
their  immediate  family.  The  royal 
family  also,  the  nobility,  and  eminent 
characters,  seem  to  be  favorite  names 
with  shipmasters:  for  example,  there 
are  twenty-five  Victorias,  thirteen  Al- 
berts or  Prince  Alberts,  seven  Prince 
of  Wales,  and  fourteen  Princess  Royals ; 
while  each  junior  prince  or  princess  has 
their  representatives  as  well. 

There  are  sixteen  Dukes,  besides  the 


352 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Iron  Duke,  and  six  Wellingtons,  and 
one  called,  par  excellence,  the  Duke, 
and  six  Duchesses.  Descending  a  step 
in  the  peerage,  there  are  found  six  Mar- 
quises and  seven  Marchionesses,  thirty- 
;  three  Earls  and  twenty-one  Countesses, 
I  forty-four  Lords,  and  exactly  double 
that  number  of  Ladies. 

The  army  is  represented  by  eighteen 
•  Generals,  and  the  navy  by  thirteen  Ad- 
mirals. The  bench  has  one  solitary 
representative  in  Baron  Martin;  and 
the  only  literary  characters  are  Burns, 
Byron,  and  Boz.  Some  of  those  good 
men  whose  names  are  as  household 
words  are  also  remembered,  such,  for 
example,  as  John  Wesley,  John  Bun- 
yan,  Heber,  Hedley  Vicars,  General 
Havelock,  and  Livingstone. 

Names  expressive  of  speed  are  natu- 
rally favorites,  there  being  eleven  Ac- 
tives, and  several  Velocity,  Alacrity, 
Alert,  Flying  Foam,  Driving  Mist,  Ar- 
row, and  Faugh  a  Ballagh,  or  Clear  the 
Way. 

Some  names  let  us  into  a  little  bit  of 
family  history ;  thus,  there  is  something 
of  filial  affection  in  calling  a  vessel  the 
Faithful  Mother,  and  her  owner  can 
easily  be  imagined  to  be  one  who  re- 
spects the  fifth  commandment.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  Only  Son  is  doubtless 
a  tribute  of  parental  love.  There  are 
numbers  of  Brothers,  Sisters,  Friends, 
and  Cousins — quite  a  large  family — 
even  excluding  the  Seven  Brothers, 
Five  Sisters,  and  the  Twins.  The  Girl 
I  Love  tells  her  own  tale. 

Several  names  have  an  airish  smack  of 
defiance ;  thus,  Cock-o'-the-Walk,  Touch 
me  Not,  and  Let  me  Alone,  seem  to 
imply  that  any  competitor  has  but  a 
poor  chance,  and  had  better  not  try  a 
race  with  them.  Come  On,  on  the  con- 
trary, invites  a  trial  of  speed,  which  I'll 
Try  apparently  accepts.  There's  some- 
thing cheering  about  All  Eight,  Fear 
Not,  and  Better  Luck  Still ;  and  some- 
thing a  little  conceited  in  Wide  Awake, 
Look  Out,  Matchless,  and  Mark  That ! 
It  is  presumable  that  Bloomer  and  Cri- 


noline belong  to  the  same  o^\Tier,  and, 
no  doubt,  if  he  builds  a  third  vessel, 
he  will  call  her — well,  the  Sky  Reach- 
er.  The  man  who  put  his  savings  in 
a  ship,  and  named  her  the  Ascendant, 
can  comfort  himself  with  the  pleasur- 
able feeling  that  he  must  be  growing 
wealthy,  for  are  not  all  his  fortunes  in 
the  ascendant  ?  So,  too,  the  owner 
of  Profit  and  Loss,  doubtless,  hopes  the 
results  of  his  vessel's  earnings  may  be 
represented  by  the  first  part  of  her 
name ;  and  likewise  the  owner  of  Cornu- 
copia, that  she  may  indeed  prove  to 
him  a  horn  of  plenty. 

National  characteristics  are  often  ex- 
hibited in  the  names  given  to  vessels 
in  different  countries.  The  Spaniard 
evinces  the  somewhat  superstitious  ten- 
dency of  his  mind  by  such  titles  as  San- 
tissima  Trinidada,  St.  Joseph,  Mother 
Mary,  the  Twelve  Apostles,  &c. 

The  French,  again,  manifest  their  gaie- 
te  and  gallantry,  by  such  titles  for  their 
ships,  as  La  Belle  Julie,  La  Bayadere, 
La  Prima  Donna,  Mademoiselle,  &c. 

The  Dutch,  being  an  industrious, 
frugal  people,  may  naturally  be  expect- 
ed to  confirm  their  character  in  these 
respects,  by  naming  their  vessels  the 
Beaver  and  the  Gold  Hunter. 

John  Bull's  crustiness  and  pugnacity 
are  abundantly  exemplified  by  such 
names  as  the  Badger,  Lion,  Gladiator, 
Spitfire,  Boxer,  Julius  Caesar,  Ven- 
geance, Retribution,  Bull  Dog,  and  the 
like. 


Rival  SteaxxxTsoat  Lines. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1809, 
says  Prof.  Renwick,  I  was  a  partaker 
in  the  exciting  scene,  then  first  enacted, 
of  a  steamboat  race.  A  company  from 
Albany  had  been  formed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  competing  with  Fulton.  The 
first  vessel  of  this  rival  line  was  adver- 
tised to  leave  Albany  at  the  same  time 
with  Fulton's.  Parties  ran  high  in  the 
hotels  of  Albany.  The  partisans  of  Ful- 
ton were  enrolled  under  Prof.  Kemp, 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND  COMMUNICATION. 


353 


of  Columbia  College ;  those  of  the  op- 
position under  Jacob  Stout.  The  vic- 
tory was  long  in  suspense  ;  and  it  was 
not  until  after  the  thirtieth  hour  of  a 
hard  struggle  that  the  result  was  pro- 
claimed by  Dr.  Kemp,  on  the  taffi-ail 
of  Fulton's  vessel,  and  holding  out,  in 
derision,  a  coil  of  rope  to  Captain  Stout, 
for  the  purpose,  as  he  informed  him, 
of  towing  him  into  port.  When  the 
age,  high  standing,  and  sedate  charac- 
ter of  these  two  gentlemen  are  consid- 
ered, it  did  not  surprise  me — remarks 
Prof.  R.,  w^ho  witnessed  the  excite- 
ment— when  I  afterward  heard  of  West- 
ern women  having  devoted  their  bacon 
to  feed  the  fires  of  a  steamboat  furnace ! 


Arrival  of  the  Steamer. 

Colonel  Snow,  a  most  incorrigible 
wag,  came  in  one  morning  to  Grant's  ton- 
sorial  establishment  in  Ann  street,  Kew 
York,  and  with  a  face  beaming  with 
honest  excitement,  remarked,  "  Well ! 
the  steamer's  in  at  last.  She  has  made 
quick  time  ;  but  she  brought  away  her 
pilot,  and  carried  away  her  pipes.  She 
had  a  fine  lot  of  passengers ;  more  than 
one  hundred  and  fifty.  The  news  she 
brings  is  not — "  Here  half  a  dozen  lis- 
teners, "under  treatment,"  arrest  the 
barber's  hand,  and  wiping  the  lather 
from  their  faces,  inquire  with  eager- 
ness :  "  What  steamer  is  it— the  Hiber- 
nia,  or  Caledonia  ?  "  "  Oh,  bless  you, 
no  !  "  replies  the  colonel ;  "  oh,  no  ;  the 
Olive  Branch  ferry  boat  from  Brook- 
lyn ;  she  came  over  very  full  this  morn- 
ing, and  in  about  six  minutes ;  she  car- 
ried back  the  pilot  she  brought  away, 
and  at  the  same  time  she  carried  away 
her  pipes ! " 


Eailcar  Privilegres. 

Everybody  who  has  travelled  much 
on  the  Northern  railroads,  must  have 
noticed  that  in  many  of  the  cars,  the 
name  of  the  makers,  "  Eaton,  Gilbert  & 
Co.,"  is  conspicuously  posted.  Not  long 

2e3 


since,  in  one  of  these  cars,  a  passenger 
of  the  name  of  Gilbert  was  travelling 
with  a  company  of  his  friends,  and  see- 
ing another  notice  just  over  the  above, 
to  the  eSect  that  "passengers  are  re- 
quested not  to  crack  nuts  in  the  cars," 
his  innate  love  of  fun  was  awakened. 
At  the  first  stopping  place  he  filled  his 
pockets  with  peanuts,  and  distributing 
them  among  his  friends,  they  were  all 
soon  busily  engaged  in  eating  them, 
and  strewing  the  floor  with  the  shells. 
The  conductor,  in  passing,  gently  inti- 
mated that  it  was  against  the  rules,  and 
pointed  to  the  printed  notice. 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  Gilbert,  "  I  see,  I  see 
that;  but  you  see  by  your  own  rules 
that  we  are  privileged." 

The  conductor,  thinking  that  they 
would  soon  stop,  without  any  further 
trouble,  passed  on.  On  his  next 
rounds,  he  found  the  same  party  still 
at  the  nuts,  and  making  a  great  dis- 
play of  shells  on  the  floor.  Out  of  pa- 
tience, he  now  spoke  up  quite  sharply, 
and  said  to  Mr.  Gilbert : 

"  You  must  comply  with  the  rules 
of  the  company,  if  you  travel  in  these 
cars." 

"  Certainly,  certainly,  we  will,  but 
you  do  not  seem  to  be  aware  that  I  and 
my  company  are  excepted  from  the  rule 
you  refer  to." 

"  No,  I  do  not  know  anything  of  the 
sort,  nor  you  either,  and  there  is  no  use 
having  any  words  about  it ;  you  must 
stop  or  quit  the  cars." 

"  Be  quiet  a  minute,"  replied  Mr.  Gil- 
bert, "  and  I  will  convince  you.  To  be 
sure  it  says,  '  Passengers  are  forbidden 
to  crack  nuts  in  the  cars,'  but  right  un- 
derneath is  written,  '  Eaton,  Gilbert  & 
Co.'  Now,  my  name  is  Gilbert,  and 
this  is  my  company,  and  we  are  doing 
as  we  are  told." 

The  conductor  "  gave  it  up." 


Pirst  Railroad  in  Europe  and  America. 

The  first  instance  of  the  use  of  rails 
appears  to  have  been  some  time  pre- 


354 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


vious  to  the  year  1676,  at  the  collieries 
near  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  England. 
At  that  time,  the  coals  were  conveyed 
from  the  mines  to  the  banks  of  the 
river,  "  by  laying  rails  of  timber  exact- 
ly straight  and  parallel;  and  bulky 
carts  were  made,  with  four  rollers  fit- 
ting those  rails,  whereby  the  carriage 
was  made  so  easy  that  one  horse  would 
draw  four  or  five  chaldrons  of  coal." 

An  advance  was  made  about  the  year 
1767,  in  the  use  of  iron  bars  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  the  upper  rail  of  the  road ; 
they  were  cast  five  feet  long,  four  inches 
wide,  and  one  and  three  fourths  inches 
thick,  with  holes  for  the  spikes  by 
which  they  should  be  secured  to  the 
lower  rail. 

The  first  railroad  company  opened 
for  conveying  passengers  was  the 
Stockton  and  Darlington  road  in  1825, 
and  this  was  worked  with  horse  power. 
In  1826,  the  French  engineer,  M.  Se- 
guin,  successfully  introduced  locomo- 
tives upon  the  railways  from  St.  Eti- 
enne  to  Lyons,  and  to  Andrezieux. 

In  the  United  States,  a  horse  railroad 
was  built  of  pine  rails,  in  1826,  from 
the  granite  quarries  of  Quincy,  Mass., 
to  the  Neponset  river,  a  distance  of 
three  miles.  This^  was  the  first  in 
America,  except  a  temporary  railway 
with  two  tracks  in  Boston,  for  remov- 
ing gravel  from  Beacon  Hill ;  this  was 
so  arranged,  that  while  one  train  de- 
scended the  hill  with  its  load,  the  emp- 
ty train  would  thereby  be  hauled  up 
for  loading.  The  first  use  of  a  locomo- 
tive in  this  country  was  in  1829,  and 
was  used  on  the  railroad  built  by  the 
Delaware  and  Hudson  canal  company 
in  1828,  from  their  coal  mines  to 
Honesdale,  the  terminus  of  the  canal. 


Mode  of  Getting  Money  Transmitted. 

In  the  bankerless  twelfth  century,  so 
great  was  the  difficulty  of  conveyance 
for  the  transmitting  of  money  from  Spain 
to  Rome — which  was  generally  done  by 
pilgrims  returning  from  Santiago — that 


for  every  ounce  of  gold  brought  safely 
to  the  treasuiy  of  St.  Peters,  a  year's 
indulgence  was  granted  to  the  soul  of 
the  bearer,  by  the  Roman  pontiff. 


Thomas  Gray,  the  Originator  of 
Railways. 

It  is  now  a  little  more  than  forty 
years  since  a  thoughtful  man,  Thomas 
Gray,  travelling  in  the  north  of  Eng- 
land on  commercial  business,  stood 
looking  at  a  small  train  of  coal  wagons 
impelled  by  steam  along  a  tramroad 
which  connected  the  mouth  of  one  of 
the  collieries  of  that  district  w^ith  the 
wharf  at  which  the  coals  were  shipped. 

"  Why,"  asked  Gray  of  the  engineer, 
"  are  not  these  tramroads  laid  down 
all  over  England,  so  as  to  supersede 
our  common  roads,  and  steam  engines 
employed  to  convey  goods  and  passen- 
gers along  them,  so  as  to  supersede 
horse  power  ? " 

"  Just  propose  you  that  " — said  the 
engineer,  looking  at  the  questioner  with 
the  corner  of  his  eye — "  to  the  nation, 
sir,  and  see  what  you  will  get  by  it ! 
Why,  sir,  you  would  be  worried  to 
death  for  youi*  pains." 

Nothing  more  was  said  ;  but  the  intel- 
ligent traveller  did  not  take  the  engi- 
neer's warning.  Tramroads,  locomotive 
steam  engines,  horse  power  superseded  ! 
— the  idea  he  had  conceived  continued 
to  infest  his  brain,  and  would  not  be 
driven  out.  Tramroads,  locomotive 
steam  engines,  horse  power  superseded  I 
— he  would  talk  of  nothing  else  to  his 
friends.  Tramroads,  locomotive  steam 
engines,  horse  power  superseded ! — he 
at  length  broached  the  scheme  openly ; 
first  to  the  public  men  by  means  of  let- 
ters and  circulars,  and  afterward  to  the 
public  itself  by  means  of  a  printed 
book.  Hardly  any  one  would  listen  to 
his  words,  or  be  bothered  with  his  fan- 
cies ;  the  engineer's  words  seemed  like- 
ly to  prove  true. 

Still  he  persevered,  holding  the  pub- 
lic by  the  button,  as  it  were,  and  din- 
ning into  its  ears  the  same  wearisome 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND  COMMUNICATION. 


355 


words.  From  public  political  men,  in- 
cluding the  cabinet  ministers  of  the 
day,  he  received  little  encouragement ; 
a  few  influential  commercial  men,  how- 
ever, began  at  length  to  be  interested 
in  his  plan.  Persons  of  eminence  took 
it  up,  and  advocated  it  almost  as  eulo- 
gistically  as  the  original  projector.  It 
having  thus  been  ^roxed^  according  to 
Dogberry's  immortal  phrase,  that  the 
scheme  was  a  good  scheme,  it  soon 
went  near  to  be  thought  so.  Capital 
came  to  its  aid.  In  1826,  Parliament 
passed  an  act  authorizing  the  construc- 
tion of  the  first  British  railway,  proper- 
ly so  called. 

Largest  Ship-owner  in  England. 

The  number  of  ships  belonging  to 
Mr.  Dunbar,  of  Limehouse,  the  eminent 
Protectionist  ship-owner,  has  been  set 
down  at  thirty-three,  the  aggregate 
burthen  of  which  is  twenty-two  thou- 
sand tons,  or  about  one  thousand  more 
than  the  Messrs.  Green.  Nearly  the 
whole  of  these  vessels  were  bought 
while  the  repeal  of  the  navigation  laws 
was  under  agitation,  or  since  they  were 
repealed — some  of  them  very  lately. 
And  yet  Mr.  Dunbar  has  been  the  lead- 
er among  those  who  declared  that  Brit- 
ish shipping  has  been  and  is  in  a  state 
of  ruin,  during  the  whole  of  the  period 
which  he  has  employed  in  accumulat- 
ing this  enormous  mercantile  fleet — the 
largest  ever  owned  in  that  country  by 
an  individual  ship-owner. 


liiterature  of  the  Cabin. 

Many  a  downcast  man  has  made  a 
crack  sea-captain,  while  he  was  a  poor 
hand  at  spelling.  Capt.  Ezekiel  Jen- 
kins was  one  of  these  men ;  he  knew 
the  ropes  well,  but  writing  letters  was 
not  his  forte.  He  sailed  the  ship  Jelm^ 
from  Boston  to  South  America,  while 
the  republics  were  in  a  disturbed  condi- 
tion, and  the  port  he  designed  to  make 
was  blockaded;   he  could  not  enter, 


and  his  cargo  could  find  no  market. 
He  informed  his  owners  of  the  state  of 
things,  in  a  letter  so  remarkably  con- 
densed as  to  incline  toward  the  ob- 
scure. It  was  in  these  words  :  "  Sir — 
Own  to  the  blockhead  the  vig  is  spilt." 
The  owners  could  not  make  it  out,  but 
a  friend  of  the  captain,  more  familiar 
with  his  laconic  style,  read  it  thus : 
"  Sir — Owing  to  the  blockade,  the 
voyage  is  spoilt." 


Paying  oflf  Jack. 

A  SHIP-OWNER,  in  despatching  a  ves- 
sel, had  a  good  deal  of  trouble  with  one 
of  his  men,  who  had  got  very  "  top- 
heavy  "  on  his  advance  wages.  After 
the  vessel  had  accomplished  her  voy- 
age, on  settling  with  the  crew,  it  came 
to  this  man's  turn  to  be  paid.  "  What 
name  ?  "  asked  the  merchant.  "  Cain, 
sir,"  was  the  reply.  "  What !  are  you 
the  man  who  slew  his  brother  ? "  face- 
tiously rejoined  the  merchant.  "  No,  sir," 
was  the  ready  and  witty  reply  of  Jack, 
with  a  knowing  wink,  and  giving  his 
trowsers  a  nautical  hitch,  "  Fm  the  man 
that  was  slewed  !  " 


"No  Swearing  among  the  Crew." 

A  MERCHANT  in  ouc  of  our  seaports, 
on  fitting  out  a  ship  for  India,  told  the 
captain  at  the  time  of  making  the  con- 
tract for  the  voyage,  that  there  must  be 
no  swearing  among  the  crew ;  that  he, 
the  captain,  must  engage  not  to  swear 
himself  nor  permit  others  to  be  pro- 
fane ;  that  he  must  do  as  he  pleased, 
with  respect  to  taking  command  of  the 
ship  on  these  terms,  but,  if  he  accepted 
the  employment,  it  would  be  expected 
that  he  should  rigidly  adhere  to  the 
stipulation,  and  that  it  should  be 
known  as  the  law  of  the  ship,  that  no 
profaneness  could  be  permitted. 

The  captain  seemed  to  have  no  ob- 
jection to  reforming,  but  inquired: 
"  How  can  I  suddenly  break  off  an  in- 
veterate habit  ?  "  "I  will  take  care  that 


356 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


you  be  reminded  of  your  duty,"  said 
tbe  owner  ;  "  wear  the  ring  that  I  shall 
give  you,  and  let  the  law  of  the  vessel 
be  explicitly  known."  Accordingly  he 
l^rocured  a  ring  for  the  captain,  wdth 
this  motto  engraved  upon  it :  "  Swear 
not  at  all." 

The  vessel  soon  sailed,  and  after  per- 
forming the  voyage,  returned  to  the 
seaport  from  whence  she  sailed.  On 
being  inquired  of  respecting  the  sub- 
ject, the  supercargo  declared  that  there 
had  been  no  profanity  on  board,  except- 
ing a  little  within  the  first  twenty  days 
after  sailing.  At  the  close  of  this  short 
period,  the  old  habit  was  entirely  mas- 
tered ;  and  during  the  remainder  of  the 
voyage,  both  at  sea  and  in  port,  the 
success  of  the  experiment  was  complete. 


Usefulness  of  Steamboats  in  Keducin^ 
the  Population. 

AccoKDiNG  to  one  of  the  most  ob- 
serving of  modem  writers,  it  is  to  the 
over-population  of  a  country  that  its 
social  or  commercial  depression  is  due. 
Of  the  numerous  remedies  applicable  to 
this  evil,  none  have  been  found  so  effec- 
tual as  steamboats ;  and,  although  their 
superiority  over  the  small-jDox  and  rail- 
roads has  sometimes  been  sharply  dis- 
puted, yet,  from  the  increased  favor  in 
which  every  succeeding  season  they 
are  held,  as  engines  of  destruction,  it 
is  clear  that  the  highest  opinion  is  en- 
tertained of  their  efficacy. 

In  proof  of  this,  any  one  who  doubts 
may  safely  be  cited  to  the  cheap  excur- 
sion boats  on  their  Sunday  trips.  The 
deck  crammed,  and  no  convenient 
standing-room  on  the  paddle-wheels, 
he  will  be  wedged  in  by  the  crowd  so 
tightly  as  to  save  him  from  any  use  of 
his  limbs  when  the  accident,  which  is 
sure  to  occur,  takes  place.  Exactly  at 
the  moment  of  the  start,  an  opposition 
boat  will  also  set  off,  so  that  the  speed 
will  be  deliciously  exhilarating,  and 
everything  will  be  done  to  realize,  to 
the  most  ardent  expectant,  the  usual 
catastrophe.    In  trying  to  give  "Hell 


turn"  as  narrow  a  berth  as  possible, 
each  captain  will  foul  his  adversary, 
and  a  few  passengers  will  be  missed 
from  the  paddle  boxes,  to  make  an  ad- 
ditional hole  or  turn  in  the  water.  As 
they  will  very  likely  amount  to  a  dozen 
or  so — quite  enough  to  help  one  an- 
other— it  would  be  nonsense  to  stop 
either  vessel,  and  so  the  burthen  being 
thus  lightened,  the  speed  is  doubled. 

In  furtherance,  too,  of  the  praisewor- 
thy object  for  which  these  vessels  were 
originally  started  (the  reduction  of  the 
population),  they  are  ordered  to  "go 
on  "  at  the  precise  moment  a  passenger 
is  stepping  off. 

American  Shipnology. 

Perhaps  nothing  so  strikingly  indi- 
cates the  change  which  has  taken  place 
in  the  mercantile  marine  of  this  coun- 
try— at  least  so  far  as  mere  taste  is  con- 
cerned— as  the  ingenuity  displayed  in 
the  invention  of  names  for  ships.  For- 
merly, merchants  were  satisfied  with  a 
plain  and  modest  nomenclature,  calling 
their  vessels  after  their  wives,  or  their 
friends,  or  by  the  name  of  some  an- 
cient worthy  or  modern  hero,  or  by 
some  homespun  adjective,  expressive 
of  strength  and  safety.  Now  all  this  is 
changed.  "We  have  the  Courser,  the 
Bucephalus,  the  Storm  King,  the  Fly- 
ing Cloud,  the  Flying  Dutchman,  and 
the  Flying  Childers  ;  the  Stag  Hound, 
the  Wild  Pigeon,  the  Sea  Gull,  and 
the  Bald  Eagle ;  the  Sea  Foam,  the 
Billow  Crest,  the  Ocean  Spray,  and  the 
Ocean  Wave  ;  the  West  Wind  and  the 
Whirlwind,  the  Simoom  and  the  Siroc- 
co ;  and  lastly,  the  Thunder  Cloud,  the 
Phantom,  the  Tornado,  the  Tempest, 
the  Wings  of  the  Morning,  Ocean  Mon- 
arch, Leviathan,  Fury  of  the  Billow, 
Hurricane,  Wildfire,  Thunderer,  &c. 


Origrin  of  the  Express  Business  : 

Harnden's  First  Trip. 
With  the  innovations  of  railways, 
the  stage  drivers  and  wagoners  found, 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND  COMMUNICATION. 


357 


like  Othello,  their  "  occupation  gone." 
The  loss  of  their  services  seriously  in- 
commoded the  public,  but  the  rail- 
road offered  no  remedy.  Years  passed, 
trade  and  intercommunication  between 
town  and  country  suffering,  in  the 
meanwhile,  from  this  cause.  At  length, 
hardly  realizing  what  an  improvement 
he  was  about  to  effect,  William  F.  Harn- 
den,  then  a  railroad  conductor,  started 
the  express  business.  The  idea  was 
not  original  with  him  exclusively,  as 
will  presently  be  seen,  but  to  him  is 
due  the  honor  of  having  been  the  first 
to  put  it  into  execution. 

It  was  in  1839  that  Major  Pullen  and 
Mr.  Harnden  were  both  in  the  employ 
of  the  Boston,  Providence,  Worcester 
and  New  York  Railroad  and  Steamboat 
Companies.  Mr.  Harnden's  health  was 
so  bad,  at  this  time,  that  he  was  unfit- 
ted for  his  accustomed  duties.  His  pe- 
cuniary circumstances  were  such  that  he 
could  not  remain  idle.  In  this  crisis 
of  his  affairs  he  knew  not  what  to  do 
to  sustain  himself  and  his  family. 

Speaking  to  his  friend,  Major  Pullen, 
on  the  subject,  who  was  agent  of  the 
Steamboat  Company  at  Boston,  he  ask- 
ed his  advice  as  to  what  he  had  bet- 
ter do.  They  were,  on  this  occasion, 
in  the  office  on  board  the  steamer  John 
W.  Richmond ;  near  them,  a  number 
of  small  packages  were  lying  about, 
which  were  intrusted  to  the  care  of  the 
agent  for  delivery,  as  was  the  custom 
at  that  time.  Major  Pullen  says  to  Mr. 
H.  substantially  as  follows:  "I  think 
you  can  make  a  good  living  by  taking 
care  of  these  packages  and  delivering 
them.  If  you  will  try  it,  I  will  give 
you  all  the  packages  and  errands  that 
are  left  with  me,  and  give  you  all  the 
aid  in  my  power  to  help  you  along  in 
the  business."  Some  friends  standing 
by  advised  Mr.  H.  to  do  so.  After 
some  deliberation,  Mr.  Harnden  com- 
menced his  new  avocation. 

From  this  small  beginning,  express- 
ing has  attained  its  present  prominent 
position,  as  among  the  first  class  of  bu- 


siness occupations  in  the  country.  The 
only  through  route  from  Boston  to 
New  York,  at  that  time,  was  by  rail- 
road to  Providence,  and  thence  to  New 
York  by  the  steamer  John  W.  Rich- 
mond. The  old  line  of  steamboats  ran 
from  Stonington  to  New  York.  Harn- 
den had  no  paid  agent  in  the  latter  city 
at  the  outset.  The  messengers  (called, 
during  the  first  year  or  two,  conduc- 
tors), attended  to  all  the  business. 
Harnden  himself  acted  in  that  capacity, 
usually  making  the  trip  in  the  "J.  W. 
R.,"  and  carrying  his  entire  express  in 
an  ordinary  valise.  Upon  his  arrival 
in  New  York  or  Boston,  he  would  has- 
ten to  deliver  the  parcels  intrusted  to 
him  by  his  customers,  who  were  most- 
ly booksellers  and  brokers. 

Out  of  compliment  to  Mr.  Harnden, 
as  the  originator  of  that  line,  and  the 
first  one  in  the  business,  the  line  still 
retains  the  name  of  "  Harnden's  Ex- 
press," though  none  of  his  name  or  kin, 
now  he  is  dead,  are  connected  with  it. 

The  express  tries  to  do  everything 
for  everybody — any  and  all  kinds  of 
service.  They  carry  the  exchange  for 
the  banks;  they  collect  notes,  bills, 
drafts,  accounts,  rents,  etc. ;  they  carry- 
all the  small  and  large  packages  which 
are  either  too  valuable,  or  otherwise 
unsafe  to  intrust  to  the  mails  ;  and  they 
extend  over  all  sections  of  our  own 
continent,  besides  forming  one  of  the 
most  important  links  in  the  great  com- 
mercial chain  which  connects  us  with 
the  old  world. 


Selling-  a  Brig— Tlie  Ruling  Passion. 

A  TERTY  good  story  is  told  of  old  em- 
bargo times  and  the  war  of  1812.  Un- 
der the  impulse  of  the  removal  of  em- 
bargo, there  was  a  sudden  rise  in  the 
value  of  property,  and  such  a  demand 
for  it  that  merchandise  was  sometimes 
carried  off  from  vessels  before  the  own- 
ers arrived  at  their  place  of  business ; 
and  the  parties  taking  it  came  in  after- 
ward to  say  that  they  were  at  the  own- 


358 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSIXESS  ANECDOTES. 


er's  mercy,  and  must  pay  what  they 
chose  to  ask. 

A  brig  was  lying  at  Boston  harbor, 
which  had  come  up  from  Plymouth 
just  before  the  embargo  was  laid,  fit 
for  sea.  The  Plymouth  owner  thought 
it  was  a  good  time  to  sell  the  brig,  and 
sent  up  his  son  for  the  purpose,  telling 
him  to  demand  $8,000  for  her,  and  not 
take  less  than  $6,000.  John  went  to 
Boston,  found  how  things  stood,  sold 
the  brig  in  a  moment,  as  it  were,  and 
hurried  home,  elated  with  his  bargain. 
As  he  neared  the  house,  he  saw  the  old 
man  marching  up  and  down  the  piazza, 
and  presently  he  hastened  out  to  meet 
his  son,  and  hear  the  result  of  the  sale. 

"  Have  you  sold  the  brig,  John  ?  " 

"  Yes,  father." 

''  For  how  much,  John  ?  " 

"  For  ten  thousand  dollars  !  " 

"  Ten  thousand  dollars  !  "  cried  the 
old  man,  with  staring  eyes,  at  hearing 
a  price  more  than  double  what  the  ves- 
sel cost — "  Ten  thousand  dollars  ?  I'll 
bet  youVe  sold  her  to  some  swindler, 
who  don't  care  what  the  price  is,  and 
never  means  to  pay  his  notes." 

"  Notes,  did  you  say,  father  ?  Why, 
there  are  no  notes  in  the  case ;  I  got 
the  money,  and  put  it  in  the  bank. 
Draw,  and  you  will  get  it." 

The  old  gentleman's  excitement  was 
suddenly  cooled,  and  as  the  ruling  pas- 
sion rose  in  its  place,  he  said  : 

"  I  say,  John,  couldn't  you  have  got 
a  leetle  more  ?  " 


Forwarding-  by  Telegraph. 

Of  all  the  telegraphic  absurdities  to 
be  met  with,  none  can  be  much  more 
amusing  than  that  relating  to  a  man  in 
the  south  of  France,  who  received  a 
letter  from  his  son  in  the  army  before 
Sebastopol,  begging  his  father  to  send 
him  a  pair  of  new  shoes,  and  a  five- 
franc  piece.  The  old  man  was  very 
^Tilling  to  comply  with  the  request,  but 
having  no  readier  means  of  forwarding 
the  articles  than  the  telegraph,  which 


conveniently  passed  within  half  a  mile 
of  his  house,  he  procured  the  shoes, 
and  hung  them  on  the  wire,  with  the 
money  inside.  A  laborer  returning 
homeward,  seeing  the  shoes  dangling 
to  the  wires,  took  them  down,  and 
finding  they  fitted  him,  carried  them 
off,  leaving  his  old  ones  in  their  place. 
In  the  evening,  the  old  man  came  out 
to  see  how  the  wires  had  performed 
their  work,  and  was  delighted  at  the 
result :  "  My  poor  boy,"  said  he,  "  has 
not  only  received  the  shoes  I  sent  him, 
but  has  already  returned  the  old  ones," 


Jumel  the  Merchant,  and  the  Carman. 

Stephen  Jumel  was  among  the  early 
merchant  princes  of  New  York.  One 
morning,  about  ten  o'clock,  in  the  year 
1806,  this  gentleman,  in  company  with 
William  Bayard,  Harmon  Leroy,  Archi- 
bald Gracie,  and  some  dozen  others, 
were  reading  and  discussing  the  news 
just  arrived  from  Liverpool,  in  the 
extra  short  passage  of  seven  weeks. 
The  matter  mostly  concerned  Napoleon 
the  First  and  the  battle  of  Wagram. 
While  thus  engaged,  a  carman's  horse 
backed  his  cart  into  the  Whitehall  slijD, 
at  the  head  of  which  these  gentlemen 
were  grouped  together.  The  cart  was 
got  out,  but  the  horse  was  drowned, 
and  eveiy  one  began  pitying  the  poor 
carman's  ill  luck.  Jumel  instantly 
started,  and  placing  a  ten  dollar  bill 
between  his  thumb  and  fingers,  and 
holding  it  aloft,  while  it  fluttered  in 
the  breeze,  and  with  his  hat  in  the 
other  hand  he  walked  through  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  crowd,  ex- 
claiming, "  How  much  you  pity  the 
poor  man  ?  /  pity  him  ten  dollars. 
How  much  you  pity  him  ? "  By  this 
ingenious  and  noble  coup-d'etat,  says 
Barrett,  he  collected,  in  a  few  moments, 
about  seventy  dollars,  which  he  gave 
over  at  once  to  the  unfortunate  and 
fortunate  carman. 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND  COMMUNICATION. 


359 


Scene  in  an  Express  Office. 

"  How  much  will  you  charge  to  take 
this  package  to  Illinois  ? " 

"  One  dollar." 

"  Outrageous  !  It  is  only  worth  fifty 
cents,  and  you  have  the  conscience  to 
charge  twice  the  worth  of  it." 

It  is  not  our  fault  that  the  cost  was 
only  fifty  cents ;  you  can  make  the 
package  twice  as  large  and  a  hundred 
times  as  valuable,  and  the  cost  of  trans- 
portation will  only  be  the  same." 

"  But  that  I  do  not  want  to  do,  as  it 
will  be  so  much  out  of  my  pocket  for 
nothing." 

"Yet  you  do  not  think  it  will  be 
'  outrageous  '  for  us  to  be  out  of  pock- 
et in  carrying  this  to  your  friend  !  " 

"I  cannot  see  that  you  will  be  at 
any  loss  by  taking -it  for  fifty  cents. 
If  you  can  explain  it  to  me  I  will  be 
satisfied." 

"  Sensible  to  the  last,  and  I  am  truly 
glad  that  you  ask  for  the  information. 
Well,  in  the  first  place,  we  charge  you 
two  shillings  to  carry  this  to  B.,  then 
pa^  two  shillings  to  get  it  to  C,  two 
shillings  from  C.  to  M.,  and  two  shil- 
lings from  M.  to  S.,  where  your  friend 
resides,  thus  making  one  dollar.  If  we 
take  it  for  fifty  cents,  we  will  be  obli- 
ged to  carry  it  to  B.  for  nothing,  and 
2)ay  from  B.  to  C.  two  shillings  out  of 
our  own  pocket,  thus  losing  cash  two 
shillings,  and  the  freight  from  here  to 
B.,  which  we  pay  to  the  railroad — 
thus  actually  losing  about  forty  cents, 
besides  assuming  the  responsibility  of 
delivering  your  package  to  your  friend 
in  Illinois." 

"  I  was  not  aware  that  such  was  the 
case,  and  pardon  me  for  speaking  so 
abruptly  when  I  came  in." 

"  Granted,  my  dear  sir ;  and  it  al- 
ways afibrds  us  pleasure  to  give  any 
information  in  our  power  in  regard  to 
business.  And  I  assure  you,  that  if 
many  persons  who  think  we  are  extor- 
tioners and  swindlers,  and  call  us  many 
other  hard  names,  would  only  ask  for  a 


reason,  they  would  be  as  satisfied  as 
you  are."  __^_ 

Ijtixuries  in  the  Car. 

The  smoking  saloon,  it  now  appears, 
is  only  the  first  of  a  series  of  luxuries 
which  it  is  intended  to  bestow  upon 
travellers  by  railway.  Thus,  it  is  in 
contemplation  to  run  a  refreshment- 
room  with  every  train,  so  that  people 
will  have  their  time  allowed  them  to 
eat  the  articles  sold,  instead  of  being 
restricted,  as  at  present,  simply  to  the 
privilege  of  payment. 

Various  plans  have  from  time  to  time 
been  suggested,  to  enable  passengers  to 
swallow  a  cup  of  boiling  tea  or  cofiee, 
or  a  basin  of  hot  soup  in  a  minute  and 
a  half  at  the  stations  ;  but  it  has  been 
over  and  over  again  provfed  that  the 
time  specified  is  absolutely  insufficient 
for  such  a  purpose.  It  has  even  been 
suggested  that  there  might  be  kept 
and  sold  at  all  the  refreshment-rooms 
a  preparation  similar  to  that  which 
enabled  a  certain  Frenchman  some 
years  ago  to  swallow  melted  lead 
without  any  inconvenience.  Others 
have  proposed  that  parties  should  be 
allowed  to  take  soup  or  tea  into  the 
car  with  them,  and  send  back  the  cup 
or  basin  by  the  up  or  down  train,  with 
a  return  ticket  fastened  to  the  piece 
of  crockery  as  a  proof  of  its  contents 
having  been  paid  for. 

The  most  feasible  scheme,  however,  is 
believed  to  be  the  one  above  hinted  at, 
namely,  a  portable  refreshment  room, 
one  of  which  should  travel  with  every 
train;  and  it  might  be  advisable  to 
have  the  boiler  of  the  engine  supplied 
with  soup  instead  of  plain  water.  It 
has  been  calculated  that  the  steam  pro- 
duced from  the  former  liquid — ^being 
somewhat  spicy — would  have  much 
greater  strength  or  force  than  the 
vapor  arising  from  the  latter ;  and  the 
power  of  propwZsion  natural  to  pea 
soup  would  have  a  wonderful  in- 
fluence on  the  speed  of  a  powerful 
locomotive. 


360 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


On  one  line  there  has  for  some  time 
been  a  shaving  saloon,  the  want  of 
which  had  long  been  sadly  feit.  The 
length  of  time  on  the  journey  by  this 
line  was  so  considerable  that  a  person 
quitting  the  car  on  arriving  at  his  des- 
tination felt  ashamed  to  go  forth,  in 
consequence  of  his  beard  and  hair 
having  grown  to  a  most  unsightly 
length  since  he  left  the  terminus  he 
started  from. 

On  another  line,  something  has  been 
said  about  a  course  of  lectures  on  ana- 
tomy, amputation,  life  insurance,  and 
kindred  subjects,  likely  to  possess  an 
immediate  interest  to  persons  travelling 
on  railways,  but  the  plan  has  not  been 
matured, — an  almost  insuperable  diffi- 
culty being  the  frequent  interruption 
of  the  lecturer  occasioned  by  the 
shrieks  and  thinning  off  of  the  pas- 
sengers, on  account  of  collisions  and 
similar  catastrophes  along  the  line. 


Probable  Origin  of  Sdiooners. 

The  first  schooner  ever  launched  in 
this  country,  is  said  to  have  been  built 
at  Cape  Ann,  in  1714, — that  is,  a  ves- 
sel of  the  build  and  rig  described  by 
that  word.  In  regard  to  the  origin  of 
the  name  or  term  "  schooner,"  Cotton 
Tufts  says :  "  Being  in  Gloucester, 
Mass.,  Sept.  8,  1790,  I  was  informed, 
and  committed  the  same  to  writing, 
that  the  kind  of  vessel  called  schoon- 
ers, derived  their  name  from  this  cir- 
cumstance, viz, :  Mr.  Andrew  Robinson, 
of  that  place,  having  constructed  a  ves- 
sel which  he  masted  and  rigged  in  the 
same  manner  as  schooners  are  at  this 
day,  on  her  going  off  the  stocks  into 
the  water,  a  bystander  cried  out,  "  Oh, 
how  she  schoons  !  "  Robinson  instantly 
replied,  "  A  schooner  let  her  be," — from 
which  time  vessels  thus  masted  and 
rigged  have  gone  by  the  name  of 
"  schooners,"  but  before  which  instance 
vessels  of  this  classification  were  not 
known  in  Europe  or  America.  This  ac- 
count was  confirmed  to  me  by  a  great 


number  of  persons  in  Gloucester.  1 
made  particular  inquiry  of  an  aged  sea 
captain,  who  informed  me  that  he  had 
not,  in  any  of  his  voyages  to  Europe  or 
in  America,  seen  any  of  those  vessels 
prior  to  Robinson's  construction." 


Female  Shipmaster  from  Cape  Horn  to 
San  Francisco. 
The  name  of  Mary  Patten  will  long 
be  remembered  as  that  of  one  of  the 
most  heroic  of  her  sex.  She  was  the 
wife  of  a  merchant  shipmaster,  who, 
far  off  on  the  lonely  Pacific,  with  no 
eye  to  witness,  and  no  voice  to  cheer 
her,  when  her  husband  was  taken  down 
by  illness,  now  tended  him  in  his  cabin, 
now  took  his  place  at  the  quarter-deck 
of  his  forlorn  vessel, — took  her  chief 
observation  every  day  with  the  sextant, 
laid  down  the  ship's  course  on  the 
chart,  cheered  and  encouraged  the 
desponding  crew,  arrested  the  mu- 
tinous chief  mate,  who  was  for  creep- 
ing into  the  nearest  port — and,  poor 
young  wife  as  she  was,  hardly  twenty 
years  of  age,  yet  with  a  strong  will  and 
a  stout  heart,  steered  her  husband's 
vessel,  through  storm  and  through 
calm,  from  Cape  Horn  to  San  Fran- 
cisco. 


Prussian  Ship  navigated  by  a  Lady. 

In  Prussia,  as  well  as  in  Holland, 
captains  in  the  merchant  service,  of 
small  property, — which  generally  con- 
sists of  a  small  class  vessel  commanded 
by  themselves — make  the  vessel  their 
home,  and  live  there  constantly,  with 
their  families,  who  accompany  their 
head  in  all  his  v5yages. 

One  of  these  Prussian  captains,  M. 
Hesser,  was  navigating  his  galliot 
Minerva,  from  Konigsberg  to  Riga. 
On  board  his  vessel  was  his  young  wife, 
wdth  three  small  children,  and  his  crew, 
composed  of  a  mate  and  four  sailors. 
In  the  Baltic,  during  a  violent  storm  in 
the  night,  while  Hesser  and  his  men 
were  on  deck,  the  galliot  was  run  into 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND  COMMUNICATION. 


361 


by  an  English  merchant-ship  ;  and  the 
shock  of  the  two  vessels  was  so  great 
that  Captain  Hesser  and  one  of  his  sai- 
lors was  tLrown  against  the  prow  of  the 
English  vessel,  to  which  they  clung, 
and  from  whence  they  crawled  on 
hoard  that  ship.  The  three  other 
sailors  fell  into  the  sea  and  disap- 
peared immediately,  so  that  there  re- 
mained on  the  galliot  only  Mrs.  Hesser, 
her  three  children,  and  the  mate — the 
latter  having,  during  the  accident,  met 
with  a  severe  fall,  by  which  he  was  so 
seriously  wounded  as  to  be  unable  to 
work. 

In  this  state  of  things,  Mrs.  Hesser 
had  the  courage  to  take  upon  herself 
the  charge  of  navigating  the  ship.  By 
turns  captain,  mate  and  sailor,  using 
the  little  nautical  knowledge  she  had 
been  able  to  acquire  in  her  former 
voyages, — this  intrepid  young  woman 
succeeded,  by  incessant  labor,  in  gain- 
ing, with  her  vessel,  the  port  of  Kiga. 
The  native  and  foreign  sailors  at  Riga, 
having  learned  the  courageous  conduct 
of  Mrs.  Hesser,  caused  a  medal  to  be 
struck  in  her  honor,  and  the  corpora- 
tion of  seamen  at  Riga  presented  her 
with  one  thousand  dollars.  Captain 
Hesser  and  his  sailor,  who  were 
saved  on  board  the  English  vessel,  were 
carried  in  the  latter  to  Rostock,  where 
they  arrived  safe  and  sound  at  Riga. 


Eoyal  Schemers  in  Railways. 

The  madness  of  railway  speculation 
which  some  years  since  spread  like  a 
contagion  abroad,  involved  royal  blood 
and  the  peers  of  more  than  one  realm. 
Prince  de  Joinville  mounted  a  tender  ; 
Lord  F.  Egerton  sought  to  make  a  rail- 
way all  by  himself;  Earl  Lonsdale 
bought  one ;  Lord  Belhaven  conde- 
scended to  speak  at  meetings ;  Lord 
Worsley  even  took  the  chair ;  the  Mar- 
quis of  Ormonde  trundled  a  wheelbar- 
row in  the  presence  of  his  admiring 
peasantry;  and  Lord  Whamcliffe, 
"high  in  the  councils  of  her  Majes- 


ty," cut  turf  on  correct  geometrical 
principles.  The  schemes  in  which 
these  illustrious  names  figured  were 
got  up,  in  many  cases,  somewhat  on 
the  following  plan :  A  flattering  pros- 
pectus is  issued,  promising  ten  per 
cent.,  and  perfect  prosperity.  Some 
secret  agent  of  the  directors  is  on  the 
stock  exchange,  puffing  up  the  shares. 
A  price  is  named  ;  it  is  eagerly  accept- 
ed by  him,  the  bargain  is  made,  and 
the  price  of  the  scrip  established.  The 
agents  continue  to  buy;  the  jobbers, 
calculating  on  plenty  of  scrip  being  in 
the  market,  are  willing  to  sell  on  the 
liberal  term  which  the  agent  pays; 
and  they  enter  into  engagements  to 
deliver  a  large  quantity  of  scrip. 
"When  a  sufficient  number  of  shares 
are  sold  to  satisfy  the  grasping  avarice 
of  the  directors,  they  profess  to  con- 
sider the  applications;  and  it  is  an- 
nounced that  no  more  letters  will  be 
received,  and  that  letters  of  allotment 
have  been  forwarded  to  the  fortunate 
applicants,  taking  care,  however,  not 
to  issue  a  tenth  part  of  the  number  pre- 
viously sold  in  the  market.  The  letters 
applying  for  shares  are  burnt  by  bush- 
els, without  even  the  trouble  of  open- 
ing them  ;  and  those  who  have  sold  at 
five  pounds  a  share  cannot  even  buy  at 
three  times  that  sum,  if  the  consciences 
of  the  directors  are  sufficiently  elastic 
to  allow  so  enormous  a  robbery.  Pre- 
miums, patronage,  and  pay,  made  the 
brains  of  the  directors  swim  and  swell. 
Men  who  were  known  to  have  been 
penniless  a  year  before,  suddenly  kept 
their  broughams  or  started  barouches. 
Valuable  diamonds  gleamed  from  fin- 
gers which  had  hitherto  been  guiltless 
of  the  bright  adornment.  Railway 
papers  and  railway  pantaloons,  railway 
ties  and  railway  tricks,  abounded.  It 
was  railway  madness  indeed.  London 
was  to  be  tunnelled  that  the  train 
might  run  beneath  her  mighty  heart ; 
colonnades  were  to  be  formed  in  the 
air  that  the  engine  might  pass  over  the 
path  of  the  pedestrian,  and  it  was  final- 


362 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


ly  suggested  that  there  should  be  one 
great  terminus  for  all  the  companies, 
and  that  that  terminus  should  be  a 
lunatic  asylum ! 

The  system  was  fruitful,  and  every 
one  said  there  was  no  risk.  "When 
shares  were  demanded  of  a  company, 
and  they  only  came  out  at  par,  the 
letter  of  allotment  was  put  into  the 
fire ;  if  they  arrived  at  a  premium  they 
were  sold.  Men  without  a  shilling  wrote 
for  hundreds  of  shares.  Journeymen 
mechanics  styled  themselves  esquires, 
and  signed  deeds  for  thousands.  The 
names  of  men  well  known  in  the  city 
as  gamblers,  whose  notorious  character 
had  banished  them  from  the  society  of 
all  good  men,  suddenly  reappeared  on 
the  lists  of  the  proprietors  and  directors, 
their  names  graced  by  the  cheap  "  es- 
quire," and  their  residences  given  in 
some  far  distant  county.  Tricks  of 
all  sorts  were  played ;  and  in  one  in- 
stance the  whole  of  the  type  and  stock 
in  trade  of  a  printer  was  purchased  by 
one  company,  to  prevent  its  rival  from 
publishing  an  important  document  by 
a  i^articular  period — this  ruse  proving 
successful,  and  the  document  behind 
its  time. 

On  the  last  day  allotted  for  the  recep- 
tion of  plans  by  the  Board  of  Trade, 
a  most  astonishing  scene  was  witnessed. 
As  the  time  approached,  an  anxiety 
which  passes  belief  was  evinced. 
Higher  wages  were  paid  to  those  who 
could  or  would  work  in  preparing  the 
IDlans.  Night  after  night  witnessed 
the  earnest  workman  still  snatching  a 
brief  repose  for  an  hour  or  two,  that 
he  might  resume  his  labors  with  greater 
energy.  Post-horses  were  in  demand. 
Special  trains  brought  plans  from  all 
sections.  Railway  companies  refused 
trains  which  would  assist  opposition 
projects ;  and  the  exertion  made  to 
lodge  those  which  were  ready,  is 
almost  incredible.  The  clerks  were 
overwhelmed  with  them  ;  and  though 
an  additional  number  of  those  gentle- 
men were  employed,  it  was  impossible 


to  keep  pace  with  the  incessant  arri- 
vals. The  place  became  crowded. 
The  last  hour  was  ai3proaching.  An 
alarm  seized  on  all  that  the  necessary 
forms  could  not  be  gone  through  in 
time.  The  clock  struck,  and  the  doors 
were  closing,  when  a  gentleman,  with 
the  plans  of  a  proposed  railway  for 
Surrey,  rushed  in,  and  succeeded  in 
lodging  his  charge.  The  doors  were 
then  closed,  and,  in  a  short  time,  a  post- 
chaise,  with  foaming  steeds,  galloped 
up  to  the  entrance.  Down  the  passage, 
and  toward  the  office,  rushed  the  three 
occupants,  with  their  cherished  papers. 
The  door  was  shut ;  but  railway  per- 
sons deemed  themselves  privileged,  and 
the  bell  was  loudly  rung.  The  unsus- 
picious inspector  of  jDolice  answered 
the  ring;  and  the  huge  documents 
were  thrown  in  at  a  venture ;  but  were 
again  thrown  into  the  street.  Many 
were  too  late  for  the  appointed  hour. 
The  labor  of  anxious  days  and  weary 
nights,  the  results  of  plotting  heads  and 
crafty  brains,  were  rejected. 


liEugrhable  Opposition  to  Steam  Trains. 

Perhaps  the  most  interesting  and 
romantic  pages  that  could  be  furnished 
readers  at  the  present  day,  might  be 
found  in  the  literature  of  early  railways 
— gleanings  from  the  speeches,  pam- 
phlets, reports,  etc.,  which  the  pro- 
posal of  such  schemes  brought  forth. 
A  few  scraps  will  meet  the  purpose  of 
this  volume. 

It  was  contended  by  the  opponents 
of  these  enterprises,  that  canal  convey- 
ance was  quicker;  that  the  smoke  of 
the  engines  would  injure  gentlemen's 
seats  and  villas ;  and  one  writer,  more 
imaginative  than  perceptive,  described 
the  locomotives  as  "terrible  things," 
although,  on  further  questioning,  he 
admitted  he  had  never  seen  one.  It 
was  boldly  declared,  too,  that  a  gale 
of  wind  would  stop  the  progress  of  the 
carriage  ;  that  there  would  be  no  more 
practical  advantage  in  a  railway  than 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT   AND   COMMUNICATION. 


363 


in  a  canal;  that  Mr.  Stephenson  was 
totally  devoid  of  common  sense.  The 
plan  was  asserted  to  be  based  on  fraud 
and  folly;  that  balloons  and  rockets 
were  as  feasible ;  and  that  the  whole 
line  would  be  under  water  for  two  or 
three  weeks  in  succession. 

"  It  is  quite  idle  and  absurd,"  said 
one,  "  to  say  that  the  present  schemes 
can  ever  be  carried  into  execution, 
under  any  circumstances,  or  in  any 
way."  "  "Whenever,"  said  another, 
with  the  authority  of  an  oracle, 
"Providence  in  Lancashire  is  pleased 
to  send  rain  or  a  little  mizzling  weath- 
er, expeditious  it  cannot  be."  A  third 
gave  it  as  Ms  opinion,  that  "  no  engine 
CQuld  go  in  the  night  time,  because," 
he  added,  more  scripturally  than  perti- 
nently, "  the  night  time  is  a  period 
when  no  man  can  work  !  " 

The  public  benefits  of  a  railroad  were 
put  in  disparaging  competition  with 
the  annoyance  which  an  individual 
would  receive  from  the  smoke  of  the 
engines  coming  within  two  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  of  his  house,  and  it  was 
pathetically  asked,  "  Can  anything 
compensate  for  this?"  Gentlemen 
objected  because  it  would  injure  their 
prospects,  and  land-owners  because  it 
would  injure  their  pockets !  Of  Mr. 
Stephenson  it  was  declared,  "  he  makes 
schemes  without  seeing  the  diflicul- 
ties."  "  Upon  this  shuffling  evidence, 
we  are  called  to  pass  the  bill."  "  It 
is  impossible  to  hold  this  changing 
Proteus  in  any  knot  whatsoever."  "  It 
is  the  greatest  draught  upon  human 
credulity  ever  heard  of." 

"  There  is  nothing,"  said  one,  "  but 
long  sedgy  grass  to  prevent  the  train 
from  sinking  into  the  shades  of  eternal 
night,"  Another  appealed  to  the  pock- 
et :  "  If  this  bill  succeeds,  by  the  time 
railroads  are  set  a-going,  the  poor, 
gulled  subscribers  will  have  lost  all 
their  money ;  and,  instead  of  locomo- 
tive engines,  they  must  have  recourse 
to  horses  or  asses,  not  meaning  to  say 
which."    Numberless  were  the  sneers 


at  the  idea  of  engines  galloping  as 
fast  as  five  miles  an  hour.  One  sapient 
gentleman  thought,  however,  that  the 
trains  might  go  at  four  and  one-half 
miles  in  fine  weather,  but  not  more  than 
two  and  one-half  in  wet. 

"  "When  we  set  out  with  the  original 
prospectus,"  was  the  remark  of  the 
counsel,  "  we  were  to  gallop — I  know 
not  at  what  rate.  I  believe  it  was 
twelve  miles  an  hour,  with  the  aid  of 
a  devil  in  the  form  of  a  locomotive, 
sitting  as  postilion  on  the  fore  house, 
and  an  honorable  member  sitting  behind 
him  to  stir  up  the  fire,  and  keep  it  up 
at  full  speed.  I  will  show  they  cannot 
go  six.  I  may  be  able  to  show  we  shall 
keep  up  with  them  by  the  canal." 
"Thus,  sir,  I  prove  that  locomotive 
engines  cannot  move  at  more  than  four 
and  a-quarter  miles  an  hour;  and  I 
will  show  the  scheme  to  be  bottomed 
on  deception  and  fallacy." 


Lady  Ship-master. 

That  Irish  ladies  are  '  smart,'  abun- 
dant evidence  might  be  forthcoming,  if 
necessary.  But  the  following  single  iur 
stance  will  do  much  to  establish  the 
general  assertion.  Amongst  the  fleet 
lately  wind-bound  in  Lamlash,  not  the 
least,  but  perhaps  the  greatest  wonder, 
was  the  good  old  brig  Cleotus,  of  Salt- 
coats, which  for  more  than  twenty  years 
has  been  commanded  by  an  heroic  and 
exceedingly  clever  lady.  Miss  Betsey  Mil- 
ler, daughter  of  Mr.  "W.  Miller,  ship- 
owner and  wood  dealer  of  that  town. 
He  was  concerned  with  several  vessels, 
both  in  the  American  and  coasting  trade. 
Miss  Betsey,  before  she  went  to  sea, 
acted  as  "  ship's  husband  "  to  her  fath- 
er, and  seeing  how  the  captains  in  many 
cases  behaved,  her  romantic  and  ad- 
venturous spirit  impelled  her  to  go  to 
sea  herself.  Her  father  gratified  her 
caprice,  and  gave  her  the  command  of 
the  Cleotus,  which  she  holds  to  the 
present  day  ;  and  she  has  weathered  the 
storms  of  the  deep  when  many  comman- 


364 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


ders  of  the  other  sex  have  been  driven 
on  the  rocks.  The  Cleotus  is  well 
known  in  the  ports  of  Belfast,  Dublin, 
Cork,  etc. 


liucky  and  Unlucky  Names  of  Ships, 
and  Sailini:  Days. 

That  there  is  ill  omen  as  well  as  bad 
luck  attending  vessels  having  certain 
names  has  long  been  believed  by  many, 
and  curious  instances  are  cited  to  prove 
that  it  is  not  mere  superstition.  Among 
the  memorable  in  this  respect  is  the 
bark  Raleigh,  fitted  out  and  called  af- 
ter his  family  name  by  the  great  Sir  Wal- 
ter, and  intended  to  assist  his  half 
brother.  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert,  in  his 
North  American  researches.  This  ves- 
sel sailed  with  Sir  Humphrey,  and,  we 
are  told  in  the  sad  record  of  his  fate,  ap- 
peared to  predict  the  fatal  termination 
of  the  expedition  by  returning  in  less 
than  a  week,  through  a  contagious  dis- 
temper which  seized  on  the  ship's  crew. 
She  was  lost  on  a  similar  expedition  to 
the  one  which  hastened  Sir  Walter's  sad 
doom.  So  of  the  Amazon,  and  Birken- 
head, which  sailed  on  Friday,  and  were 
lost  so  disastrously. 

An  attempt  was  once  made  to 
prove,  once  for  aU,  that  Friday  was 
not  the  unlucky  day  poor  Jack  always 
fancied  it  to  be.  A  ship  was  built  with 
such  an  intention  some  years  ago ;  she 
was  named  Friday,  was  launched  on  Fri- 
day, commanded  by  a  captain  whose 
name  was  Friday,  sailed  on  a  Friday, 
which  no  ship  does  if  it  can  convenient- 
ly be  helped,  and  was  never — heard  of 
aftei-ward!  But  against  all  this,  and 
other  similar  instances,  must  be  placed 
the  fact  that  vessels  with  even  the  luck- 
iest names,  have,  in  innumerable  cases, 
perished,  and  that  for  each  and  every 
day  of  the  week  alike  there  is  the  fruit- 
ful record  of  mischance  and  disaster. 

Columbus  sailed  on  his  great  voy- 
age of  discovery,  on  Friday,  August 
21st.  On  Friday,  October  12th,  1492, 
he  made  his  first  discovery  of  land ;  on 
Friday,  January  4th,  1493,  he  sailed  on 


his  return  to  Spain,  which  if  he  had 
not  reached  in  safety,  the  happy  result 
would  never  have  been  known  ;  on  Fri- 
day, March  loth,  1493,  he  arrived  at 
Palos  in  safety ;  on  Friday,  November 
22d,  1493,  he  arrived  at  Hispaniola,  on 
his  second  voyage  to  America,  and  on 
Friday,  he,  though  unknown  to  him- 
self, discovered  the  continent  of  Amer- 
ica. The  Mayflower,  with  the  pilgrims, 
made  the  harbor  of  Provincetown 
on  Friday,  November  10th,  1620.  Sure- 
ly, in  a  maritime  and  commercial  sense, 
such  facts  send  Friday  up  to  a  premium, 
and  ought  to  disarm  seamen  of  their  ill- 
starred  theory  of  that  day. 


liocoznotion  and  Amalgramation. 

Passenger  :  "  What's  the  matter, 
conductor  ? 

Conductor  (with  accustomed  pres- 
ence of  mind)  :  "  Oh,  nothing  partic- 
ular, sir.  We've  only  been  run  into  by 
an  excursion  train  !  " 

Passenger  :  "  But,  good  gracious  ! 
there's  a  train  just  behind  us,  isn't 
there  ? " 

Conductor:  "  Well,  yes,  sir !  But  a 
boy  has  gone  down  the  line  with  a  sig- 
nal, and  it's  very  likely  they'll  see  it ! " 


New  Rules  for  Railways. 

Some  new  regulations,  recently  pro- 
posed for  the  benefit  of  all  concerned, 
have  found  their  way  into  print,  and 
are  now  being  seriously  considered  by 
the  various  railways.  A  few  are  given 
below. 

No  stoppage  at  a  railway  station  is 
to  exceed  half  an  hour. 

No  railway  dividend  is  to  exceed  one 
hundred  per  cent,  and  no  bonus  to  be 
divided  oftener  than  once  a  month,  oth- 
erwise shareholders  shall  have  a  right 
to  throw  up  their  certificates. 

Lectures  and  dramatic  representa- 
tions are  to  be  given  at  the  stations  to 
entertain  the  passengers  when  they  are 
detained  beyond  the  limit  above  speci- 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND  COMMUNICATION. 


365 


fied,  and  payment  of  one  shilling  an 
hour  is  to  be  made  to  every  laboring  man 
for  every  hour  of  such  detention. 

Every  tunnel  must  be  illuminated 
with  one  candle  at  least,  except  during 
the  season  of  fireflies,  when  it  may  be 
dispensed  with. 

A  magistrate  is  to  be  in  attendance 
at  every  station  to  grant  summonses,  on 
complaint,  against  the  directors  ;  and 
all  law  expenses  incurred  are  to  be  paid 
by  the  Company. 

Never  less  than  one  minute  is  to  be  al- 
lowed for  dinner  or  refreshment. 

One  director  must  always  travel 
with  every  train,  either  in  one  of  the 
cars  or  in  front  of  the  engine — he  hav- 
ing the  liberty  to  choose. 

Hospitals  are  to  be  built  at  every 
terminus  and  a  surgeon  to  be  in  atten- 
dance at  every  station. 

All  the  fines  and  damages  levied  upon 
a  railway  are  to  be  paid  into  a  fund  for 
building  a  series  of  almshouses,  for  the 
maintenance  of  indigent  persons  muti- 
lated from  day  to  day  by  accidents  on 
the  railways. 

There  must  be  some  communication 
between  every  car  and  the  conductor, 
either  by  a  bell,  or  a  speaking  tube,  or 
a  portable  electric  telegraph,  so  that 
the  passengers  may  have  some  means 
of  giving  information  when  their  car  is 
off  the  track,  or  falling  over  an  embank- 
ment, or  a  maniac  has  broken  loose,  or 
a  robbery  by  chloroform  has  taken  place. 


Yankee  Calculation  of  Eailroad  Speed. 

"  Well,  it's  curous  how  we  du  git 
over  the  ground !  Why,  the  trees  all 
look  as  if  they  was  a-dancin'  a  jig  to 
double-quick  time.  I  kin  recollect  ten 
or  twelve  years  ago,  that  if  I  started 
from  Bosting  on  a  Wednesday,  I  cud 
git  in  Filedelphy  on  the  next  Saturday, 
makin'  just  three  days.  Kow  I  kin  git 
from  Bosting  to  Filedelphy  in  one  day ; 
and  I've  been  cal'latin'  that  if  the  pow- 
er of  steam  increases  for  the  next  ten 
years  as  it  has  been  doin'  for  the  last 


ten  years,  I'd  be  in  Filedelphy  jist  two 
days  before  I  started  from  Bosting  I  " 


Railroad  Damages :  The  Tables  Turned. 

A  CERTAIN  community  somewhere  in 
Texas  had  made  it  a  pretty  frequent 
practice  to  get  all  the  money  they  could 
from  the  railroad  corporation  there- 
about, by  allowing  their  cattle  to  get 
upon  the  track  and  obtaining  damages 
when  they  were  killed  by  the  locomo- 
tive. At  last,  however,  a  law  with 
due  penalties  was  enacted,  against  the 
roaming  of  cattle  upon  the  track  of 
said  road. 

A  new  president  of  this  corporation, 
Mr.  Blank,  was  chosen,  whose  manage- 
ment proved  him  to  be  considerably 
ahead  of  some  with  whom  he  was  soon 
called  to  deal.  When  Mr.  Blank  as- 
sumed the  presidential  control,  it  was 
in  a  dark  day  indeed.  Acres  of  wood- 
land, fields  of  grain,  houses  and  barns 
had  been  consumed  by  the  locomotive 
sparks,  and  cattle  without  number  had 
been  killed  on  the  track.  Demands 
against  the  company  and  impending 
law  suits  were  more  numerous  than 
agreeable. 

One  day  a  man  made  his  appearance 
at  Mr.  Blank's  office.  He  was  the  cham- 
pion of  his  neighborhood  in  this  kind 
of  business,  and  had  come  down  to  en- 
force payment  for  a  valuable  pair  of 
oxen,  suddenly  converted  into  jerked 
beef  by  the  iron  horse.  Our  claimant 
entered  the  office  as  bold  as  a  lion. 

"  I  want  payment  for  my  cattle  you 
killed  last  Saturday,"  said  he. 

"  Your  cattle  !  "  inquired  Mr.  Blank ; 
"were  those  your  cattle  that  were 
killed  ? " 

"  Mighty  apt  to  be,"  was  the  answer, 
"  and  I  want  two  hundred  for  them." 

"And  J,"  said  Mr.  Blank,  "want 
proof.  You  must  make  an  affidavit  of 
the  particulars,  and  then  we  will  come 
to  a  settlement." 

Right  willingly  did  the  claimant  as-: 
sent;    but  when  the  instrument  was 


386 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


properly  drawn  up,  signed,  and  authen- 
ticated, Mr.  Blank  turned  to  him  with — 

"  Now,  sir,  I  want  two  hundred  dol- 
lars from  you.'''' 

"  From  me  ?  "  exclaimed  the  amazed 
rustic. 

"  Yes,  sir,  from  2/<?w,"  reiterated  the 
president.  "  Here  I  have  proof,  under 
your  own  hand,  that  your  cattle  were, 
contrary  to  law,  upon  the  track,  and 
thereby  our  engine  was  damaged  to  the 
extent  of  two  hundred  dollars.  Are 
you  prepared  to  settle  the  affair  amica- 
bly, or  must  I  proceed  legally  ? " 

The  applicant  spoke  no  word,  but 
rushed  open-mouthed  from  the  office, 
sought  his  wagon,  and  upon  reaching 
his  house  advised  his  friends  generally 
to  pocket  their  grievances,  or  worse 
would  come  of  it.  From  that  day  the 
demands  upon  the  road  were  few  in- 
deed. 


Telegraphing:  agrainst  Time.' 

An  incident  occurred  at  Niagara 
Falls  during  the  Prince  of  Wales'  stay, 
which  illustrates  some  of  the  fortuities 
of  telegraphic  operating,  and  which 
has  been  frequently,  but — excepting  by 
a  writer  in  Harper's  Magazine — never 
correctly  reported ;  so  it  is  stated. 

The  special  reporter  of  a  New  York 
journal  had  ordered  the  telegraph  line 
to  be  kept  open,  one  Sunday  evening, 
when  the  offices  were  usually  closed, 
and  had  engaged  to  pay  the  operators 
liberally  for  their  extra  work.  Before 
he  had  finished  telegraphing  his  usual 
reports,  along  came  the  reporter  of  an- 
other New  York  journal,  who,  having 
obtained  some  exclusive  news,  and  find- 
ing the  line  in  fine  working  order,  as- 
serted his  right  to  have  his  despatches 
transmitted  to  New  York  also.  Report- 
er the  first  resisted.  Reporter  the 
second  insisted.  Reporter  the  first  ap- 
pealed to  the  telegraph  operators,  and 
after  a  great  deal  of  conversation  be- 
tween the  Niagara  and  Rochester  offi- 
ces, the  operator  decided  that  both  re- 


ports must  be  telegraphed.  Reporter 
the  second  was  calmly  triumphant,  and 
coolly  prepared  his  notes.  Reporter  the 
first  attempted  to  bribe  the  operators, 
and  finding  them  incorruptible,  began 
a  long  and  desultory  argument  over  the 
wires,  in  order  to  kill  time  and  crowd 
out  his  opponent.  Reporter  the  second, 
therefore,  obtained  an  interview  with 
the  Hon.  John  Rose,  the  Premier  of 
Canada,  who  sent  down  a  message  to 
the  operators  that  he  was,  or  had  been, 
President,  Vice-President,  or  Director 
— he  really  could  not  tell  which — of 
the  Telegraph  Company,  and  that  by 
virtue  of  his  authority,  he  ordered  both 
despatches  to  be  telegraphed  immedi- 
ately. This  order  added  fuel  to  the 
fire  of  indignation  which  glowed  in  the 
bosom  of  Reporter  the  first.  A  Cana- 
dian official  dictate  to  an  American  re- 
porter ?  Never !  Meanwhile  the  mo- 
ments slipped  hurriedly  away,  and  the 
hour  was  approaching  when  it  would 
be  useless  to  attempt  to  send  a  despatch 
to  New  York  in  time  for  publication  in 
the  morning  papers.  Observing  this. 
Reporter  the  first  suddenly  recovered 
his  self-control,  and  referred  all  the 
parties  concerned  to  the  standard  rule 
of  the  Telegraph  Company,  that  "  des- 
patches must  be  sent  in  the  order  in 
which  they  were  received,  and  that  one 
despatch  must  be  finished  before  an- 
other could  be  transmitted."  This  rule 
was  acknowledged  to  be  telegraphic 
law.  Reporter  the  first  then  claimed 
priority  for  his  report.  This  point  was 
also  conceded.  The  reporter  then  elo- 
quently but  briefly  informed  the  by- 
standers that  they  might  as  well  go  to 
bed,  as  his  report  could  never  be  con- 
cluded while  a  chance  of  a  despatch 
reaching  New  York  that  night  remain- 
ed to  his  competitor.  Immediately  he 
set  to  work  to  telegraph  against  time. 
His  original  report  having  been  de- 
spatched, he  jotted  down  every  item 
worth  sending,  and  ransacked  his  brains 
for  any  little  incident  of  the  Prince's 
doings  which  might  possibly  have  been 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND   COMMUNICATION. 


367 


forgotten.  His  pencil  flew  over  the 
paper  like  lightning.  Click — click — 
click — the  operator  hurried  off  page 
after  page  almost  as  rapidly  as  the  re- 
porter could  indite  them.  Reporter 
the  second  stalked  gloomily  up  and 
down  the  office,  despairing,  but  uncon- 
quered.  To  him  the  minute-hand  of  the 
clock  moved  with  terrible  swiftness. 
To  Reporter  the  first  the  moments 
seemed  shod  with  lead.  Every  item 
being  exhausted,  a  description  of  Niag- 
ara Falls,  carefully  reserved  to  be  sent 
by  mail,  was  handed  to  the  operator 
and  flashed  over  the  line  at  a  cost  of 
six  or  eight  cents  a  word.  This  done, 
there  was  a  moment's  pause.  Reporter 
the  first  reflected.  Reporter  the  second 
breathed  more  freely,  and  even  ven- 
tured to  smile  hopefully,  and  nervously 
finger  his  detained  despatches.  Alas  ! 
Reporter  the  first  again  writes — this 
time  a  note  to  the  Rochester  operator  : 
"  Which  would  you  prefer  to  telegraph, 
a  chapter  of  the  Bible  or  a  chapter  of 
Claude  Duval,  the  Highwayman  ?  These 
are  the  only  two  books  I  can  find  in 
the  hotel."  The  lightning  flashes  off 
with  the  query,  and  returns  with  the 
answer  :  "  It  is  quite  immaterial  which 
you  send."  The  Reporter  seizes  the 
Bible,  transcribes  the  first  chapter  of 
Matthew,  with  all  its  hard  genealogi- 
cal names,  adds  this  to  his  previous 
despatches,  tacks  portions  of  the  twen- 
ty-first chapter  of  Revelation — describ- 
ing the  various  precious  stones — to  the 
incongruous  report,  hands  it  all  to  the 
operator,  sends  his  blessing  and  an  in- 
junction to  be  careful  of  the  spelling 
to  the  Rochester  ofiice,  and  gleefully 
awaits  the  result  with  his  eyes  on  the 
clock.  Before  this  scriptural  news  is 
fully  transmitted,  the  hour  arrived  when 
no  more  telegrams  could  be  sent.  Re- 
porter the  first  retired  in  glory;  but 
although  his  telegrams  reached  New 
York  safely,  the  Biblical  portions  were 
unfortunately  never  published.  Re- 
porter the  second  telegraphed  his  news 
the  next  morning,  at  the  same  time 


good-naturedly  acknowledging  Ms  de- 
feat. 


Telegraphic  Capers. 

On  a  certain  occasion,  says  a  London 
journal,  the  French  telegraph  made  the 
following  announcement : 

"  Abd-el-Kader  has  been  taken  " — 
but  it  was  mentioned  that  a  fog  envel- 
oi^ed  the  remainder  of  the  sentence  in 
obscurity.  The  excitement,  however,  in 
the  money  market  was  at  fever  height,  at 
the  supposed  capture  of  that  adroit  en- 
emy, and  the  funds  rose  tremendously. 

The  following  day,  the  sentence  be- 
ing completed,  the  intelligence  ran 
thus: 

"  Abd-el-Kader  has  been  taken  with 
a  dreadful  cold  in  his  head." 

The  funds  fell,  but  the  coup — ^which 
was  worthy  of  a  Rothschild — had  been 
sufficiently  successful  for  those  who 
made  the  telegraph  play  into  the  hands 
of  their  agents  at  the  Bourse.  A  fog  in 
Paris  is  frequently  a  great  windfall  in 
a  monetary  and  commercial  point  of 
view. 


Guarding-  the  Track. 

The  Hon.  Erastus  Coming,  President 
of  the  New  York  Central  Railway,  not- 
withstanding his  remarkable  activity, 
has  the  misfortune  to  be  lame.  He 
was  one  day  hobbling  over  the  rail- 
road track  at  Albany,  when  an  Irish-, 
man  who  was  placed  to  guard  the 
track,  sang  out,  with  marked  Celtic 
accent,  "  Will  ye  leave  the  track  ? " 
Mr.  Corning  smiled  inwardly  and  stum- 
bled on,  when  the  Irishman  again  cried, 
"  Begone,  ye  stumbling  high-binder,  or 
the  11.30  Express  will  be  forninst  ye, 
and  Mister  Corning  will  have  to  pay 
for  ye  the  full  price  of  a  well  man  with 
two  legs.  Begone  !  sare  !  "  This  was 
too  much  for  "  Old  Central ;  "  he  yield- 
ed the  track  for  the  11.30  Express,  and 
sent  a  reward  and  commendation  to 
the  faithful  watchman,  who  had  never 


!68 


COMMERCIAL   AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


once  suspected  tlie  name  or  position  of 
that  "  stumbling  liigli-binder." 


A  Deep  Design. 

A  PLAN  is  about  to  be  carried  out  by- 
some  enterprising  London  capitalists 
for  passing  an  electric  telegraph  under 
the  streets  of  that  city.  That  walls  have 
ears  has  been  heard  by  all ;  but  this  is 
a  plain  matter-of-fact  sort  of  scheme  for 
giving  tongues  to  the  streets,  which  will 
enable  them  to  rival  the  celebrated 
stones  that  were  nearly  rising  up  to 
remonstrate,  in  a  certain  exigency,  to 
say  nothing  of  those  stones  of  the  poet, 
in  which  he  assures  us  there  are  ser- 
mons. It  is  presumed  that  an  under- 
tone will  be  best  adapted  to  this  sub- 
terranean language. 

It  has  been  decided  that  this  tele- 
graph, when  completed,  shall  be  let 
out  to  the  whole  public  at  so  much  a 
message.  This  plan  will  do  very  well, 
unless  the  whole  population  wants,  as 
usual,  to  talk  at  once,  when  the  effect 
would  be  most  extraordinary.  Nor  is 
any  statement  made,  as  yet,  to  prevent 
the  wrong  people  from  receiving  the 
messages  that  are  thus  sent  by  the  tele- 
graph. It  would  be  very  awkward  if 
a  somewhat  general  observation  should 
arrive  at  a  station,  for  there  would  be 
a  difficulty  in  finding  an  owner  for 

remark  of  such  a  common-place 
character. 

The  project  seems  a  good  one,  but  it 
will  require  much  modification  to  ren- 
der it  efi'ectual.  One  regulation  pro- 
vides that  ladies  who  avail  themselves 
of  the  telegraph  shall  be  charged  by 
the  length  of  the  message,  an  immense 
revenue  being  calculated  from  this 
source  alone ;  in  order,  however,  that 
all  may  share  the  benefits  of  such  an 
enterprise,  no  one  female  is  to  be  al- 
lowed to  monopolize  the  use  of  the 
subterranean  tongue  for  a  longer  time 
at  once  than  thirteen  hours. 


Unsociable  Travelling-  Companion. 

A  RARE  incident  occurred  in  an  Eng- 
lish stage-coach,  on  "a  certain  occasion, 
before  railroads  came  into  vogue.  Two 
passengers,  one  a  merchant,  set  out 
from  a  London  inn  early  on  a  Decem- 
ber morning.  It  was  dark  as  pitch  ; 
and  one  of  them,  not  being  sleepy,  and 
wishing  for  a  little  conversation,  en- 
deavored, in  the  usual  travelling  mode, 
to  stimulate  his  companion  to  discourse. 
"A  very  dark  morn,  sir.  Shocking 
cold  weather  for  travelling !  Slow 
going  in  the  heavy  roads,  sir."  None 
of  these  very  civil  observations  pro- 
ducing a  word  in  response,  the  sociable 
merchant  made  one  more  efibrt.  He 
stretched  out  his  hand  and  feeling  the 
other's  habit,  exclaimed,  "  What  a  very 
comfortable  coat,  sir,  you  have  got  to 
travel  in  I  "  No  answer  was  made,  and 
the  merchant,  fatigued  and  disgusted, 
fell  into  a  sound  nap,  nor  awoke  until 
the  brightest  rays  of  a  winter's  sun  ac- 
counted to  him  for  the  taciturnity  of 
his  comrade,  by  presenting  to  his  as- 
tonished view  a  huge  bear  (luckily  for 
him  muzzled  and  confined)  in  a  sitting 
posture. 


Decoration  of  Hailroad  Depots. 

At  one  of  our  railway  stations,  a  pas- 
senger on  looking  round  saw  the  bill 
announcing  the  arrival  and  departure 
of  the  train,  and  by  its  side  was  posted 
— with  most  innocent  candor  on  the 
part  of  the  directors — another  bill,  ad- 
vising him,  in  the  most  alluring  terms, 
to  insure  his  life.  Of  course  the  two 
things  thus  placed  in  juxtaposition,  put 
him  in  a  reflecting  mood. 

Eailway  companies  might  improve 
on  this  system  of  starting  trains  of  se- 
rious thought.  They  should  illuminate 
the  walls  of  their  waiting-rooms  with 
moral  sentences,  expressive  of  the  un- 
certainty of  human  existence,  such  as 
Memento  Mori,  Mors  Janua  Vitse,  &c. ; 
which,  executed  in  appropriate  char- 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND  COMMUNICATION. 


369 


acters,  might  be  made  to  have  a  pic- 
turesque and  pleasing,  as  well  as  profit- 
able effect.  The  intermixture  -with 
these  legends,  of  tombstone  cherubs, 
skulls,  and  femoral  bones,  and  views  in 
cemeteries  well  painted,  would  be  veiy 
suitable  ;  and  to  these  aesthetic  decora- 
tions might  be  added  the  figure  of  old 
Time  with  his  scythe  and  hourglass. 
It  may  be  mentioned,  as  a  matter  not 
unrelated  to  these  suggestions,  that 
some  of  the  newspapers  have  adopted 
the  plan  of  inserting  their  "Eailway 
Intelligence  "  next  to  the  "  Obituary." 


Punch's  Own  Kailway. 

This  snug  little  suburban  line  (says 
its  proprietor)  occasionally  makes  a 
mild  demand  on  public  attention,  by  a 
sort  of  popgun-like  proceeding,  known 
as  the  issuing  of  its  annual  report, 
which  is  usually  accompanied  with  a 
very  little  smoke,  and  somewhat  less 
fire.  Everything  is  on  the  smallest 
possible  scale;  and  the  rolling  stock 
includes  a  garden  roller,  which  is  kept 
for  the  purpose  of  rolling  the  gravel 
walks  by  the  side  of  those  cabbage 
beds  which  form  the  vegetable  wealth 
of  the  company.  The  property  of  the 
railway  is  understood  to  have  some- 
what increased ;  but  there  has  been  a 
loss  of  one  engine  and  two  buffers,  the 
former  being  the  moral  engine  which 
the  company  once  possessed  in  the  sup- 
port of  a  now  apathetic  press  ;  and  the 
latter  consisting  of  two  old  buffers  who 
have  got  better  places,  after  having 
been  for  some  years  in  the  service  of 
the  line  as  gardeners. 

The  balance  at  the  banker's  had  been 
augmented  by  a  few  pounds,  and  the 
goods  traffic  is  nearly  eight  ounces 
more  this  year  than  it  was  last — an  in- 
crease which,  considering  the  level  of 
former  times,  may  be  considered  fever- 
ish. Of  coal,  there  is  a  skuttle  more  in 
the  company's  cellars  than  there  was 
last  year ;  and  the  directors  propose 
that  this  surplus  shall  not  be  disturbed, 
34 


but  that  it  shall  be  added  to  the  "  rest," 
and  carried  over  to  the  credit — the 
very  great  credit,  of  the  company. 

The  engineer  of  the  line  has  inspect- 
ed the  boilers,  and  reports  that  "  the 
concern  is  not  yet  out  of  hot  water,  nor 
likely  to  be  for  some  time  to  come," — 
nor  have  the  law  proceedings  been 
brought  to  a  termination.  Thanks 
were  voted  to  the  chairman,  who  had 
lent  a  Bath  chair  for  a  visit  of  the  resi- 
dent director  to  the  terminus. 


Stage  Coach.  Experience  of  two  Mer- 
chants. 

'  One  of  the  very  pleasantest  episodes 
to  be  found  in  the  range  of  mercantile 
travelling  experience,  is  that  of  the  in- 
terview between  Vincent  Nolte,  the 
great  merchant  of  two  hemispheres, 
and  John  McNeil,  a  Liverpool  mer- 
chant of  celebrity.  It  is  one  of  those 
"happenings"  which  do  not  need  to 
be  read  of  more  than  once,  as  one  read- 
ing will  serve  the  memory  ever  after. 
It  is  almost  worth  the  full  price  of  Nol- 
te's  Autobiography,  an  admirable  trans- 
lation of  which,  from  the  German,  has 
been  published  in  this  country.  Mr. 
Nolte  says: 

I  took  a  place,  at  five  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  in  the  Birmingham  coach,  the 
best  conveyance  then  between  Liver- 
pool and  London.  It  was  a  troubled, 
misty,  unpleasant  morning.  In  the  cor- 
ner of  the  coach  opposite  me,  wrapped 
in  his  cloak,  sat  a  gloomy  looking  per- 
son, besides  myself  the  only  passenger. 
More  than  two  hours  elapsed  before  the 
spirit  moved  us  to  any  conversation. 
At  length  my  companion  roused  him- 
self, and  brought  forward  the  subject 
which  always  opens  a  conversation  in 
England — the  weather. 

"  We  have  a  very  nasty,  disagreeable 
day  before  us,  I  fear,"  he  remarked. 

Whereupon  I  asked  him  if  he  were 
going  all  the  way  to  London. 

"  No,  no,"  he  answered,  "  I  will  get 
out  at  a  pottery  near  Wolverhampton, 
where  I  have  to  buy  some  hundred 


370 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


baskets  of  crockery  for  my  ship,  the 
'Peter  Ellis.'" 

"  In  order  to  send  it  to  New  Orleans, 
I  suppose,"  said  I. 

"  Certainly,"  he  said,  "  but  I  beg 
your  pardon,  how  did  you  know  that  ? " 

"  I  did  not  know  it,"  I  replied,  "  I 
only  guessed  it.  I  have  seen  the  ship 
several  times  in  New  Orleans.  She  was 
consigned  to  my  friends,  Denistoun, 
Hill  &  Co." 

"  Oh,  ho,"  said  he,  "  so  you  have 
been  in  New  Orleans." 

"  Very  often,"  said  I. 

"  How  is  the  credit  of  the  firm  ?  " 
was  his  next  question. 

"  Admirable,"  said  I ;  "  Mr.  Hill  is  a 
man  much  esteemed  and  beloved." 

"  So  I  have  always  thought,"  he  re- 
plied. 

"  Those  gentlemen,"  I  continued, 
"  veiy  often  have  ships  to  their  address 
— for  instance,  the  Liverpool  brig  '  The 
Brothers,'  the  ship  '  Mary  Wood,'  and 
others.  The  Liverpool  ship  '  Ottawa,' 
was  in  other  hands  (namely,  in  ours), 
as  well  as  many  others." 

"  You  appear  to  know  our  vessels 
well,"  said  he,  "  and  also  most  of  the 
English  houses  in  New  Orleans." 

"  Oh,  yes,"  I  said ;  "  I  know  nearly 
all  the  houses  of  any  position  there, 
pretty  well." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,"  said  my 
companion,  and  then  our  dialogue  con- 
tinued. 

"  Do  you  know  Munro,  Milne  &  Co.  ? 
How  do  they  stand  ? " 

■ "  Very  well.  They  are  the  estab- 
lished correspondents  of  James  Finley 
&  Co.,  of  Glasgow." 

"  Do  you  know  P.  W.  &  Co.  ?  How 
do  they  stand  ? " 

"  So,  so,  no  general  credit." 

"  Do  you  know  G.,  F.  &  Co.  ? " 

"  G.  is  a  clever  business  man,  and  F. 
is  a  windbag,  who,  however,  has  thrown 
into  the  firm  a  large  capital  inherited 
jfrom  his  aunt." 

"  The  devil !  "  quoth  my  interlocu- 
tor; "you  appear  to  know  them  all. 


You  must  have  lived  some  years  in  New 
Orleans." 

"  Yes,  several." 

"  Do  you  know  Vincent  Mite  ?  " 

"  As  well  as  he  knows  himself." 

"  What  sort  of  a  man  is  he  ?  " 

"  Well,"  said  I,  "  he  has  many  friends, 
and  perhaps  quite  as  many  foes  ;  take 
him  all  in  all,  however,  I  believe  he  is 
a  good  sort  of  a  fellow,  with  whom 
folks  like  to  deal." 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  our  captains  like 
him  very  much.  He  was  prompt  and 
expeditious,  and  when  he  had  freight- 
ed a  vessel,  the  goods  came  down  as 
fast  as  they  could  be  received  on  board." 

"  I  believe,"  said  I,  "  that  this  praise 
is  not  undeserved.  It  was  always  his 
custom  to  do  quickly  whatever  he  un- 
dertook." 

Thereupon  our  conversation  ended ; 
and  in  half  an  hour  the  coach  stopped 
before  a  large  pottery  belonging  to 
Baker,  Bourne  &  Baker.  As  he  got 
out,  my  companion  gave  me  his  card — 
"  John  McNeil,  Liverpool,"  saying  : 

"  I  have  found  so  much  pleasure  in 
your  conversation,  that  you  must  prom- 
ise to  pay  me  a  visit  when  you  return 
to  Liverpool.  I  will  present  you  to  my 
two  daughters,  and  we  will  all  receive 
you  with  pleasure." 

I  was  of  course  obliged  to  give  him 
my  card  in  exchange.  He  glanced  at 
it  twice,  and  in  a  doubtful  sort  of  way 
read  it  over. 

"  Vincent  N-o-ble!" 

"No,  sir,"  I  said;  "Vincent  Mite, 
the  very  gentleman  you  were  inquiring 
about." 

"  Ah  !  so,  so,"  he  said.  "  Well,  sir, 
glad  to  have  had  a  sight  of  you.  Do 
not  fail  to  call  when  you  come  to  Liv- 
erpool again.     Farewell,  sir  !  " 

And  so  the  coach  rolled  on. 


An  Interesting-  Consig-nment. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  consign- 
ments— at  least  in  an  historical  point 
of  view— of  which  there  is  any  record, 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND   COMMUNICATION. 


371 


is  tliat  which  was  received  from  Lon- 
don, by  Mr.  Jacob  Barker,  of  New 
York,  viz.,  the  first  steam  engine  ever 
in  successful  operation  for  propelling 
vessels.  It  was  made  by  Messrs.  Bol- 
ton and  Watts,  celebrated  for  construct- 
ing steam  machinery  in  that  day.  Af- 
ter its  arrival  it  remained  in  Mr.  Bar- 
ker's store  in  South  street  many  months 
before  Mr.  Fulton  could  raise  the  funds 
to  pay  for  it.  This  engine  was  placed 
on  the  first  steamboat  that  navigated 
the  Hudson,  and  Mr.  Barker  thinks 
that  she  attained  the  speed  of  four 
miles  an  hour.  Little  did  he  then 
think  that  this  discovery  of  the  im- 
mortal Fulton  would  in  less  than  half 
a  century  regulate  the  commerce  of  the 
whole  world,  saving  time  and  shorten- 
ing space  to  such  a  degree  that  to  be 
deprived  of  its  use  would  be  univer- 
sally considered  a  calamity  of  the  first 

magnitude. 

■» — 

ScLuelching  a  Director's  Impertinence. 

The  plenary  indulgence  conceded  to 
Mr.  Hudson,  the  English  railway  mon- 
arch, by  which  his  will  was  made  law 
— all  complaints  of  those  who  natural- 
ly esteemed  themselves  not  fairly  dealt 
with  in  various  operations  being  silenc- 
ed by  his  mere  beck — cannot  be  better 
comprehended  than  in  an  anecdote  of 
Mr.  H.  in  his  palmy  days  ;  being  a  cir- 
cumstance which  occurred  at  the  board 
meeting  of  a  certain  line.  The  honor- 
able gentleman  had  allotted  to  himself 
six  hundred  Shares,  and  to  another 
member  of  the  board,  two  hundred. 
These  shares  having  risen  to  five 
pounds  premium,  the  latter  gentle- 
man thought  he  ought  to  have  a  lar- 
ger number,  and  accordingly  intimated 
his  opinion  to  Mr.  Hudson.     "  I  have 

been  accustomed,  Mr. ,"  replied  the 

dictator,  "  to  have  gentlemen  with 
whom  I  am  associated,  satisfied  with 
my  arrangements  ;  and  if  you  are  not, 
I'll  retire  and  leave  the  affairs  in  your 
custody,  which  I  dare  say  you'll  man- 


age better  than  I  do,  as  I  have  so  much 
other  business  on  my  hands."  "  Oh, 
certainly  not ;  by  no  means,  Mr.  Hud- 
son," bowingly  responded  the  crest-fal- 
len director  ;  '■  I  am  sure  all  you  do  is 
right,  and  I  am  quite  satisfied  with 
your  arrangement."  It  is  pretty  cer- 
tain that  HP  further  complaint  was 
made  by  any  of  George's  colleagues  at 
tJiat  board ! 


Bare  Passeng-er  in  an  Omnibus. 

John  McDonogh,  of  New  Orleans, 
was  one  of  those  who  rarely  spent  ten- 
pence  for  an  omnibus  ride,  his  habit 
being  to  economize  to  the  last  extremi- 
ty in  these  minor  as  well  as  in  larger 
things.  He  was  an  untiring  pedestrian, 
being  ever  on  foot,  on  some  errand  per- 
taining to  his  vast  money  concern.  Sud- 
denly, one  day,  while  pursuing  so  eager- 
ly his  imaginary  goal,  he  was  seized 
with  faintness  on  the  street.  Other 
men  would  have  taken  a  cab,  and  rid- 
den home,  or  at  least  to  a  physician's  ; 
but  when  did  John  McDonogh  turn 
aside  from  business  to  relieve  any  weak- 
ness or  want  ? "  He  had  an  important 
document  to  file  in  court.  It  must  be 
done  that  day.  He  is  too  weak  to 
walk.  There  is  the  omnibus ;  the  fare 
is  only  a  dime — but  that  dime  is  so 
much  taken  from  the  poor,  for  John 
McDonogh  is  only  an  agent  for  the 
poor,  so  appointed  and  called  of  God. 
Such  were  the  reflections,  probably, 
that  passed  through  his  mind  before  he 
could  be  induced  to  perpetrate  this  se- 
rious violation  of  the  settled  rules  of  a 
life — this  single  blot  and  stain  on  a  ca- 
reer of  unbroken  self-abnegation.  With 
a  sigh  he  took  his  seat  in  the  omnibus. 
It  was  his  last  ride. 


First  Ship  at  St.  Petersburg:. 

The  first  ship  which  entered  the  port 
of  St.  Petersburg,  w^as  a  Dutch  vessel, 
the  same  in  which  Peter  the  Great  ac- 
quired in  Holland  a  practical  knowl- 


372 


COMMERCIAL   AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


edge  of  seamanship.  She  was  received 
with  extraordinary  rejoicings  and  fes- 
tivities, and  whatever  she  might  at  any 
future  period  bring  into  the  country 
was  sacredly  exempted  from  duty. 
This  privilege  she  enjoyed,  until  the 
end  of  the  last  century,  when  she  was 
obliged  to  discontinue  her  trips,  be- 
cause it  was  found  impossible  to  patch 
her  up  any  longer  so  as  to  be  seawor- 
thy. The  first  ship  that  arrives  in  May, 
like  the  swallow  proclaiming  the  return 
of  spring,  is  still  greeted  with  unusual 
demonstrations  of  joy,  and  has  various 
favors  granted  her. 


Proposed  Line  from  England  to  China. 

In  consequence  of  the  extreme  diffi- 
culty at  present  experienced  in  making 
the  voyage  to  China  and  India,  togeth- 
er with  the  delay  and  chances  of  ship- 
wreck, it  has  been  proposed  by  gentle- 
men connected  with  the  London  Punch 
— ^under  the  advice  of  an  eminent  en- 
gineer— to  construct  a  railway  direct 
from  that  city  to  the  Celestial  Empire. 

The  plan  suggested  i^  the  very  feasi- 
ble one  of  penetrating  the  bowels  of 
the  earth,  through  the  medium  of  a  suit- 
able tunnel  from  London  to  Canton, 
passing  through  the  centre  of  the  globe, 
— thus  obviating  altogether  the  enor- 
mous expense  usually  incurred  in  the 
purchase  of  land,  and  avoiding  the  op- 
position likely  to  be  encountered  from 
hostile  nations. 

From  the  Report  made  to  the  Com- 
mittee by  Sinko  Shaft,  Esq.,  the  engi- 
neer, who  has  descended  some  of  the 
deepest  wells  and  sewers  in  and  about 
the  metropolis,  and  has  sounded  the 
earth  in  various  places  at  the  outskirts, 
there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the 
centre  of  the  globe  consists  of  a  mass  of 
softest  soil,  except  where  intersected  by 
solid  rocks  of  gold  and  silver,  and 
caverns  of  precious  stones ;  and  that, 
from  his  examination,  there  is  no  reason 
whatever  to  believe,  as  some  have  con- 
jectured, that  the  earth  is  a  mere  crust, 


filled  in  the  interior  with  nothing  at  all 
— a  state  of  things  which  would  natu- 
rally have  rendered  the  cutting  of  a  tun- 
nel through  it  an  expedient  of  some 
difficulty.  As  it  is,  however,  the  cut- 
ting will  be  exceedingly  easy,  except 
where  the  masses  of  precious  metals  and 
jewels  interpose  an  obstacle ;  but  inas- 
much as  this  material,  when  removed, 
will  be  immensely  valuable,  and,  accor- 
ding to  the  most  moderate  calculations 
of  the  engineer,  will  be  many  hundred 
times  more  than  sufficient  to  cover  the 
entire  expense  of  the  undertaking,  but 
little  fear  need  be  apprehended  upon 
this  point. 

It  is  intended  that  the  terminus  in 
England  shall  be  at  what  is  now  the 
building  known  as  St.  Paul's  Cathedral, 
London,  which  for  the  purposes  of  this 
line  is  to  undergo  the  necessary  architec- 
tural alterations,  after  permission  has 
been  obtained  from  the  metropolitan 
bishop. 

The  journey  by  this  route  will,  it  is 
calculated,  be  accomplished  as  soon  as 
the  passengers  get  from  one  terminus  to 
another.  And  as  the  railway  will  pass 
immediately  under  Mount  Vesuvius,  a 
station  will  be  erected  there,  at  which 
trains  will  stop  for  the  purpose  of  tak- 
ing in  coals  and  lava,  or  blacksmiths, 
should  there  be  any  residing  in  those 
parts.  Another  stoppage  will  be  made 
immediately  under  the  Mediterranean, 
with  a  view  of  getting  a  supply  of  wa- 
ter— conveniently  drawn  down  through 
a  pipe  from  the  sea  aboye. 

As  regards  the  intermediate  traffic  be- 
tween the  two  termini,  there  is,  from 
the  recent  investigations  into  the  sub- 
ject by  the  learned  members  of  the 
University  Nhowhere,  strong  reason  for 
believing  that  the  population  swallow- 
ed up  at  various  periods  by  earth- 
quakes, as  at  Lisbon,  Port  Royal,  etc., 
etc.,  have  only  disappeared  from  the 
surface  of  the  globe  to  colonize  and 
people  the  interior.  Should  this  be 
proved  to  be  the  case  the  most  interest- 
ing results  are  likely  to  follow  upon 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND  COMMUNICATION. 


373 


the  establisliment  of  this  undertaking 
— which  indeed  may  be  the  means  at 
once  of  opening  an  immense  market  for 
manufactures  and  a  passage  for  the  in- 
habitants of  the  interior  regions  of  the 
earth  of  the  most  profitable  and  ad- 
vantageous description.  In  addition  to 
this  it  is  confidently  expected  that  most 
of  the  Continental  nations  will  establish 
branch  tunnels  running  into  that  of  the 
parent  Company,  which  will  be  both  a 
most  lucrative  source  of  revenue,  and  be 
the  means  of  opening  an  immense  field  to 
commercial  enterprise. 


Assuming  the  Responsibility. 

Hudson,  the  railway  king,  knew  well 
how  to  make  steady,  gradual,  and 
permanent  encroachments  in  the  con- 
duct of  those  vast  undertakings  of 
which  he  was  the  body  and  soul,  so  as  to 
compel  others  to  concede  to  him  the 
absolute  influence  necessary  for  that 
free  individual  action  on  which  he  felt 
the  very  existence  of  the  organizations 
he  brought  about,  and  the  success  of 
the  negotiations  into  which  he  entered, 
depended.  He  further  knew  how  to 
make  capital  out  of  the  feelings  of 
reverence  and  admiration  he  excited. 
Having  entered  into  some  arrangements 
for  the  famous  Midland  Company 
which  he  had  not  vouchsafed  to  disclose 
to  the  board  of  directors,  these  gentle- 
man, after  having  vainly  endeavored, 
to  worm  out  the  coveted  secret,  screw- 
ed up  their  courage  one  day  to  demand 
it.  They  accordingly  met  much  earlier 
one  day  than  usual,  and  when  their  supe- 
rior arrived,  they  were  all  exceedingly 
quiet. 

"  How  now,  gentlemen,"  said  Mr. 
Hudson,  "  has  anything  happened  ?  " 

"  Only,"  replied  one,  "  that  we  being 
equally  responsible  with  yourself  for 
what  is  done,  are  desirous  of  know- 
ing the  nature  of  your  future  plans." 

"  You  are,  are  you  ?  "  rejoined  the 
premier ;  "  then  you  will  not !  "  And 
the  business  of  the  board  proceeded. 


Eothchild's  Omnibus  Fare. 

There  is  a  good  story  told  of  Baron 
Rothschild,  which  shows  that  it  is  not 
only  money  which"makes  the  mare  go," 
— or  horses  either,  as  in  this  case, — but 
ready  money,  "  unlimited  credit "  to 
the  contrary  notwithstanding.  On  a 
very  wet  and  disagreeable  day,  the  Bar- 
ron took  a  Parisian  omnibus,  on  his  way 
to  the  Bourse  or  Exchange,  near  which 
the  nabob  of  finance  alighted,  and  was 
going  away  without  paying.  The  dri- 
ver stopped  him,  and  demanded  his  fare. 
Rothschild  felt  in  his  pocket,  but  he 
had  not  a  "  red  cent "  of  change.  The 
driver  was  very  wroth  : 

"  What  did  you  get  in  for,  if  you 
could  not  pay  ?  You  must  have  hnown 
that  you  had  no  money !  " 

"  I  am  Baron  Rothschild,"  exclaimed 
the  great  capitalist,  "  and  there  is  my 
card ! " 

The  driver  threw  the  card  into 
the  gutter. 

"  Never  heard  of  you  before,"  said 
Jehu,  "  and  don't  want  to  hear  of  you 
again.  But  I  want  my  fare — and  I 
must  have  it." 

The  great  banker  was  in  haste :  "  I 
have  only  an  order  for  a  million,"  he  said ; 
"  give  me  change  ?  "  and  he  proffered  a 
"  coupon"  for  fifty  thousand  francs.  The 
conductor  stared,  and  the  passengers  set 
up  a  horse  laugh.  Just  then  an  "  agent 
de  change  "  came  by,  and  Baron  Roths- 
child borrowed  of  him  the  six  sous. 
The  driver  was  now  seized  with  a  kind 
of  remorseful  respect ;  and  turning  to 
the  money-king,  he  said— 

"  If  you  want  ten  francs,  sir,  I  don't 
mind  lending  them  to  you  on  my  own 
account." 


Great  North  Pole  Railway. 

There  is  a  railway  enterprise  on  foot, 
which,  according  to  the  prospectus,  is 
to  literally  rise  above  everything  in  the 
line  of  that  class  of  transit  undertak- 
ings. It  is  styled,  with  that  modesty 
of  terms  which  distinguishes   all  real 


374 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


enterprises  from  those  wliich  are  merely 
chimerical,  the  "  Great  North  Pole  Rail- 
way, forming  a  junction  with  the  Equi- 
noctial Line,  with  a  branch  to  the  ho- 
rizon. Capital,  two  hundred  millions. 
Deposit,  three  pence."  The  directors 
named  for  the  North  Pole  terminus  are 
J.  Frost,  Esq.,  chairman  of  the  northwest 
passage  ;  and  Baron  Iceberg,  keeper  of 
the  great  seal  on  the  Northern  Ocean. 
Director  for  the  horizon,  Hugh  de  Rain- 
bow— admiral  of  the  red,  blue,  and 
orange,  etc.,  etc.  And  in  addition  to  these 
are  Simon  Scamp,  Esq,  chairman  of  the 
East  Jericho  Junction  Railway ;  Tliomas 
Trapper,  Esq.,  manager  of  the  Gener- 
al Aerial  Navigation  Company ;  and  Sir 
Edward  Alias,  non-resident  director  of 
the  Equitable  Coal  and  Slate  Associa- 
tion ; — with  power  to  add  to  their  num- 
ber, by  "  taking  in  "  as  many  as  possible. 

The  proposed  line  will  take  the  hori- 
zon for  its  point  of  departure,  and,  pass- 
ing near  the  equator,  will  terminate  at 
the  North  Pole,  which  will  be  the  prin- 
cipal station  of  the  company. 

It  is  calculated  that  sunbeams  may 
be  conveyed  along  the  line  by  a  new 
process,  which  Professor  Twaddle  has 
been  employed  by  the  provisional  com- 
mittee to  discover ;  and  the  professor's 
report  will  be  laid  before  the  subscri- 
bers at  the  very  earliest  opportunity. 

By  bringing  the  Equator  within  a 
week  of  the  North  Pole,  and  cooperat- 
ing with  the  proprietors  of  the  Great 
Equinoctial  Line  (long  so  vigorous  in  its 
operations),  the  advantages  to  the  share- 
holders will  be  so  obvious,  that  it  is 
hardly  necessary  to  allude  to  them. 

It  is  estimated  that  the  mere  luggage 
traffic,  in  bringing  up  ice  from  the 
North  Pole  to  the  readiest  market,  will 
return  a  profit  of  sixty-five  per  cent. 
on  the  capital. 

Should  any  unforeseen  circumstance 
occur  to  prevent  the  Railway  being  car- 
ried out,  the  deposit  will  be  returned,  on 
application  to  Messrs.  Walker,  Gammon 
&  Co.  (Solicitors  to  the  Company),  at 
their  temporary  offices  in  Leg  Alley. 


Protective  Costume  for  Travellers. 

It  is  in  contemplation  to  provide,  at 
all  the  stations  on  a  certain  western 
railway,  a  dress  adapted  for  travellers 
along  that  celebrated  line,  by  which  it 
is  thought  they  will  be  secured  from  the 
chances  of  injury  by  the  collisions  that 
are  continually  happening. 

Considering  that  padding  is  not  un- 
fre'quently  resorted  to,  for  the  purpose 
of  improving  the  figure,  it  has  been 
thought  quite  reasonable  that  the 
fashion  should  be  extended  to  the  pur- 
pose of  protecting  the  limbs  as  well  as 
merely  adding  to  their  symmetry.  A 
good  pair  of  false  calves,  got  up  at  a 
reasonable  price,  would  doubtless  be  in 
very  great  demand,  among  those  who 
risk  their  legs  whenever  they  set  their 
foot  in  a  car  on  the  line  alluded  to. 
The  public  would  have  no  objection  to 
a  slight  addition  to  the  fares,  for  the 
purpose  of  insuring  something  like 
protection  against  accident. 

The  tariff  of  the  Company  might  easi- 
be  so  varied  as  to  allow  of  the  "  first 
class,  with  paddings,"  being  available  at 
a  small  extra  cost ;  while  the  "  second 
class,  with  calves  or  knee-caps,"  might 
be  charged  something  lower. 


Wagrhorn's  Great  Scheme. 

The  great  pioneer  of  the  Overland 
Communication  with  India  was  poor 
Thomas  Waghorn.  It  is  now  upward 
of  thirty  years  since  Waghorn  arrived 
in  Bombay,  full  of  a  scheme  for  navi- 
gating a  steamer  round  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  which  steamer,  that  it 
might  carry  a  sufficiency  of  fuel  for 
the  whole  trip,  was  only  to  take  the 
mails  and  one  passenger.  On  the  day 
of  Waghorn's  arrival  a  meeting  was 
held  by  the  merchants  to  receive  pro- 
posals from  a  Mr.  Taylor  for  the  for- 
mation of  a  company  which  was  to 
open  a  communication  with  India  via 
the  Red  Sea.  Waghorn's  scheme  was 
scouted,      Taylor   received    great  en- 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND   COMMUNICATION. 


375 


couragement,  as  far  as  promises  could 
be  relied  upon,  and  he  started  for  Eu- 
rope with  a  party  of  friends,  travelling 
up  the  Persian  Gulf  and  Euphrates  en 
route  to  Constantinople  ;  but  the  whole 
party  was  murdered  by  the  Vezedees 
near  Diarbekir. 

On  the  receipt  of  the  news  in  India, 
Waghorn  changed  his  tactics,  and 
declared  for  the  Red  Sea  route,  offer- 
ing to  return  to  Europe  with  mercan- 
tile letters.  But  the  "  Ducks  " — as  the 
Bombay  people  are  familiarly  called  in 
India — thought  him  mad  or  eccentric. 
Certainly  he  was  afflicted  with  mono- 
mania— he  could  think,  speak,  dream 
of  nothing  but  "  steam."  It  became 
necessary,  when  in  his  company,  to 
avoid  all  allusion  to  anything  which 
could  supply  him  with  an  excuse  for 
bursting  out  on  his  favorite  topic. 
Kettles,  smojiing  tureens,  condensed 
vapor,  one  shunned;  for  he  watched, 
as  a  cat  watches  for  a  mouse,  for  an  op- 
portunity of  bringing  in  steam  naviga- 
tion. On  one  unfortunate  occasion 
(says  the  narrator  of  this),  I  introduced 
him  to  a  Major  Hawkins,  a  military 
engineer,  saying :  "  Waghorn,  make 
the  acquaintance  of  my  esteemed  friend. 
Major  Hawkins."  "  Steamed^  sir,  did 
you  say  ? "  exclaimed  Waghorn  ;  "  I 
am  delighted  ! "  He  seized  Hawkins 
by  the  buttons  and  victimized  him. 

Mad  as  he  was,  however,  Waghorn 
contrived,  to  carry  his  point  with  the 
London  merchants  and  the  ministry. 
He  besieged  the  office  of  the  Foreign 
Secretary,  he  worried  the  Premier,  tor- 
tured the  Duke  of  Wellington,  and 
bullied  the  public  through  the  press. 
At  length  the  merchants  consented  to 
test  his  repeated  asseverations  that  let- 
ters could  be  carried  to  India,  tiia  Egypt 
and  the  Red  Sea,  in  half  the  time  that 
it  required  to  send  them  around  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  They  intrusted 
him  with  a  large  packet  and  the  means 
of  paying  his  expenses.  He  set  out : 
travelled  express  to  Marseilles,  went  on 
a  French  vessel  to  Alexandria,  hasten- 


ed across  the  desert  on  a  canal,  hired 
a  small  vessel  at  Kosseir,  and  sailed 
down  to  India,  accomplishing  the  feat 
in  less  than  two  months.  All  scep- 
ticism now  vanished.  I^  this  feat 
could  be  accomplished  by  sailing  ves- 
sels, what  might  not  a  steamer  achieve  ? 
A  company  was  formed ;  Waghorn  was 
rewarded  with  a  lieutenancy  in  the 
Royal  Navy,  and  soon  drank  himself 
to  death ;  and  thenceforward  India 
was  brought  ten  thousand  miles  nearer 
to  England.  Mighty  have  been  the 
results  ! 


Bather  Dry. 

A  French  merchant — as  usual  viva- 
cious and  polite  in  the  extreme — while 
travelling  in  a  coach,  had  for  his  fel- 
low traveller,  a  demure  and  taciturn 
old  English  banker.  With  character- 
istic French  courtesy,  he  endeavored 
to  engage  his  British  companion  in  a 
little  social  chat,  by  addressing  him 
thus  :  "  Sare,  I  hope  you  are  well ; " 
he  however  received  no  reply,  and 
therefore  repeated  the  remark  more 
emphatically, — "  Sare,  I  hope  you  are 
'cev  well."  To  this  the  old  nabob  sulki- 
ly rejoined,  "  I  was  very  well,  sir,  when 
we  came  away ;  I  am  very  well  now ; 
and  when  I  get  ill,  I'll  let  you  know." 


New  York  to  Boston  in  Four  Days. 

The  first  stage  coach  from  New  York 
to  Boston,  started  on  the  24th  of  June, 
1 773,  from  the  "  Fresh  Water."  It  was 
to  leave  each  terminus  once  a  fortnight. 
The  fare  was  four  pence.  New  York 
currency,  per  mile.  It  reached  Hart- 
ford, Conn,  in  two  days,  and  Boston  in 
two  more.  The  proprietors  promised 
a  weekly  stage,  "  if  encouraged  in  their 
great  enterprise." 


Good  Land  for  Bailroad. 

At  an  early  ^age  in  the  proceedings 
of  the  Erie  and  New  York  City  Rail- 


376 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


road,  while  the  directors  were  negotiat- 
ing with  the  chiefs  for  the  land  around 
Jennison  Hill,  the  colonel  and  others 
had  made  some  strong  speeches  depict- 
ing the  worthlessness  of  the  land  and 
enlarging  considerably  upon  the  fact 
that  it  was  good  for  nothing  for  corn, 
and,  consequently,  should  be  leased 
very  cheap. 

When  the  colonel  sat  down,  the  old 
chief  replied  in  the  Seneca  tongue  to 
the  interpreter,  to  the  effect  that  "  he 
knew  it  was  poor  land  for  com ;  but 
mighty  good  land  for  railroad  !  "  The 
shrewdness  and  force  of  this  remark 
will  be  fully  appreciated  when  it  is 
known  that  the  little  strip  of  land 
around  Jennison  Hill  was  the  only  pos- 
sible place  for  a  railroad  that  did  not 
involve  the  building  of  two  expensive 
bridges  across  the  Alleghany. 


Disinterested  Bailroad  Contractor  I 

It  has  become  so  common  for  persons 
to  engage  in  railroad  enterprises,  and 
seek  to  become  directors,  presidents, 
or  contractors,  for  the  purpose  of  spec- 
ulating— in  the  opprobrious  use  of  that 
term, — that  it  is  really  refreshing  to 
record  the  instance  of  one  who  sacri- 
ficed his  own  interest  for  that  of  the 
persons  whom  he  represented.  Mr.  F.  C. 
went  to  New  York,  with  authority  to 
purchase  iron  for  twenty  miles  of  the 
railroad  of  which  he  was  president. 
When  in  market,  he  found  he  could 
purchase  enough  for  seventy  miles 
more  at  good  rates,  but  his  limit  by 
the  directors  was  to  twenty  miles.  He 
determined  to  close  the  contract  for 
the  seventy  miles  on  private  account, 
which  he  did.  Iron  soon  rose  in  value 
Bo  much  sc>  that  his  contract  was 
$300,000  above  what  he  had  agreed 
to  pay.  It  was,  of  course,  legally  and 
fairly  his,  but  with  a  disinterestedness 
almost  without  a  parallel,  he  gave  the 
company  the  entire  benefit  of  his  bar- 
gain without  a  cent  of  compensation. 
A  disinterested    railroad    contractor! 


No  wonder  that  the  speedy  dawn  of 
the  millennium  has  been  so  confidently 
expected,  of  late  years  ! 

Bigrid  Obsdience  of  Shipmasters 
Exacted  by  Girard. 

It  is  stated  as  a  fact  peculiar  to 
Girard's  management  of  his  business, 
that  he  was  always  his  own  insurer 
upon  his  ships,  and  he  never  forgave 
the  slightest  disobedience  of  his  orders 
on  the  part  of  any  captain  or  super- 
cargo in  his  employ. 

He  would  at  once  dismiss  his  cap- 
tains, even  if  they  saved  the  ship 
through  disobedience  of  his  orders ; 
and  this  practice  he  carried  out  in  the 
most  arbitrary  manner,  no  matter  how 
long  a  period  the  offender  may  have 
been  in  his  employ,  nor  how  faithful 
and  valuable  the  services  rendered  by 
them.  Such  conduct  is  without  a  par- 
allel among  American  merchants. 


Scale  of  Railway  Politeness. 

The  classification  adopted  in  the 
management  of  English  railways  ap- 
pears not  to  be  confined  to  the  cars ; 
but  the  distinctions  of  first,  second, 
and  third  class  are  as  scrupulously  ob- 
served in  the  degree  of  politeness 
shown  by  the  employes  of  the  com- 
pany to  the  passengers.  The  old 
maxim  that  civility  costs  nothing 
seems  to  be  treated  as  a  fable  by  the 
railway  managers,  who  calculate  per- 
haps that  politeness  at  all  events  takes 
time,  and,  as  time  is  money,  the  oflScers 
of  the  company  are  not  justified  in 
giving  it  without  an  equivalent.  Any 
one  who  doubts  the  fact  of  this  dis- 
crimination has  only  to  present  him- 
self at  different  times  as  an  applicant 
for  information  at  a  railway  station, 
in  the  different  characters  of  a  first,  a 
second,  or  a  third  class  passenger. 

If  he  is  going  in  the  first  class,  he 
will  get  speedy  attention  from  the 
clerks  in  the  office;  bows,  and  even 
smiles,  fi'om  the  policemen  on  the  plat- 


PAYING  THE   FIRST  STEAMCOAT  MONEY, 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND   COMMUNICATION. 


377 


form  ;  and  perhaps  a  touch  of  the  hat 
from  the  conductor.  The  second  class 
passengers  will  get  bare  civility — but 
rather  more  of  the  bear  than  the  civili- 
ty, from  the  ofHcials  who  deliver  the 
checks ;  these  latter  are  very  fond  of 
trying  to  cheat  themselves  into  the 
belief  that  they  are  quite  on  a  par 
with  the  petted  "  gentlemen  in  govern- 
ment office,"  whom  the  railway  clerks 
chiefly  resemble  in  an  assumed  noncha- 
lance, which,  however,  the  plain  speak- 
ing of  a  passenger  who  will  be  attended 
to,  and  who  may  be  a  shareholder,  is 
pretty  sure  to  dissipate.  A  second 
class  passenger  will  get  little  else  than 
a  "  Now,  sir,"  from  the  policeman,  and 
a  "  Come,  jump  up  ! "  from  the  con- 
ductor ;  while,  alas !  the  third  class 
passenger  will  perhaps  suddenly  find 
himself  catching  a  smart  poke  in  his 
chest  from  the  conductor's  staiF,  by  way 
of  keeping  him  back  till  it  is  conve- 
nient to  let  him  enter. 

In  fact,  there  are  short  answers  as 
well  as  short  trains,  and  each  class  has 
a  set  of  rules  of  courtesy  or  "  atten- 
tion "  applied  to  it,  which  the  officers 
are  bound  to  vobey  as  scrupulously  as 
they  do  the  railway  signals. 


"  Pleasure  Excursions." 

One  would  imagine  that  railways 
were  of  that  "  grave "  nature  that 
would  drive  away  joking.  One  would 
about  as  soon  expect  to  fall  upon  a 
comic  churchyard,  as  to  meet  with  a 
jocund  railway — for  smash-ups  and 
mutilations,  somehow,  are  not  very 
favorable  to  fun.  One  style  of  joking 
which  has  been  adopted  by  a  certain 
railw^ay  company  that  has  always  been 
the  most  fruitful  in  accidents,  is  that 
of  advertising  "  Pleasure  Excursions." 
The  directors'  notions  of  amusement 
must  have  been  learned  in  the  slaugh- 
ter house.  One  day  of  such  pleasure,  it 
would  rationally  be  supposed,  must 
suffice  a  man  his  entire  life — his  day 
of  pleasure  and  his  life  or  limb  will 


probably  prove  in  this  case  to  be 
neck  and  neck.  The  words  "Last 
Chance,"  which  commonly  wind  up 
such  advertisements,  are  also  intensely 
suggestive.  The  names  of  the  en- 
gines, too,  are  frequently  conducive 
to  anything  but  pleasant  emotions — 
there  seems  to  be  a  cruel  delight  in 
christening  them  after  the  gloomiest 
objects :  One  railway,  for  instance, 
has  the  following  lively  stud  of  engines 
— "  Lethe,"  "  Styx,"  "  Minos,"  "  Pluto,' 
and  several  others,  introducing  every 
member  of  the  latter  gentleman's  in- 
teresting family,  as  if  it  w^as  absolutely 
necessary  that  every  traveller  should  be 
on  companionable  terms  with  them, 
preparatory  to  what  is  to  follow.  One 
cannot  help  thinking  that  the  very 
bad  names  which  directors  are  in  the 
habit  of  giving  their  engines  may  have 
had  some  influence  in  making  them, 
as  they  so  often  prove,  such  emphati- 
cally thorough-going  engines— of  de- 
struction. 


The  First  Steamboat  Passage-Money 
ever  Paid. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  incidents 
of  a  business  nature  is  that  which  con- 
cerns the  first  steamboat  fare  paid  to 
Fulton.  The  narrator  of  this,  who  was 
also  one  of  the  actors  in  the  scene,  says : 
"  I  chanced  to  be  at  Albany  on  busi- 
ness when  Fulton  arrived  there,  in  his 
unheard-of  craft,  which  everybody 
felt  so  much  interest  in  seeing.  Being 
ready  to  leave,  and  hearing  that  this 
craft  was  going  to  return  to  New 
York,  I  repaired  on  board  and  in- 
quired for  Mr.  Fulton ;  I  was  referred 
to  the  cabin,  and  there  found  a  plain, 
gentlemanly  man,  wholly  alone,  and 
engaged  in  writing. 

"  Mr.  Fulton,  I  presume." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Do  you  return  to  New  York,  with 
this  boat  ? " 

"  We  shall  try  to  get  back,  sir." 

"  Can  I  have  a  passage  down  ? " 


378 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"  You  can  take  your  chance  with  us, 
sir." 

"  I  inquired  the  amount  to  be  paid, 
and,  after  a  moment's  hesitation,  a  sum, 
I  think  six  dollars,  was  named.  The 
amount,  in  coin,  I  laid  in  his  open 
hand,  and,  with  his  eye  fixed  upon 
it,  he  remained  so  long  motionless, 
that  I  supposed  there  might  be  a  mis- 
count, and  said  to  him,  '  Is  that  right, 
sir?'" 

This  question  roused  him  as  from  a 
kind  of  reverie,  and  as  he  looked  up  to 
me  the  big  tear  was  brimming  in  his 
eye,  and  his  voice  faltered  as  he  said, 
"Excuse  me,  sir;  but  memory  was 
busy  as  I  contemplated  this,  the  first 
pecuniary  reward  I  have  ever  received 
for  all  my  exertions  in  adapting  steam 
to  navigation.  I  should  gladly  com- 
memorate the  occasion  over  a  bottle 
of  wine  with  you  but,  really  I  am  too 
poor,  even  for  that,  just  now;  yet  I 
trust  we  may  meet  again  when  this 
will  not  be  the  case." 

That  voyage  to  New  York  was  suc- 
cessful, as  all  know,  and  terminated 
without  accident. 

Some  four  years  after  this,  when  the 
Clermont  had  been  greatly  improved, 
and  her  name  changed  to  the  North 
Kiver,  and  when  two  other  boats,  viz., 
the  Car  of  Neptune  and  the  Paragon, 
had  been  built,  making  Mr.  Fulton's 
fleet  three  boats  regularly  plying 
between  New  York  and  Albany,  I 
took  passage  upon  one  of  these  for 
the  latter  city.  The  cabin  in  that  day 
was  below;  and,  as  I  walked  its 
length,  to  and  fro,  I  saw  I  was  very 
closely  observed  by  one  I  supposed  a 
stranger.  Soon,  however,  I  recalled 
the  features  of  Mr.  Fulton ;  but,  with- 
out disclosing  this,  I  continued  my 
walk.  At  length,  in  passing  his  seat, 
our  eyes  met,  when  he  sprang  to  his 
feet,  and,  eagerly  seizing  my  hand, 
exclaimed,  "  I  knew  it  must  be  you, 
for  your  features  have  never  escaped 
me ;  and,  although  I  am  still  far  from 
rich,   yet    I    may  venture    that  lottle 


now  ! "  It  was  ordered ;  and  during 
its  discussion  Mr.  Fulton  ran  rapidly, 
but  vividly,  over  his  experiences  of  the 
world's  coldness  and  sneers,  and  of  the 
hopes,  fears,  disappointments,  and  diffi- 
culties, that  were  scattered  through  his 
whole  career  of  discovery, — up  to  the 
very  point  of  his  final,  crowning 
triumph,  at  which  he  so  fully  felt  he 
had  arrived  at  last. 

Ajid  in  reviewing  all  these,  said  he : 
"  I  have  again  and  again  recalled  the 
occasion,  and  the  incident,  of  our  first 
interview  at  Albany;  and  never  have 
I  done  so  without  renewing  in  my  mind 
the  vivid  emotion  it  originally  caused. 
That  seemed,  and  does  still  seem,  to 
me,  the  turning  point  in  my  destiny — 
the  dividing  line  between  light  and 
darkness,  in  my  career  upon  earth; 
for  it  was  the  first  actual  recognition 
of  my  usefulness  to  my  fellow  men." 


George  Hudson,  the  Railway  King:. 

George  Hudson,  who  will  always 
be  known  as  the  English  railway  king, 
may  be  said  to  have  left  his  counter  as 
a  linen  draper  and  sprang  upon  the 
steam  engine.  His  first  notable  move- 
ment in  this  line  was  the  subscription 
for  several  hundred  shares  in  the  York 
railway  enterprise,  and  by  a  natural 
progress,  under  a  strong  and  vigorous, 
bold  and  determined  mind  like  his,  he 
soon  became  known  as  the  railway 
monarch.  His  influence  extended  sev- 
enty-six miles  over  the  York  and  North 
Midland  railroads;  fifty-one  over  the 
Hull  and  Selby  and  Leeds  and  Selby ; 
over  the  North  Midland,  Midland  coun- 
ties, and  another,  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-eight miles;  over  the  Newcastle 
and  Darlington,  and  the  Great  North 
of  England,  one  hundred  and  eleven 
miles;  while  over  the  Sheffield  and 
Rotherham,  the  York  and  Scarborough, 
the  North  British,  "VVhitby  and  Picker- 
ing, it  affected  near  six  hundred  miles 
more,  making  a  total  of  more  than  one 
thousand  miles,  all  of  which  were  sue- 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT   AND   COMMUNICATION. 


379 


cessful  in  developing  traflBc,  and  equal- 
ly successful  in  paying  good  dividends. 

For  a  time,  no  other  name  was  heard 
in  the  great  world  of  railways.  In  the 
journals  of  the  day  men  read  of  his 
wonderful  doings.  The  press  recorded 
his  whereabouts;  the  draughtsman 
pencilled  his  features.  His  name  was 
connected  with  preference,  shares,  and 
profits.  He  wielded  an  influence  un- 
paralleled and  unprecedented.  Peers 
flattered  the  dispenser  of  scrip,  and 
peeresses  fawned  upon  the  allotter  of 
premiums.  It  was  told  with  pleasure 
and  repeated  with  delight,  that  his 
empire  extended  over  one  thousand 
miles  of  railway.  His  fortune  was 
computed  with  an  almost  personal 
pride.  Almack's  was  deserted  when 
Albert  house  was  full.  The  ducal  crest 
was  seen  on  the  carriage  at  his  door. 
The  daintiest  aristocracy  of  England 
sought  his  presence.  Foreign  poten- 
tates sued  for  his  society.  The  coronet 
of  the  peer  was  veiled  before  the  crown 
of  the  railway  king.  The  minister  paid 
his  court,  and  the  bishop  bent  in  hom- 
age. The  ermine  of  the  judge  lost  its 
dignity,  and  the  uniform  of  the  ofiicer 
its  pride.  The  Christian  banker  and 
the  Hebrew  capitalist  alike  acknowl- 
edged his  greatness.  Stories  were  plen- 
tiful of  the  fortunes  he  had  won,  and 
the  dividends  his  enterprises  had  paid. 
The  prince  consort  was  proud  to  be 
introduced  to  him,  "  shook  hands  very 
heartily  with  the  member  (he  was  in 
the  House  of  Commons),  and  remained 
in  conversation  with  him  for  some 
time," 

When  his  name  graced  an  advertise- 
ment, men  ran  to  buy  the  share.  In 
regard  to  lines  known  to  be  worthless, 
and  on  which  no  business  was  doing, 
if  a  rumor  was  skilfully  spread  that 
Hudson  was  after  them,  the  stock  ex- 
change was"  in  a  ferment,  and  prices 
rose"  enormously,  to  the  cool  loss  of  the 
holder,  however,  when  the  contradic- 
tion came.  He  was  their  railway  po- 
tentate, their  iron  king — their  golden 


god.  His  appearance  on  the  platform 
was  a  perfect  ovation.  Sober,  steady- 
minded  men  shouted  with  joy — shrewd 
speculators  ditto ;  and  one  intense, 
universal  homage  greeted  the  image 
they  had  set  up.  The  thought  of  ten 
per  cent,  enraptured  them,  and  the 
loud  applause  which  hailed  his  tram- 
way periods  would  only  have  been  jus- 
tified by  the  discourse  of  a  Macaulay 
or  the  oration  of  a  Peel.  Over  railways 
and  railway  managers  he  maintained 
an  imperial  sway. 

His  exertions  in  behalf  of  the  pro- 
jects he  espoused  were  absolutely  as- 
tonishing. Nothing  seemed  to  wear 
his  mind ;  nothing  appeared  to  weary 
his  frame.  He  battled  in  parliamentary 
committees,  day  by  day;  he  argued, 
pleaded,  and  gesticulated  with  an  ear- 
nestness which  rarely  failed  in  its  ob- 
ject. One  day  in  town  cajoling  a  com- 
mittee—the next  persuading  an  arch- 
bishop. In  the  morning  adjusting 
some  rival  claim  in  an  obscure  office ; 
in  the  afternoon  astonishing  the  stock 
exchange  with  some  daring  coup  de 
main. 

But  his  connection  with  the  railways 
of  the  Eastern  counties,  the  bad  man- 
agement of  which  brought  things  to 
such  a  desperate  pass,  turned  the  scale 
of  his  fortune  at  last.  The  unwise  ex- 
periment was  made  of  declaring  divi- 
dends which  had  not  been  earned,  and 
paying  them  out  of  the  capital,  in  or- 
der to  keep  up  the  value  of  the  stock, 
and  the  prestige  of  Mr.  Hudson.  The 
imprudence  was  bitterly  paid  for.  In 
a  short  time  the  railway  king,  stripped 
of  crown  and  sceptre,  was  sent  into  ig- 
nominious exile  !  The  revulsion  in  pop- 
ular feeling  was  fierce,  and  he  was  now 
as  intensely  hated  as  he  had  been  before 
admired,  Tlie  more  sweet  had  been 
the  accents  of  praise,  the  more  bitter 
were  now  the  objurgations  uttered  by 
the  same  tongues  against  that  name.  It 
was  a  malignant  delight  to  repeat  and 
repeat  over  again  the  thousand  stories 
of  his  unheard-of  villanies.     The  rail- 


380 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


way  king  had  now  become  the  railway- 
demon,  and  his  many  roads  were  but 
iron  ways  for  transporting  the  whole 
realm  to  the  infernal  latitudes. 

Personally,  he  was  a  plain,  solid- 
looking  man  with  a  large  and  heavy 
build;  a  keen,  penetrating,  gray  eye; 
a  broad,  wrinkled,  and  severe  face; 
gray  and  scanty  hair;  a  nervous  and 
rather  peculiar  gait,  somewhat  shuf- 
fling ;  in  dress  inclined  to  be  careless. 
His  speech  was  rapid,  without  grace 
of  delivery,  his  utterance  somewhat 
thick,  and  he  aJQfected  no  refinement  of 
manner.  He  pitched  at  once  into  his 
subject,  and  said  what  he  had  to  say 
in  the  fewest  words  he  could  put  it 
in. 

Among  the  causes  of  his  success,  one 
was  an  excellent  arithmetical  capacity, 
enabling  him  to  form  in  his  head  the 
most  elaborate  combinations  of  figures 
in  a  very  brief  time.  Another  thing 
was  his  close  personal  attention  to  the 
minutiae ;  nothing  was  too  small  to  be 
overlooked  or  to  be  left  to  others,  if  he 
could  see  to  it  himself.  He  examined 
personally  every  department  of  the 
roads  under  his  management,  and 
knew  the  duties  of  every  man. 


Stephenson,  the  Pioneer  in  Railway 
Construction. 

To  Mr.  Stephenson  is  commonly 
awarded  the  honor  of  first  constructing 
a  railway  for  general  transportation. 
Three  years  elapsed  from  the  com- 
mencement of  the  work,  and  those  in- 
terested began  to  be  impatient.  They 
wished — as  was  natural — for  some  re- 
turns from  the  vast  amount  of  capital 
they  had  expended. 

"Now,  George,"  said  Friend  Crup- 
per to  him  one  day,  "  thou  must  get  on 
with  the  railway,  and  have  it  finished 
without  further  delay.  Thou  must 
really  have  it  ready  for  opening  by  the 
first  day  of  January  next." 

"  It  is  impossible,"  said  Stephenson. 

**  Impossible  I  I  wish  I  could  get  Na- 


poleon at  thee.     He  would  tell  thee 
that  there  is  no  such  word." 

"  Tush !  Don't  speak  to  me  about 
Napoleon.  Give  me  men,  money,  and 
materials,  and  I  will  do  what  Napoleon 
couldn't  do-^-drive  a  railroad  firom  Liv- 
erpool to  Manchester  over  Chat  Moss." 


Mr.  Grigg's  Mode  of  Overcoming: 
Obstaclesi 

Ojt  the  death  of  Mr.  Warner,  the 
eminent  Philadelphia  bookseller,  with 
whom  Mr.  John  Grigg  was  for  a  con- 
siderable time  associated  in  business, 
the  settlement  of  the  afi'airs  of  the  firm 
was  devolved  upon  Mr.  G.  Nor  was 
this  a  slight  undertaking.  The  busi- 
ness of  the  house  had  been  immense ; 
connected  with  it  were  numerous 
branches  and  agencies ;  it  had  dealings 
with  various  houses  at  the  South  and 
West,  and  the  settlement  of  affairs  ren- 
dered frequent  journey ings  necessary. 
During  one  of  those  journeys,  an  inci- 
dent occurred  which  is  too  characteris- 
tic of  the  days  of  stage-coach  travel- 
ling, and  of  the  determined  energy  of 
Mr.  Grigg's  character,  not  to  be  worthy 
of  mention.  He  was  at  Charleston.  It 
was  the  latter  part  of  December,  1825, 
and  by  Christmas  day  he  must  be  in 
Philadelphia.  He  pushed  forward, 
travelling  day  and  night;  at  Balti- 
more, the  steamboat  which  usually 
connected  was  found  to  have  left  off 
running,  and  the  travellers  were  forced 
to  take  to  the  mail  coach.  But  every 
seat  was  full  when  Mr.  Grigg  arrived ; 
there  was  no  alternative  for  the  deter- 
mined traveller,  weary  and  excited  as 
he  was  by  incessant  journeying  for 
seven  long  days  and  sleepless  nights, 
but  to  ride  outside  with  the  driver. 
The  day,  or  rather  the  night,  was 
cold,  the  air  was  full  of  sleet,  the 
road  miry.  But  to  the  driver's  seat 
he  mounted  and  pushed  on.  .  At 
Havre  de  Grace  another  driver  took 
the  reins,  who  was  unacquainted  with 
the  road ;  it  was  long  after  dark,  and 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND  COMMUNICATION. 


381 


the  "  insides,"  wlio  began  to  be  fearful 
of  their  necks  as  the  coach  pkinged 
and  tossed  in  the  mire,  grew  clamorous 
for  putting  back  till  the  morning.  But 
Mr.  Grigg  was  determined  that  the 
stage  should  go  ahead  and  be  in  Phila- 
delphia by  Christmas  day,  and,  besides, 
they  carried  the  mails,  and  a  public 
conveyance  must  not  be  delayed  !  So 
ho  procured  a  lantern,  and  going  be- 
fore the  coach  piloted  the  travellers 
though  the  darkness  and  mire  for 
about  two  miles.  Finally,  mounting 
tlic  box  again,  he  took  the  reins  into 
his  own  hands,  and  daylight  saw  the 
delighted  travellers  arrived  at  Elkton, 
and  well  on  their  way.  They  at  once 
entreated  him  to  take  a  seat  inside. 
And  early  on  Christmas  morning  Mr. 
Grigg  was  in  Philadelphia. 


Southern  Accommodation  Trains. 

OujR  railroad  is  a  slow  coach  (writes 
a  Southern  traveller)  ;  going  along  at 
the  usual  speed  of  six  or  eight  miles  an 
hour,  we  came  to  a  dead  halt ;  several 
passengers  left  the  cars,  and  went  to 
climbing  the  trees  by  the  side  of  the 
track.  I  asked  the  conductor  what 
they  were  after.  "  Grapes,"  he  an- 
swered. "  Why,"  said  I,  "  is  it  possi- 
ble you  stop  whenever  the  passengers 
wish  to  get  some  grapes  ?  "  "  Oh,  cer- 
tainly, this  is  the  accommodation  train  ! " 


"Your  Ticket,  Sir  I" 

On  one  of  the  Georgia  railroads  there 
was  a  conductor  named  Snell,  a  very 
clever,  sociable,  gentlemanly  man,  a 
great  favorite  with  the  company  he 
was  connected  with,  and  the  travelling 
public  in  general— fond  of  a  joke,  quick 
at  repartee,  and  faithful  in  the  discTiarge 
of  his  duties.  During  one  of  his  trips, 
as  his  train,  well  filled  with  passengers, 
was  crossing  a  bridge  over  a  wide 
stream,  some  seven  or  eight  feet  deep, 
the  bridge  broke  down,  precipitating 
the  two  passenger  cars  into  the  stream. 


As  the  passengers  emerged  from  the 
wreck  they  were  borne  away  by  the 
force  of  the  current.  Snell  had  suc- 
ceeded in  catching  hold  of  some  bushes 
that  grew  on  the  bank  of  the  stream, 
to  which  he  clung  for  dear  life.  A 
passenger  less  fortunate  came  rushing 
by ;  Snell  extended  one  hand,  saying, 
"  Your  ticket,  sir ;  give  me  your  tick- 
et !  "  The  effect  of  such  a  dry  joke  in 
the  midst  of  the  water  may  be  imagined. 


Thompson's  Travels  in  California. 

It  is  not  unlikely  (though  the  cajiital 
contributor  to  "  Harper's  "  does  not  say 
so)  that  Thompson;  who  figures  in  the 
following  whirligig  of  fun,  was  a  Yan- 
kee, having  an  eye  to  "  sites,"  "  water 
privileges,"  etc.,  and  ready  for  an 
"  operation "  when  the  opportunity 
should  present  itself.  Assuming  this 
very  reasonable  probability,  we  are  only 
too  happy  to  give  it  a  place  in  these 
pages. 

In  the  northern  part  of  California  is 
a  stream  called  Yuba  River.  Across  it 
some  enterprising  individual  built  a 
bridge ;  and  on  the  banks  somebody 
else  built  three  or  four  houses.  The 
inhabitants  called  the  place  Yuba 
Dam.  Three  bars  were  instantly  erect- 
ed, and  the  "  town  "  increased  rapidly. 
About  noon  one  cool  day  a  traveller 
and  a  sojourner  in  the  land  passed  this 
flourishing  locality,  and  seeing  a  long- 
legged  specimen  of  humanity  in  a  red 
shirt  smoking  before  one  of  the  bars, 
thus  addressed  him : 

"  Hello  ! " 

"Hello!"  replied  the  shirt,  with 
vigor,  removing  his  pipe  from  his 
mouth. 

"What  place  is  this?"  demanded 
the  traveller,  whose  name  was  Thomp- 
son. 

The  answer  of  the  shirt  was  unex- 
pected : 

"  Yuba  Dam  !  " 

There  was  about  fifty  yards  between 
them,  and  the  wind  was  blowing.    Mr. 


382 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Thompson  thouglit  he  had  been  mis- 
taken. 

"  What  did  you  say  ?  "  he  asked, 

"  Yuba  Dam  !  "  replied  the  stranger, 
cheerfully. 

"What  place  is  this?"  roared  IVIr. 
Thompson. 

"Yu-ba  Dam,"  said  the  shirt,  in  a 
slightly  elevated  tone  of  voice. 

"  Lookee  here  !  "  yelled  the  irate 
Thompson ;  "  I  asked  you  politely 
what  place  this  was ;  why  in  thunder 
don't  you  answer  ?  " 

The  stranger  became  excited.  He 
rose,  and  replied  with  the  voice  of  an 
80-pounder, 

"  YU-BA  DAM  !    You  hear  that  ? " 

In  a  minute  Thompson,  burning 
with  the  wrath  of  the  righteous, 
jumped  off  his  horse,  and  advanced  to 
the  stranger  with  an  expression  not  to 
be  mistaken.  The  shirt  arose,  and  as- 
sumed a  posture  of  offence  and  defence. 
Arrived  within  a  yard  of  him,  Thomp- 
son said : 

"  I  ask  you  for  the  last  time.  What 
place  is  this  ? " 

Putting  his  hand  to  his  mouth,  his 
opponent  roared  •. 

"  YU-BA  DAM  !  " 

The  next  minute  they  were  at  it. 
First,  Thompson  was  down ;  then  the 
shirt ;  and  then  it  was  a  dog-fall — that 
is,  both  were  down.  They  rolled  about, 
kicking  up  a  tremendous  dust.  They 
squirmed  around  so  energetically  that 
it  appeared  as  though  they  had  a  dozen 
legs  instead  of  four.  It  looked  like  a 
prize  fight  between  two  pugilistic  cen- 
tipedes. Finally,  they  both  rolled  off 
the  bank  and  into  the  river.  The 
water  cooled  them.  They  went  down 
together,  but  came  up  separate,  and 
put  out  for  the  shore.  Both  reached  it 
about  the  same  time,  and  Thompson 
scrambled  up  the  bank,  mounted  his 
warlike  steed,  and  made  tracks,  leav- 
ing his  foe  gouging  the  mud  out  of  one 
of  his  eyes. 

Having  left  the  business  portion  of 
the  town,  that  is  to  say,  the  corner 


where  the  three  bars  were  kept,  he 
struck  a  house  in  the  "  suburbs,"  before 
which  a  little  girl  of  about  four  years 
of  age  was  playing. 

"What  place  is  this,  sissy?"  he 
asked. 

The  little  girl,  frightened  at  the 
drowned-rat  figure  which  the  stranger 
cut,  streaked  it  for  the  house.  Having 
reached  the  door,  she  stopped,  turned, 
and  squealed,  "  Oo-bee  Dam  !  " 

"Good  Heavens!"  said  Thompson, 
digging  his  heels  between  his  horse's 
ribs — "  Good  Heavens  !  let  me  get  out 
of  this  horrid  place,  where  not  only  the 
men,  but  the  very  babes  and  sucklings, 
swear  at  inoffensive  travellers !  " 


From  Honolulu  to  Kaui. 

Two  citizens  of  Honolulu,  Judge  B. 
and  Dr.  N.,  had  occasion  to  go  to  the 
island  of  Kaui,  the  land  of  sugar  and 
coffee.  They  returned  in  a  schooner, 
and  among  the  passengers  was  the 
governor  of  the  island,  who  was  com- 
ing to  visit  the  metropolis— the  great 
city  of  Honolulu.  The  governor  is  a 
native,  and  so  is  the  captain  of  the 
schooner — a  first-rate  seaman  as  long 
as  land  was  in  sight.  There  came  up 
a  gale  that  blew  them  off;  and  having 
no  compass,  and  a  short  sujjply  of  pro- 
visions, they  were  soon  in  a  sad  plight 
indeed.  On  and  on,  for  nine  days, 
they  sailed,  when  they  ought  to  have 
been  in  port  in  two.  The  judge  and 
the  doctor  thought  it  about  time  to 
take  matters  into  their  own  hands,  or 
they  would  all  be  starved  to  death; 
for  neither  law  nor  physic  would  seiTC 
them  without  something  to  eat.  They 
deemed  it  proper  to  ask  the  governor 
what  he  thought  best  to  be  done.  His 
excellency  took  the  subject  into  con- 
sideration, and  with  great  sagacity  re- 
marked, "  Well,  now,  as  we  are  lost,  I 
think  we  had  better  go  back  to  where 
we  started  from."  The  poor  captain 
would  have  been  but  too  happy  to 
comply  with  the  governor's  suggestion, 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND   COMMUNICATION. 


383 


had  there  been  any  such  thing  as 
knowing  where  that  place  was ;  but 
that  day  a  whaler  hove  in  sight,  and 
supplying  them  with  provisions,  led 
them  into  port.  They  were  actually 
on  the  way  to  America. 


Not  Posted  in  Geography. 

There  was  once  an  old  gentleman 
of  the  utmost  integrity  of  character, 
but  keen  as  a  brier  in  all  business  mat- 
ters, who,  not  having  had  early  oppor- 
tunities of  acquiring  knowledge,  some- 
times made  sad  mistakes  in  his  use  of 
language.  Although  largely  engaged 
in  shipping,  he  was  profoundly  igno- 
rant of  geography.  He  came  one  day, 
with  a  letter  in  his  hand,  which  he  had 
just  received,  into  the  insurance  office, 
and  asked  to  see  a  chart  of  the  Medi- 
terranean. It  was  promptly  unrolled, 
and  spending  a  long  time  in  an  ap- 
parently unsatisfactory  examination, 
the  curiosity  of  the  president  of  the 
office  was  excited,  and  he  offered  his 
aid  to  assist  him  in  his  trouble.  "  Why," 
says  the  old  gentleman,  "  I  have  just 
got  a  letter  from  one  of  my  captains, 
who  states  that  he  has  experienced  a 
violent  hurricane,  and  consequently 
put  in  great  jeopardy.  Now,  I  know 
Great  Jeopardy  is  a  port  in  the  Medi- 
terranean, but  I  can't  find  the  plaguey 
place  on  the  map." 


Working  a  Hand  Car. 

The  thriving  town  of  Scranton, 
Pennsylvania,  where  railroad  iron  and 
other  products  of  the  same  substantial 
metal  are  extensively  manufactured,  is 
situated  on  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna, 
and  Western  Railroad.  There  is  a  very 
heavy  ascending  grade  for  several  miles 
westward  from  this  place,  to  overcome 
which  requires  not  a  little  power  of 
steam  with  an  ordinary  train  of  cars. 
Just  before  this  part  of  the  road  was 
opened,  an  officer  connected  with  it 
had    occasion    to    go    three    or   four 


miles  west  to  superintend  some  oper- 
ations. 

He  took  a  light  hand  car  and  two 
powerful  men  to  work  it,  one  of  whom 
was  a  German,  not  an  accomplished 
engineer,  nor  very  familiar  with  the 
working  of  railroads.  They  toiled 
hard  at  the  crank,  working  their  way 
up  the  steep  grade,  landing  their  pas- 
senger at  his  destined  point,  who  sent 
the  car  back  to  Scranton  by  the  Ger- 
man alone,  knowing  that  no  labor  was 
required  to  descend,  excepting  when  it 
was  necessary  to  hold  back  by  putting 
on  the  brake.  Not  having  received  any 
specific  directions,  however,  as  to  the 
manner  in  which  he  was  to  work  his 
way  down,  the  German  mounted  the 
car,  and  thinking  as  it  had  been  such  a 
severe  labor  for  two  men  to  take  the  car 
out,  it  would  require  still  more  exer- 
tion for  one  to  work  it  back,  he  applied 
all  his  strength  to  the  crank,  and  was 
soon  moving  with  tremendous  velocity, 
down  the  hill  toward  the  town  and  the 
terminus  of  the  road.  As  he  passed 
through  the  town  over  the  last  half 
mile,  all  unconscious  of  what  was  be- 
fore him,  his  danger  excited  universal 
apprehension,  and  the  cry  was  raised 
on  every  hand,  "  Put  on  the  brake ! 
Put  on  the  brake  ! "  Interpreting  the 
cry  to  mean  "  Put  on  more  strength," 
he  laid  out  all  his  power  upon  one  last 
grand  effort.  Reaching  the  end  of  the 
road,  where  there  was  some  heavy  ob- 
struction, sufficient  to  stop  a  train  of 
cars,  the  hand  car  was  instantly  con- 
verted into  kindling  wood,  and  the 
poor  German  was  thrown  head  over 
heels  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet 
beyond  where  it  struck.  As  he  was 
picked  up,  in  a  mangled  condition, 
some  one  asked  him, 

"Why  didn't  you  put  on  the 
brake  ? " 

"  Put  on  the  prake,"  said  he,  "  vy,  it 
ish  preak  all  to  pieces  !  " 

And  this  was  the  end  of  that  ride. 


364 


COMMERCIAL   AND    BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Amending:  the  Charter. 

A  LITTLE  transaction  between  a  New 
York  merchant  and  a  Frenchman  is 
thus  related  by  the  former :  He  was  a 
captain  of  a  coasting  craft,  and  I  char- 
tered his  vessel  for  a  round  sum,  to 
take  a  cargo  of  wheat  up  the  river  to  a 
mill,  and  to  return  with  a  load  of  flour 
in  barrels.  There  was  a  written  agree- 
ment between  us,  which  required 
him  to  load  without  unnecessary  delay. 
Having  a  limited  knowledge  of  Eng- 
lish, and  being  a  cautious  skipper,  he 
took  the  agreement,  before  signing  it, 
to  a  compatriot — who  was,  or  pretend- 
ed to  be,  in  the  legal  profession — whose 
knowledge  of  our  language  was  much 
more  contracted  than  his  own,  and 
gave  him  a  small  fee  to  read  it  over 
and  see  if  it  was  correct.  They  came 
together  to  my  office,  and  the  lawyer 
addressed  me  with  much  politeness 
and  gravity,  while  his  countryman 
stood  by  with  approbative  visage : 
"  Sare,  I  have  read  this  little  papier. 
It  is  entierement  cor-r-rect,  except  von 
vord.  I  do  not  like  zat  expr-r-ression 
unnecessa-rie  f ''^  "Very  well,"  said  I, 
with  great  frankness,  "  I  will  scratch  it 
out,"  and  I  did  so.  The  skipper  a  ad 
lawyer  both  seemed  relieved  immensely 
now  that  the  former  was  obliged  to 
load  his  vessel  "  without  delays 


"Soaking:"  the  old  Coach. 

In  olden  times,  before  the  introduc- 
tion of  railroads,  there  lived  in  the 
town  of  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania, 
a  certain  tavern  keeper  named  Ramsay, 
proprietor  of  all  the  stage  coaches  in 
that  region  of  country.  His  house  was 
not  one  of  those  miserable,  dirty  holes 
usually  selected  as  the  stopping  places 
of  the  stages,  but  a  fine,  spacious,  old- 
fashioned  inn,  where  one  was  sure  to 
find  cleanliness  and  comfort — the  best 
of  everything  that  rich  country  could 
afibrd,  and  plenty  of  it.  Squire  Ram- 
say had  become  rich,  and  was  much  re- 


spected by  all  his  neighbors.  Unfortu- 
nately, however,  he  became  also  a  little 
too  fond  of  his  '•  pure  old  rye,"  and 
was  likely  to  become  a  regular  drunk- 
ard. His  friends  felt  the  necessity  of 
cautioning  him  against  this  besetting 
sin ;  but  the  Squire,  being  a  high- 
spirited  old  colt,  required,  careful 
handling. 

Finally,  it  was  agreed  that  the  doctor 
of  the  place,  one  of  his  oldest  friends, 
should  deal  with  him  in  the  most  deli- 
cate manner  possible.  The  doctor 
thought  best  to  ajDproach  his  friend  in 
the  way  of  a  parable,  as  Nathan  did 
David,  and  felt  certain  of  success.  At 
their  next  interview  he  led  the  conver- 
sation intentionally  to  the  subject  of 
stage  coaches — how  long  they  would 
last,  etc. 

"  Now,  Mr.  R.,"  said  he,  "  suppose 
you  had  a  fine,  well-built,  old  coach, 
that  had  done  good  service  and  was  yet 
sound,  though  perhaps  a  little  shack- 
ling, and  the  seams  a  little  open ;  would 
you  put  it  to  a  team  of  fiery  young 
horses  on  the  roughest  part  of  the  road, 
or  would  you  not  put  it  to  a  team  of 
steady  old  stagers,  and  on  the  smooth- 
est part  of  the  road  you  could  find  ?  " 

"  Well,  doctor,"  said  the  squire,  in 
perfect  ignorance  of  the  doctor's  drift, 
"  if  I  had  such  a  stage  as  you  describe, 
I  would  soah  it !  " 

The  doctor  was  silenced,  but,  wheth- 
er from  the  advice  of  his  friends  or  the 
promptings  of  his  own  good  sense,  the 
squire  ceased  to  run  the  "  old  coach  " 
so  hard,  and  died  highly  esteemed  and 

respected. 

♦ 

Strang:e  Terminus  to  a  Bailroad. 

There  is  a  small  town  on  the  North 
Missouri  Railroad  called  Renick ;  and 
Renick  is  a  hard  place— a  'aery  hard 
place.  In  one  of  the  cars  on  this  road, 
on  a  certain  occasion,  sat — with  his 
feet  upon  the  cushions  and  his  hat 
down  over  his.  eyes— a  flashy  but  dirty- 
looking    individual,     evidently    some 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND  COMMUNICATION. 


385 


"three  sheets"  gone;  indeed,  he  was 
"  maudlin  drunk." 

The  conductor,  in  coming  around, 
gave  him  a  shove,  and  aroused  him  with 
a  short  "  Ticket,  sir  !  " 

"  Aint  got  none,"  said  loafer. 

"  Pay  your  fare,  then." 

"How  much  is  it  ? "  demanded  the 
fellow. 

"  "Where  are  you  going  to  ?  "  inquired 
the  conductor. 

"Guess  I'm— [hie]— goin'  [hie]— to 
the  devil ! "  spoke  loafer,  with  some 
air  of  truthfulness. 


"Then,"  said  the  conductor, 
your  fare  to  Reuick— $5.70  !  " 


pay 


Drinking:  Success  to  the  First 
Railway. 

In  1823  the  second  Stockton  and 
Darlington  Railway  Act  was  obtained 
from  Parliament.  Mr.  Stephenson  was 
appointed  the  company's  engineer,  at  a 
salary  of  £300  per  annum.  He  laid  out 
every  foot  of  the  ground  himself,  ac- 
companied by  his  assistants.  He  sur- 
veyed indefatigably  from  daylight  to 
dusk,  dressed  in  top-boots  and  breeches, 
and  took  his  chance  of  bread  and  milk, 
or  a  homely  dinner,  at  some  neighbor- 
ing farmhouse  ;  for  the  country  people 
were  fond  of  his  cheerful  talk.  One 
day,  when  the  works  were  approaching 
completion,  he  dined  at  Stockton,  and 
after  dinner  the  great  engineer  ordered 
in  a  bottle  of  wine,  to  drink  success  to 
the  railway.  He  then  said  to  the  young 
men  assembled  :  "  Now,  I  will  tell  you 
that  I  think  you  will  live  to  see  the 
day,  though  I  may  not  live  so  long, 
when  railways  will  come  to  supersede 
almost  all  other  methods  of  conveyance 
in  this  country ;  when  mail  coaches  will 
go  by  railway,  and  railroads  will  be- 
come the  great  highway  for  the  king 
and  all  his  subjects.  The  time  will 
come  when  it  will  be  cheaper  for  a 
workingman  to  travel  on  a  railway 
than  to  walk  on  foot.  I  know  that 
there  are  great  and  almost  msurmount- 
25 


able  obstacles  that  will  have  to  be  en- 
countered. But  what  I  have  said  will 
come  to  pass,  as  sure  as  I  am  now  alive. 
I  only  wish  I  may  live  to  see  the  day, 
though  that  I  can  scarcely  hope  for,  as 
I  know  how  slow  all  human  progress 
iri,  and  with  what  difficulty  I  have  been 
able  to  get  the  locomotive  adopted, 
notwithstanding  my  more  than  ten 
years'  successful  experiment  at  Killing- 
worth."  The  anticipations  of  the  great 
engineer  were  more  than  realized.  At 
the  opening  of  the  road  in  question — 
the  first  public  railway — Mr,  Stephen- 
son himself  drove  the  engine.  The 
train  consisted  of  thirty-eight  vehicles, 
among  which  were  twenty-one  wagons 
fitted  up  with  temporary  seats  for  pas- 
sengers, and  a  carriage  filled  with  the 
directors  and  their  friends.  The  speed 
attained  in  some  parts  was  twelve  miles 
an  hour.  It  was  a  complete  success ; 
and  the  goods  and  passengers  soon 
exceeded  the  expectations  of  the  di- 
rectors. 

In  surveying  a  line  for  the  Liverpool 
and  Manchester  railway,  great  opposi- 
tion was  exhibited  on  the  part  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  lands  through  which 
the  line  was  to  pass.  Lord  Derby's 
farmers  and  servants,  and  Lord  Sefton's 
keepers,  turned  out  in  full  force  to  re- 
sist the  aggressions  of  the  surveying 
party.  The  Duke  of  Bridgewater's 
property-guard  threatened  to  duck  Mr. 
Stephenson  in  a  pond  if  he  proceeded ; 
and  he  had  to  take  the  survey  by 
stealth,  when  the  people  were  at 
dinner. 


Change  of  '*  Packet  Day." 

To  show  what  vras  the  nature  of  Pe- 
latiah  Perit's  influence  as  a  Christian, 
in  mercantile  circles,  and  how  much  of 
that  influence  was  the  efiect  of  his  rare 
judgment  and  skill  in  dealing  with 
men,  an  illustration  is  afibrded  in  the 
change  which  he  accomplished,  perhaps 
thirty  years  ago,  in  the  regulations  of 
the  packet-ships  sailing  from  the  port 
of  New  York. 


386 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Formerly  the  packets  for  Liverpool 
and  other  trans-atlantic  ports  were  ad- 
vertised to  sail  regularly  on  certain 
days  of  the  month,  and  whenever  the 
appointed  days  for  sailing  fell  on  Sun- 
day, the  Christian  Sabbath  was  disre- 
garded. To  the  house  of  Goodhue  & 
Co.  this  was  an  inconvenience.  It  in- 
terfered with  the  Sabbath  of  the  part- 
ners, and  with  the  Sabbath  to  which 
their  clerks  and  other  employes  were 
entitled.  It  interfered  also  with  the 
religious  feelings  of  all  the  passengers 
who  honored  the  Christian  Sabbath, 
and  were  unwilling  to  violate  their 
consciences  by  commencing  a  voyage 
on  that  day.  At  the  same  time  it  in- 
terfered with  the  Sunday  rest— religi- 
ous or  irreligious — of  every  merchant, 
who  had  occasion  to  send  by  every 
packet,  the  latest  advices  to  his  corre- 
spondents beyond  the  sea.  But  the 
practice  was  a  settled  one,  and  how 
could  it  be  changed  ?  Those  were  the 
days  when  tide  and  time  waited  for  no 
man;  and  was  not  the  sailing  of  a 
packet  ship  on  her  appointed  day,  even 
though  that  day  happened  to  fall  on 
Sunday,  a  work  of  necessity  and 
mercy  ? 

How,  then,  should  the  ship-owners 
and  merchants,  many  of  whom  had  no 
religious  regard  for  the  sanctity  of  the 
Sabbath,  be  brought  to  agree  upon  a 
change  ?  Some  men  undertaking  such 
a  reform,  would  have  begun  w^ith  a 
public  agitation  on  purely  moral  and 
religious  grounds,  and  with  denuncia- 
tion of  all  persons  implicated  in  up- 
holding the  existing  arrangement,  and 
the  result  would  have  been  a  failure. 
The  personal  influence  of  Mr.  Perit 
with  men  who,  whatever  may  have 
been  their  own  position  in  relation  to 
Christianity,  could  not  but  honor  his 
Christian  character,  was  such  that  he 
found  no  difficulty  in  effecting  a  new 
arrangement.  He  succeeded  in  con- 
vincing all  parties  that  the  change  of 
"packet  day,"  from  a  certain  day  of 
the  month  to  a  certain  day  of  the  week, 


was  no  infringement  of  any  man's  reli- 
gious liberty,  and  was  required  not 
only  in  the  interest  of  religion  and 
Christian  morals,  but  also  in  the  in- 
terest of  merchants  and  their  clerks, 
and  in  the  general  interests  of  com- 
merce. 

Palmerston  and  the  Station-Master. 

At  one  of  the  chief  stations  on  the 
Great  Western  Railway,  England,  is  a 
station-master,  noted  for  self-conceit 
and  flunkeyism.  His  reverence  for  a 
person  wdth  a  handle  to  his  name  is 
equalled  only  by  the  esteem  in  which 
he  holds  himself.  One  day  he  descried 
a  gentleman  pacing  the  platform  with 
a  cigar  in  his  mouth — contrary  to  the 
rule.  Official  at  once  accosted  the  au- 
dacious offender,  and  requested  him 
forthwith  to  stop  smoking.  The  gen- 
tleman, absorbed  in  the  most  abstract 
thought,  took  no  notice  whatsoever  of 
his  command,  but  continued  his  walk 
with  the  utmost  nonchalance,  emitting 
a  silvery  cloud.  Irritated  by  this  diso- 
bedience, Official  repeated  his  behests 
more  peremptorily  than  before;  but 
still  the  owner  of  the  Havana  maintain- 
ed a  provoking  disregard.  A  third  time 
the  order  was  repeated,  accompanied 
with  an  emphatic  threat  that  if  the  ob- 
stinate sinner  did  not  obey,  he  would 
at  once  be  collared  by  the  porters.  The 
stranger  took  no  more  heed  than  be- 
fore, and  so  at  last,  enraged  beyond  all 
further  patience.  Official  pulled  the  ci- 
gar out  of  the  smoker's  mouth  and  flung 
it  away.  This  violent  act  produced  no 
more  effect  than  the  previoils  commands 
and  threats,  and  the  peripatetic  philos- 
opher continued  his  walk  with  imper- 
turbable serenity.  Presently  a  carriage 
and  four  drove  up,  an  equipage  well 
known  to  Official  as  that  of  the  Duke 
of  Beaufort.  To  his  now  inconceivable 
horror,  the  refractory  smoker  entered 
the  said  chariot,  and  drove  off  in  style 
to  Badminton.  Official  asked,  in  trem- 
ulous tones,  who  the  stranger  was,  and 


BUSINESS  TRANSIT  AND   COMMUNICATION. 


387 


lie  felt  ready  to  sink  into  the  earth 
when  told  that  it  was  Viscount  Pal- 
merston,  K,  G.,  First  Lord  of  the 
Treasury.  He  did  not  hesitate  long, 
however ;  he  at  once  ordered  a  chaise 
and  pair,  and  drove  off  to  Badminton. 
Arrived  there,  he  sent  in  his  card,  and 
urgently  requested  a  private  interview 
with  Lord  Palmerston.  His  lordship 
soon  appeared,  when  Official  began  a 
most  abject  apology  for  having  "  so 
grossly  insulted  his  lordship  :  " 

"  Had  I  known  who  your  lordship 
was,  I  would  not  have  so  treated  your 
lordship  for  the  world  !  " 

The  Premier  heard  the  station-mas- 
ter out,  then  looking  down  upon  him 
sternly,  and  with  his  hands  in  his  pock- 
ets, said  : 

"  Sir,  I  respected  you  because  I 
thought  you  were  doing  your  duty  like 
a  Briton ;  but  now  I  see  you  are  noth- 
ing but  a  snob." 


Captaifn  Macalester  and  his  Fast  Ship 
"Fanny." 

About  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century,  the  shipwrights  of  Philadel- 
phia had  attamed  great  celebrity  for 
the  beauty  of  the  models  of  their  ves- 
sels, which  united,  in  a  remarkable  de- 
gree, celerity  in  sailing  and  fitness  for 
the  purposes  of  commerce.  Among  the 
most  skilful  of  these  was  Mr.  Grice. 
Captain  Macalester— eminent  as  a  ship- 
master and  subsequently  as  a  merchant 
— engaged  him  to  construct  a  ship, 
called  the  "  Fanny,"  in  building  which 
Mr.  Grice  exhibited  his  ablest  skill  in 
the  adaptation  of  the  principles  of  na- 
val architecture,  and  Captain  Macales- 
ter added  the  suggestions  derived  from 
his  own  experience  as  a  practical  and 
observing  navigator.     The  result  was 


that  the  "Fanny,"  when  launched* 
proved  to  be  the  fastest  sailing  mer- 
chantman of  the  day.  Captain  Mac- 
alester accomplished  his  first  voyage  in 
her,  from  Philadelphia  to  Cowes  in  the 
Isle  of  Wight,  in  seventeen  days,  a  ra- 
pidity of  passage  of  which  there  was  no 
previous  record.  He  took  with  him,  as 
passengers  on  that  occasion,  the  weal- 
thy and  distinguished  merchant  of 
Philadelphia  and  Senator  of  the  United 
States,  Mr.  William  Bingham,  with  his 
beautiful  and  accomplished  wife.  It  is 
probable  that  this  incident  was  the 
foundation  of  a  particularly  friendly 
intercourse,  which,  from  his  corre- 
spondence, appears  to  have  existed  be- 
tween him  and  Mr.  Alexander  Baring 
(afterward  Lord  Ashburton),  who  w^as 
the  son-in-law  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bing- 
ham. 

In  London,  Captain  Macalester  en- 
gaged to  make  a  voyage  in  the  "  Fan- 
ny "  to  Batavia  and  back.  What  was 
the  surprise  of  the  consignees  of  his 
vessel  in  London,  when  he  presented 
himself  in  their  counting  house,  having 
accomplished  the  entire  voyage  in  sev- 
en months  and  twenty  days,  a  speed, 
at  that  time,  without  a  parallel.  It 
was  in  the  course  of  this  voyage  that 
he  was  chased  by  a  British  frigate, 
which  fell  in  with  him  at  daylight  in 
the  morning,  but  could  not  overtake 
him  until  ten  o'clock  at  night.  When 
the  British  boarding  officer  stepped 
upon  his  deck,  he  said  to  Captain  Mac- 
alester : 

"  Sir,  you  have  a  very  fast  ship." 

"  I  thought  so  until  to-day,"  was  the 
reply. 

"  Our  frigate,"  answered  the  officer, 
"is  reputed  to  be  the  fastest  in  the 
navy,  and  we  never  before  have  had 
such  a  chase." 


PART  EIGHTH. 


Ajs'ecdotfs  of  Commebge  and  Traffig  in  their 
Leqal  and  Judicial  Aspects, 


PAET  EIGHTH. 

Anecdotes  of  Oommerce  and  Traffic  in  their  Legal  and  Judicial 

Aspects. 

PARTNERSHIP,  BANKRUPTCY,  DEBTOR  AND  CREDITOR,  BONDS  AND  MORTGAGES,  DUNNING,  PE- 
CULIAR CASES  OE  MERCANTILE  LITIGATION  ;  PLEASANTRIES  AND  PERPLEXITIES,  LIGHTS 
AND   SHADES. 


Laws  are  like  cobwebs,  which  may  catch  small  flies,  but  let  wasps  and  hornets  break  through.— 

BWIFT. 

It  is  a  remarkable  peculiarity  with  debts  that  their  expanding  power  continues  to  increase  as  you 
contract  them.— Anon. 

How  cold  he  hearkens  to  some  bankrupt's  woe, 
Nods  his  wise  head,  and  cries—"  I  told  you  so  ! "— Sprague. 
Creditors  have  better  memories  than  debtors,  and  creditors  are  a  superstitious  set— great  obser- 
vers of  set  days  and  ^mes.— Franklin. 

Consult  your  means,  avoid  the  tempter's  wiles, 
Shun  grinning  hosts  of  unreceipted  files. — Fields. 


De"bts  Owinir  and  Balances  Due. 

An  old  trader  about  to  die,  had  his 
friends  around  him,  to  hear  his  last 
words  and  to  exchange  the  usual  ex- 
pressions of  farewell  attachment.  His 
wife,  who  had  an  eye  to  that  which  is 
"laid  up  on  earth,"  improved  this 
pathetic  occasion,  by  desiring  him  to 
tell  what  debts  were  owing  to    him. 

This  he  complied  with.     "  There's 

owes  me  five  shillings  for  mutton." 
"  Oh,"  interjected  the  delighted  help- 
mate, "  to  see  a  man  at  this  time  o'  day, 
and  just  gaun  to  close  his  last  account, 
hae  the  use  o'  his  faculties — just  say 
away,  James."  "  Ay,  an' ten  shil- 
lings for  beef"  "What  a  pleasant 
thing  to  see  a  man  bein'  sensible  to  the 
last !  ony  mair  ? "  "An'  a  crown  for  a 
cow's  hide."  "  Ay,"  quoth  the  wife, 
"  sensible  yet — weel,  Jamts,  what  was't 
ye  was  gaun  to  say?"  "  Nae  mair, 
said  James,  "  but  I  am  oiiPn  Jock  Tarn- 
son  two  pounds  in  'balance  o'  a  cow 


and — "  "  Hoot,  toot !  "  quoth  the  wife, 
"  he's  a  ravin'  now — he's  just  demented 
— dinna  mind  ony  mair  that  he  says." 


Happy  End  to  a  Debt. 

In  the  fall  of  1847,  a  young  man 
went  to  New  York  in  quest  of  employ- 
ment. After  weeks  of  unsuccessful 
search,  he  found  himself  without  a 
prospect  of  work,  and  considerably 
in  debt  for  board.  In  despair,  he  made 
arrangements  to  dispose  of  his  clothes 
by  auction,  in  order  to  defray  his  debts, 
when  a  letter  was  sent  him  containing 
a  twenty-dollar  bill,  and  directing  him 
to  apply  for  the  situation  of  card  strip- 
per, to  the  overseer  of  one  of  the  corpo- 
rations. The  letter  requested  him  to 
sign  a  note  of  hand  for  the  amount 
loaned,  and  to  place  it  in  a  certain  un- 
occupied box  in  the  post  office,  where  it 
would  be  called  for  by  the  lender.  The 
young  man  did  as  directed,  and  receiv- 
ed the  situation,  the  overseer  stating 


392 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


that  it  had  been  secured  for  him  at  the 
earnest  solicitation  of  a  young  lady. 
Years  passed  away,  and  all  attempt  to 
discover  his  creditor  was  unavailing. 
The  young  man  prospered  in  business, 
and  at  length  plighted  his  affections  to 
an  amiable  young  lady  with  whom  he 
had  been  acquainted.  On  the  day  be- 
fore their  marriage  he  received  a  letter 
requesting  him  to  call  at  a  certain  place 
and  pay  the  note  of  twenty  dollars, 
with  interest,  which  he  had  signed 
some  years  before.  Anxious  to  settle 
an  indebtedness  which  from  the  myste- 
ry of  the  whole  affair  had  occasioned 
many  hours  of  unhappiness,  he  hasten- 
ed to  the  place  indicated,  and  was 
ushered  by  the  domestic  into  the  par- 
lor, where,  to  his  astonishment  he  dis- 
covered in  the  person  of  his  unknown 
benefactor,  the  lady  with  whom,  upon 
the  next  day,  he  was  to  unite  his  earth- 
ly fortune.  It  was  her  first  business 
transaction,  and  the  partnership  which 
followed  was  the  long  and  happy  one, 
only  dissolved  when  the  last  debt  of  all 
— ^the  debt  of  nature — had  to  be  paid. 


Oavrard's  Profitable  Imprisonment. 

OuvKARD,  the  great  French  contrac- 
tor-general, refusing  to  pay  a  debt  to 
one  of  his  creditors,  was  compelled  to 
undergo  imprisonment — a  punishment 
which  he  preferred  to  endure,  rather 
than  pay  the  demand.  He  led  a  life 
of  princely  expenditure  in  his  prison, 
and,  among  other  instances  of  extrava- 
gance, it  is  told  of  him  that  for  the 
purpose  of  adding  a  neighboring  room 
to  his  quarters,  he  paid  the  debt  of  the 
prisoner  who  occupied  it.  One  day, 
■when  M.  de  Villele,  the  Finance  Minis- 
ter, was  dining  with  him,  the  minister 
urged  Ouvrard  to  settle  matters  with 
his  creditor,  representing  the  scandal 
which  his  conduct  reflected  on  the 
Government  which  had  so  long  retained 
him  as  contractor-general.  *' Parbleu, 
Monseigneur,"  replied  Ouvrard,  "you 
speak  very  much  at  your  ease.     I  am 


here  for  five  years,  for  five  millions  of 
money ;  I  gain,  therefore,  by  my  im- 
prisonment, one  million  a  year  ;  and  if 
you  know  of  any  speculation  at  once 
more  lucrative  and  sure,  I  am  not  obsti- 
nately wedded  to  this,  observe.  In 
that  case,  I  will  pay  to-morrow  !  " 


Paying  a  Balance. 

At  the  death  of  Sir  Joseph  Banks, 
there  was  left  at  the  apartments  of  the 
Royal  Society,  at  Somerset  House,  an 
instrument  called  a  balance,  constructed 
by  Ramsden,  and  belonging  to  Sir 
Joseph.  The  secretaries,  accordingly, 
wrote  to  his  widow,  stating  that  there 
was  a  balance  remaining  m  their  hands, 
and  requesting  to  know  her  wishes  as 
to  its  disposal.  "  Pay  into  Coutts's," 
was  her  ladyship's  reply. 


Swan,  the  Millionnaire,  in  Prison  more 
than  Twenty  Years  for  Debt. 

James  Swan,  an  American  merchant 
of  vast  wealth,  was  committed  to  the 
prison  of  St.  Pelagic,  in  Paris,  on  the 
28th  of  July,  1808,  for  a  sum  of  six 
hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  six 
hundred  and  forty  francs,  and  repassed 
the  gates,  for  the  first  time,  on  their 
opening  to  the  Revolution  on  the  29th 
of  July,  1830,  twenty-two  years  after- 
ward. Mr.  Swan,  though  possessed  of 
a  fortune  amounting  to  nearly  four  mil- 
lion francs,  denied  the  justness  of  the 
claim  beyond  the  sum  of  six  or  seven 
thousand  francs,  and  determined  to 
spend  his  life  in  prison  rather  than 
obey  a  judicial  sentence  which  he  con- 
sidered unjust.  Having  first  caused  it 
to  be  intimated  to  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren that  he  would  disinherit  them  to 
the  last  farthing  of  his  property  if  they 
paid  the  debt,  he  furnished  his  prison 
apartment  in  a  style  of  princely  mag- 
nificence, and  hired,  in  the  Rae  de  la 
Cele,  opposite  the  gates  of  St.  Pelagic, 
a  spacious  dwelling,  with  coach  house 
and  stables,  for  his  friends,  cooks,  etc. 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


393 


For  the  former  class  he  kept  two  car- 
riages, and  they  were  commissioned  to 
appear  before  him  and  spend  his  money 
in  the  Bois-de-Boulogne,  public  streets 
and  promenades,  balls  and  theatres.  A 
curious  original  was  this  James  Swan. 
He  strutted  and  attitudinized  in  his 
prison  like  Chodruc-Duclos  in  his  rags ; 
it  was  his  method  of  flinging  defiance 
in  the  face  of  society.  Consistent  in 
his  determination,  he  was  prepared  to 
return  to  his  prison,  after  the  events  of 
the  "  three  days,"  when,  on  the  31st  of 
July,  he  was  seized  with  apoplexy  at 
his  temporary  lodging,  and  consigned 
to  the  closer  and  longer  imprisonment 
of  the  grave. 


Lucrative  Deed  of  Trust. 

Some  years  ago,  a  St.  Louis  merchant, 
well  known  and  highly  respected,  fail- 
ed in  business,  and  after  settling  up  his 
affairs,  gave  to  his  principal  creditor  a 
deed  of  trust  on  certain  real  estate,  to 
secure  the  payment  of  twelve  thousand 
dollars.  At  the  time,  the  property  was 
barely  valued  at  that,  so  the  creditor 
put  the  deed  in  his  safe,  and  there,  so 
far  as  he  was  concerned,  the  matter 
ended.  The  merchant,  broken  down, 
disappointed,  poor,  but  yet  enterpris- 
ing, went  South,  visited  California, 
Mexico,  and  South  America,  specu- 
lated, and,  as  is  not  uncommon  with 
such  men,  made  half  a  dozen  fortunes, 
and  lost  them  again.  In  the  course  of 
years  he  returned  to  the  city,  sick, 
travel  worn,  needy,  and  disheartened. 
By  chance  he  soon  met  his  old  lawyer, 
a  gentleman  of  high  professional  and 
personal  standing.  After  the  first 
greeting,  the  lawj-er  remarked  : 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you  back,  and,  as 
you  seem  to  be  in  want  of  funds,  the 
sale  will  be  just  in  time." 

The  merchant  looked  hard  at  his 
friend,  and  finally  said :  "  Sale  !  what 
sale  ?     F'ce  got  nothing  to  sell." 

"  Nonsense,  my  dear  fellow,  you  are 
richer  than  you  imagine.    Don't  you 


remember  the  deed  of  trust  I  drew  up 
for  you  some  twelve  years  ago  ?  " 

"I  do,  what  of  it?" 

"  Well,  at  that  time  the  property 
would  not  have  realized  the  sum,  so 
it  was  '  let  lie ; '  but  it  is  now  in  the 
market,  and  I  expect  to  close  a  contract 
for  its  sale  this  week." 

"  You  amaze  me ;  w^hat  price  do  you 
expect  to  get  ?  " 

"  I've  asked  eighty-six  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  shall  get  it,  too.  Your  debt 
and  interest  will  amount  to  twenty-one 
thousand  dollars,  or  thereabouts,  so 
you'll  have  sixty-five  thousand  to  go 
upon." 

The  sensations  of  the  benefited  par- 
ty may  almost  be  personally  shared  by 
those  who  read  this  story  of  his  good 
fortune. 


Dunning"  as  a  Profession. 

A  GENTLEMAN  from  Ncw  York,  who 
had  been  in  Boston  for  the  purpose  of 
collecting  some  moneys  due  him  in 
that  city,  was  about  returning,  when 
he  found  that  one  bill  or  account  for  a 
hundred  dollars  had  been  overlooked. 
His  landlord,  who  knew  the  debtor, 
thought  it  a  doubtful  case ;  but  added, 
that  if  it  teas  collectable  at  all,  a  tall, 
raw-boned  Yankee,  then  dunning  a 
lodger  in  another  part  of  the  hall, 
would  "  worry  it  out "  of  the  man. 
Calling  him  up,  therefore,  he  intro- 
duced him  to  the  creditor,  who  showed 
him  the  account. 

"Wall,  Square,"  said  he,  '"taint 
much  use  o'  tryin',  I  guess.  I  hnow 
that  critter.  You  might  as  well  try  to 
squeeze  ile  out  of  Bunker  Hill  monu- 
ment, as  to  c'lect  a  debt  out  of  Mm. 
But  aw?/how.  Square,  what'll  you  give, 
sposin'  I  <Z(?  try  ?  " 

"  Well,  sir,  the  bill  is  one  hundred 
dollars.  I'll  give  you — yes,  I'll  give 
you  half,  if  you'll  collect  it." 

"  'Greed,"  replied  the  collector, 
"  there's  no  harm  in  tryin\  any  way." 

Some    weeks     after,    the     collector 


394 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


chanced  to  be  in  Boston,  and  in  walk- 
ing up  Tremont  street,  encountered 
his  enterprising  friend. 

"  Look  o'here,"  said  he,  "  Square,  I 
had  considerable  luck  with  that  bill  o' 
youm.  You  see  I  stuck  to  him  like  a 
dog  to  a  rat,  but  for  the  first  week  or 
so  'twant  no  use — not  a  bit.  If  he  was 
home,  he  was  'short,'  if  he  wasn't 
home,  I  couldn't  get  no  satisfaction. 
By  and  by,  says  I,  after  goin'  sixteen 
times,  I'll  fix  you !  says  I.  So  I  sat 
down  on  the  doorstep,  and  sat  all  day 
and  part  of  the  evening,  and  I  begun 
early  next  day ;  but  about  ten  o'clock 
he  '  gin  in.'  He  paid  me  my  half,  and 
I  gin  him  up  the  note  !  " 


Stratagem  to  Collect  a  Debt. 

Four  creditors  started  from  Boston 
in  the  same  train  of  cars,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  attaching  the  property  of  a  cer- 
tain debtor  in  Farmington,  Me.  He 
owed  each  one  separately,  and  they 
each  were  suspicious  of  the  object  of 
the  other,  but  dare  not  say  a  word 
about  it.  So  they  rode,  acquaintances 
all,  talking  upon  everything  except 
that  which  they  had  most  at  heart. 
When  they  arrived  at  the  depot  at  F., 
which  was  three  miles  from  where  the 
debtor  did  his  business,  they  found 
nothing  to  "  put  'em  over  the  road," 
but  a  solitary  cab,  toward  which  they 
all  rushed.  Three  got  in,  and  refused 
admittance  to  the  fourth,  and  the  cab 
started.  The  fourth  ran  after,  and  got 
upon  the  outside  with  the  driver.  He 
asked  the  driver  if  he  wanted  to  sell 
his  horse.  He  replied  that  he  did  not 
want  to — that  he  was  not  worth  more 
than  fifty  dollars,  but  he  would  not  sell 
him  for  that.  He  asked  him  if  he 
would  take  one  hundred  dollars  for 
him.  "  Yes,"  said  Jehu.  The '  fourth ' 
man  quickly  paid  over  the  money,  took 
the  reins,  and  backed  the  cab  up  to  a 
bank,  slipped  it  from  the  harness,  and 
tipped  it  up  so  that  the  door  could  not 


be  readily  opened,  jumped  upon  the 
horse's  back  and  rode  off  'lick-a-ty- 
switch,'  while  the  '  insiders  '  were  gaz- 
ing out  of  the  window,  looking  like 
singed  cats.  He  rode  to  a  lawyer's,  and 
got  a  writ  made  and  served,  and  his 
debt  secured,  and  got  back  to  the  ho- 
tel just  as  the  '  insiders  '  came  up  puff- 
ing and  blowing.  The  cabman  soon 
bought  back  his  horse  for  fifty  dollars. 
The  '  sold '  men  offered  to  pay  that  sum 
if  the  fortunate  one,  who  found  proper- 
ty sufficient  to  pay  his  debt,  would  not 
'  let  on '  about  the  affair  in  Boston  ! 


Curious  Financierine:. 

GiLFERT  was  in  the  habit  of  borrow- 
ing money  from  everybody,  very  little 
of  which  was  ever  paid  back  ;  but  that 
he  always  intended  to  return  it  at  the 
time  promised,  there  is  no  doubt.  He 
was  a  visionary  man,  and  he  did  not 
make  the  best  calculations  in  the 
world.  One  day,  meeting  a  friend  in 
the  Bowery,  the  following  conversation 
took  place : 

"  Ah,"  said  Gilfert,  "  you  are  the 
very  man  I  wanted  to  see ;  lend  me 
two  hundred  dollars." 

"  I  would  in  a  moment,"  replied  his 
friend,  "but  it  is  impossible,  I  have 
a  note  to  pay,  and  I  don't  know  where 
to  get  the  money." 

"  A  note,"  said  Gilfert,  "  so  have  L 
Let  me  see  your  notice." 

The  gentleman  produced  it  from  his 
pocketbook. 

"  Well,  how  much  are  you  short  ? " 

"  About  two  hundred  dollars,"  said 
his  friend. 

To  his  utter  surprise  Gilfert  handed 
him  the  money.  "  There,"  said  he,  "  go 
and  pay  your  note.  I'll  let  mine  be 
protested,  as  they  can't  be  both  taken 
up.  If  your  note  laid  over,  it  might 
hurt  your  credit ;  but  with  me  it  don't 
matter,  as  I  am  used  to  that  sort  of 
business." 


B.L.STEVENS: 


Syz^r.^'^r  /rr  jQl  ,S^///^A 


''/p-/zy  //  rr>: 


A ■i.nnltn„l.y,.l,.C,>.N<-,v-Ynrk. 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


395 


Nice  Snare  for  a  French.  Creditor. 

A  LAW  formerly  j^revailed  in  France, 
that  if  a  debtor  escaped,  tlie  keeper 
became  responsible  for  his  debt.  Of 
course  this  arrangement  rendered  eva- 
sion extremely  difficult ;  nevertheless, 
to  revenge  some  real  or  fancied  injus- 
tice, a  singular  trick  was  played  by  a 
debtor,  which  greatly  amused  the  Paris- 
ians. 

A  certain  Monsieur  L.,  having  con- 
trived to  escape,  presented  himself  one 
evening  at  the  house  of  his  astonished 
creditor,  with  the  salutation  : 

"  You  see,  I  am  free.  You  may  seize 
me,  certainly,  and  send  me  back  to  jail, 
but  I  can  never  pay  you ;  whereas,  if 
you  will  give  me  money  enough  to  es- 
cape out  of  the  country,  you  can  claim 
your  debt  of  the  keeper,  who  can." 

The  creditor,  who  does  not  seem  to 
have  been  very  scrupulous,  consented 
to  this  arrangement,  on  the  condition 
that  he  himself  saw  Monsieur  L.  off  by 
the  diligence,  which  having  done,  and 
feeling  himself  safe,  he  on  the  follow- 
ing morning  knocked  at  the  gate  of 
Clichy,  and  asked  the  keeper  if  he  re- 
membered him. 

"  Certainly,"  said  the  functionary, 
"you  are  the  creditor  of  Monsieur 
L." 

"Exactly,"  answered  the  creditor, 
"and  you  are  doubtless  aware  that 
Monsieur  L.  has  effected  his  escape, 
and  that  you  are  now  responsible  to 
me  for  the  six  thousand  francs  he  owes 
me." 

Biit  instead  of  the  face  of  dismay  the 
creditor  expected,  the  officer  began  to 
laugh,  and  assured  him  that  Monsieur 
L.  was  safe  in  his  room,  and  should  im- 
mediately make  his  appearance,  which 
on  being  summoned,  he  did.  The 
prisoner  thus  had  his  joke  and  his  few 
hours  of  liberty,  and  the  creditor  his 
disappointment — which  his  dishonest 
intentions  upon  the  poor  jailer  well 
merited. 


Shopkeepers  groing-  to  Law. 

It  is  stated  as  a  remarkable  fact,  and 
certainly  not  a  very  promising  one,  that 
the  shopkeepers  in  Paris,  eighty  thou- 
sand in  number,  had  in  one  year  no 
less  than  forty-six  thousand  lawsuits 
before  the  Tribunal  of  Commerce  alone, 
to  say  nothing  of  any  of  the  other  tri- 
bunals for  the  legal  settlement  of  differ- 
ences. Such  a  fact  is  altogether  with- 
out its  parallel  in  any  other  city. 


Singrular  Suit  against  "Mi.  Appleton, 
of  Boston. 

Truth  is  surely  stranger  and  more 
romantic  than  fiction,  as  the  following 
will  show.  Samuel  Appleton,  one  of 
the  most  generous  of  Boston  merchants, 
was  once  sued,  and  only  once,  during 
his  long  and  vast  career  of  business. 
About  the  year  1820,  a  merchant  tailor, 
named  Endicot,  died,  leaving  a  residue 
of  his  estate  to  a  Baptist  society. 
Among  his  papers  was  a  note  signed 
by  Samuel  Appleton,  and  indorsed  by 
Ducoster  &  Marshall,  for  a  few  hundred 
dollars.  The  committee  of  the  society 
called  upon  Mr.  Appleton  for  payment. 
The  handwriting  was  so  much  like  his, 
that  it  was  impossible  to  distinguish 
one  from  the  other ;  but  he  refused  to 
pay  it,  declaring  it  to  be,  in  spite  of 
the  resemblance,  a  forgery.  A  suit  was 
brought  on  the  note,  which  was,  in 
fact,  outlawed— but  he  would  not, 
however,  allow  any  plea  of  this  kind 
to  be  made,  but  steadily  denied  the 
signature. 

As  the  indorsement  was  evidently 
genuine,  and  no  other  person  of  the 
same  name  was  known,  the  whole  mat- 
ter was  involved  in  mystery.  This  was 
increased  by  the  fact  that  he  had  had 
dealings  with  the  house  of  Ducoster  & 
Marshall,  as  appeared  by  his  books, 
though  nothing  was  found  in  them 
that  confirmed  this  note.  On  the  trial, 
his  brother  was  called  as  one  of  the 
witnesses.    He  testified  that  he  could 


396 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


not  distinguish  the  signature  from  Mr. 
Appleton's  handwriting;  but  that,  as 
he  himself  had  kept  the  books  at  the 
time,  and  his  brother's  notes  were  al- 
ways paid  when  due,  and  there  was  no 
trace  of  such  a  note,  it  could  not  be 
genuine.  Notwithstanding  this  ad- 
mitted resemblance  of  the  handwriting, 
and  notwithstanding  the  charge  of  the 
judge  was  regarded  as  rather  against 
the  defendant,  the  jury  found  a  verdict 
in  his  favor.  The  verdict  was  founded 
on  the  fact  that  the  jury  felt  quite  sure 
that  Mr.  Appleton  would  not  dispute 
the  payment  of  the  note,  except  on  the 
certainty  that  he  did  not  owe  it. 

Mr.  Appleton,  however,  w^as  not  sat- 
isfied to  leave  the  matter  here,  if  it  were 
possible  to  unravel  the  mystery.  Some 
years  after,  he  was  in  Italy,  and  went  to 
Naples,  where  Mr.  Degen  then  resided 
— the  gentleman  who  was  assignee  of 
Ducoster  &  Marshall,  and  had  made 
the  indorsement  in  their  behalf.  His 
first  step  on  landing  was,  not  to  visit 
any  of  the  wonders  of  nature  or  art, 
but  to  search  out  Mr,  Degen,  who,  in 
answer  to  his  inquiries,  stated  that  he 
perfectly  well  recollected  the  circum- 
stance of  there  being  such  a  note,  but 
that  the  signer  of  the  note  was  a  ship- 
master of  the  same  name,  who  resided 
in  Portland,  and  who  had. been  dead 
for  some  years.  Besides  his  memory 
of  the  event,  he  had  at  his  country 
house  the  books  of  the  firm,  and  on  ex- 
amining them  they  were  found  to  con- 
firm entii'ely  Mr.  Appleton's  convictions. 


liongworth's  Celebrated  Pee. 

Mr.  Longworth,  the  celebrated  Cin- 
cinnati millionnaire,  once  received  as  a 
legal  fee  from  a  fellow  who  was  ac- 
cused of  horse  stealing,  and  who  had 
nothing  else  to  give,  two  second-hand 
copper  stills.  The  gentleman  who  had 
them  in  possession  refused,  however,  to 
give  them  up,  but  proposed  to  Mr.  L. 
to  give  him  a  lot  of  thirty-three  acres 
on  Western  Row  in  lieu  of  them,  a  pro- 


posal which  the  latter,  w^hose  opinions 
of  the  value  of  such  property  were 
ahead  of  his  time,  gladly  accepted. 
This  transaction  alone,  taking  into  view 
the  prodigious  increase  of  real  estate 
in  that  city,  would  have  formed  the 
basis  of  an  immense  fortune,  the  naked 
ground  being  worth  two  millions  of 
dollars.  This  fact  afi"ords  an  example 
of  the  facility  with  which  comparative- 
ly small  amounts  secured  to  Mr.  Long- 
worth  the  property  which  has  since 
become  of  such  immense  value. 


Bankruptcy  and  Barbarism  in  Court. 

A  MIXTURE  of  romance  and  reality 
was  recently  exhibited  in  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Bankruptcy  Court  of  Lon- 
don in  the  case  of  Mr.  Mark  Boyd. 
Amid  dry  details  of  certificates,  as- 
signees, dividends,  and  unsecured  cred- 
itors, there  suddenly  started  up  an  ele- 
ment at  once  romantic  and  ghastly. 

A  question  was  raised  as  to  whether 
the  bankrupt's  brother,  Mr.  Benjamin 
Boyd,  was  alive  or  dead.  This  gentle- 
man went  on  a  yachting  voyage  to  the 
South  Sea  Islands,  without  being  heard 
of  afterward.  It  was  stated  in  reply, 
that  the  fact  of  Mr.  Boyd's  death  was 
by  no  means  proved ;  for  that  a  skull, 
said  to  be  his,  and  brought  to  London, 
had  been  found  to  have  sound  and  per- 
fect teeth,  whereas  the  unfortunate  gen- 
tleman '  wore '  artificial  teeth,  and  thpre 
were  consequently  still  some  grounds 
for  the  belief  that  Mr.  Benjamin  Boyd 
was  not  dead,  but  was  a  captive  among 
the  natives.  Could  M.  Sue  hafe  in- 
vented anything  more  melodramatic 
than  this  ?  One  brother  haggarded  by 
misfortune,  beset  by  '  men  of  tape  and 
quill '  in  London,  interrogated  by  ac- 
countants, examined  by  commissioners; 
the  other  brother  wandering,  perhaps, 
among  antipodean  savages,  naked  and 
tattooed,  or  perhaps  tomahawked,  or 
probably  eaten!  And  all  this  while 
shrewd  men  of  business  bandy  about 
musty  counting  houses  a  grinning  skull, 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


397 


that  merchants  may  speculate  as  to 
whose  flesh  once  covered  the  ghastly 
relic ! 


Sealingr  with  a  Bankrupt  in  Hamburg: 
—"Execution"  on  the  Bourse. 
The  following  account  of  an  occur- 
rence which  took  place  in  Hamburg, 
suggests  the  somewliat  whimsical  but 
withal  serious  query,  How  would  such 
a  course  answer  in  any  of  our  commer- 
cial cities  ?  At  noon  (according  to  this 
account),  just  as  the  Exchange,  crowd- 
ed with  merchants,  presented  its  busi- 
est aspect,  two  drummers  in  the  civic 
uniform,  came  up  and  rolled  their 
drums  for  the  space  of  ten  minutes, 
causing  a  great  commotion  both  within 
and  out  of  the  Bourse.  While  this  was 
going  on,  workmen  were  seen  over  the 
principal  gate  v»  ay  of  the  building,  ele- 
vating a  black  board,  on  which  was 
painted  in  white  letters  the  name  of  a 
merchant  of  the  city  who  had  lately 
suspended  payment  and  absconded  with 
all  his  assets.  When  the  name  had  been 
fairly  set  up,  a  bell  called  the  '  shand 
glocke,'  or  shame  bell,  only  rung  on 
such  occasions,  was  sounded  for  two 
hours  from  a  tower  of  the  Bourse.  This 
penalty  of  disgrace,  called  the  "  execu- 
tion of  a  fraudulent  bankrupt,"  is  or- 
dained by  a  law  which  can  be  traced 
to  the  fourteenth  century,  when  the 
Hanseatic  league  was  at  the  height  of 
its  greatness.  At  that  period,  however, 
the  bankrupt's  patent  of  citizenship, 
and  his  certificate  as  a  merchant,  were 
also  burnt  by  the  hangman. 


Bankrupts  in  Batavia. 

Imiviediately  on  a  person  becoming 
bankrupt  in  Java,  the  name  of  the  par- 
ty is  placarded  about  town  and  in  the 
Exchange,  as  if  'prima  fade  infamous. 
The  books  are  then  examined  by  the 
public  officer  for  that  purpose.  If  the 
estate  does  not  pay  sixty  per  cent.,  and 
the  bankrupt  can  be  proved  to  have 
done  business  after  he  knew  the  fact, 


he  is  put  into  prison  as  a  criminal,  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  declared 
'  aloost,'  which  signifies  infamous,  or 
without  character.  After  this,  the 
'  aloost '  person  is  indeed  excommuni- 
cated. His  word  is  not  to  be  taken ; 
he  is  not  allowed  to  be  a  witness,  even 
on  oath ;  and  if  a  man  trusts  him,  he 
does  so  on  his  own  risk — he  has  no  le- 
gal remedy  against  him.  On  the  other 
hand,  if  a  man  takes  his  books  to  the 
public  officer,  and  declares  that  he  has 
given  up  all  he  has,  and  it  does  not 
appear  that  he  has  been  doing  business, 
knowing  he  was  a  bankrupt,  and  after 
a  strict  investigation  there  are  no  suspi- 
cious circumstances,  his  creditors  must 
sign  his  papers. 

Western  Method  of  Collecting  a  Deht. 

A  St.  Louis  merchant  was  on  a  col- 
lecting tour  through  the  western  part 
of  Missouri.  The  boat  on  which  he 
embarked  landed  first  at  a  small  town, 
and  the  merchant  repaired  to  the  house 
of  one  of  his  debtors.  On  inquiring  of 
the  good  lady  for  her  husband,  she  ex- 
pressed her  regret  that  he  had  just  left 
town,  and  would  not,  positively,  be 
back  for  a  week.  The  merchant  re- 
gretted that  very  much,  as  he  "had 
some  money  "  for  her  husband. 

Lady  :  "  You  liate  ? — well — really — 
let  me  see — John,  are  you  sure  that 
your  father  has  gone  ?  go  see — perhaps 
I'm  mistaken — run  quick,  and  tell  your 
father,  if  you  can  find  him,  that  a  gen- 
tleman is  here  who  wishes  to  pay  him 
some  money." 

(The  boy  ran,  full  speed,  for  his 
daddy.) 

"  I  hope  I  am  mistaken — husband 
was  telling  me  this  morning  he  expect- 
ed some  money  from  St.  Louis.  Money 
is  so  scarce  these  days,  and  people  are 
so  negligent  in  paying  their  debts: 
Jane,  bring  the  gentleman  some  water, 
quick  now — stop,  come  here — (in  a 
whisper,  but  audible  to  the  merchant) 
— tell  Sarah  to  bring  some  of  those 


^98 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


largest  and  best  apples,  do  you  hear  ? 
— now  run,  quick.  When  did  you 
leave  St.  Louis,  sir  ?  " 

"  Last  Monday  was  two — " 

(Running  to  the  window) — "  There's 
husband,  as  true  as  I'm  born — I  really 
was  afraid  he'd  left." 

(Husband  enters,  puffing  and  blow- 
ing)— "  My  dear  G ,  I  was  so  fear- 
ful you  had  left." 

(In  an  undertone) — "  I  wish  to  heav- 
en I  had  !  "    (To  the  merchant)  :  "  Ah, 


Mr. 


how  are  you  ? " 


"Very  well — pleasant  day— all  well 
— hark  !  the  bell  is  ringing — not  much 
time  to  talk — I  have  a  little  business 
(presents  two  or  three  bills) — would  be 
very  glad  if  you  would  settle  them  to- 
day." 

"Ah!  ah,  yes,  sir — well,  I  don't 
know — Col.  Wiston  promised  to  be 
here  to-day,  who  owes  me  some  bor- 
rowed money — hard  times — when  will 
you  leave,  probably  ?  " 

(Bell  rings  again) — "I  must  be  off, 
sir ;  *  lift '  one  of  those  notes,  and  I'll 
wait  for  the  rest;  the  bell  is  ringing, 
and  I  must  be  off." 

"  Well,  sir."  (Aside  to  his  wife) — 
"  Why  did  you  tell  I  was  at  home, 
confound  it  ? " 

The  merchant  receives  five  hundred 
dollars,  and  bids  the  gentleman  "  good 
morning,"  much  pleased  to  pocket  the 
amount.  The  good  wife  quietly  coun- 
termanded her  orders  for  ''  those  lar- 
gest and  best  apples,"  before  he  settled 
with  the  husband. 


Forg-iving"  a  Debt  and  Giving:  a  Wife. 

A  SHOPKEEPER,  who  resided  two  or 
three  days'  journey  from  Paris,  pre- 
served his  good  standing  and  credit  for 
many  years.  At  last,  by  some  persons 
making  undue  purchases,  and  keeping 
him  too  long  out  of  his  money,  he  was 
obliged  to  proceed  to  Paris,  to  desire 
two  things  of  his  creditors :  one  was 
an  extension  of  their  forbearance,  and 
the  other  was,  to  be  furnished  with  a 


fresh  assortment  of  goods,  that  he 
might  keep  open  his  shop  with  its 
usual  supply. 

They  were  so  pleased  with  the  hon- 
esty and  frankness  of  the  man,  that 
they  all  agreed  to  grant  his  request,  ex- 
cept one — his  chief  creditor,  a  proud 
and  exacting  merchant,  who  had  never 
experienced  any  adversities,  and  knew 
not  how  to  sympathize  with  those  thus 
tried.  "  So,"  said  he,  "  I  find,  by  your 
asking  for  a  prolongation  of  credit,  and 
a  further  indulgence  of  goods,  that  you 
are  going  down  hill;  and  therefore  I 
am  resolved  to  have  my  money."  Ac- 
cordingly, he  sent  at  once  for  an  offi- 
cer, who  arrested  the  tradesman,  and 
conducted  him  to  jail.  In  this  perplex- 
ing situation,  he  wrote  home  to  his 
wife,  who  communicated  the  news  to 
her  six  children,  who  were  thus  over- 
whelmed in  sorrow.  What  could  be 
done  ?  To  sit  still  in  despair  was  the 
ready  road  to  ruin.  After  a  frank  con- 
versation with  her  eldest  son,  a  young 
man  of  fine  sense  and  great  upright- 
ness, about  nineteen  years  of  age,  he 
resolved  on  a  speedy  visit  to  Paris, 
with  a  view  to  softening  the  hardness 
of  this  creditor.  After  a  short  inter- 
view with  his  father,  he  went  to  the 
house  of  the  merchant,  sent  in  his 
name,  and  desired  an  audience.  The 
creditor,  thinking  he  had  come  to  pay 
him,  had  him  at  once  admitted ;  but 
he  soon  found  that  liis  first  request  was 
that  he  should  release  his  father  from 
jail,  to  go  home  and  provide  for  his 
mother,  and  keep  up  the  credit  of  the 
shop. 

The  merchant,  being  disappointed  in 
his  expectation,  fiew  into  a  violent  pas- 
sion, and  declared  that  he  would  have 
the  money  or  the  bones  of  his  father. 
The  young  man,  finding  him  inexor- 
able, fell  down  on  his  knees,  and  with 
tears  accompanying  his  earnest  utter- 
ance, addressed  the  merchant  as  fol- 
lows :  "  Sir,"  said  he,  "  if  I  go  home 
without  my  father,  I  shall  see  my 
mother  die  with  a  broken  heart,  the 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


399 


credit  of  the  shop  will  be  entirely 
ruined,  and  we  children  must  be  turn- 
ed as  vagabonds  and  beggars  into  the 
open  street.  I  have  this  one,  this  last 
request,  to  make — let  me  be  sent  to  jail 
in  the  room  of  my  father,  and  keep  me 
there  until  all  demands  are  satisfied." 

The  merchant  walked  back  and  forth 
in  the  room  with  evident  emotion.  The 
young  man  continued  his  suppliant  ap- 
peals and  entreaties  on  his  knees,  when 
at  last  the  merchant  went  to  him  with 
great  tenderness  of  manner,  and  taking 
him  by  the  hand,  said,  "  Rise,  young 
man.  I  have  but  one  daughter  in  the 
world,  and  for  whose  hajDpiness  I  am 
concerned ;  I'll  give  thee  my  daughter 
— she  must  be  happy  with  a  fellow  of 
thy  virtue  ;  I'll  settle  upon  you  all  my 
fortune ;  I'll  release  your  father  out  of 
prison,  and  make  you  all  happy  to- 
gether." And  he  was  as  good  as  his 
word. 


Frencli  Mode  of  Paying  Bills. 

A  SOME^VHAT  prominent  banker  at 
Paris,  having  a  draft  brought  to  him 
from  a  public  office  in  that  city,  which 
he  could  not  answer,  after  cramming 
down  the  draft  into  a  loaded  pistol, 
called  to  the  gentleman  who  brought 
it,  and  telling  him,  "  This,  sir,  is  the 
way  that  persons  who  have  no  money 
pay  bills  that  are  due,"  instantly  clap- 
ped the  pistol  to  his  ear,  and  shot  him- 
self dead. 


Advantage  of  Being-  a  Larg-e  Debtor. 

As  the  world  goes,  the  moment  that 
a  man  becomes  largely  in  debt,  he  blos- 
soms out  into  a  respectable  and  respon- 
sible member  of  society.  It  is  not,  as 
many  suppose,  that  he  has  earned  this 
character  before  he  became  intrusted 
with  the  property  of  others.  A  very 
little  ability,  a  certain  degree  of  bold- 
ness and  assurance,  a  taking  exte- 
rior, and  a  willingness  to  contract  to 
pay  the  market  rate  of  interest  and  a 


little  more,  will  place  him  in  posses- 
sion of  capital  beyond  the  dreams  of 
avarice. 

Once  master  of  the  position,  he  is  in- 
vested with  all  the  qualities  and  vir- 
tues that  inspire  admiration,  confidence, 
and  respect.  If  he  wants  raw  produce, 
he  has  merely  to  hold  up  his  finger, 
and  a  dozen  ships  are  loaded  for  him 
in  the  ports  of  the  world.  If  he  wants 
the  fabricated  article,  he  has  merely  to 
breathe  a  wish,  and  mountainous  wag- 
ons hasten  to  unload  their  heavy  treas- 
ures at  his  gate.  If  he  covets  that  pre- 
cious metal  which  divines  call  "  filthy 
lucre,"  and  economists  "  circulating 
medium,"  he  has  but  to  send  in  his 
card  to  any  banker,  and  have  a  sack 
of  it  shovelled  to  him  as  if  it  was  dirt. 
These  are  the  gross  and  material  ad- 
vantages of  being  in  debt — serving  as 
the  basis  for  a  superstructure  of  higher 
things. 

First,  there  is  the  immense  advance 
in  social  position.  What  doors  are 
closed  to  the  large  and  noble  debtor  ? 
What  dinner  parties  would  be  consid- 
ered perfect  without  him  ?  How  many 
needy  men  are  anxious  to  sit  near  him 
at  the  table,  in  the  hope  of  learning 
something  useful  to  guide  them  in  the 
path  which  lie  has  seemingly  followed 
with  such  distinguished  success  !  Who 
would  think  of  a  public  meeting  with- 
out the  gigantic  debtor- in  the  chair? 
If  a  trustee  is  wanted  for  a  charitable 
fund,  who  so  fit  and  proper  to  be  ap- 
pointed as  the  leviathan  debtor  ? 

If  a  public  company  or  a  joint-stock 
enterprise  is  flagging  for  various  rea- 
sons, what  is  wanted  to  put  it  firmly 
and  flourishingly  upon  its  legs  ? — the 
chairmanship  of  the  enterprising  debt- 
or 1  Did  any  wild  scheme  ever  ad- 
vance or  commend  itself  to  public  no- 
tice, or  endeavor  to  strike  root,  without 
sending  one  of  its  earliest  prospectuses 
to  the  energetic  and  prosperous  debtor  ? 
Never ! 

Then  there  is  the  almost  affectionate 
interest  taken  in  nearly  everything  that 


400 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


happens  to  the  pampered  debtor.  If 
he  falls  ill,  what  crowds  of  people — 
chiefly  creditors — come  hurriedly  for- 
ward with  pressing  kindness,  day  after 
day,  anxiously  consulting  his  physi- 
cian, and  inquiring  after  his  health !  If 
he  meets  with  an  accident,  what  a 
number  of  persons  hasten  tenderly  to 
his  side,  keenly  calculating  whether  it 
is  likely  to  be  fatal.  Many  of  these 
kind  creatures — chiefly  creditors — even 
go  to  the  length  of  insuring  the  life  of 
the  important  debtor  for  a  considera- 
ble sum,  so  strongly  does  their  interest 
in  him,  under  these  circumstances,  de- 
velop itself.  If  the  mammoth  debtor 
goes  upon  a  foreign  tour  for  a  length- 
ened period,  how  many  persons — chiefly 
creditors — are  waiting  anxiously  to  give 
him  a  joyous  welcome  back!  If  his 
house,  or  warehouse,  is  accidentally 
burned  down,  what  a  bevy  of  jDersons 
— chiefly  creditors — are  at  once  upon 
the  spot  to  render  assistance,  and  ascer- 
tain, if  possible,  what  insurances  there 
are — what  amounts,  and  in  what  offices ! 
In  the  great  world  of  debt,  the  small 
debtor  is  governed  by  his  creditor ;  the 
large  creditor  is  governed  by  his  debtor. 


Tender  in  Payment. 

A  TENDER  in  payment  is  rarely  made 
in  a  legal  manner.  People  commonly 
clog  it  with  some  condition,  which 
makes  it  no  tender  in  law.  One  man 
goes  to  another,  and  says,  "  Here  is 
your  money ;  I  must  have  a  receipt  in 
full  of  all  demands."  A  tender,  to  be 
good,  must  be  an  unconditional  one, 
clogged  with  no  stipulation  whatever. 


"Parsons  on  Promissory  Notes." 

A  puBLisHrNG  house  advertised  in  a 
city  journal,  "  Parsons  on  Promissory 
Notes  ; "  referring  to  which  the  editor 
remarked:  "There  are  few  parsons 
whose  notes,  not  to  speak  of  their  in- 
dorsements, are  of  much  account  in 
Wall  street."      "And  this,"  says  the 


Knickerbocker^  reminds  us  of  a  remark 
once  made  by  the  late  John  Sanderson, 
the  witty  author  of  "  The  American 
in  Paris,"  touching  certain  unnegoti- 
able  clerical  "  paper  "  which  he  held : 
"  They  will  take  the  minister's  locyrd, 
unquestioned,  every  Sunday,  for  the 
eternal  future,  but  won't  take  his  note, 
with  only  ninety  days  to  run  !  " 


Pasringr  an  Old  Debt. 

A  MAI?  who  had  run  up  a  long  score 
at  a  shop  for  liquor,  cigars,  and  other 
creature  comforts,  found  himself  utterly 
unable  to  pay  a  stiver  of  it.  In  vain 
w^as  he  urged  to  pay  the  bill,  and  in 
vain  was  he  threatened  if  he  didn't ;  he 
hadn't  the  money — the  true  secret  of 
his  getting  in  debt  in  the  first  place — 
and  the  creditor  gave  it  up.  At  last 
he  thought  he  would  compromise  the 
matter,  and  let  the  man  work  the  debt 
out. 

The  creditor  had  a  large  pile  of 
wood  in  his  barn,  several  cords  of  it, 
nicely  sawed  and  split,  and  he  forth- 
with set  the  debtor  at  work  to  throw 
the  wood  into  the  street  and  then  pile 
it  back  again,  at  the  rate  of  a  shil- 
ling an  hour,  until  the  whole  debt 
should  be  wiped  out.  The  man  took 
hold  with  a  will,  and,  in  a  short  time, 
the  wood  was  all  in  the  street ;  then 
it  went  back  with  equal  celerity,  and 
then  out  again  and  then  in — every  one 
wondering  what  it  could  all  mean. 
Some  charitably  intimated  that  he  was 
crazy,  and  others,  equally  charitable, 
said  he  was  drunk.  He  toiled  on  thus 
the  whole  day,  throwing  the  wood 
back  and  forth,  but  every  hour  seemed 
sixty  minutes  longer  than  its  pre- 
decessor, as  he  watched  the  clock  on 
the  old  church  in  the  neighborhood. 
He  was  working  a  dead  horse,  and  it 
was  hard  making  him  go.  But  the 
longest  road  must  have  an  end,  and 
the  hour  neared  when  the  labor  and 
debt  vould  cease  together,  and,  as  the 
hammer  of  the  clock  told  the  hour  of 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


401 


his  release,  the  freed  man  threw  the 
last  stick  of  wood  into  the  street  with 
a  shout  of  triumph.  The  shout  brought 
the  owner  of  the  wood  to  the  door, 
who  found  his  late  debtor  putting  on 
his  coat  to  go  away. 

"  Hallo  !  "  said  he,  "  you  are  not 
going  away  w^ithout  putting  the  wood 
back  again,  are  you  ?  " 

"  I'll  put  it  back  again  for  a  shilling 
an  hour,"  said  the  man. 

The  proprietor  of  the  wood  saw  that 
he  had  been  "  done,"  and  good-natured- 
ly told  his  late  debtor  to  go  ahead  and 
put  it  back.  He  went  about  it,  but, 
strange  to  say,  it  took  him  just  three 
times  as  long  to  put  it  back  as  it  did 
to  throw  it  out !  This,  if  not  "  Mrs. 
Partington's  last,"  is  one  of  her  best  in 
the  domain  of  commercial  humor. 


Debts  of  Honor. 

A  GOOD  story  is  told  relative  to  the 
— now — rather  old-fashioned  idea  of  a 
"  debt  of  honor."  A  tradesman,  to 
whom  Sheridan  had  given  a  bill  for 
two  hundred  pounds,  called  on  him 
for  the  amount.  A  heap  of  gold  was 
lying  on  the  table.  "  Don't  look  that 
way,"  cried  Sheridan,  after  protesting 
that  he  had  not  a  penny  in  the  world, 
"  that  is  to  pay  a  debt  of  honor."  The 
applicant,  with  some  wit,  tore  up  the 
bill  of  demand  he  held :  "  Now,  Mr. 
Sheridan,"  quoth  he,  "  mine  is  a  debt 
of  honor  too."  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
"  Sherry ''  handed  him  the  money. 

The  story  of  Gunter's  bill— the  con- 
fectioner—is not  so  much  to  the  good 
name  of  his  debtor.  Hanson,  the 
ironmonger,  called  upon  him  and 
pressed  for  payment.  A  bill  sent  in 
by  the  famous  confectioner  was  lying 
on  the  table.  A  thought  struck  the 
debtor,  who  had  no  means  of  getting 
rid  of  his  importunate  applicant.  "  You 
know  Gunter  ? "  he  asked.  "  One  of 
the  safest  men  in  London,"  replied  the 
ironmonger,  "  Then  will  you  be  satis- 
fied if  I  give  you  his  bill  for  the 
26 


amount  ? "  "  Certainly."  Thereupon 
Sheridan  handed  him  the  neatly  folded 
account — and  rushed  from  the  room, 
leaving  the  creditor  to  discover  the 
point  of  Mr.  Sheridan's  little  fun. 


Drawing  an  Inference. 

A  MERCHANT  who  had  become  re- 
duced in  fortune,  went  to  a  person 
who  had  formerly  been  his  servant,  to 
borrow  money  of  him.  The  upstart 
servant  gave  his  former  master  a  very 
mortifying  reception,  and  asked  in  a 
haughty  tone,  "  Sir,  why  do  you  give 
me  all  this  trouble  ?  Upon  my  honor 
I  have  no  money  to  lend  you  or  any 
one  else."  "I  am  certain  that  what 
you  say  is  false,"  said  the  gentleman ; 
"  for  if  you  were  not  rich,  you  dared  not 
be  so  saucy." 


A  Bankrupt  on  his  Legs  Again. 

A  WEALTHY  merchant  having  expe- 
rienced some  hard  reverses  which 
caused  his  bankruptcy,  was  met  some 
time  after  his  misfortunes  by  a  friend, 
who  asked  him  how  he  was  getting 
on  ?  "  Pretty  well,"  said  he,  "  I  am 
upon  my  legs  again."  "  How !  al- 
ready ? "  "  Yes,  I  have  been  obliged 
to  part  with  my  coach  and  horses,  and 
must  now  walk." 


Tick.' 


The  word  "  tick  "  is  considered  by 
some  as  merely  an  abbreviation  of 
ticket.  In  the  "  Sportsman's  Slang 
Dictionary  "  may  be  found  the  follow- 
ing amusing  definition :  "  Tick :  credit 
in  small  quantities ;  usually  scored  up 
with  chalk,  which  being  done  with  a 
sound  resembling  *  tick,  tick,  tick,' 
gives  the  appellation  '  going  to  tick,' 
'tick  it  upj'  *my  tick  is  out,'  'no 
more  tick.' " 

A  well-meaning  friend,  calling  one 
morning  on  Mr.  Sheridan,  wound  up 
a  rather  prosy  exordium  on  the  pro- 


402 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


priety  of  domestic  economy,  by  ex- 
pressing a  hope,  tliat  the  pressure  of 
some  difficulties,  from  which  he  had 
been  temporarily  removed,  would  in- 
duce a  more  cautious  arrangement  in 
future.  Sheridan  listened  with  great 
gravity,  and  thanking  his  visitor, 
assured  him  that  he  never  felt  so 
happy,  as  all  his  affairs  were  now 
proceeding  with  the  regularity  of  clock- 
worh^  adding  (with  a  roguish  twinkle 
of  the  eye,  and  giving  his  arm  the 
oscillating  motion  of  the  pendulum), 
"  Tick,  tick,  tick ! "  It  is  needless  to 
add  that  the  Mentor  took  a  hasty 
leave  of  his  witty  but  incorrigible 
companion. 

— — ♦ — 

The  "Model  Debtor"  Described. 

The  model  debtor  (says  Mayhew) 
never  thinks  a  thing  dear  so  long  as  he 
gets  it  on  credit.  No  dinner  is  too 
good  for  him  ;  the  dearest  wines ;  the 
earliest  peas,  the  most  juvenile  straw- 
berries, the  choicest  liquors,  the  most 
exotic  luxuries — everything  that  is  ex- 
pensive, delicious  and  toothsome,  so 
that  he  is  not  called  upon  to  give 
ready  money  for  it.  The  world  pays, 
and  he  enjoys  himself.  His  cab  is  found 
him  free  of  expense,  and  by  some 
charm  he  has  a  two  hundred  guinea 
horse  sent  home  to  him  without  paying 
a  single  penny  for  it.  The  rent  of  his 
house  is  several  quarters  due;  the 
furniture  is  of  the  very  best,  but  not  a 
stick  nor  stitch  of  it  has  been  settled 
for,  and  the  very  sheet  he  sleeps  on 
might  be  taken  from  under  him  by  his 
washerwoman,  foT  terrible  arrears  of 
aebt.  These  thoughts,  however,  never 
trouble  his  happiness.  He  trusts,  for 
everything,  to  his  appearance.  He 
knows  well  enough  that  a  man  with  a 
shabby  exterior  never  gets  "  credit " 
for  anything  in  this  world.  He  has  a 
good  coat,  and  on  the  back  of  it  orders 
as  many  clothes  as  he  likes.  He  has 
only  to  ask  for  hats,  boots,  walking 
sticks,  pistols,  dressing  cases,  and  they 


are  all  left  at  his  "  residence,"  exactly 
as  if  he  had  paid  for  every  one  of  them. 
No  questions  are  asked — not  a  soul  is 
in  a  hurry  ;  for  "  any  one  can  see  he  is 
a  perfect  gentleman."  He  flourishes  a 
check-book,  though  his  "  drafts " 
would  not  be  liquid-ated  at  any  other 
bank  but  Oldgate  Pump. 

The  aay  of  reckoning,  however, 
sooner  or  later,  comes.  Then  it  is 
that  the  wonderful  impudence,  the 
real  •  genius,  of  the  Model  Debtor, 
bursts  out  in  all  its  greatness.  It  is 
not  convenient  for  him  to  pay  "just  at 
present" — it  would  be  ruination  to 
sell  out  when  the  funds  are  so  low\  He 
wonders  at  Mr.  Smith's  impatience 
(Smith  is  his  butcher) — the  bill  can 
barely  have  been  owing  two  years — 
but  he  will  call  and  settle  next  week. 
Some  he  threatens  to  expose ;  the  im- 
pertinence of  others  he  will  certainly 
report  to  all  his  friends;  and  he 
silences  the  noisiest  with  a  piece  of 
stamped  paper,  on  which  his  name  is 
inscribed  as  the  representative  of  hun- 
dreds of  pounds.  But  the  bubble  gets 
larger  and  larger  until  it  bursts.  Then 
the  Model  Debtor  tumbles  from  his 
high  "  estate  " — if  he  ever  had  any — 
and  from  an  "  eligible  mansion "  he 
falls  to  a  "  desirable  lodging  "  at  a  few 
shillings  per  week. 

His  life  is  now  a  constant  game  of 
hide  and  seek.  He  is  never  "  at  home," 
especially  to  top-boots  and  Jerusalem 
noses,  that  bring  letters  and  wait  for 
answers  in  the  passage.  He  grows 
nervous.  Every  knock  at  the  door 
throws  him  back,  and  he  rings  the  bell 
violently  two  or  three  times,  whispers 
to  the  servant  through  the  door,  turns 
the  key,  and  crouches  down  with  his 
ear  at  the  key-hole.  He  looks  out  of 
the  window  before  he  ventures  in  the 
street.  He  only  walks  when  he  cannot 
afford  to  pay  for  a  cab.  Omnibuses  are 
dangerous — it  is  not  so  easy  to  avoid  a 
creditor  inside.  He  selects  the  dreariest 
thoroughfares,  and  never  penetrates 
into  a  cul-de-sac^  or  approaches  within 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


403 


a  mile  of  Chancery  Lane.  His  impu- 
dence, however,  does  not  desert  him. 
He  never  recollects  any  bill  whatever, 
and  if  stopped  and  questioned  about 
his  name,  he  threatens  in  the  grandest 
manner  to  call  the  police.  When  pressed 
for  money,  he  is  sure  the  account  was 
paid  long  ago,  and  that  he  has  got  the 
receipt  somewhere  among  "  his  papers." 
He  is  most  fruitful  in  excuses,  and 
lavish  in  promises.  He  generally  ex- 
pects "  a  good  round  sum  in  a  day  or 
two."  He  can  never  get  his  accounts 
in,  and  was  disappointed  only  last  week 
of  a  large  balance  he  had  relied  upon 
for  paying  your  little  "  trifle." 

As  he  falls  lower  in  the  world,  he 
gets  weaker.  He  would  pay  if  he 
could.  All  he  asks  for  is  time.  Busi- 
ness ia  very  bad — never  was  worse. 
He  only  wants  to  look  around  him.  He 
hopes  you  won't  be  hard  upon  him; 
but  if  prosecuted,  if  goaded  to  death 
in  this  way,  sooner  than  lead  the  life 
he  does,  he  will  go  into  the  Gazette, 
and  then  his  creditors  must  not  blame 
liim  if  they  don't  get  a  farthing.  He 
means  well,  if  they  will  only  leave  Mm 
alone.  He  will  be  happy  to  give  you 
a  bill.  He  has  a  wife  and  seven  chil- 
dren. In  fact,  he  is  a  most  affectionate 
parent,  and  the  sacrifices  he  has  made 
for  his  family  no  one  can  tell  but  him- 
self—which he  does  upon  every  possi- 
ble opportunity.  He  grows  tired  of 
answering  letters.  He  meets  a  bill 
and  a  bailiff  with  equal  horror,  but 
does  not  care  much  for  either,  if  he  can 
only  be  sure  of  "  a  good  long  run." 
He  is  very  sensitive  about  the  left 
shoulder,  going  off,  like  a  hair  trigger, 
at  the  slightest  touch.  His  great  day 
or  jubilee  is  Sunday.  He  is  then  every- 
where— in  the  Park  especially, — and 
any  one  to  see  him  would  imagine  "  he 
could  look  the  whole  world  in  the 
face,  and  defy  any  one  to  say  he  owed 
him  a  shilling."  He  is  brave,  too, 
during  "  vacation." 

He  is  very  intimate  with  the  law,  and 
has  a  profound  respect  for  the  Statute 


of  Limitations;  but  thinks  England 
not  worth  living  in  since  the  County 
Courts  Act.  He  carries  this  antipathy, 
indeed,  so  far,  as  to  run  over  some  fine 
morning  to  Boulogne — never  coming 
back  again,  leaving  all  his  "  property," 
though,  behind  him,  in  a  carpet  bag 
replete  with  bricks.  There  his  first 
care  is  to  cultivate  a  moustache,  and 
to  procure  new  clothes,  new  dinners, 
fresh  victims.  He  is  always  expecting 
a  remittance  by  the  next  post.  His 
bankers,  however,  are  perseveringly 
remiss,  and  he  is  lodged  at  last  by  his 
landlord  in  the  Hotel  (TAngleterre — in 
plain  English,  the  prison.  He  only 
asks  for  time ;  and  at  last  he  gets  more 
of  it  than  he  likes,  for  he  is  locked  up 
for  two  or  three  years  in  jail,  unless  he 
is  very  lucky  and  is  liberated  by  a 
Revolution.  He  disappears — no  one 
knows  where.  His  "  friends  "  wonder 
what  has  become  of  him,  till  there  is  a 
vague  report  that  he  has  been  seen  as 
an  attache  to  one  of  the  gaming  houses 
about  Leicester  Square,  or,  if  he  is  toler- 
ably w^ell  off,  that  he  has  been  recog- 
nized on  the  road  to  Epsom,  driving  a 
cab,  with  a  large  number,  say  2584, 
painted  upon  it. 

The  Model  Debtor  is  now  honest  at 
last,  for  he  has  arrived  at  that  stage  oif 
life  at  which  no  man  will  put  any  trust 
in  him.  He  pays  his  "  way  " — turn- 
pikes included — and  does  not  over- 
charge more  than  what  is  perfectly 
Hansom.  He  pays  ready  money  for 
everything,  even  down  to  the  water- 
man on  the  cabstand,  and  gives  him- 
self out  as  "  a  gentleman  who  has  seen 
better  days."  His  great  boast,  however, 
is,  that  all  through  the  ups  and  downs 
of  his  racketty  career  he  never  left  un- 
paid a  single  debt  of  "  honor."  Doubt- 
lessly, this  is  a  great  source  of  consola- 
tion to  the  numerous  tradesmen  to 
whom  he  never  paid  a  penny. 


Comfort  for  Scotch  Debtors. 
In  Scott's  "  Antiquary,"  the  subject 
of  imprisonment  for  debt  in  Scotland 


404 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


is  discussed  most  piquantly  by  Jona- 
than Oldbuck,  Esq.,  of  Monkbarns, 
wlio  proves  to  bis  nephew,  Captain 
M'lntire,  that  in  that  happy  country 
no  man  can  be  legally  imprisoned  for 
debt.  He  says:  You  suppose  now  a 
man's  committed  to  prison  because  he 
cannot  pay  his  debts?  Quite  other- 
wise ;  the  truth  is,  the  king  is  so  good 
as  to  interfere  at  the  request  of  the 
creditor,  and  to  send  the  debtor  his 
royal  command  to  do  him  (the  king) 
justice  within  a  certain  time — fifteen 
days,  or  six,  as  the  case  may  be.  Well, 
the  man  resists,  and  disobeys  (by  not 
paying)  ;  what  follows  ?  Why,  that 
he  may  be  lawfully  and  rightfully  de- 
clared a  rebel  to  our  gracious  sovereign, 
whose  command  he  had  disobeyed, 
and  that  by  three  blasts  of  a  horn,  at 
the  market  place  of  Edinburgh,  the 
metropolis  of  Scotland.  And  he  is 
then  legally  imprisoned — not  on  ac- 
count of  any  mere  ciml  deht^  but  because 
of  his  ungrateful  contempt  of  the  royal 
mandate ! 


Peter  C.  Brooks,  the  Boston  Million- 
naire,  in  Court. 

Peteb  C.  Brooks  had  led  an  active 
business  life,  or  had  been  engaged  in 
important  pecuniary  transactions,  for 
forty  years,  without  ever  having  been 
involved  in  a  lawsuit  on  his  own  ac- 
count, either  as  plaintiff  or  defendant. 
At  length,  after  three  years  of  prepara- 
tion, an  action  was  brought  against 
him  in  1829,  on  a  bill  of  equity,  by  the 
administrators  of  Tuthill  Hubbart,  who 
had  been  dead  about  a  quarter  of  a 
century.  This  gentleman  had  been 
one  of  Mr.  Brooks's  underwriters ;  an 
extensive  confidential  connection  had 
existed  between  them  for  many  years  ; 
and,  after  Mr.  Hubbart's  decease,  Mr. 
Brooks  made  a  general  settlement  with 
his  estate.  The  action  brought  was  to 
set  aside  this  settlement,  which  had 
been  thus  made  and  accepted,  on  the 
ground  that  items  belonging  to  Mr. 
Hubbart's  credit  had  been  omitted,  to 


the  amount  of  nearly  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  In  his  answer  to  the 
bill  of  equity,  Mr.  Brooks  declared  his 
anxious  desire  to  pay  any  amount  aris- 
ing from  any  error,  though  it  was  well 
understood  by  all  concerned  that  the 
settlement  with  lilr.  Hubbart's  admin- 
istrators by  the  payment  of  a  gross  sum 
— customary  then — was  intended  to 
cover  the  possibility  of  any  such  eiTor. 
The  case  excited  most  intense  interest 
in  the  community,  Mr.  Wirt,  of  Balti- 
more, being  the  chief  counsel  for  the 
plaintiff,  and  Mr.  Webster  and  Mr.  Gor- 
ham  for  the  defendant,  and  the  forensic 
display  of  these  rivals  was  magnificent. 
Throughout  the  trial,  the  avenues  of 
the  courthouse  were  besieged  long  be- 
fore the  doors  were  opened,  and  every 
inch  of  space  was  crowded.  At  the 
close  of  the  argument  of  Mr.  Webster, 
Mr.  Brooks  himself  obtained  permission 
to  address  a  few  words  to  the  court  by 
way  of  explanation.  Few  are  the  men 
who,  with  fortune  and  reputation  at 
stake,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two,  wholly 
unaccustomed  to  speak  in  public, 
would  have  ventured  to  rise  before  an 
immense  auditory,  comprising  all  that 
was  most  distinguished  for  character 
and  intellect  in  the  profession  or  the 
community,  to  add  anything  on  their 
own  behalf  to  the  defence  of  a  cause 
which  had  been  argued  by  Messrs. 
Gorham  and  Webster.  Few  are  the 
clients  who,  under  these  circumstances, 
would  have  been  permitted  by  counsel 
to  take  the  risk  of  speaking  for  them- 
selves. Mr.  Brooks  was  not  only  per- 
mitted but  encouraged  to  do  so,  by  his 
counsel.  A  profound  silence  fell  upon 
the  court,  as,  with  a  voice  slightly 
tremulous,  his  hand  resting  on  his  old 
account  books,  which  had  been  drawn 
from  the  dust  of  thirty  years  (and 
which  were  pronounced  by  the  bench 
such  a  set  of  books  as  had  never  been 
seen  in  that  court),  he  uttered  his  few 
and  final  sentences  of  explanation. 
The  court  negatived  in  direct  terms 
the  charge  of  fraud,   either  legal  or 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND   JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


405 


teclinical,  and  declared  tlieir  inability 
to  discover  anything  that  justified  a 
charge  even  of  impropriety  against  the 
defendant.  In  his  private  journal,  after 
recording  the  result  of  the  action,  Mr. 
Brooks  observes,  that  "  it  has  terminat- 
ed to  his  entire  satisfaction." 


Small  Debts. 

An  action  having  been  tried  at  Taun- 
ton assize,  England,  to  recover  forty- 
five  shillings  for  goods  sold  and  deliv- 
ered, Mr.  Justice  Best  expressed  his 
regret  that  such  a  cause  should  have 
found  its  way  into  court.  "  Here,"  said 
the  judge,  "  is  a  man  so  foolish  as  to 
bring  an  action  for  forty-five  shillings  ; 
and  a  man  so  foolish  as  to  defend  it ! 
Few  lines  had  more  truth  in  them, 
than  two  which  he  would  quote  to  the 
jury— 
"  Causes  are  traversed,  and  so  little  won, 

That  be  yvhoffains  them,  is  at  last  undone." 

Tailors'  Bills. 

The  model  tailor  is  the  gentleman's 
best  friend.  Sometimes,  it  must  be 
confessed,  he  sends  in  his  bill,  though 
payment,  generally  speaking,  never  en- 
ters into  his  thoughts.  But  then  he  is 
soon  ashamed  of  the  liberty  he  has 
taken,  and  apologizes  most  profusely 
for  it.  He  is  fully  sensible  that  he  is 
doing  wrong,  and  blushes  in  his  soul 
for  the  shabbiness  he  is  guilty  of.  It 
is  only  that  he  is  terribly  distressed  for 
money,  or  else  he  would  not  think  of 
"troubling"  you.  He  is  greatly  sub- 
ject to  that  heaviest  of  all  social  ca- 
lamities— a  "  little  bill."  He  asks  you, 
as  the  greatest  favor,  to  let  him  have  a 
"  trifle  upon  account,"  and  leaves  you 
happier  than  poets  can  express,  if  you 
promise  to  let  him  have  something  in 
a  day  or  two.  Should  it  be  inconve- 
nient, however,  he  never  presses  the 
point,  and  will  look  in  some  other  time. 
Should  you  express  astonishment  at  his 
demand — that  you  cannot  have  had  his 


bill  more  than  two  years — he  excuses 
himself  in  the  most  penitential  manner, 
and  begs  your  pardon  for  having  men- 
tioned the  subject.  The  next  day  he 
inquires  if  you  want  anything  in  his 
way  ;  the  generous  creature  forgives  as 
quickly  as  he  forgets.  His  anger  is 
only  aroused  when  you  leave  him  to 
go  to  another  tailor.  In  his  anger  he 
has  been  known  to  send  a  lawyer's  let- 
ter ;  but  if  you  go  to  him,  and  tell  him 
what  you  think  of  his  conduct,  and  or- 
der a  new  wrap-rascal,  he  will  settle 
the  matter  himself,  and  assure  you  that 
the  thing  is  purely  a  mistake,  and  that 
no  one  can  possibly  be  more  sorry  for 
it  than  himself.  As  might  be  supposed, 
the  model  tailor  rarely  makes  a  fortune 
— unless  he  has  been  very  unfortunate 
through  life.  An  insolvency  just  puts 
him  straight ;  a  first  bankruptcy  leaves 
him  a  handsome  surplus,  and  a  second 
one  enables  him  to  retire.  The  sad 
truth  is,  that  the  simple  child  of  Eve 
knows  he  owes  all  his  business  to  the 
fact  of  her  biting  the  apple,  and  he  has 
not  the  heart  to  distress  any  son  of 
Adam  for  the  clothes  he  wears.  Per- 
haps he  feels  that  it  would  be  like 
pocketing  the  wages  of  sin.  His  as- 
signees, therefore,  are  obliged  to  col- 
lect his  debts  for  him,  and  accordingly, 
the  oftener  he  fails,  the  richer  he  be- 
comes. 


An  Unsettled  Commercial  Question. 

One  of  the  commercial  questions  of 
the  day  which  remains  to  this  time  un- 
decided, is,  whether  the  fact  of  a  gen- 
tleman having  No  Tin  may  not  have 
something  to  ,do  with  the  answer  he 
invariably  sends  of  Not  In,  when  any 
one  calls  upon  him  with  a  bill  ? 


Hotel  Keeper's  Advice  to  his  Sen. 

"  If  there's  been  a  grand  dinner,  al- 
ways get  the  party  to  settle  before  leav- 
ing. The  dinner  bill,  my  son,  is  never 
so  severely  scrutinized  as  when  a  gen- 


406 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


tleman  looks  over  it  the  next  morn- 
ing ! " 


Boyal  Promissory  Notes. 

A  Prussian,  of  the  name  of  Mylius, 
found  among  his  father's  papers  a 
promissory  note  of  considerable  amount, 
which  the  Prince  Royal,  afterward 
Frederic  the  Great,  had  given  him.  He, 
therefore,  immediately  sent  it  to  the 
king,  with  the  following  letter  : 

"  Sire  :  Among  my  father's  papers  I 
have  found  the  enclosed  note.  I  can- 
not tell  whether  it  has  been  through 
negligence,  or  any  other  means,  that  it 
has  not  been  cancelled.  I  know  not, 
but  I  leave  the  matter  to  the  disposal 
of  your  majesty."  . 

The  king  immediately  sent  for  My- 
lius, and  said  that  he  well  remembered 
receiving  the  money  from  his  father, 
and  that,  if  there  was  any  error,  he 
would  be  the  loser  himself.  He  at  once 
paid  the  money,  with  interest. 


An  Insolvent  Tradesman  in  the 
Clutches  of  Old  Audley. 

A  TRADESMAN,  named  Miller,  unfor- 
tunately got  into  arrears  with  his  mer- 
chant, whose  name  was  White.  Many 
fruitless  applications  were  made  for 
the  debt,  and  at  last  Miller  was  sued 
by  the  merchant  for  the  sum  of  two 
hundred  pounds.  He  was  unable  to 
meet  the  demand,  and  was  declared  in- 
solvent. 

At  this  stage,  the  notoriously  greedy 
shark,  Audley,  whose  wealth  was  only 
exceeded  by  his  heartless  avarice,  went 
to  White,  and  ojafered  him  forty  pounds 
sterling  for  the  debt,  T^Jiich  the  mer- 
chant gladly  accepted.  He  then  went 
to  Miller,  and  undertook  to  obtain  his 
quittance  of  the  debt  for  fifty  pounds, 
upon  condition  that  he  entered  into  a 
bond  to  pay  for  the  accommodation. 
The  drowning  man  catches  at  a  straw, 
and  the  insolvent,  with  many  protesta- 
tions of  thanks,  eagerly  signed  a  con- 
tract which,  without  consideration,  he 


regarded  as  one  so  light,  and  so  easy 
in  its  terms,  as  to  satisfy  him  that  the 
promptings  of  benevolence  and  friend- 
ship could  alone  actuate  his  voluntary 
benefactor.  The  contract  was,  that  he 
should  pay  to  Audley  some  time  with- 
in twenty  years  from  that  date,  one 
penny  progressively  doubled  on  the 
first  day  Of  twenty  consecutive  months ; 
and,  in  case  he  failed  to  fulfil  those  easy 
terms,  he  was  to  pay  a  fine  of  five  hun- 
dred pounds.  Thus  acquitted  of  his 
debt  of  two  hundred  pounds.  Miller  ar- 
ranged with  the  rest  of  his  creditors,  and 
again  commenced  business.  Fortune 
turned,  and  he  again  participated  liber- 
ally in  her  smiles.  Every  month  added 
greatly  to  his  trade,  and  at  last  he  be- 
came firmly  established.  Two  or  three 
years  after  signing  the  almost  forgotten 
contract.  Miller  was  accosted  one  fine 
morning  in  October  by  "  old  Audley," 
who  politely  and  humorously  demand- 
ed the  first  instalment  of  the  agree- 
ment. With  a  laugh,  and  many  re- 
newed expressions  of  thankfulness,  the 
hopeful  tradesman  paid  his  penny.  On 
the  first  of  the  succeeding  month,  Aud- 
ley again  called,  and  demanded  two 
pence,  and  was  as  politely  satisfied  as 
before.  On  the  first  of  December  he 
received  a  groat ;  the  first  of  February, 
one  shilling  and  four  pence.  Still  Mil- 
ler did  not  see  through  the  artifice,  but 
paid  him  with  a  gracious  smile;  per- 
haps, however,  there  was  something 
cynical  in  the  look  of  Audley  as  he  left 
the  shop  this  time — for  the  poor  trades- 
man's suspicions  were  aroused,  and  he 
put  his  pen  to  paper,  as  he  ought  to 
have  done  years  before,  to  ascertain  the 
amount  of  his  subsequent  payments. 

According  to  this  arrangement,  the 
amount  of  the  payment  due  on  the  first 
of  the  twentieth  month — the  sum  the 
little  penny  had  become — would  be  no 
less  than  £2,180;  and  the  aggregate  of 
all  these  twenty  monthly  payments,  the 
enormous  sum  of  £4,366  lis.  Sd.  Of 
course,  Miller  refused  the  payment  of 
his  bond,  and  forfeited  £500  by  the  be- 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


407 


nevolence  and  charity  of  his 
tary  benefactor." 


volun- 


Convenient  Substitute  for  Money. 

The  principal  market  in  Guernsey 
was  built  without  money.  The  gov- 
ernor issued  four  thousand  market 
notes,  and  with  these  paid  the  work- 
men who  built  it.  These  notes  circu- 
lated through  the  island,  until  the 
market  was  built  and  occupied;  and 
when  the  rents  came  in,  these  notes 
were  received  in  payment  of  the  rents, 
and  were  cancelled.  In  the  course  of  a 
few  years,  the  notes,  being  all  paid  in, 
were  publicly  burnt  in  the  market. 
The  Water  Works,  Upper  Canada, 
were  constructed  by  a  similar  use. 


"What  the  Word  "Pay"  Signifies. 

The  word  "^ay,"  in  ordinary  lan- 
guage, is  only  used  to  signify  the  deliv- 
ering over  of  money,  or  other  valuables, 
in  discharge  of  a  debt.  But  in  its 
original  meaning,  it  seems  to  have  had 
a  particular  reference  to  the  act  or 
manner  of  blotting  out  the  record  of  a 
debt.  This  was  done  in  times  not 
long  past,  and  is  sometimes  done  now, 
by  drawing  a  line,  or  more  commonly 
two  lines,  crossing  each  other,  athwart 
the  writing  in  the  book  ;  and  from  the 
custom,  it  is  often  said  by  country  peo- 
ple, when  they  have  paid  a  debt,  that 
"  the  book  is  crossed."  But  at  the  time 
when  very  few  were  able  to  read  what 
was  written,  not  only  would  it  be 
thought  unsatisfactory  to  have  nothing 
more  than  a  written  receipt  entered  in 
the  book,  but  this  drawing  a  line 
across  the  record  of  the  debt  was  sup- 
posed too  slight  a  matter ;  and,  there- 
fore, the  obliteration  was  made  by  dip- 
ping the  tip  of  the  finger  in  ink,  and 
smearing  it  over  the  writing.  This 
blotting  out  of  the  record  was  what 
was  particularly  understood  by  the 
word  paying^  and  not  simply  the  act 
of  delivering  the  money;   and  hence 


the  mercantile  application  of  the  words 
to  pay  is  only  an  extension  of  the  origi- 
nal meaning,  when  it  is  applied  to  the 
smearing  over  of  the  bottom  of  a  ship 
or  boat  with  pitch.  When  a  new  coat 
of  tar  or  pitch  is  thus  laid  on,  the  boat 
is  said  to  be  payed  over. 


"Bankrupt." 

Few  words  have  so  remarkable  a  his- 
tory as  the  familiar  word  bankrupt. 
The  money  changers  of  Italy  had,  it  is 
said,  benches  or  stalls,  in  the  bourse  or 
exchange,  in  former  times,  and  at  these 
they  conducted  their  ordinary  business. 
When  any  of  them  fell  back  in  the 
world,  and  became  insolvent,  his  bench 
was  broken,  and  the  name  of  broken 
bench,  or  lanco  rotto,  was  given  to 
him.  When  the  word  was  adopted 
into  English,  it  was  nearer  the  Italian 
than  it  now  is,  being  "  bankerout "  in- 
stead of  bankrupt. 


Dun.' 


Some  have  derived  this  word  from 
the  French  word  donnez^  signifying 
give,  implying  a  demand  of  something 
due ;  and  others,  from  the  Saxon  word 
dunon,  to  clamor.  Both  are  wrong. 
The  origin  of  the  word  is  proved  to  be 
simply  this  :  In  the  reign  of  Henry  VII. 
a  famous  bailiff,  named  Joe  Dun,  lived 
in  the  town  of  Lincoln.  This  man  was 
so  extremely  dexterous  in  his  rough 
business,  that  it  was  usual,  when  a  per- 
son refused  to  pay  his  debts,  to  say, 
"  Why  don't  you  Dun  him  ?  "—that  is, 
"Why  don't  you  send  Dun  to  arrest 
him  ?  "  And  hence  the  custom  of  call- 
ing a  person  who  presses  another  for 
the  payment  of  money,  a  Bun.  It  is  a 
custom  which  has  been  in  vogue  since 
the  days  of  Henry  VII. 


Subduing  a  Creditor's  Fury. 

It  is  related  that  Filippo,  the  cele- 
brated singer,  having  been  arrested  by 


408 


COMMERCIAL   AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


one  of  his  largest  and  most  enraged 
creditors — a  trader  from  wliom  lie  liad 
been  long  skulking — made  no  otlier  re- 
ply to  liis  abuse  and  threats  than  by 
sitting  down  to  the  harpsichord  and 
singing  two  or  three  of  his  most  pleas- 
ing and  touching  airs  to  his  own  ac- 
companiment ;  the  fury  of  the  creditor 
was  thus,  gradually,  so  perfectly  sub- 
dued, that  he  not  only  forgave  his 
debtor,  but  lent  him  ten  guineas  to 
appease  the  clamor  of  other  creditors 
who  threatened  him  with  sjDeedy  jail 

quarters. 

♦ 

Great  Failures  in  Hamburgh,  in  1799. 

The  year  1799  was  memorable  for 
the  havoc  which  befell  the  great  mer- 
cantile houses  of  Hamburgh.  Within 
the  space  of  only  a  few  weeks,  some 
one  hundred  and  thirty-six  failures  oc- 
curred, amounting  to  no  less  a  total 
than  fifteen  million  dollars,  and  crip- 
pled or  prostrated  every  branch  of  busi- 
ness and  business  connection.  The 
largest  of  these  failures  was  that  of 
Messrs.  De  Dabbeler  &  Hesse,  for  an 
immense  amount ;  the  next,  that  of  J. 
T>.  Rodde.  Of  all  the  rest,  only  three 
were  enabled,  afterward,  to  resume 
payment  and  fully  satisfy  their  credi- 
tors. 

During  this  convulsive  state  of  the 
Hamburgh  Bourse,  the  London  Ex- 
change bestirred  itself,  since  merchan- 
dise and  bills  of  exchange  could  afford 
no  immediate  relief,  at  a  time  when 
discount  had  risen  so  enormously,  and 
merchandise  had  fallen  thirty-five  per 
cent,  in  price,  to  render  aid  by  cash  re- 
mittances, and  procured  fi-om  Govern- 
ment the  use  of  the  frigate  Lutine, 
which  took  on  board  over  a  million 
pounds  sterling  worth  of  silver,  and 
sailed  for  the  Texel.  The  anxiety  with 
which  the  arrival  of  this  ship  was  look- 
ed forward  to  was  very  intense ;  as  was 
also  the  disappointment  that  followed, 
when  the  terrible  news  came  that  the 
frigate  had  been  wTccked  on  the  Dutch 


coast,  near  the  Texel,  and  lost,  with  all 
on  board  except  the  third  steersman, 
who  alone  succeeded  in  saving  his  life, 
and  brought  the  disastrous  intelligence. 
Among  the  great  houses  which  were 
compelled  to  suspend  payment  at  this 
time,  was  that  of  the  Brothers  Kauf- 
mann.  It  appears,  however,  that  one 
of  these  gentlemen,  who  had  just  mar- 
ried, had  presented  his  wife  with  a 
ticket  in  the  Hamburgh  City  Lottery. 
The  highest  prize  was  one  hundred 
thousand  marks-banco,  or  about  thirty 
thousand  dollars.  About  the  same  time 
the  tickets  of  a  lottery,  to  be  drawn  for 
a  prize  of  some  thirty  thousand  dollars, 
in  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Mecklenburg, 
were  put  in  circulation,  and  the  win- 
ning number  was  to  be  the  same  that 
should  draw  the  prize  in  the  Hamburgh 
lottery.  Mr.  K.'s  bride  had  taken  it 
into  her  head  to  purchase  the  same 
number  as  the  one  on  her  Hamburgh 
ticket  in  the  other  lottery,  and  make  a 
present  of  it  to  her  husband.  They 
were  the  winners ;  and  with  the  means 
thus  gained,  the  house  began  again 
some  time  afterward,  and  completely 
reestablished  themselves. 


Kentucky  Banker  who  kept  Besuming. 

At  the  height  of  one  of  the  feverish 
runs  upon  the  banks  and  bankers  in 
Louisville,  Ky.,  a  German  banker  of 
that  city,  named  John  Smidt,  found 
that  he  had  paid  out  all  his  money, 
and  that  he  was  compelled  to  stop. 
Instead  of  writing  a  card  for  publica- 
tion, he  frankly  announced  his  suspen- 
sion by  a  handbill  affixed  to  his  open 
doors,  in  which  he  said  he  had  no 
money  on  hand,  but  expected  in  a  day 
or  two  to  make  some  collections,  and 
that  he  would  then  resume  payment. 
Accordingly,  in  a  day  or  two,  another 
handbill  appeared  on  his  doors,  announ- 
cing that  he  had  collected  some  fifteen 
thousand  dollars,  which  he  would  pay 
to  those  of  his  creditors  who  should 
first  call  on  him  for  it.     This  was  soon 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


409 


paid  out,  and  the  first  handbill  again 
displayed;  and  in  a  few  days  he  an- 
nounced that  he  had  collected  some 
more  money,  which  he  was  ready  to 
pay  on  demand.  This  frank  and 
straightforward  course  had  the  efiect 
which  was  to  have  been  reasonably  an- 
ticipated. His  German  fellow  citizens, 
seeing  that  John  S.  was  in  earnest 
about  paying  his  debts,  and  was  not 
disposed  to  higgle  for  an  extension, 
concluded  he  was  a  man  who  ought 
to  be  sustained,  and  accordingly  came 
forward  and  deposited  the  sums  they 
had  withdrawn,  and  induced  others  to 
do  the  same  thing.  There  was  no  long- 
er any  "  run  "  on  J.  S. 


Quaker  Merchant's  Thousand-Dollar 
Fee  to  Mr.  Webster. 

A  Quaker  merchant  doing  business 
in  Nantucket,  Mass.,  one  day  called 
upon  Mr.  Webster,  at  his  office  in  Bos- 
ton, for  the  purpose  of  securing  his  ser- 
vices in  a  suit  which  was  about  to  be 
tried  on  the  island,  and  wound  up  his 
application  by  demanding  the  terms. 

"  I  will  attend  to  your  case  for  one 
thousand  dollars,"  replied  Mr.  Webster. 

The  merchant  demurred,  but  finding 
that  the  lawyer  would  not  visit  Nan- 
tucket for  a  less  amount  than  the  one 
specified,  he  promised  to  pay  the  pro- 
posed fee,  provided  Mr.  Webster  would 
agree  "  to  attend  to  any  other  matters 
that  he  might  present  during  the  sit- 
ting of  the  court,"  to  which  Mr.  W. 
consented. 

The  appointed  time  arrived,  and  Mr. 
Webster  was  at  his  post.  The  leading 
case  of  his  client  was  brought  forward, 
argued,  and  decided  in  his  favor.  An- 
other case  w^as  taken  up,  and  the  Quaker 
assigned  it  to  the  care  of  Mr.  Webster, 
when  it  was  satisfactorily  disposed  of; 
another  still,  and  with  the  same  result ; 
and  still  another  and  another,  until  Mr. 
Webster  became  impatient,  and  de- 
manded an  explanation :  whereupon 
the  shrewd  Quaker  merchant  remarked ; 


"I  hired  thee  to  attend  to  all  the 
business  of  the  court,  and  thou  hast 
done  it  handsomely ;  so  here  is  thy 
money,  one  thousand  dollars." 


Salting-  an  Invoice. 

Whek  the  "  Dictionary  of  Commer- 
cial Slang,"  comes  to  be  written,  it  is 
to  be  hoped  that  the  lexicographer  will 
not  forget  to  give  due  prominence  to 
the  word  "  Salting,"  which  is  used  to 
describe  a  peculiar  operation  that  is 
sometimes  performed  on  "  the  market." 
In  the  report  of  a  commercial  trial  in 
one  of  the  English  courts,  mention 
having  been  made  of  one  of  the  in- 
voices involved  in  the  litigation,  the 
defendant  alluded  to  the  custom  of 
salting  invoices  as  very  prevalent  at 
that  time  in  the  Australian  trade.  On 
being  asked  the  meaning  of  the  term, 
he  replied  that  the  price  inserted  in 
the  invoice  is  not  the  true  price  given 
for  the  goods — it  is  a  larger  one,  and 
the  goods  in  Australia  are  sold  at  an 
advance  upon  the  invoice  price;  the 
invoice  is  shown  to  the  customer,  and 
he  believes  the  sum  mentioned  in  it  to 
be  the  real  price.  This  practice  is  very 
common.  The  judge  remarked  that  in 
most  criminal  courts,  such  a  transac- 
tion would  be  called  obtaining  money 
under  false  pretences.  In  answer  to 
this  it  was  remarked,  that  the  buyer 
has  the  goods  to  examine,  and  that  it 
was  a  general  custom.  An  English 
writer,  commenting  upon  this  acknowl- 
edgment, says,  it  is  strongly  to  be  sus- 
pected that,  according  to  the  rules  of 
morality — which,  however,  by  common 
consent,  are  not  supposed  to  apply  to 
trade — half  the  business  in  the  nation 
is  carried  on  upon  the  principle  of  ob- 
taining money  under  false  pretences. 
Nor  is  it  to  be  wondered  at,  that  when, 
in  old  comedy,  there  comes  in  the  clap- 
trap about  "  the  honor  of  the  British 
merchant"  and  the  "integrity  of  the 
British  tradesman,"  there  is  a  super- 
cilious sneer  from  the  boxes,  a  gentle 


410 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


giggle  from  the  pit,  and  a  lusty  laugh 
from  the  gallery.  It  has  been  common 
to  say  that  commercial  rogueiy  is  con- 
fined to  the  petty  tradesman,  and  that 
the  "  merchant  princes  "  are  quite  above 
anything  of  fhat  sort ;  but  then,  what 
can  be  said  of  this  "  general  custom  " 
among  wholesale  houses  of  "  Salting  an 
Invoice  ? " 


Soliloquy  of  a  Debtor. 

"  It  must  be  confessed  that  my  cred- 
itors are  singularly,  peculiarly  unfor- 
tunate. They  invariably  apply  the 
day  after  I  have  spent  all  my  money. 
I  always  have  to  say  to  them,  '  Now, 
this  is  very  provoking.  Why  didn't 
you  come  yesterday,  and  I  could  have 
paid  you  in  full  ? '  But  no,  they  never 
will.  They  seem  to  take  a  perverse 
pleasure  in  arriving  always  too  late. 
It's  my  belief  the  rascals  do  it  oa  pur- 
pose." 

— « — 

Disreputable  for  a  Broker  to  be  Hon- 
est toward  his  Creditors. 

A  MEMBER  of  the  London  stock  ex- 
change, who  fails  and  gives  up  his  last 
farthing  to  his  creditors,  is  not,  at  least 
by  a  considerable  portion  of  the  other 
members,  thought  so  favorably  of  as 
he  who  takes  care  to  make  a  "  reserve  " 
for  himself.  An  instance  of  this  oc- 
curred in  the  case  of  a  person  who  used 
to  go  among  the  members  and  act,  as 
it  was  supposed,  for  a  party  connected 
with  a  large  newspaper  estate,  and  who 
lost  on  one  account  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars. He  paid  the  amount  without  a 
murmur,  but  lost  his  credit  from  that 
moment,  and  never  afterward  recover- 
ed it ;  for  it  was  thought  the  payment 
of  so  large  a  sum  must  have  broken  his 
back,  he  being,  in  stock  exchange 
phraseology,  but  a  "  little  man,"  that  is 
to  say,  of  but  moderate  means. 

But  a  still  more  striking  illustration 
of  how  integrity  is  regarded  among  the 
fraternity,  is  afforded  in  the  case  of  M. 
De  la  Chaumette,  a  gentleman  of  for- 


eign extraction.  He  had  previously 
been  in  the  Manchester  trade,  but  been 
unfortunate.  Being  a  man  much  re- 
spected, and  extensively  connected,  his 
Mends  advised  him  to  go  on  the  stock 
exchange.  He  adopted  their  advice, 
and  became  a  member,  establishing  at 
once  an  excellent  business  as  a  broker. 
Not  only  did  he  make  large  sums  in 
the  shape  of  commissions,  on  the  trans- 
actions in  which  he  was  employed  by 
others,  but  one  of  the  largest  mercan- 
tile houses  in  London,  having  the  high- 
est possible  opinion  of  his  judgment 
and  integrity,  intrusted  him  with  the 
sole  disposal  of  an  immense  sum  of 
money  belonging  to  the  French  refu- 
gees, which  was  in  their  hands  at  the 
time.  He  contrived  to  employ  his 
money  so  advantageously,  both  to  his 
constituents  and  to  himself,  that  he  ac- 
quired a  handsome  fortune.  Before  he 
had  been  a  member  three  years,  he  in- 
vited his  creditors  to  dine  with  him  on 
a  particular  day,  at  the  London  Tav- 
ern ;  but  concealed  from  them  the  par- 
ticular object  he  had  in  so  doing.  On 
entering  the  dining  room,  they  several- 
ly found  their  own  names  on  the  differ- 
ent plates,  which  were  reversed,  and  on 
turning  them  up,  each  found  a  check 
for  the  amount  due  to  him,  with  inter- 
est. The  entire  sum  which  M.  Chau- 
mette paid  away  on  this  occasion,  and  in 
this  manner,  was  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars.  Next  day  he  went 
into  the  exchange  as  usual ;  but  such 
was  the  feeling  entertained  of  his  con- 
duct, that  many  members  refused  to  do 
a  bargain  with  him  to  the  extent  of  a 
single  thousand.  They  looked  on  his 
payment  of  the  claims  of  his  former 
creditors  as  a  foolish  affair.  He  even- 
tually died  worth  nearly  three  million 
dollars. 


Advantage  of  Prison-Iiife  to  a  French 
Debtor. 

An  immensely  wealthy  French  bank- 
er, and  formerly  prefect  of  a  depart- 
ment,  found   his  way  to   Clichy,  the 


THEIR  LEGAL   AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


411 


French  prison,  in  this  case,  as  in  some 
other  notable  instances,  without  com- 
pulsion. He  recognized  the  doctor  of 
the  establishment  as  his  physician  in 
former  days.  The  doctor  expressed  his 
astonishment  at  finding  so  great  and 
wealthy  a  man  in  such  a  situation. 

"  "What  would  you  have,  my  friend  ? " 
was  the  response  ;  "  I  have  a  rent-roll 
— rather  a  large  one — but  it  had  to  go 
to  pay  the  interest  on  my  debts.  Now, 
I  receive  it  without  deduction;  boil 
my  own  coffee  in  the  morning ;  an  ex- 
cellent femme  de  menage  prepares  my 
dinner ;  I  have  five  or  six  capital  fel- 
lows to  share  it ;  I  spend  the  evening 
in  whist  and  punch — a  jovial  life,  of 
which  I  shall  certainly  not  be  tired  for 
five  years.  I  shall  then  go  abroad  into 
the  world  not  owing  a  sou,  and  with- 
out the  disagreeable  necessity  of  re- 
ceiving my  rents  only  to  hand  them 
over  to  other  people." 

It  is  the  commonest  thing  in  French 
society  to  hear  men  expatiating  on  the 
delights  of  their  "  little  boudoir  in  Key 
street,"  Rue  de  Clef,  the  cant  term  for 
Clichy,  among  all  "  choice  spirits." 
Another  term  is  "  the  palace  of  debt," 
arising  from  its  gay  courts,  where  flow- 
ers, water,  trees,  and  a  well-swept  lawn 
afford  the  occupant  amusement  in  the 
sunny  hour ;  a  joyous  companion  and 
good  cheer  when  the  sun  no  longer 
shines;  a  well-stocked  library  of  ro- 
mance, and  the  knowledge  that  all  re- 
straint will  end  in  five  years,  without 
the  stigma  of  bankruptcy,  or  the  dis- 
tasteful gathering  of  creditors. 


Easy  Creditors. 
As  showing  the  anxiety  on  the  part 
of  some  men  to  "  trade,"  it  is  stated  that 
there  was  a  London  tailor  who  used  to 
make  periodical  visits  to  Cambridge, 
almost  forcing  his  coats  and  trousers 
upon  every  one  to  whom  he  had  the 
shadow  of  an  introduction,  charging 
high  prices  and  offering  infinite  credit. 
One  of  his  customers  left  the  university 


much  in  his  debt,  and  the  tailor  lost 
sight  of  him  for  years.  At  last  he 
found  him  and  took  the  liberty  to  pre- 
sent his  bill.  His  quondam  customer 
fairly  told  him  that  he  could  not  jDay 
him.  The  tailor  fidgeted,  remonstrated, 
threatened.  What  was  the  use?  the 
man  had  no  money.  At  last  the  tailor 
said,  "  Well,  sir,  if  you  will  not  give 
me  my  money,  at  least  give  me  an  or- 
der, that  I  may  not  quite  have  lost  my 
time."  With  this  he  was  content.  He 
belonged  to  that  class  of  tradesmen 
who  will  furnish  goods  on  credit  when 
they  are  morally  certain  of  never  being 
paid.  With  these  men  "  to  trade  "  is 
everything.  If  they  can  "  do  "  a  certain 
amount  in  the  day,  they  go  to  bed  hap- 
py, and  lull  themselves  into  forgetful- 
ness  as  to  how  much  of  that  amount 
will  ever  be  paid  for — perhaps  safe 
enough,  as  they  know  after  all,  for  the 
profits  on  their  genuine  business  are  the 
established  and  ample  set-off  against 
all  losses.    That's  it. 


Hard  Old  Creditor. 
The  foreign  papers  mention  that  a 
certain  well-known  speculator  has  been 
trying  to  raise  a  loan  of  seven  millions 
on  the  Amsterdam  Bourse.  That  sum, 
however,  large  as  it  is,  will  not  suffice 
to  get  him  out  of  his  difficulties.  Even 
if  it  should  enable  him  to  extricate  him- 
self from  the  tight  crack  in  which  he  is 
placed,  there  will  still  be  '  the  devil  to 

pay.' 

— » 

Presenting-  a  Frivolous  Bill  against 
Girard. 

One  of  the  greatest  improvements  in 
the  city  of  Philadelphia  was  that  effect- 
ed by  Mr.  Girard,  in  Second,  below 
Spruce  street,  where  he  erected  a  range 
of  stores  and  dwellings,  and  caused  the 
street  to  be  regulated  in  such  a  manner 
that  it  should  no  longer  be  a  depository 
of  filth  and  waste  matter.  An  incident 
occurred  in  connection  with  this  under- 
taking, which  strongly  exhibited  the 


412 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


character  of  the  man.  A  lamp  post 
that  had  obstructed  the  progress  of  his 
buildmgs,  had  been  temporarily  re- 
moved to  the  opposite  side  of  the  street. 
When  his  houses  were  finished,  the  in- 
habitants of  the  neighborhood  requested 
that  it  might  be  replaced,  which  was 
accordingly  done.  The  expense  of  this 
removal  was  fifty  cents,  which  the 
board  of  commissioners  charged  to  Mr. 
Girard,  and  sent  in  a  bill  for  its  collec- 
tion. But  he  refused  to  pay  the  bill, 
alleging  that  his  buildings  were  for  the 
improvement  of  the  city,  and  not  for 
his  mere  individual  profit,  which  latter 
was  too  small  to  be  an  inducement  for 
investing  his  capital  in  such  a  manner. 
His  best  houses,  he  stated,  did  not 
bring  him  in  more  than  three  per  cent, 
interest,  and  as  he  built  for  the  benefit 
of  the  city  and  the  public,  he  contend- 
ed that  it  was  not  just  that  he  should 
pay  an  expense  which  properly  belong- 
ed to  the  city  commissioners  and  the 
corporation,  to  whom  he  paid  annually 
an  immense  amount  of  tax,  without 
having,  in  a  single  instance,  ever  soli- 
cited an  abatement  of  assessments.  It 
was  not  the  money  consideration,  Mr. 
Girard  said,  he  was  contesthig,  but 
"  the  principle  of  the  thing."  "  I  will 
give,,"  said  JVIr.  G.,  "  thousands  of  dol- 
lars to  imj^rove  the  city,  but  I  will  not 
submit  to  the  exaction  of  one  cent  con- 
trary to  justice.  You  know  I  am  an 
American  citizen;  and  what  did  we 
tell  the  French,  when  they  attempted 
to  degrade  us  by  their  exactions — '  mil- 
lions for  defence,  but  not  a  cent  for 
tribute  ; '  so  I  say  to  you,  Mr.  Commis- 
sioners, thousands  for  improvement,  but 
not  one  cent  for  taxation."  The  city 
agreed  to  the  payment  of  the  frivolous 
claim. 


creditors,  showing  how  the  former 
ought  to  be  addressed  by  the  latter. 
For  the  benefit  of  those  merchants  and 
gentlemen  who  are  m  the  habit  of  being 
pestered  with  importunities  from  trades- 
men at  home  and  abroad,  a  quantity  of 
oaths,  translated  into  all  the  modern 
languages,  and  due-ly  classified  so  as 
to  meet  any  possible  case,  will  appear 
in  an  appendix  to  the  work. 


Important  to  Dunners  and  Debtors. 

It  is  announced  that  a  well-known 
author— high  authority  in  such  matters 
—is  preparing  a  sort  of  "  Conversation 
Lexicon"  for  the  use  of  debtors  and 


Dishonest  Grocer  Punished  by  his  Son. 

A  GROCER  of  the  city  of  Smyrna  had 
a  son,  who,  with  the  help  of  thd  little 
learning  the  country  could  afi'ord,  rose 
to  one  of  the  highest  judicial  posts — 
that  of  Naib,  or  deputy  of  the  Cadi ; 
and  as  such  visited  the  markets,  and 
inspected  the  weights  and  measures  of 
all  the  dealers.  One  day,  as  this  officer 
was  going  his  rounds,  the  neighbors, 
who  knew  enough  of  his  father's  char- 
acter to  suspect  that  he  might  stand  in 
need  of  the  official  caution,  advised  him 
to  remove  his  weights;  but  the  old 
cheat,  trusting  to  his  relationship  to 
the  inspector,  laughed  at  their  advice. 

The  Naib,  on  coming  to  his  shop, 
coolly  said  to  him,  "  Good  man,  fetch 
out  your  weights,  that  we  may  exam- 
ine them."  Instead  of  obeying,  the 
grocer  endeavored  to  evade  the  order 
with  a  laugh,  but  was  soon  convinced 
that  his  son  was  serious,  by  his  order- 
ing his  officers  to  search  the  shop.  The 
instruments  of  his  fraud  were  soon  dis- 
covered, and,  after  an  impartial  exam- 
ination, openly  condemned  and  broken 
to  pieces.  He  was  also  sentenced  to  a 
fine  of  fifty  piastres,  and  to  receive  a 
bastinado  of  as  many  blows  on  the 
soles  of  his  feet. 

After  this  had  been  efiected  on  the 
spot,  the  Naib,  leaping  from  his  horse, 
threw  himself  at  the  feet  of  his  father, 
and  watering  them  with  his  tears,  thii-s 
addressed  him  :  "  Father,  I  have  dis- 
charged my  duty  to  my  God  and  my 
country,  as  well  as  to  the  station  I 
hold ;  permit  me  now,  by  my  respect 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


413 


and  submission,  to  acquit  the  debt  I 
owe  a  parent.  Justice  is  blind ;  it  is 
the  power  of  God  on  earth ;  it  has  no 
regard  to  the  ties  of  kindred.  God  and 
our  neighbor's  rights  are  above  the  ties 
of  nature ;  you  had  offended  against 
the  laws  of  justice  ;  you  deserved  this 
punishment,  but  I  am  sorry  it  was  your 
fate  to  receive  it  from  me.  My  con- 
science would  not  suffer  me  to  act 
otherwise.  Behave  better  for  the  fu- 
ture, and,  instead  of  censuring  me,  pity 
my  being  reduced  to  so  cruel  a  neces- 
sity." 

So  extraordinary  an  act  of  justice 
gained  the  functionary  the  acclamations 
and  praise  of  the  whole  city ;  and  an 
account  of  it  being  made  to  the  Sub- 
lime Porte,  the  Sultan  advanced  the 
Naib  to  the  post  of  Cadi,  and  he  soon 
after  rose  to  the  dignity  of  Mufti. 


Commercial  Justice  in  Morocco. 

A  Jew  had  ordered  a  French  mer- 
chant in  Morocco  to  furnish  him  with 
a  considerable  quantity  of  black  hats, 
green  shawls,  and  red  silk  stockings. 
When  the  articles  were  ready  for  deliv- 
ery, the  Jew  refused  to  receive  them. 
Being  brought  before  the  Emperor, 
who  administers  justice  himself,  he  de- 
nied having  given  him  the  order,  and 
maintained  that  he  did  not  even  know 
the  French  merchant. 

*'  Have  you  any  witnesses  ?  "  said  the 
Emperor  to  the  Frenchman. 

"  None ! " 

"  So  much  the  worse  for 
should  have  taken  care  to 
witnesses  ;  you  may  retire." 

The  poor  merchant,  completely  ru- 
ined, returned  home  in  despair.  He 
was,  however,  soon  alarmed  by  a  noise 
in  the  street ;  he  ran  to  see  what  it  was. 
A  numerous  multitude  were  following 
one  of  the  emperor's  officers,  who  was 
making  the  following  proclamation  at 
all  the  comers :  "  Every  Jew,  who  with- 
in four-and-twenty  hours  after  this 
proclamation,  shall    be  found  in  the 


you; 
have 


you 
had 


streets  without  a  black  beaver  hat  on 
his  head,  a  green  shawl  round  his  neck, 
and  red  silk  stockings  on  his  legs,  shall 
be  immediately  seized  and  conveyed  to 
the  first  court  of  our  palace,  to  be  there 
flogged  to  death." 

Alarmed  at  this,  the  children  of  Israel 
all  thronged  to  the  French  merchant, 
and  before  evening  the  articles  were 
purchased  at  any  price  he  chose  to  de- 
mand for  them. 


Peddler  Matching:  a  Slieriff. 

Theue  was  a  sheriflf  in  Illinois,  who 
was  rather  "  taken  in  and  done  for,"  on 
one  occasion.  He  made  it  a  prominent 
part  of  his  business  to  ferret  out  and 
punish  peddlers  of  merchandise  who 
travelled  without  a  license ;  but  one 
morning  he  met  his  match — a  genuine 
Yankee  peddler. 

"  What  have  you  got  to  sell  ?  Any- 
thing ?  "  asked  the  sheriflF. 

"  Yaas,  sartin' ;  what  would  you  like 
to  hev  ?  Got  razors — first  rate ;  that's 
an  article  that  you  want,  tew,  Square, 
I  should  say,  by  the  look  o'  your  laird. 
Got  good  blackin' — 'fill  make  them 
old  cowhide  boots  o'  yourne  shine  so't 
you  can  shave  into  'em,  e'enamost. 
Balm  o'  Klumby,  tew— only  a  dollar  a 
bottle ;  good  for  the  hair,  and  assist- 
in'  poor  human  natur',  as  the  poet 
says." 

And  so  he  rattled  on ;  at  length  the 
sheriff  bought  a  bottle  of  the  Balm  of 
Columbia,  and  in  reply  to  the  question 
whether  he  wanted  anything  else,  that 
functionary  said  that  he  did — he  want- 
ed to  see  the  Yankee's  license  for  ped- 
dling in  Illinois,  that  being  his  duty  as 
high  sheriff  of  the  State. 

The  peddler  showed  him  a  docu- 
ment, fixed  up  good  and  strong,  in. 
black  and  white.  The  sheriff  looked 
at  it,  and  pronounced  it  "  all  right.'* 
Then  handing  back  the  bottle  to  the 
peddler,  he  said — 

"  I  don't  know,  now  that  I've  hougTit 
this  stuff,  that  I  shall  ever  want  it.    I 


414 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


reckon  that  I  may  as  well  sell  it  to  you 
again.     What  will  you  give  for  it  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know  that  the  clamed 
stuff  is  any  use  to  me^  but  seeing  its  you, 
sheriff,  I'll  give  you  twenty- five  cents 
for  it,  ef  you  raly  dori't  want  it." 

The  sheriff  handed  over  the  bottle, 
at  the  six  shillings  discount  from  his 
own  purchase,  and  received  his  change. 

"  Now,"  said  the  peddler,  "  I've  got 
a  question  or  tew  to  ask  you.  Hev  you 
got  a  peddler's  license  about  your  trow- 
sers  anywhere  ? " 

"  No  ;  I  haven't  any  use  for  the  arti- 
cle myself,''''  replied  the  sheriff. 

"  Haint,  eh  ?  Wal,  I  guess  we'll  see 
about  that  pooty  darn'd  soon.  Ef  / 
understand  the  law,  it's  a  clean  case 
that  you've  been  tradin'  with  me — 
hawkin'  and  peddlin'  Balm  o'  Klumby 
on  the  highway,  and  I  shall  inform  on 
you — darn'd  ef  I  don%  now  !  " 

The  Yankee  was  as  good  as  his  word. 
When  he  reached  the  next  village,  he 
made  his  complaint,  and  the  sheriff  was 
fined  eight  dollars  for  selling  without  a 
license.  The  Yankee  was  heard  after- 
ward to  say,  that  "  you  might  as  well 
try  to  hold  a  greased  eel  as  a  live 
Yankee." 


Old  Scores  Wiped  Out. 

A  MOST  extraordinary  advertisement 
appeared  in  the  London  Gazette  of  Oc- 
tober, 1818.  It  announced  to  the  cred- 
itors of  Boyle  &  Co.,  formerly  of  Love 
Lane,  Eastcheap,  who  were  bankrupts 
in  the  year  1772 — being  a  lapse  of  forty- 
six  years — that  they  or  their  legal  rep- 
resentatives might  receive  the  entire 
amount  of  their  respective  debts.  The 
total  amount  advertised  was  £5,500. 
The  lowest  sum  mentioned  was  a 
glover's  bill  for  5s.  4d. ;  the  largest,  a 
banker's,  for  £920.  The  list  of  credit- 
ors enumerated  a  curious  medley  of  pro- 
fessions, snuff  merchants,  tailors,  haber- 
dashers, shoemakers,  &c. ;  and  one  debt 
was  due  a  "  Mr.  Shakespeare,  alderman 
of  the  city  of  London,  merchant." 


German  Delicacy  in  Paying  and  Re- 
ceiving Money. 

Some  of  the  Germans— in  their  own 
land  at  least — have  a  singular  sensitive- 
ness as  to  money  ;  that  is,  in  the  hand- 
ling of  it  as  a  thing  of  transfer,  they 
often  show  a  delicacy  beyond  the  finest 
instincts  of  other  Europeans.  For  in- 
stance, is  a  lady  teacher  of  any  kind  to 
be  paid  for  a  quarter's  instruction, — is 
it  imagined  that  the  gross  and  base 
money  is  thrust  into  the  lady's  hand, 
with  the  request  superadded  thereto 
that  she  would  count  it  ?  Delicacy  and 
good  breeding  forbid  I  The  party  pay- 
ing puts  the  unsesthetic  and  disgrace- 
ful commodity  into  an  outside  tissue 
wrapper — this  again  into  an  envelope, 
and  with  the  greatest  delicacy  slips  it 
into  her  hand  while  they  are  pleasantly 
talking  about  something  less  demean- 
ing. A  reduced  German  lady,  of  the 
best  family  and  connections,  who  had 
been  compelled  in  this  country  to  make 
a  profession  of  an  accomplishment — 
that  of  music — remarked  that  she  was 
never  more  inexpressibly  shocked  than 
at  the  unceremonious  manner  of  an 
American  gentleman,  on  the  occasion 
of  her  receiving,  for  the  first  time  in 
her  life,  her  ''  wages,"  at  the  end  of  her 
first  quarter.  The  cool,  business-like 
manner  in  which  he  took  out  hi^  huge 
leather  wallet,  counted  through  the 
bank  notes,  and  handed  her  a  crumpled 
parcel,  requesting  her  "  to  count  it  her- 
self to  see  that  all  was  right,"  well  nigh 
overcame  her. 

Response  to  a  Tax  Commissioner's 
Dun. 

The  following  curious  return  was 
sent  in  by  a  supposed  "  public  debtor," 
to  the  "  Commissioner  for  the  Income 
Tax,  sitting  in  London  : " 

"  I,  A.  B.,  declare 
I  have  but  little  money  to  spare ; 
I  have 

1  little  house, 
1      "    maid, 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


416 


2  little  boys, 

2     "    trade, 

2      "    land, 

2     "    money  to  command ; 

Rather  2  little  is  my  little  all 

2  supply  with  comfort  my  little  squall 

And  2  little  to  pay  taxes  at  all. 

By  this  you  see 

I  have  children  three 

Depending  on  me — 

A.  B." 


Is  it  Lawful  to  Dun  a  Debtor  P 

In  one  of  the  criminal  courts  of  Bos- 
ton, some  time  ago,  a  man  was  brought 
up  on  a  charge  of  being  a  disturber  of 
the  peace,  in  consequence  of  his  repeat- 
edly dunning  a  debtor,  much  to  the 
annoyance  of  the  latter,  and  the  dunner 
was  fined.  From  this  sentence,  how- 
ever, the  mulcted  and  surprised  creditor 
appealed,  and  in  the  due  course  of  the 
docket,  the  case  came  up  before  the 
municipal  court.  The  judge,  in  the 
latter  tribunal,  ruled  that  a  creditor 
might  dun  his  debtor  for  payment  as 
often  as  he  saw  fit,  unless  his  proceed- 
ings were  of  such  a  nature  as  to  create 
public  disturbance, — a  decision  not 
very  comforting  to  debtors  who  dislike 
"  disturbance  "  of  a  private  nature  ! 


Politeness  in  Dunning-. 

An  old  gentleman  had  owed  a  firm 
for  years ;  at  last,  after  everybody's  pa- 
tience and  temper  were  absolutely  ex- 
hausted, a  new  clerk,  named  Frank, 
undertook  to  get  the  money. 

Frank  called  upon  the  gentleman,  and 
met  with  a  polite  reception,  and  the 
usual  answer,  with  the  addition :  "  You 
need  not  trouble  yourself,  young  man, 
about  the  matter ;  I  will  make  it  all 
right." 

"  Oh,  no,"  replied  Frank,  "  I  could 
not  think  for  a  moment  of  compelling 
you  to  call  at  the  store  for  a  few  dol- 
lars. It  will  not  be  the  slightest  incon- 
venience for  me  to  step  in,  as  I  pass 


your  place  of  business  six  times  a  day, 
to  and  from  my  meals,  and  I  can  call 
every  time  I  go  by." 

"  Here,"  said  the  old  fellow  to  his 
bookkeeper,  alarmed  at  the  prospect  of 
being  dunned  six  times  a  day  for  the 
next  six  months,  "  pay  this  impertinent 
rascal.  He  can  beat  me  in  politeness, 
and,  if  he  wants  a  situation,  I  will  give 
him  two  thousand  dollars  a  year." 


Sprot,  tlie  Banker,  and  the  Patrician 
Debtor. 

Mark  Sprot  was  one  of  the  greatest 
capitalists  in  England,  and  his  name  is 
associated  with  many  a  refreshing  anec- 
dote— for  in  business  matters  he  was 
always  as  lively  as  an  eel  in  a  frying 
pan.  On  one  occasion  a  broker  applied 
to  Mr.  Sprot,  and  with  great  sorrow 
told  him  that  he  was  a  ruined  man. 
Mr.  Sprot  was  surprised,  for  he  knew 
the  man  was  careful,  industrious,  and 
not  likely  to  speculate.  He  asked  the 
cause,  and  the  broker  replied  that  he 
had  been  employed  largely  by  a  princi- 
pal, who,  the  prices  having  gone  against 
him,  had  refused  to  pay  his  losses. 
Mr.  Sprot  immediately  inquired  his 
name ;  and  on  being  told  it  was  a  no- 
ble earl,  of  whose  resources  he  was  well 
aware,  could  scarcely  believe  he  heard 
correctly. 

He  knew  the  noble  debtor  to  be  in 
possession  of  large  landed  estates ;  and, 
when  informed  that  his  lordship  had 
thus  refused  to  give  any  reason  except 
that  it  was  not  convenient,  Mr.  Sprot 
told  his  visitor  not  to  be  alanned,  that 
he  would  not  press  his  claim,  and  con- 
cluded by  making  an  arrangement  with 
him  to  visit  his  lordship. 

Together  they  went,  and  were  received 
with  patrician  dignity.  Mr.  S.  deliber- 
ately detailed  the  business  he  had  in 
hand,  and  received  the  cool  reply  that 
it  was  not  convenient  to  pay.  But  the 
wide-awake  jobber  was  not  a  man  to 
bow  or  cringe  before  rank,  unless  ac- 
companied by  worth  ;  and  Sprot  there- 


416 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


fore  unhesitatingly  declared,  that  if  the 
account  was  not  settled  by  a  certain 
hour  next  day,  he  would  post  his  lord- 
ship as  a  defaulting  debtor.  The  latter 
grew  alarmed,  and  attempted  to  con- 
ciliate ;  but  the  conference  closed  with 
the  repeated  determination  of  Sprot  to 
post  the  delinquent.  Long  before  the 
hour  appointed,  however,  his  lordship's 
solicitor  waited  on  the  broker  to  ar- 
range the  payment  of  the  debt. 


Two  Aspects  of  Trade. 

Trade  is  a  very  legitimate  mode. 
It  consists  in  buying  at  one  price,  and 
selling  at  another.  But  of  tradesmen 
there  are  two  kinds — both  observing 
the  said  mode  or  rule,  yet  with  a  differ- 
ence. For  example :  One  buys  his 
wares  and  sells  them  at  a  profit ;  while 
the  other  sells  them  at  a  loss,  and  yet, 
strange  to  say,  is  generally  the  most 
thriving  man  of  the  two  !  getting  rap- 
idly rich  in  spite  of  his  debts  and 
bankruptcies,  while  the  former  only 
becomes  "  respectable  and  pays  his 
way."  One  in  fact  hatches  his  chick- 
ens by  the  old  and  tedious,  though  na- 
tural mode  of  incubation — the  other 
by  steam ! 


Borrowinir  Money ;  or,  Doing:  Business 
on  Credit:  P.  C.  Brooks's  Idea. 

It  was  a  principle  with  Peter  C. 
Brooks,  never,  himself,  to  borrow  mon- 
ey. It  is  true,  when  starting  in  his 
career,  he  obtained  a  moderate  loan, 
but  this  was  under  circumstances  of  a 
very  peculiar  nature,  resembling  less  a 
business  loan  than  a  friendly  advance- 
ment, made  by  a  person  in  years  to  a 
young  man  entering  life,  and  standing, 
pro  tanto,  in  a  filial  relation  to  the  lend- 
er. It  is  believed  that,  with  this  ex- 
ception, Mr.  Brooks's  name  was  never 
subscribed  to  a  note  of  hand.  "What 
he  could  not  compass  by  present  means 
was  to  him  interdicted.  Equally  in- 
vincible was  his  objection  to  becoming 
responsible    by  endorsements  for  the 


obligations  of  others.  Without  deny- 
ing the  necessity,  in  active  trade,  of  an- 
ticipating the  payment  of  business  pa- 
per, he  shunned  every  transaction,  how- 
ever brilliant  the  promise  of  future 
gain,  which  required  the  use  of  bor- 
rowed means. 


Trading  for  Heady  Money. 

Experience  would  seem  to  bear 
abundant  testimony  to  the  value  of 
the  principle  of  trading  only  for  ready 
money.  If  we  begin  with  Holland,  we 
find  that  bargains  in  that  country  were, 
in  its  better  days,  almost  always  made 
for  ready  money,  or  for  so  short  a  date 
as  six  weeks  or  two  months.  Profits 
were  small  in  their  ratio,  but  the  quick- 
ness of  their  return  made  them  even- 
tually large.  Failures  were  rare,  even 
in  so  distressing  an  era  as  the  occupa- 
tion of  the  country  by  the  French, 
which  involved  from  the  outset  a  stop- 
page of  maritime  intercourse  with  all 
their  possessions  in  India  and  America. 
The  consequence  of  this  stoppage  was  a 
decay  of  trade,  a  suspension  of  various 
undertakings,  a  scarcity  of  work,  a  de- 
pressing dulness  in  the  sale  of  goods — 
all  tending,  in  the  first  instance,  to 
diminish  income,  and  eventually  to  en- 
croachment on  capital.  But  amidst  all 
this  distress,  the  failures  were  surpris- 
ingly few — fewer,  indeed,  than  occur  in 
other  countries,  in  any  ordinary  season. 
Another  example,  equally  to  the  point, 
was  the  state  of  France,  after  the 
double  invasion  of  1814  and  1815. 
There  prevailed,  at  that  time,  a  general 
discouragement  among  the  upper  ranks, 
and  a  great  deal  of  wretchedness  among 
the  lower,  trade  being  at  a  stand,  and 
stocks  of  goods  lying  unsold  in  shops 
or  workhouses  for  years;  still  bank- 
ruptcy was  very  rare. 


Colloquy  in  a  Dry  Goods  Jobbing 

Store. 
If  the  reader  has  ever  had  the  privi- 
lege of  the  inner  sanctum  of  a  large  dry 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


417 


goods  jobbing  house  in  Boston  or  New 
York,  he  will  recognize  the  following 
colloquy  as  no  uncommon  occurrence. 
Let  it  be  understood  as  taking  place 
between  a  merchant  and  his  confiden- 
tial clerk : 

Merchant. — Mr.  Jones,  how  about 
our  customers,  Holfast  and  Driver,  do 
they  pay  us  promptly  ? 

Jones. — A  little  behind,  sir.  Ex- 
tended their  last  note. 

Merchant.— How  much  do  they 
owe,  Mr.  Jones,  and  when  due  ? 

Jones. — Two  thousand  dollars,  su', 
and  all  coming  due  within  sixty  days. 

Merchant. — They  have  sometimes 
asked  for  an  introduction  to  other 
houses  when  it  was  not  convenient. 
Advise  them  now,  however,  Mr.  Jones, 
to  extend  their  acquaintance,  and  give 
them  leave  to  refer  to  us.  Say  to  in- 
quirers, that  we  have  had  the  utmost 
confidence  in  them,  and  have  always 
sold  them  all  we  could.  I  think,  Mr. 
Jones,  that  in  this  way  they  may  last 
until  we  get  our  pay. 

This  is  a  pretty  fair  illustration  of 
the  credit  system. 


"Died  of  a  Street  Debt." 

"  No,  sir  1  he  did  not  die  of  cholera 
at  aU  !  He  died  of  brokers,  sir,"  said  a 
man  to  another  in  the  streets  of  Bufi'alo. 
"  He  projected  an  unwise  improvement 
of  a  piece  of  real  estate,  made  loans, 
covered  himself  with  bonds  and  mort- 
gages, and  finally  incurred  ^a  street 
deW  of  two  thousand  dollars,  which 
rapidly  rolled  up  to  eight  thousand, 
and  crushed  the  life  right  out  of  him. 
He  borrowed  Canada  money  '  on  call,' 
to  be  paid  in  current  funds  ;  got  paper 
discounted,  payable  in  seven  days,  in 
the  city  of  New  York  ;  borrowed  Ohio 
and  Kentucky  currency  for  one  day, 
returnable  in  notes  of  Bufi'alo  banks ; 
'  shinned  it '  from  street  to  street,  and 
friend  to  friend,  to  keep  the  debt  ahead 
of  him.  Why,  sir,  I  couldn't  sit  down 
to  consult  with  him,  or  to  do  any  kind 
37 


of  business  with  him,  with  the  least  as- 
surance that  he  would  not  jump  up 
suddenly  to  go  out  and  give  another 
shave  to  that  accursed  debt.  The 
memorandum  book  of  his  obligations, 
was  always  in  his  bosom ;  and,  sir,  it 
durned  to  the  poor  man's  heart!  He 
was  owned  by  brokers.  He  uorTced  for 
them — limd  for  them — died  for  them. 
He  did  not  die  of  cholera  at  all,  sir. 
He  DIED  OF  a  street  debt,  upon 
which  he  had  expended  his  strength 
every  week,  in  throwing  it  ahead  from 
one  day  to  seven  days  1 " 


Keply  to  a  Dtmning:  Epistle. 

The  following  cool  passages  are  con- 
tained in  a  letter  from  a  "  gentleman  " 
to  his  tailor,  Mr.  Stitchington,  in  reply 
to  an  epistle  asking  him  for  "  the 
amount  of  his  bill : " 

"Is  it  indeed  five  years  that  I  have 
'  graced  your  books  ? '  How  fleet  is 
life !  It  scarcely  appeared  to  me  as 
many  months.  Although  I  have  never 
given  you  a  note  for  the  amount,  how 
have  the  years  passed  by !  You  will 
guess  my  meaning,  when  I  assure  you 
it  is  a  theory  of  mine  that  the  '  wings 
of  time '  are  no  other  than  two  large 
notes,  duly  drawn  and  accepted.  With 
these,  he  brings  his  three,  six,  or  nine 
months  into  as  many  weeks.  He  is 
continually  wasting  the  sand  from  his 
glass,  drying  the  wet  ink  of  promissory 
notes.    But  let  me  not  moralize. 

"  You  want  money,  you  say,  Mr. 
Stitchington.  As  I  am  in  the  like  pre- 
dicament, you  are  in  a  capital  condition 
to  sympathize  with  me.  You  say, '  you 
never  recollect  so  bad  a  season  as  the 
present.'  Of  course  not :  no  tailor  ever 
did.  The  present  season  is  invariably 
the  worst  of  the  lot,  no  matter  how  bad 
the  others  may  have  been.  It  says 
much  for  the  moral  and  physical 
strength  of  tailors,  to  see  them  still 
flourishing  on  from  worse  to  worse: 
they  really  seem,  like  churchyard  grass, 
to  grow  fat  and  rank  upon  decay. 


•418 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"  You  touchingly  observe, '  that  pres- 
ent profits  do  not  pay  for  taking  down 
the  shutters.'  My  good  sir,  then  why 
proceed  in  a  ruinous  expense  ?  In  the 
name  of  prudence,  why  not  keep  them 
constantly  up  ? 

"  You  say,  '  you  never  press  a  gentle- 
man.' Now,  in  familiar  phrase,  we 
never  '  press  a  lemon ; '  but  then  we 
squeeze  it,  most  inexorably.  That  men 
should  go  into  bankruptcy,  yet  live  and 
laugh  afterward,  is  great  proof  of  the 
advancing  philosophy  of  our  times.  A 
Roman  tailor,  incapable  of  meeting  his 
debts,  would,  heathen-like,  have  fallen 
upon  his  own  needle,  or  hung  himself. 

"P.  S. — My  humanity  suggests  this 
advice  to  you:  Don't  go  to  any  law 
expenses,  as  your  letter  found  me  mak- 
ing up  my  schedule.  An  odd  coinci- 
dence— I  had  just  popped  down  your 
name  as  your  letter  arrived  !  " 


liOrd  Mansfield's  Mercantile  Cases  in 
Court. 

The  learned  and  brilliant  peer,  as 
well  as  preeminent  jurist,  Lord  Mans- 
field— great  must  he  always  be  in  the 
respect  of  the  merchant,  for  he  may  be 
said  to  have  built  up  the  present  won- 
derful system  of  commercial  law — was 
in  the  habit  of  personally  consulting 
with  merchants,  when  he  had  doubts 
in  any  of  the  mercantile  trials  in  which 
he  was  engaged.  In  a  reported  case 
of  this  nature — upon  adjustment — he  is 
made  to  say  :  "  As  I  expected  the  other 
cause  would  be  tried,  I  thought  a  good 
deal  upon  the  point,  and  endeavored 
to  get  what  assistance  I  could,  by  con- 
versing with  some  business  gentlemen 
of  experience  in  adjustments." 


CurioTis  Suit  against  a  Bank  Ag-ent. 

One  of  those  singular  actions  for 
false  imprisonment,  which  now  and 
then  occur  in  mercantile  as  well  as  in 
other  circles,  was  once  brought  against 
an  agent  of  the  Bank  of  England.  It 
appeared  that  the  plaintijQT  had  paid 


away  a  one-pound  bank  note,  which 
was  pronounced  by  the  bank  to  be  a 
forgery.  Having  by  a  little  stratagem 
afterward  got  possession  of  the  note, 
the  plaintiflf  paid  the  amount,  and, 
upon  refusing  to  deliver  up  the  forged 
note,  he  was  taken  before  a  magistrate 
on  a  charge  of  having  a  note  in  his 
possession,  knowing  it  to  be  forged 
and  counterfeit.  On  the  evidence  of 
the  agent,  or  bank  inspector,  and  at  his 
instance,  the  plaintifi"  was  committed  to 
prison,  and  after  three  days'  confine- 
ment was  released  on  bail,  to  appear 
when  called  on.  At  the  expiration  of 
twelve  months,  not  having  been  called 
on,  he  brought  his  action,  when,  strange 
to  relate,  the  note  was  proved  to  be  a 
genuine  Bank  of  England  one-pound 
note  !  The  jury  immediately  brought 
in  a  verdict  of  one  hundred  pounds 
damages  in  his  favor. 


"Something:  or  Nothing— and  that 
Very  Quick!" 

The  art  of  dunning  is  not  usually 
reckoned  among  the  fine  or  polite  arts. 
Indeed,  there  are  no  rules  on  the  sub- 
ject, as  each  case  must  be  managed  by 
itself,  the  success  of  various  expedients 
being  very  much  "  as  you  light  upon 
chaps."  At  times,  a  lucky  accident 
brings  the  money  out  of  a  slow  debtor, 
after  the  manner  following:  A  mer- 
chant, who  was  nervous  and  irritable, 
received  a  letter  from  a  customer  in 
the  country  begging  for  more  time. 
Turning  to  one  of  his  counting-room 
clerks,  he  says :  "  Write  to  this  man 
immediately."  "Yes,  sir;  what  shall 
I  say  ?  "  The  merchant  was  pacing  the 
office,  and  repeating  the  order,  "  Write 
to  him  at  once."  "  Certainly,  sir ;  what 
do  you  wish  me  to  say  ? "  The  merchant 
was  impatient,  and  broke  out :  "  Some- 
thing or  nothing,  and  that  very  quick." 

The  clerk  waited  for  no  farther  or- 
ders, but  consulting  his  own  impression 
of  the  merchant's  meaning,  wrote  and 
despatched  the  letter.  By  the  return 
of  mail  came  a  letter  from  the  delin- 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


419 


quent  customer,  enclosing  the  money 
in  full  of  the  account.  The  merchant's 
eye  glistened  when  he  opened  it,  and, 
hastening  to  his  desk,  said  to  the  clerk : 
"  What  sort  of  a  letter  did  you  write  to 
this  man  ?  Here  is  the  money  in  full  !  " 
"  I  wrote  just  what  you  told  me  to,  sir. 
The  letter  is  copied  into  the  book." 
The  letter  book  was  consulted,  and  there 
it  stood,  short  and  sparkling,  and  right 
to  the  point:  "Dear  Sir, — Something 
or  nothing,  and  that  very  quick. 
Yours,  etc., ."  And  this  la- 
conic letter  brought  the  money,  when 
a  more  elaborate  dun  would  have  failed 
of  the  happy  effect. 


Benefit  of  a  Doubt. 

One  day,  during  a  period  of  general 
business  panic,  a  firm  in  Boston  gave  a 
check  to  one  of  their  creditors  for 
$2,000,  which  he  presented  at  the  bank, 
where  he  was  informed  that  it  was 
drawn  for  $500  more  than  stood  to  the 
firm's  credit.  Having  some  little  doubt 
.  of  the  solvency  of  the  firm,  he  drew  his 
own  check  for  $500,  and  deposited  it 
to  the  account  of  the  firm,  when  he  was 
promptly  paid  the  full  amount.  The 
firm  stopped  payment  the  same  day,  and 
paid  but  about  thirty  cents  on  the  dol- 
lar, but  the  merchant,  by  a  little  timely 
gumption  —  availing  himself,  on  the 
spot,  of  that  "  little  doubt  " — obtained 
seventy-five  per  cent,  of  his  claim. 


One  of  the  Causes  of  Bankruptcy. 

One  fact  is  generally  allowed  to  be 
of  more  value  than  a  baker's  dozen  of 
arguments.  Says  a  prominent  New 
York  merchant :  "  I  have  particularly 
observed,  that  those  merchants  in  New 
York  who  have  kept  their  counting 
rooms  open  on  the  Sabbath  day,  during 
my  residence  there  (twenty-five  years) 
have  failed  without  exception."  The 
remark  once  made  by  an  old  gentleman 
in  Boston  is  precisely  similar :  "  Men 
do  not  gain  anything  in  the  end  by 


working  on  the  Sabbath,  though  they 
think  they  do.  I  can  recollect  men 
who,  when  I  was  a  boy,  used  to  load 
their  vessels  down  on  the  Long  Wharf, 
and  keep  their  men  at  work  from  morn- 
ing to  night  on  the  Sabbath  day.  But 
they  have  come  to  nothing." 


Novel  Trade-Case  before  a  Prussian 
Mag-istrate. 

When  the  new  government  regula- 
tions of  trade  in  Prussia  began  to  be 
carried  into  effect,  some  years  ago, 
about  all  the  different  trades  of  Berlin 
were  suing  each  other,  to  establish  what 
occupations  belong  to  one  guild  and 
what  to  another.  One  of  the  most 
recherche  of  these  trade  quarrels  was 
that  between  the  barbers  and  the  wig 
makers.  The  latter  claimed  an  exclu- 
sive right,  according  to  the  statute,  to 
cut  the  hair  of  the  public ;  the  barbers 
insisted  that  their  profession  was  not 
limited  to  shaving. 

The  arguments  on  both  sides  of  this 
very  comical  case  had  to  be  formally 
heard  by  the  magistracy,  whose  judicial 
gravity  was  indeed  severely  tried  on 
the  occasion. 

It  was  solemnly  urged  on  behalf  of 
the  barbers  that,  in  the  abstract,  there 
is  no  distinction  between  the  hair  of 
the  chin  and  the  hair  of  the  head  ;  the 
form  of  the  instrument  used  to  remove 
it  did  not  affect  the  question  ;  whether 
the  operation  was  performed  by  the 
razor  or  scissors  was  a  matter  of  indif- 
ference. The  office  of  the  barber  was 
to  remove  superfluous  hair,  wherever  it 
grew ;  ergo,  they  had  as  good  a  right 
to  clip  as  to  mow. 

The  wig  makers,  evading  the  abstract 
question  of  right,  represented  that  the 
barbers  do  not  confine  themselves  to 
clipping,  but  comb,  brush,  trim,  curl, 
oil,  wash,  anoint,  and  otherwise  dress 
and  adorn  the  heads  of  the  customers, 
and  that  these  higher  branches  of  the 
art  belonged  of  right  to  the  wig  makers, 
who  alone  can  legally  create  a  chevelure  ! 

The  barbers  then  rejoined  by  an  ob- 


420 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


jection  as  fatal  as  that  in  the  cele- 
brated case  of  Shylock  v.  Antonio  (in 
Sliakspeare's  Reports).  They  contend- 
ed that  the  business  of  the  wig  makers 
only  began  where  that  of  the  barbers 
ended,  when  there  was  no  hair  left  to 
be  cut ;  with  perfect  baldness  the  head 
became  the  property  of  the  artist  in 
perukes,  and  at  this  point  the  barbers 
were  ready  to  abandon  it,  retaining 
only  a  right  of  property  in  the  chin. 
The  magistrates  conceded  the  force  of 
this  objection,  and  the  barbers  tri- 
umphed. 

< — 

Selling:  one's  Body  to  a  Creditor: 
Marshal  Badetzky. 

The  veteran  Radetzky,  who,  it  seems, 
was  constantly  in  debt,  sold  his  body, 
some  time  previously  to  his  death,  to 
one  of  his  creditors,  a  linen  goods  deal- 
er in  Vienna,  named  Barkfrieder.  It 
appears  that  B.,  who  had  acquired  an 
immense  fortune  from  government  con- 
tracts for  furnishing  goods  in  his  line 
to  the  army,  was  desirous  of  obtaining 
a  position  among  the  high  dignitaries 
of  the  city,  and  determined  by  a  mas- 
ter-stroke to  accomplish  his  elevation 
from  the  plebeian  ranks.  Radetzky 
figured  largely  on  the  books  of  this 
drygoods  dealer ;  and  the  latter  offered 
to  cancel  the  obligations  if  the  field- 
marshal  would  place  his  body,  after 
death,  at  his  disposal,  to  be  buried  in 
his  (B.'s)  country-seat  at  Watzdorf, 
promising,  at  the  same  time,  that  the 
veteran's  grave  should  be  surmounted 
by  a  handsome  monument.  Radetzky 
readily  assented,  and  signed  a  written 
agreement  to  that  effect.  The  old  sol- 
dier, consequently,  now  slumbers  in  the 
grounds  of  M.  Barkfrieder,  whose  coun- 
try-seat has,  on  this  account,  become 
the  Mecca  of  princes,  dukes,  barons, 
counts,  and  generals.  The  linen-deal- 
er's scheme  has  been  crowned  with  suc- 
cess— members  of  the  imperial  family 
and  titled  nobles  have  necessarily  be- 
come his  guests,  and  he  is  a  member  of 
the  "  court  circle." 


Losses  among-  Russian  Merchants. 

It  is  a  remarkable  circumstance,  that 
notwithstanding  the  fondness  of  Rus- 
sian merchants  for  money,  they  never 
take  their  losses  very  deeply  to  heart ; 
no  such  thing  ever  happens  as  a  bank- 
rupt Russian  trader  putting  an  end  to 
his  life — a  catastrophe  so  frequent  in 
most  other  countries.  This  may  be  at- 
tributed chiefly  to  the  levity  of  the 
Russian  temperament,  and  partly  to 
this — that  the  Russian  merchant,  in 
losing  his  money,  does  not  consider  his 
honor  as  a  trader  and  his  credit  as  a 
man  at  all  affected,  because  for  him 
nothing  of  the  sort  exists.  "  Bog  S^nim  " 
(God  with  them  !)  he  says  of  his  last 
moneys,  and  begins  "  8''I)ogom "  (with 
God)  his  card  house  afresh.  There  are 
in  St.  Petersburg  not  a  few  Russian 
merchants  who  have  more  than  once 
saved  nothing  from  the  wreck  but  their 
red  shirt  and  their  kaftan,  and  yet 
stroke  their  long  beards  again  upon 
'change  as  thriving  men.  Many  of  the 
merchants  of  St.  Petersburg  who  are  as 
rich  as  Crcesus,  look  like  poor  peasants. 


English  Stock  Broker's  Blackboard. 

The  origin  of  the  blackboard — that 
moral  pillory  of  the  English  stock  ex- 
change—dates back  to  1787.  There 
were,  said  a  journal  of  that  day,  no  less 
than  twenty-five  lame  ducks  who  wad- 
dled out  of  the  alley.  Their  deficiency 
was  estimated  at  one  million  and  a 
quarter  dollars ;  and  it  was  upon  this 
occasion  that  the  plan  in  question  was 
first  proposed,  and,  at  a  very  full  meet- 
ing it  was  resolved,  that  those  who  did 
not  either  pay  their  deficiencies  or  name 
their  principals  should  be  publicly  ex- 
posed on  a  blackboard  to  be  provided 
for  such  occasions.  Thus  the  above 
deficiencies— larger  than  had  l^een  pre- 
viously known — alarmed  the  gentlemen 
devoted  to  stock  dealing,  and  produced 
that  system  which  is  yet  regarded  with 
wholesome  awe 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


421 


"Immediate  Relief." 

During  one  of  the  panics  in  the 
New  York  money  market,  the  mer- 
chants held  a  meeting  in  the  Exchange, 
to  devise  ways  and  means  to  extricate 
themselves  from  their  pecuniary  diffi- 
culties. The  great  hall  was  crowded, 
addresses  were  made,  resolutions  passed, 
committees  appointed,  and  everything 
done  that  is  usual  and  practicable  in 
such  cases.  After  all  this,  one  of  the 
company  moved  that  the  meeting  stand 
adjourned  until  some  future  day,  when 
up  jumped  a  little  jobber  in  a  great 
state  of  excitement,  and  requested  the 
merchants  to  linger  a  moment,  as  he 
had  something  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance to  communicate.  The  jobber 
was  known  to  be  a  very  diffident  per- 
son ;  and,  as  he  had  never  ventured  on 
the  responsibilities  of  speaking  on  any 
former  occasion,  all  were  anxious  to 
hear  what  he  had  to  say.  "  Gentle- 
men," said  he,  with  evident  emotion, 
and  in  the  most  emphatic,  feeling,  and 
eloquent  manner,  "  what's  the  use  of 
talking  of  some /z^^^r<3  day  ?  We  want 
relief,  I  tell  you  I  immediate  relief !  " 
and  down  he  sat,  amid  a  universal  roar 
of  laughter  and  cries  of  "  Bravo  ! " 
But  his  speech  was  characterized  by 
one  important  element,  not  usually 
forming  a  superabundant  staple  with 
speech-makers — that  of  truth  ;  for  the 
next  day  he  failed  and  went  into  bank- 
ruptcy ! 


Merchants'  Wit  on  the  Stand. 

A  MERCHANT  who  was  Severely  cross- 
examined,  in  a  case  for  debt,  by  Mr. 
Dunning,  the  prosecuting  counsel,  was 
repeatedly  asked  if  he  did  not  lodge 
in  the  verge  of  the  court ;  at  length  he 
answered  that  he  did.  "And  pray, 
sir,"  said  the  counsel,  "  for  what  reason 
did  you  take  up  your  residence  in  that 
place  ?  "  "  To  avoid  the  rascally  im- 
pertinence of  dunning^"^  answered  the 
witness.     This  case  is  not  imlike  that 


of  Mr.  Barnum,  the  showman,  whose 
bankruptcy  brought  him  so  often  be- 
fore the  courts  that,  on  one  occasion, 
when  asked  by  a  creditor's  counsel 
what  was  his  present  business,  he  an-, 
swered  promptly,  "  Tending  bar,  sir." 


Erskine  Sifting    an  Auctioneer's 
Character. 

An  auctioneer  in  London,  named 
Spurrier,  once  brought  an  unsuccessful 
suit  against  a  Mr.  Beard,  to  recover  a 
sum  of  about  £230,  being  a  charge  of 
one  per  cent,  commission  for  selling  an 
estate. 

Mr.  Christie,  another  auctioneer,  was 
called  as  a  witness  for  the  plaintiff. 
He  said  "he  had  been  an  auctioneer 
upward  of  twenty-five  years.  The  busi- 
ness of  an  auctioneer  consisted  in  some- 
thing more  than  in  making  bows,  and 
in  knocking  down  the  hammer.  It 
required  knowledge  grounded  on  ex- 
perience; a  proper  acquaintance  with 
all  the  circumstances  belonging  to  the 
estate,  and  the  mode  of  preparing  prop- 
er advertisements  to  enlarge  the  ideas  of 
tlie  publicy 

Mr.  Erskine,  who  was  the  opposing 
counsel,  said,  in  his  speech,  that  "he 
found  the  profession  of  an  auctioneer 
was  infinitely  preferable  in  point  of 
pleasure  and  profit  to  that  of  a  barris- 
ter, for  the  difference  between  the 
charge  of  the  present  plaintiff  and  his 
was  as  follows :  Auctioneer^  cliarge — 
'To  a  pleasant  journey  into  Sussex, 
where  I  was  hospitably  entertained 
(out  two  days),  £230;'  Mr.  ErsUne's 
charge — '  To  pleading  from  nine  in  the 
morning  till  four  in  the  afternoon,  by 
which  I  was  melted  down,  by  fatigue, 
to  the  size  of  a  silver  penny,  £10  10s.' '' 

The  counsel  further  said,  if  auction- 
eers were  paid  the  demand  in  question 
on  every  adventure,  they  would  be  the 
richest  subjects  in  the  nation.  By  en- 
larging tlie  ideas  of  the  piAlic^  which  he 
found  was  the  business  of  the  gentle- 
man of  the  hammer,  he  supposed  was 


422 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


meant,  representing  an  estate  to  be 
worth  £20,000,  when  it  would  only  sell 
for  £10,000. 


Nine  Days  in  the  liife  of  a  Merchant. 

A  nine-days'  diar;^  of  a  New  York 
merchant  like  the  following  is  sketchy 
reading  (like  all  that  comes  from  the 
pen  which  wrote  it),  but,  as  many  will 
testify  of  the  period  to  which  it  refers, 
a  stern  and  crushing  reality  : — 

August  18th,  1857.— Refused  dis- 
counts at  bank.  Couldn't  raise  money 
to  pay  duties,  and  obliged  to  make 
over  a  valuable  importation  of  goods. 
Cashier  says  come  again  next  offering 
day. 

21st. — Went,  and  saw  matters  ten 
times  worse.  Saw  the  President,  who 
told  me  I  deserved  to  be  "  pinched  "  for 
importing  so  heavily,  and  that  I 
needn't  come  there  again  for  six  weeks. 
Couldn't  discount  a  dollar.  Concluded 
to  call  on  B.  and  borrow  a  few  thou- 
sands. Found  a  note  on  my  desk  from 
B.,  begging  me  to  lend  him  some 
money,  or  he  would  break.  Tried  C. 
Same  luck. 

22d. — ^Pitched  out  at  another  bank. 
Customer  in,  wanting  to  see  that  fresh 
importation.  Spent  three  hours  trying 
to  borrow  enough  to  pay  the  duties. 
No  success. 

24th. — Ohio  Life  and  Trust  Company 
failed.  Tried  to  sell  paper  in  the  street 
at  three  per  cent,  a  month.  No  buyers. 
Fortunate  remittance  from  the  West — 
know  the  post-mark — Jones  is  a  good 
fellow.  Draft  $5,000— ori  the  Trust 
Company  ! 

25th. — Note  on  collaterals  due  at  the 
bank.  Couldn't  get  it  renewed  for  a 
dollar.  Made  temporary  loan.  Stocks 
down  twenty  per  cent.  Best  securities 
unsalable  at  half  price. 

26th.— Loan  called  in.  Begin  to 
feel  choky  in  the  throat.  No  appetite. 
Tried  to  sell  out  my  importation  of  dry 
goods  at  twenty  per  cent.  less.  Nobody 
any  money  to  buy.     Went  home  sick. 


27th. — Resolved  never  to  put  myself 
in  the  power  of  the  banks  again.  Mis- 
erable institutions.  Spent  the  whole 
day  trying  to  borrow,  and  barely 
escaped  protest.  My  own  notes  stuck 
in  my  face  at  three  per  cent,  a  month. 
Overheard  broker  say,  "  You're  a  gone 
man,  if  you  can't  take  your  own  paper 
at  that  price."  Feel  very  much  so,  but 
got  to  keep  a  stiff  upper  lip. 

28th. — Four  brokers  failed.  Times 
worse  than  in  1837.  Feet  sore  with 
running  about  to  raise  money.  Can't 
collect  a  dollar  from  the  country. 
Everybody  out  on  the  same  business — 
all  borrowers,  no  lenders.  Desk  full 
of  bills  receivable,  perfectly  useless. 
Specie  line  of  the  banks  down  to 
$9,000,000.  Wish  I'd  never  seen  a 
piece  of  dry  goods.  Would  have 
been  as  easy  as  an  old  shoe  if  I  had 
not  imported.  I  had  no  business  to 
build  that  new  house;  the  old  one 
good  enough.  Ought  to  have  been 
content  with  the  moderate  things,  and 
lived  on  half  the  money  Store  rent 
too  high.  Obliged  to  spread  out  too 
much  on  credit  to  pay  expenses. 

29th.— Neighbor  failed.  Bank  failed. 
Friends  call  to  ask  if  the  rumor  of  ray 
failure  be  true.  Air  black  with  foul 
reports.  Half  past  2  P.  M.,  account 
withdrawn,  and — notes 


"  Not  Down  on  the  BiU.' 

Dr.  Franklin  relates  the  following 
anecdote  of  Mr.  Denham,  an  American 
merchant,  with  whom  he  once  went  a 
passenger  to  England.  "  He  had  former- 
ly," he  says,  "  been  in  business  in  Bris- 
tol, had  failed,  in  debt  to  a  number  of 
people,  compounded,  and  went  to 
America ;  there,  by  a  close  application 
to  business  as  a  merchant,  he  acquired 
a  plentiful  fortune  in  a  few  years.  Re- 
turning to  England  with  the  ship  with 
me,  he  invited  his  old  creditors  to  an 
entertainment,  at  which  he  thanked 
them  for  the  easy  compensation  they 
had  favored  him  with ;  and  when  they 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


423 


expected  nothing  but  the  treat,  every 
man,  at  the  first  remove,  fouad  under 
his  plate  an  order  on  a  banker,  for  the 
full  amount  of  the  unpaid  remainder, 
with  interest."  Besides  a  good  dinner, 
this  last  was  an  additional  item  not 
down  on  the  hill. 


Merchant-like. 

Some  years  ago,  the  extensive  mer- 
cantile house  of  S.,  B.  &  Co.,  of  Boston, 
found  it  necessary  to  suspend  payment 
of  their  debts,  and  to  close  up  the  busi- 
ness of  the  firm.  Their  creditors,  after 
an  examination  of  the  concerns  of  the 
firm,  agreed  to  receive  fifty  per  cent. 
of  the  amount  of  their  respective  de- 
mands, and  release  the  house  entirely 
from  their  obligations.  This  agree- 
ment was  entered  into  by  all  the  credi- 
tors, the  stipulated  percentage  was 
paid,  and  the  demands  cancelled. 
Subsequently  to  the  failure  of  the 
house,  one  of  the  partners  died.  The 
surviving  partner,  however,  proceeded 
with  undaunted  and  persevering  energy, 
to  wind  up  the  concerns  of  the  old  firm, 
and  to  commence  business  anew,  on  his 
own  account.  In  his  enterprise  he  was 
prospered,  and  he  then  made  a  new 
dividend  of  twenty-five  per  cent, 
among  all  his  creditors,  upon  the 
full  amount  of  their  cancelled  demands 
against  the  original  house,  paying  out 
to  them  the  aggregate  sum  of  forty 
thousand  dollars,  for  which  they  had 
no  legal  claim  upon  him  whatever. 
This  payment  was  entirely  voluntary 
on  his  part ;  and  it  was  made  not  only 
to  individual  creditors,  but  also  to  rich 
corporations,  by  whom  the  loss  would 
not  have  been  felt. 


Example  of  Spanish.  Mercantile  Credit. 

There  is  no  public  credit  in  Spain, 
in  the  English  sense  of  that  term,  but 
there  is  real  credit,  for  in  Spain  man 
trusts  man,  A  great  traflSc  was  carried 
on    through    the    Basque    provinces, 


during  the  Continental  blockade ;  no 
books  were  kept — the  recovery  of  debts 
by  any  legal  process  was  impossible — 
yet  the  traffic  was  distinguished  by  the 
most  perfect  confidence,  and  entire 
absence  of  failures  or  embezzlement. 
This  statement  was  confirmed  by  a 
gentleman  who  managed  the  largest 
English  concern  in  the  Basque  pro- 
vinces during  the  war.  He  had  no 
clerks.  The  goods  w^ere  disembarked 
and  put  in  warehouses.  He  could 
keep  no  regular  accounts.  The  mule- 
teers came  themselves  to  get  the  bales, 
and  all  he  could  do  was  to  tell  them 
what  the  bales  contained,  and  to  receive 
their  own  note  of  what  they  had  taken 
in  an  amount  of  £300,000,  and  there 
was  but  one  parcel  missing.  Several 
years  afterward,  a  priest  brought  him 
fifty  dollars,  which  was  the  value  of 
the  missing  bale  of  goods,  saying, 
"  Take  that  and  ask  no  questions." 


Debtor's  Complaint  in  Court. 

In  an  action  of  debt,  tried  before 
Lord  Mansfield,  at  Guildhall,  the  de- 
fendant, a  merchant  of  London,  com- 
plained with  great  warmth  to  his  lord- 
ship of  the  great  indignity  which 
had  been  put  on  him  by  the  plaintiff, 
in  causing  him  to  be  arrested,  not  only 
in  the  face  of  the  day,  but  in  the  Royal 
Exchange,  in  the  face  of  the  whole 
assembled  credit  of  the  metropolis. 
The  chief  justice  stopped  him  with 
great  composure,  saying,  "  Friend,  you 
forget  yourself;  you  were  the  defaulter 
in  refusing  to  pay  a  just  debt ;  and  let 
me  give  you  a  piece  of  advice  worth 
more  to  you  than  the  debt  and  costs : 
Be  careful  in  future  not  to  put  it  in 
any  man's  power  to  arrest  you  for  a 
just  debt  in  public  or  in  private." 


Profitable  and  Unprofitable  Bank- 
ruptcy. 

Soon  after  the  failure  of  C,  S.  &  Co., 
an  eminent  New  Orleans  house,  the  day 
arrived  on  which  it  was  to  be  declared 


424 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


how  much  they  would  pay  on  their 
$700,000  liability. 

"  They  will  pay  25  per  cent.,"  a  clerk 
was  heard  to  say. 

"  They  will  be  fools  if  they  do,"  ex- 
claimed his  employer,  an  old  man  in 
gold  spectacles. 

"  I  suppose,  sir,"  he  added,  turning 
to  one  who  was  near  by,  "  that  you  will 
think  it  strange  that  I  should  say  so. 
But  they  had  better  stow  away  all  they 
can.    They  can  as  well  put  away  $200,- 

000  as  not,  and  the  world  will  think 
better  of  them  for  doing  it.  Their 
honesty  will  not  keep  them  from  being 
despised  if  they  are  poor.  Look  at  my 
own  case,"  he  continued  ;  "  on  the  night 
of  the  great  fire  in  this  city,  I  was 
worth  $200,000.  The  next  morning 
the  contents  of  my  store,  worth  all  that, 
were  destroyed  and  only  $9,000  insured. 

1  gave  up  all  I  had  in  the  world  to  my 
creditors,  including  a  home  in  Warren 
street  worth  $30,000.  Not  a  cent  was 
reserved.  And  was  my  honesty  appre- 
ciated ?  Not  at  all.  My  poverty  ren- 
dered me  despised.  One  man  whom  I 
owed  $6,000,  which  I  paid,  principal 
and  interest,  called  me  a  '  poor  devil,' 
though  I  paid  him  one  hundred  cents 
for  a  dollar.  That  man,  rich  as  he  then 
was,  has  broken  to  pieces,  and  paid 
only  twelve  and  a-half  cents  on  a  dol- 
lar.    There's  my  friend ,  who  failed 

at  the  same  time  I  did,  and  saved  $150,- 
000  ;  and  there  is  neighbor ,  a  simi- 
lar case."  And  he  went  on  and  named 
some  half  a  dozen  wealthy  men,  who 
have  got  rich  by  bankruptcy  ! 

Said  he,  "  They  ride  in  their  car- 
riages, and  here  I  am  keeping  this 
little  shop." 

The  reply  was  made  to  him  that, 
"  to  be  in  his  shoes  was  much  better 
than  to  be  in  theirs,  for  conscious 
meanness  must  mar  all  their  pleasure." 

"  The  world  don't  agree  vrith  that," 
he  rejoined  bitterly.  Probably,  how- 
ever, in  his  calm  moments,  he  was  con- 
soled with  the  assurance  that  "  the  end 
of  the  upright  is  peace." 


"s        Bonfire  of  Debtors'  Papers. 

It  was  a  custom  among  the  Jews,  as 
well  as  the  Christians,  to  deposit  the 
securities  on  which  they  had  lent  money 
in  some  public  building ;  and  at  the 
general  massacre  of  the  Jews  at  York, 
in  the  early  j^art  of  the  reign  of  Rich- 
ard the  First,  the  gentry  of  the  neigh- 
borhood, who  were  all  indebted  to  the 
Jews,  ran  to  the  cathedral,  the  place 
where  their  bonds  were  kept,  and  made 
a  solemn  bonfire  of  the  papers  before 
the  altar,  thus  destroying  the  evidence 
of  an  immense  amount  of  indebted- 
ness. 


Dunup's  Distressing  Failure. 

The  house  of  IVIr.  Dunup  is  men- 
tioned as  among  those  which  have  sus- 
pended payment,  and  a  statement  has 
been  made  of  its  liabilities,  which  are 
not  large,  though  rather  numerous. 
Mr.  Dunup's  paper  was  in  the  hand  of 
his  newsman,  by  whom  it  had  been 
held  as  security  for  a  debt,  ever  since 
it  came  into  his  hands,  for  binding. 
Mr.  Dunup's  largest  creditor — ^his  laun- 
dress— holds  security  in  the  shape  of 
two  shirts ;  but  the  realization  of  this 
security  cannot  be  effected  in  the  pres- 
ent state  of  the  rag  market,  without  a 
sacrifice.  Mr.  Dunup's  credit  had  been 
a  good  deal  shaken  lately  by  his 
knocker,  which  had  been  going  inces- 
santly for  a  whole  fortnight.  A  credi- 
tor had  it  in  his  hands  when  the  sus- 
pension of  payment  was  announced — 
through  the  letter-box.  !Mr.  Dunup 
assigns  "the  state  of  matters  in  the 
city  "  as  the  primary  cause  of  his  fail- 
ure, at  the  same  time  complaining  bit- 
terly of  the  general  want  of  confidence. 

He  had  announced  to  his  creditors  a 
hope  that  he  shall  soon  be  enabled  "  to 
resume  ;  "  but  they  say  they  "  hope  he 
will  not,"  and  ask  what  is  the  use  of 
his  "resuming,"  when  his  goings  on 
hitherto  have  never  resulted  in  any- 
thing but  predicament.    After  all,  Mr. 


BONFIRE  OF  DEBTOES'  PAPERS. 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


425 


Dunup's  affiiirs  will  be  easily  wound 
up,  for  his  watcli  is  understood  to  be 
the  only  thing  he  has  got  remaining. 
But,  to  show  his  integrity  in  endeavor- 
ing to  meet  the  demands  upon  him,  it 
is  stated  that  soon  after  his  attempt  to 
raise  a  loan  at  the  bank,  he  retired  in 
some  disgust  to  his  private  banker — a 
pawnbroker — with  whom  he  invested 
his  coat,  and  thus  increased  his  stock 
of  bullion  to  the  extent  of  three  and 
ninepence. 

It  is  particularly  hard  upon  Mr.  Dun- 
up,  to  have  become  a  victim  to  the 
general  want  of  confidence,  when  he  on 
his  own  part  gave  an  extraordinary  in- 
stance of  confidence,  which  was  as 
universally  appreciated  as  it  became 
known : — that  is,  such  was  Mr.  D.'s 
confidence  in  his  own  banker,  that  he 
actually  overdrew  his  account  by  two 
and  twenty  shillings,  as  a  delicate  inti- 
mation of  his  assurance  that  that  firm, 
notwithstanding  the  times,  had  a  sur- 
plus beyond  their  liabilities. 


Bankruptcy  of  a  Dealer  in  "Women's 
Blacks." 

"Women's  blacks"  is  the  term  for 
the  common  black  worsted  stockings, 
formerly  an  article  of  very  extensive 
consumption;  they  are  now  little 
made,  because  little  worn.  One  of  the 
greatest  wholesale  dealers  in  these 
"  women's  blacks,"  in  an  English  man- 
ufacturing town,  was  celebrated  for 
the  largeness  of  his  stock ;  his  means 
enabled  him  to  purchase  all  that  were 
offered  to  him  for  sale,  and  it  was  his 
favorite  article.  He  was  an  old-fash- 
ioned man,  and  while  the  servant  maids 
were  leaving  them  oft',  he  was  uncon- 
scious of  the  change,  because  he  could 
not  believe  it ;  he  insisted  that  it  was 
impossible  that  household  work  could 
be  done  in  "white  cottons,"  staking 
his  judgment  as  a  business  man  on  this 
assertion.  Offers  of  quantities  were 
made  to  him  at  reduced  prices,  which 
he  bought;  his  immense  capital  thus 


became  locked  up  in  his  favorite  "  wo- 
men's blacks  ;  "  whenever  their  price 
in  the  market  lowered,  he  could  not 
make  his  mind  up  to  put  his  stock  low 
enough  to  invite  purchasers ;  his  ware- 
houses were  filled  with  them.  When, 
however,  he  at  last  determined  to  sell, 
the  demand  had  wholly  ceased;  he 
could  effect  no  sales;  and,  becoming 
bankrupt,  he  literally  died  of  a  broken 
heart — all  from  an  extensive  and  un- 
requited attachment  to  "  women's 
blacks," 


Cool  Operation. 

Literally,  one  of  the  coolest  opera- 
tions known  in  the  annals  of  trade, 
will  readily  be  accorded  to  that  which 
is  here  narrated.  New  England  is  said 
to  have  but  two  native  products,  gran- 
ite and  ice,  and  this  story  pertains  to 
the  latter.  A  gentleman  long  identified 
with  the  ice  trade,  after  some  twenty- 
five  years  of  successful  enterprise, 
thought  to  enlarge  his  sphere  of 
knowledge  and  action  by  entering 
into  some  other  branch  of  mercantile 
business.  He  soon  became  entangled, 
however,  by  his  relation  to  some  un- 
fortunate commercial  houses,  and 
found  himself  a  debtor  to  the  amount 
of  two  hundred  and  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars. This  must  have  given  him  more 
of  a  chill  than  his  ice-houses  ever  did. 
But  he  knew  that  faint  heart  never 
won  either  fair  lady  or  other  noble 
prize.  He  told  his  creditors,  therefore, 
that  if  they  would  give  him  time,  and 
not  hamper  him  at  all,  he  would  pay 
the  whole,  principal  and  interest.  For 
thirteen  years  he  labored  for  it,  and 
finally  one  day  made  the  closing  pay- 
ment on  two  hundred  and  ten  thousand 
dollars  principal,  and  seventy  thousand 
dollars  interest.  He  did  all  this  in  his 
old  and  original  business,  as  the  ice- 
king  of  the  globe.  He  sold  his  cargoes 
in  the  great  southern  ports  of  the  two 
hemispheres,  at  low  prices,  kept  rigid 
faith,  bought  largely  the  needed  store- 


426 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


houses  in  the  various  centres  of  the 
trade,  secured  the  lands  around  his 
ponds,  made  friends  everywhere,  and 
came  out  with  an  independent  fortune, 
and  free  from  debt.  Such  was  his  gen- 
erous policy  that  the  English  residents 
of  Calcutta  presented  him  with  a  fire- 
proof stone  storehouse,  as  a  token  of 
respect,  and  to  retain  him  in  that 
market. 


Iioxiis  tlie  Sixteenth  and  tlie  Saddler's 
Bill. 

A  Fbench  bishop  owed  his  saddler 
ten  thousand  livres,  of  which  the  poor 
man  was  not  able  to  obtain  a  single 
sou  from  his  mitred  debtor;  but  was 
at  length  turned  out  of  the  jDalace  by 
his  servants,  when  he  went  to  ask  for 
the  debt.  The  saddler,  who  was  ruined 
for  want  of  his  money,  was  obliged  to 
leave  Paris,  in  order  to  avoid  a  jail ; 
but  previous  to  doing  this,  he  called 
on  a  relation  of  his,  who  was  the  king's 
valet-de-chambre,  to  take  his  leave  of 
him.  In  stating  his  distressed  situa- 
tion, he  spoke  so  loud  that  the  king, 
the  amiable  Louis  the  Sixteenth,  who 
was  in  an  adjoining  apartment,  called 
out  to  ask  the  cause.  The  valet  made 
the  best  apology  he  could,  at  the  same 
time  hinting  the  cause  of  his  friend's 
distress.  The  king  interrogated  the 
saddler,  and  immediately  paid  the  bill, 
taking  a  receipt  for  the  money. 

A  few  days  afterward,  the  bishop  ap- 
peared at  court.  "  I  come,  sire,"  he 
pompously  said,  "  to  pay  my  duty  to 
your  majesty."  "  There  is  another 
duty,"  said  the  king ;  "  you  must  first 
pay  the  duty  of  honesty."  Then  call- 
ing for  the  saddler's  receipt,  he  ordered 
him  to  send  the  money  within  two 
hours,  giving  him,  at  the  same  time,  a 
severe  reprimand  for  eluding  the  pay- 
ment of  his  traders'  biUs. 


"Debt"  and  the  Contribution  Box. 

A  MINISTER  in  Liverpool,  preaching 
a  sermon  in  aid  of  an  infirmary,  among 


other  arguments  to  efiect  his  purpose, 
naively  observed,  "  Such  was  the  im- 
portance and  excellence  of  the  institu- 
tion, that  no  man  could  possibly  be 
prevented  from  bestowing  liberally,  ac- 
cording to  his  ability,  but  by  some 
positive  distress  of  circumstances.  Wlio- 
ever,  therefore,"  he  added,  "shrinks 
from  his  duty  on  this  occasion,  must 
be  inevitably  concluded  to  be  in  debt 
— and  therefore  very  excusable."  The 
result  showed  a  remarkable  degree  of 
solvency  on  the  part  of  the  worshippers 
in  that  congregation. 


Failures  in  Business. 

The  statement  of  which  the  late 
General  Dearborn,  of  Massachusetts, 
was  the  author,  some  years  ago,  in  re- 
gard to  the  great  number  of  failures 
among  business  men,  has  had  a  world- 
wide circulation.  This  statement  was, 
that  after  a  most  extensive  acquaint- 
ance with  business  men,  and  having  long 
been  an  attentive  observer  of  the  course 
of  events  in  the  mercantile  community, 
he  was  satisfied  that,  among  one  Jiundred 
merchants  and  traders  in  Boston,  not 
mare  than  three  ever  acquire  independ- 
ence! 

So  startling  a  statement  as  this  chal- 
lenged a  careful  investigation  by  several 
intelligent  gentlemen.  One  of  these, 
determined  to  sift  the  matter,  says  that 
he  called  upon  a  friend,  a  great  anti- 
quarian— one  always  referred  to  in 
whatever  concerns  the  city  of  Boston — 
who  told  him,  that,  in  1800,  he  took  a 
memorandum  of  every  person  doing 
business  there  on  Long  "Wharf,  and 
that,  forty  years  after  (which  may  be 
said  to  be  as  long  as  a  merchant  con- 
tinues in  business),  only  five  in  one 
hundred  remained.  They  had  all,  in 
that  time,  failed  or  died  destitute  of 
property.  One  of  the  directors  of  the 
Union  Bank — a  very  strong  bank  to 
this  day — also  stated  that  the  bank 
commenced  business  in  1798 ;  that 
there  was  then  but  one  other  bank  in 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


427 


Boston,  the  Massachusetts  Bank,  and 
that  the  "  Union  "  was  so  overrun  with 
business  that  the  clerks  and  officers 
were  obliged  to  work  until  twelve 
o'clock  at  night,  and  all  Sundays ;  that 
they  had  occasion  to  look  back,  a  year 
or  two  ago,  and  they  found  that,  of  the 
one  thousand  accounts  which  were  found 
to  have  been  opened  with  them  in 
starting,  only  six  remained ;  they  had, 
in  the  forty  years,  either  failed  or  died 
destitute  of  property.  Houses,  whose 
paper  had  passed  without  a  question, 
had  all  gone  down  in  that  time.  An- 
other informant,  who  had  occasion  to 
look  through  the  probate  office  a  few 
years  since,  was  surprised  to  find  that 
over  ninety  per  cent,  of  all  the  estates 
settled  there  were  insolvent. 

It  has  been  ascertained  that  not  more 
than  one  per  cent,  of  the  best  class  of 
merchants  escape  from  failing  in  Phila- 
delphia ;  and  that  not  more  than  two 
per  cent,  of  the  merchants  of  New  York 
ultimately  retire  on  an  independence, 
after  having  submitted  to  the  usual 
ordeal  of  failure.  These  calculations 
are  based  upon  periods  of  twenty-five 
and  thirty  years. 

In  Cincinnati,  out  of  a  list  of  some 
four  hundred  of  the  principal  business 
men  who  were  in  trade  in  that  city  at 
a  certain  period,  there  were  only  five 
in  business  at  the  end  of  twenty  years 
from  that  date.  Such  is  mercantile 
success. 


Grandest  Instance  of  Debt. 

The  grandest  instance  of  growing 
debt  upon  record  is  that  of  the  king 
of  Leon,  mentioned  by  Mariana.  Fer- 
dinand Gonzalves  had  sold  this  prince 
a  falcon  upon  credit.  The  interest  was 
high,  and  it  compounded  itself  in  the 
course  of  a  few  years  into  a  sum  so 
enormous  that  the  king  was  forced  to 
make  over  to  Gonzalves  his  rights  on 
the  kingdom  of  Castile  to  be  quit  of 
the  liability. 


Quaker's  Reply  to  Fordyce   the 

Bankrupt  Banker. 
When  the  great  banker,  Fordyce,  be- 
came bankrupt,  or  nearly  so,  through 
his  speculations,  his  efibrts  to  "raise 
the  wind "  were  earnest  and  incessant. 
Among  those  to  whom  Mr.  Fordyce 
went  was  a  shrewd  Quaker.  "  Friend 
Fordyce,"  was  the  reply  of  the  latter, 
"  I  have  known  many  men  ruined  by 
"two  dice,  but  I  will  not  be  ruined  even 
by  Four-dice ! " 


General  Jackson's  Endorsement  among: 
Boston  Capitalists. 

Some  twenty-five  years  ago,  a  mer- 
chant in  Tennessee  became  involved 
and  wanted  money ;  he  had  property, 
and  owed  debts.  His  property,  how- 
ever, could  not  be  made  available  just 
then,  and  off  he  posted  to  Boston, 
backed  by  the  names  of  several  of  the 
most  solid  men  of  Tennessee.  Money 
was  then  everywhere  "  tight,"  and  Bos- 
ton capitalists  looked  closely  at  the 
names. 

"  Very  good,"  said  they,  "  but — but 
do  you  know  General  Jackson  ?  " 

"  Certainly." 

"  Could  you  get  his  endorsement  ?  " 

*'  Yes  ;  but  he  is  not  worth  one  tenth 
as  much  as  either  of  these  men  whose 
names  I  offer  you." 

"  No  matter ;  General  Jackson  has 
always  protected  himself  and  his  paper, 
and  we'll  let  you  have  the  money  on 
the  strength  of  his  name." 

In  a  few  days  the  papers  with  his 
signature  arrived.  The  moment  those 
Boston  bankers  saw  the  tall  A.  and 
long  J.  of  Andrew  Jackson's  signature, 
the  Tennesseean  debtor  found  he  could 
have  raised  a  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars upon  it  without  the  slightest  diffi- 
culty. 


Legal  Eccentricities  of  Commerce. 

Some  of  the  peculiarities  of  English 
trade,  in  former  times,  are  illustrated 


428 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


by  the  fact  that  the  granting  of  monop- 
olies, or  the  legal  protection  afforded 
to  exclusive  companies,  once  obtained 
an  enormous  height.  Thus,  the  town 
of  Bridgeport,  noted  then  for  its  rope- 
making  establishments,  obtained  the 
passage  of  a  law,  which  prohibited  the 
mystery  of  rope-making  in  its  vicinity 
to  any  save  the  townsmen.  The  city 
of  York  was  favored  with  a  similar 
monopoly  in  the  article  of  bed  cover- 
lets. The  city  of  London  procured 
many  similar  enactments  against  the 
resident  foreigners.  The  Fishmongers' 
Company,  one  of  the  most  influential  in 
that  city,  was  protected  by  a  law  which 
obliged  all  the  queen's  subjects  to  eat 
fish  twice  a  week  for  the  benefit  of  the 
fishers.  The  Capmakers'  Company, 
too,  procured  an  ordinance,  under 
which  every  one,  save  ladies,  knights, 
and  noblemen,  were  obliged  to  wear 
woollen  caps.  These,  and  many  simi- 
lar arbitrary  interferences  with  private 
right,  and  the  ordinary  course  of  trade 
— laws  against  crowding  the  city — laws 
specifying  the  quantity  of  land  to  be 
used  for  pasture — ^laws  regulating  dress, 
etc.,— all  these  constitute  what  may  be 
called  the  legal  eccentricities  of  com- 
merce. 


gave  way  to  what  his  friend  advanced,  ! 

without  interposing  his  own  view  of  [ 

the  matter.     This  hurt  Mr.  Addison  so  i 

much,  that    he  said  to  Mr.  Stanyan :  ; 

"  Either  contradict  me,  or  pay  me  the  j 
money." 


Addison's  lioan   of  Five  Hundred 
Pounds  to  Stanyan. 

Addison  and  IVIr.  Temple  Stanyan 
were  very  intimate.  In  the  familiar 
conversations  which  passed  between 
them  they  were  accustomed  freely  to 
dispute  each  other's  opinions.  Upon 
some  occasion,  Mr.  Addison  lent  Mr. 
Stanyan  the  sum  of  five  hundred  pounds. 
After  this,  Mr.  S.  behaved  with  a 
timid  reserve,  deference,  and  respect ; 
not  conversing  with  the  same  freedom 
as  formerly,  or  canvassing  his  friend's 
sentiments.  This  gave  great  uneasi- 
ness to  Mr.  Addison.  One  day  they 
happened  to  fall  upon  a  subject  on 
which  Mr.  Stanyan  had  always  been 
used  strenuously  to  oppose  his  opin- 
ion.    But  even  upon  this  occasion  he 


Borrowing  of  Hicli  Relatives. 

Money  may  sometimes  be  borrowed. 
This  is  very  innocent ;  but  they  are 
doubly  innocent  who  make  advances, 
and,  besides,  the  lenders  are  a  very 
small  body — so  small,  indeed,  that 
"  one  trial  will  prove  the  fact,"  as  the 
patent  medicine  venders  phrase  it. 
Among  relatives,  especially,  one  will 
find  a  great  difficulty  in  obtaining  or 
extracting  the  "  needful ;  "  they  are 
generally  nervously  tenacious  of  being 
cozened.  Therefore,  "  try  it  on  "  with 
strangers;  for,  it  frequently  does  hap- 
pen, the  less  you  are  known  the  better ! 

A  poor  cousin  of  a  very  opulent  mer- 
chant stood  cooling  his  heels  in  the 
outer  office  for  two  long  hours,  when 
at  length  he  was  admitted.  His  dis- 
tress, by  the  way,  was  genuine. 

"  Well,  sir,  what  is  it  ?  "  said  the  rich 
man  fiercely. 

"I  am  sorry  to  intrude  upon  you, 
sir.     I  am  really  in  great  difficulty." 

"No  long  stories.  What  do  you 
leant?  Come  to  the  point,"  and  he 
impatiently  drew  out  his  gold  chro- 
nometer. 

"A  fortnight's  rent  is  unpaid — my 
wife  is  ill,  very  ill — and  they  threaten 
to  turn  us  into  the  street." 

"  Well  ? " 

"  A  trifle,  sir,  would —  " 

"  Pshaw  !  I've  nothing  to  give  :  I 
have  too  many  claims  upon  me  al- 
ready. I  beg  you  will  not  trouble 
yourself  to  call  here  again.  I  hate  poor 
people.  Work,  sir,  work.  I  cannot 
waste  more  time.  I  am  going  to 
'  Changey 

"  The  sooner  the  better,"  replied  the 
applicant;  and,  casting  a  withering 
look  of  indignation  at  his  opulent  cou- 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


429 


sin,  he  was  soon  in  tlie  street.  He  was 
a  wit — as  usual,  however,  a  poor  wit. 
His  cousin  was  a  fool,  but — a  rich 
fool. 

Sometimes  a  little  may  be  done  in 
tiie  way  of  borrowing,  by  "  I,  O.  U.'s," 
and  notes  of  hand,  but  the  worst  of  it 
is,  that  the  debts  one  contracts  in  this 
way  render  him  liable,  and  creditors 
will  put  him  in  that  awkward  position 
which,  at  one  tap,  makes  a  man  and  his 
circumstances  on  a  par— being  both 
confined. 

No  Trust  for  Merchants  in  Small- 
clothes. 

Mr.  Elias  Hasket  Derby,  an  old- 
school  merchant  of  Salem,  Massachu- 
setts, was  once  cheated  by  a  merchant 
to  whom  he  had  sold  some  merchandise 
under  circumstances  that  should  have 
ensured  a  better  return  on  the  part  of 
the  customer.  When  the  loss  was  as- 
certained, he  called  his  clerks  around 
him,  and  charged  them  not  to  trust  a 
man  again  who  wore  nankeen,  small- 
clothes in  mid-winter,  "  for  if  he  cheats 
himself,  you  may  expect  he  will  cheat 
you."  A  few  weeks  afterward,  one  of 
the  first  merchants  of  Boston  drove 
down  to  Salem,  while  Mr.  Derby  was 
absent,  to  buy  an  invoice  of  goods  ;  but 
the  clerks  observing  his  dress,  and  tak- 
ing Mr.  Derby  at  his  word,  refused  to 
trust  him  a  single  dollar,  and  he  re- 
turned without  his  merchandise.  His 
anger  was  appeased  when  he  discovered 
what  part  of  his  costume  had  destroyed 
his  credit. 


Portunate  Debtor— Washingrton  as  a 
Creditor. 

One  Reuben  Rouzy,  of  Virginia,  owed 
General  Washington  about  one  thou- 
sand pounds. 

While  President  of  the  United  States, 
one  of  his  agents  brought  an  action  for 
the  money;  judgment  was  obtained, 
and  execution  issued  against  the  body 
of  the  defendant,  who  was  taken  to 
jail.    He  had  a  considerable  landed 


estate,  but  this  kind  of  property  cannot 
be  sold  in  Virginia  for  debts,  unless  at 
the  discretion  of  the  person.  He  had 
a  large  family,  and  for  the  sake  of  his 
children  preferred  lying  in  jail  to  sell- 
ing his  land.  A  friend  hinted  to  him 
that  probably  Gleneral  Washington  did 
not  know  anything  of  the  proceeding, 
and  that  it  might  be  well  to  send  him 
a  petition,  with  a  statement  of  the  cir- 
cumstances. He  did  so,  and  the  very 
next  post  from  Philadelphia,  after  the 
arrival  of  his  petition  in  that  city, 
brought  him  an  order  for  his  immediate 
release,  and  a  severe  reprimand  to  the 
agent  for  having  acted  in  such  a  man- 
ner. 

Poor  Rouzy  was,  in  consequence,  re- 
stored to  his  family,  who  never  laid 
down  their  heads  at  night  without  a 
prayer  for  their  "  beloved  Washington." 

The  labors  of  the  grateful  family 
prospered,  and  in  a  few  years  Rouzy 
enjoyed  the  exquisite  pleasure  of  ten- 
dering to  his  gracious  benefactor  the 
one  thousand  pounds  with  interest. 
Washington  reminded  him  that  the 
debt  was  discharged;  Rouzy  replied 
that  the  debt  of  his  family  to  the  father 
of  their  country  and  preserver  of  their 
parent  could  never  be  discharged ;  and 
the  general,  to  avoid  the  pressing  im- 
portunity of  the  grateful  Virginian, 
who  would  not  be  denied,  accepted 
the  money — only,  however,  with  the 
secret  intention  to  divide  it  among 
Rouzy's  children,  which  he  immediately 
did. 


Indian's  Idea  of  Imprisonment  for 
Debt. 

The  reply  of  the  Oneida  Indian  to  a 
person  who  was  showing  him  a  trader 
in  prison  for  debt  in  a  county  jail,  is 
perhaps  more  to  the  point  than  the 
most  learned  essays  on  the  subject  it 
involves.  "  What  had  him  to  do  ?  " 
asked  the  Indian.  "  He  couldn't  pay 
his  skins,"  said  the  other,  alluding  to 
the  Indian's  currency,  at  that  time,  of 
furs,     "jffd  catch  no  skin  locked  up  in 


430 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Jiouse,''^  was  the  ready  and  unanswer- 
able reply  of  the  Indian  "  savage."  It 
is  stated  that  Whittier  based  his  well- 
known  production,  '^  Prisoner  for  Debt," 
upon  the  fact  that  a  man  who  had 
fought  in  four  battles  of  the  Revolution 
was  in  confinement  within  plain  sight 
of  Bunker  Hill  battle  ground,  on  a 
fourth  of  July,  for  a  debt  of  fourteen 
dollars ! 


"  Gave  his  Note." 

A  GENTLEMAN  was  about  entering  a 
drygoods  shop  on  Broadway,  when  a 
young  buck,  with  a  large  moustache 
and  small  income,  but  born  like  Jaffier 
with  "  elegant  desires,"  drove  up  a  pair 
of  spanking  bays,  glittering  with  their 

splendid  caparison.   "  Ah,  G ,"  said 

he,  "  how  de  do  ?  How  d'you  like  me 
ho'ses  ?  Fine  animals,  but  very  costly. 
What  d'you  think  I  gave  for  the  pair  ? " 
"  I  guess  you  gave  your  note,''^  said  G. 
"  Good  mawning ! "  responded  the 
blood,  putting  the  mettle  of  his  "  ho'ses  " 
to  the  test ;  "  good  mawning  1 " 


Giving  Credit  To-Morrow. 

A  COMMON  inscription  in  front  of  the 
Neapolitan  wine  and  maccaroni  houses 
is :  "  Domani  si  fa  credenza  ma  aggi 
no  " — or,  "  To-morrow  we  give  credit,  hut 
not  to-dayy 


Frodsham's  Watch  Cheat. 

Mr.  Gant,  a  celebrated  London 
watchmaker,  had  long  manufactured 
watches  for  the  markets  of  Constan- 
tinople and  other  places  in  the  Levant; 
and  his  watches  had  acquired  great 
repute  there,  and  a  ready  sale.  They 
were  distinguished  from  all  others,  not 
only  by  the  names,  but  also  by  the 
word  cesendede  (warranted)  impressed 
upon  each  in  Turkish  characters.  It 
appeared  that,  at  the  same  time,  Messrs. 
Parkinson  &  Frodsham  had  manu- 
factured and  were  exporting,  together 


with  two  other  persons,  who  gave  them 
the  order,  a  number  of  watches  with 
that  distinguishing  word  upon  them, 
and  made,  also,  in  other  respects,  to 
resemble  and  pass  for  Mr.  G.'s  watches. 
Messrs.  P.  &  F.  essayed  to  excuse  them- 
selves by  showing  that  they  were  not 
aware  that  they  had  been  counterfeit- 
ing Mr.  G.'s  watches;  that  they  had 
been  ordered  to  make  a  quantity  of 
watches  for  export,  and  to  express  on 
them  the  Turkish  characters  in  ques- 
tion. They,  however,  argued  that  there 
was  no  law  to  prevent  them  from  affix- 
ing the  word  *'  warranted,"  in  Turkish, 
to  their  own  watches,  or  limit  the  ex- 
clusive use  of  it  to  Mr.  Gant.  It  was 
decided,  on  a  suit  being  brought  in  the 
case,  that  Mr.  G.  having  long  used  a 
Turkish  word,  in  Turkish  characters, 
engraved  upon  the  watches  made  by 
him  for  the  foreign  market,  where  they 
were  in  high  estimation  and  enjoyed 
great  sale,  had  an  exclusive  right  to  the 
distinguishing  marks  which  he  had 
thus  originated. 


Foimd  Goods. 

It  was  one  of  the  laws  of  Stagira, 
that  "  no  one  shall  take  up  what  he 
never  laid  down."  Biblius  used  to  say : 
"  It  was  a  kind  of  blossom  of  injustice 
to  seize  upon  what  was  so  found ;  "  and 
in  the  practice  of  his  life,  never  was  a 
man  more  scrupulously  observant  in 
this  respect. 


Narrow  Escape  from  Bankruptcy. 

Some  years  ago,  a  New  York  mer- 
chant had  in  his  employment  a  young 
man  who  robbed  him  of  several  thou- 
sand dollars.  It  being  impossible  to 
recover  the  money,  he  was  allowed  to 
go  unpunished  upon  his  promise  to  re- 
turn the  amount  stolen  if  ever  he  should 
be  able  to  do  so.  He  was  not  heard 
of  until  a  long  time  had  elapsed,  when 
a  stranger  entered  the  counting  house 
of  his  former  employer. 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


431 


"  You  do  not  remember  me,"  said  the 
stranger. 

"  No,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Did  you  not  once  have  in  your  em- 
ploy a  young  man  by  the  name  of 
Thomas  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"  What  became  of  him  ? " 

"  He  left  me  about  ten  years  ago,  and 
I  have  never  heard  from  him  since." 

"  Why  did  he  leave  you  ?  " 

"No  matter.  It  was  a  long  time 
ago." 

"  Was  he  an  honest  youth  ?  " 

"  I  think  he  was  naturally,  but  he 
got  into  bad  company,  who  misled 
him." 

"  Had  you  confidence  in  him  ?  " 

"  The  most  implicit ;  and  I  cannot, 
somehow,  help  having  confidence  in 
him  still,  and  believe  he  will  one  day 
return  and  pay  the  money  he  owes  me." 

"  Here  it  is,  principal  and  interest, 
every  cent  of  it,  in  current  money ;  I 
have  come  on  purpose  to  pay  it ;  and 
implore  your  forgiveness  for  an  early 
crime." 

"  Who  are  you  ? "  said  the  merchant. 

"  Thomas  " — he  replied — "  who  rob- 
bed you  so  many  years  ago,  and  who 
has  been  fortunate  enough,  in  his  traffic 
abroad,  to  honestly  obtain  the  means  of 
returning  to  you  the  sum  he  had  frau- 
dulently abstracted  from  you." 

This  case  derives  additional  interest 
from  the  circumstance  that,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  receipt  of  this  money,  the 
merchant,  who  was  on  the  eve  of  bank- 
ruptcy, must  have  failed  in  the  course 
of  a  few  weeks. 


Collecting:  a  Draft. 

Grant  Thorburn,  in  his  "  Life  and 
Times,"  records  the  following  incident 
in  his  business  career — an  incident,  by 
the  way,  very  characteristic  of  that  sui 
generis  type  of  the  old-fashioned  trader : 

"  In  April  last,"  says  Mr.  Thorburn, 
"  we  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  C,  or- 
dering   about  two  hundred  and  fifty 


dollars'  worth  of  seeds  and  trees,  and 
stating  that  B,  &  Co.  would  pay  our 
bill.     Before  complying  with  the  order, 
we  showed  the  letter  to  B,  &  Co. ;  they 
stated,  that  had  the  amount  not  exceed- 
ed one  hundred  dollars,   they  would 
have  paid  it,  but  being  already  consid- 
erably in  advance,  they  were  not  in- 
clined to  go  further,  but  added,  they 
considered     him    a    good    man,    and 
thought  we  should  be  safe  in  trusting 
him  that  amount.     My  son  being  anx- 
ious to  fill  the  order,  I  consented — the 
goods  and  invoice  were  forwarded,  but 
receiving  no  answer  for  some  six  weeks 
thereafter,  we  wrote  to  him  again,  re- 
questing him  to  send  us  a  draft  on  P. 
W.  &  Co. ;  still  no  answer  came.     One 
day,  during  the  cholera,  about  the  be- 
ginning of  September,  I  picked  up  a 
piece  of  paper  from  the  floor,  which, 
ftom  some  words  on  it,  brought  the 
matter  to  my  mind,  and  I  then  told 
my  son  I  was  anxious  about  the  afiair 
with  C,  and  was  resolved  to  stir  in  the 
business;    he,    however,    thought    we 
would  better  let  it  rest  till  after  the 
cholera,  as    it  was  probable    Mr.    C. 
might  be  out  of  town,  etc.    But  the 
thing  kept  harassing  my  mind,  so  I 
determined  to  see  the  Messrs.  B.,  and 
consult    with    them    before    the    day 
closed.     I  called  at  their  office  about 
fifteen  minutes    past  four,  presuming 
they  would  have  returned  from  dinner ; 
I  waited  some  time,  and  they  not  re- 
turning, I  went  home,  drank  my  tea, 
and  resolved  to  call  again,  if  spared, 
next  morning.     But  something  in  my 
mind  kept  prompting  me  on ;  so  hav- 
ing fifiished  tea,  I  returned  to  the  office, 
and  found  Mr,  B.  alone,  showed  him 
Mr.  C.'s  letter,  and  asked  his  advice. 
He  advised  me  to  draw  on  C.  at  ten 
days'  sight,  in  favor  of  R.  C,  to  give 
the  draft  to  him  (Mr.  B.),  and  he  would 
give  it  to  C.  to  forward.    I  came  home, 
told  my  son,  bid  him  take  his  tea,  and 
draw  the   drafts  as  soon  as  he  went 
back  ;  he  smiled,  and  said  he  could  not 
see  what  made  me  so  pushing  in  this 


432 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


business  all  at  once.  Says  I :  '  I  can't 
either;  but  something  hurries  me  on, 
so  that  I  can't  rest  satisfied  till  I  push 
it  as  fast  as  I  can.'  The  draft  was 
drawn  that  night,  Next  morning  I 
gave  it  to  B.,  with  an  earnest  request 
that  he  would  give  it  to  Mr.  C.  to  for- 
ward by  that  day's  mail.  About  a 
month  after,  Mr.  B.  came  into  our  store, 
and  told  us  a  long  story  about  the 
failure  of  our  debtor,  and  how  much 
had  been  lost  by  him,  but  added,  *  Tour 
draft  is  paid.,  and  paid  too  the  very  day 
before  he  failed.'  Next  day,  another 
stepped  in  and  told  us  the  same  story, 
remarking :  '  You  are  a  lucky  fellow, 
Thorburn,  for  had  not  the  draft  gone 
on  that  very  day,  I  don't  think  you 
would  have  got  a  cent.' " 


Talleyrand's  Promise  to  Pay. 

One  of  the  many  creditors  to  whom 
the  great  Talleyrand  was  indebted  in 
such  he^avy  sums,  waited  on  him  as  he 
was  setting  off  on  one  of  his  last  jour- 
neys— not  to  take  so  vulgar  a  liberty 
as  to  ask  for  the  money  which  had  so 
long  been  his  due,  but  merely  to  ascer- 
tain any  time,  however  remote,  when 
he  might  presume  to  ask  for  a  part  of 
it.  The  diplomatist's  only  reply  to  the 
inquisitive  intruder  was:  "Monsieur, 
vous  ^tes  bien  curieux ; "  and  no  one 
but  the  diplomatist  could  have  made 
such  a  reply. 


Taxing  Bills  and  Receipts. 

The  great  art  of  taxation  is  to  get  as 
much  as  is  possible,  and  to  lay  iluties 
on  those  articles  which  are  likely  to 
bring  in  the  largest  product.  The 
English  stamp  on  receipts  is  all  well 
enough,  but  Punch  declares  that  a 
stamp  on  Mils  would  be  much  better — 
for  it  has  been  ascertained  that  receipts 
are  rare  in  proportion  to  bills,  there 
being,  at  the  lowest  computation,  at 
least  a  thousand  of  the  latter  to  one  of 
the  former.     If  it  were  compulsory  on 


every  tradesman  to  send  in  his  bill  to 
his  debtor  upon  a  stamp,  a  much  larger 
revenue  would  be  the  result.  Let  any 
one  look  through  his  private  papers, 
and  he  will  find  the  preponderance  of 
bills  over  receipts  to  be  very  consider- 
able ;  and  when  it  is  remembered  how 
very  large  a  class  are  never  in  the  habit 
of  seeing  a  receipt  at  all,  it  seems  a 
piece  of  gross  partiality  to  let  the  bur- 
den  fall  on  the  paying  part  of  the  pub- 
lic, while  the  dishonest  man  who  never 
settles  an  account — and  never  therefore 
gives  occasion  for  a  receipt — contrib- 
utes nothing  to  the  public  income.  So- 
ciety in  general  would  also  benefit  by 
the  proposed  change,  for  tradesmen 
would  not  be  so  pertinacious  in  sending 
in  their  accounts  where  there  is  no 
chance  of  getting  the  money,  if  a  proper 
check  in  the  shape  of  a  stamp  were  to 
be  put  upon  the  very  obnoxious  prac- 
tice. 


Getting  an  Injunction  Dissolved. 

Jacob  Barker  is  a  man  who  is  al- 
ways "  up  to  time."  On  a  certain  oc- 
casion, when  his  bank  was  unable  to 
meet  punctually  its  engagements,  a  bill 
in  chancery  was  filed,  enjoining  all  his 
proceedings,  of  which  proceeding  he 
got  notice  at  two  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon. His  impetuosity  would  not  al- 
low him  to  wait  to  receive  a  copy  of  the 
said  bill  from  the  oflacers  of  the  court 
— in  place  of  which,  at  his  request,  his 
solicitor  borrowed  the  original  bill. 
Mr.  Barker  took  this  home  with  him 
to  his  country  seat,  and,  after  having 
his  dinner,  segar,  and  accustomed  nap, 
he  drafted  an  answer,  reviewing  all  his 
business  transactions,  ships,  houses, 
stocks,  merchandise,  etc.,  and  took  it 
back  to  the  city  at  daylight  the  follow- 
ing morning,  returned  the  original  to 
the  clerk  of  the  court,  and  placed  his 
draft  in  the  hands  of  the  said  solicitor, 
to  be  thrown  into  form  and  filed,  which 
was  done,  the  document  comprising 
eighty  folio  pages.    This  answer  under- 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


43( 


went  a  most  searching  investigation, 
was  sustained  in  every  j)articular,  and 
the  injunction  dissolved. 


Notes  with  and  without  Security. 

Not  "long,  long  ago,"  but  during 
pretty  tight  times,  there  lived  in  one 
of  the  small  river  towns  of  Tennessee, 
more  noted  for  its  bad  whiskey  than 
its  good  morals,  a  "  Creole  of  Jerusa- 
lem." He  retailed  goods  to  country 
customers.  A  bad  paymaster  had  owed 
said  Creole  for  some  years,  and  he  de- 
spaired of  ever  collecting  it,  although 
the  debtor  was  profuse  in  his  promises 
to  pay.  The  chap  owned  some  little 
property,  about  enough  to  satisfy  half 
the  debt.  The  Jew  called  on  him  one 
day,  and  made  the  following  proposi- 
tion : 

"  Do  you  give  me  your  note  for  half 
the  amount,  and  interest,  with  some  of 
your  friends  as  security — it  is  a  mere 
form,  you  know."  "Yes."  "Then 
give  me  your  note  for  the  other  half, 
and  interest  at  twelve  months,  without 
security.  I  know  you  will  pay  it,  but 
I  want  to  get  all  my  little  matters  in 
right  shape."    Agreed  to. 

As  soon  as  the  Jew  obtained  the 
note  with  security  he  put  it  in  suit,  and 
obtained  judgment  on  it.  The  note 
for  the  other  half  he  nailed  the  custom- 
er's property  with,  and  thus  obtained 
the  whole  debt, — one  of  those  pretty 
little  operations  in  which  the  Israelite 
always  bears  off  the  palm. 


Celebrated  Lawsuit   among-  Rival 
Crafts. 

An  amusing  but  yet  important  case 
was  tried  in  the  highest  court  of  French 
judicature,  at  the  time  when  the  rage 
for  elaborate  hair  dressing  was  so  great 
in  that  nation.  The  case  was  the  uni- 
versal topic  of  conversation ;  and  the 
published  proceedings  were  bought 
with  great  avidity,  being  found  on  the 
merchant's   counting-house   table,  and 


on  the  brilliant  toilettes  of  high-bom 
ladies  as  well.  The  cause  was  that 
of  "the  coiffeurs  de  dames  of  Paris, 
against  the  corporation  of  master  bar- 
bers, hair  dressers,  and  bagnio  keepers." 
The  latter  generally  dressed  the  ladies' 
hair  after  bathing. 

Those  hair  dressers,  who  presumed 
to  dress  both  sexes,  in  this  case,  main- 
tained that  it  was  their  exclusive  priv- 
ilege to  dress  the  ladies ;  and,  indeed, 
they  had  several  of  their  adversaries 
imprisoned  or  fined.  These,  in  their 
turn,  defended  themselves,  and  claimed 
that  the  exclusive  privilege  was  in  their 
favor — because,  first,  the  art  of  dressing 
ladies'  hair  was  a  liberal  art,  and  for- 
eign to  the  profession  of  the  maitres 
perruquiers  ;  secondly,  that  the  statute 
of  the  perruquiers  gave  them  no  such 
pretended  exclusive  right ;  and  thirdly, 
that  they  had  hitherto  oppressed  them, 
and  were  therefore  indebted  to  them 
in  considerable  damages  and  interests. 

That  the  case  was  conducted  with 
art  and  elegance  cannot  be  disputed. 
In  his  first  division,  the  orator,  who 
made  his  clients  speak  in  their  own 
persons,  maintained  that  the  art  of 
dressing  the  ladies'  hair  was  one  of  the 
liberal,  aesthetic,  or  fine  arts — comparing 
it  to  those  of  the  poet,  the  painter,  and 
the  sculptor : 

"  By  those  talents,"  say  they,  "  which 
are  peculiar  to  ourselves,  we  give  new 
graces  to  the  beauty  who  is  sung  by 
the  poet;  it  is  when  she  comes  from 
under  our  hands  that  the  painting  and 
the  statuary  then  really  represent  her ; 
and  if  the  locks  of  Berenice  have  been 
placed  among  the  stars,  who  will  deny 
that,  to  attain  this  superior  glory,  she 
was  first  in  want  of  our  aid  ?  " 

"A  forehead  more  or  less  open,  a 
face  more  or  less  oval,  require  very 
different  modes ;  everywhere  we  must 
embellish  Nature,  or  correct  its  de- 
ficiencies. It  is  also  necessary  to  con- 
ciliate with  the  color  of  the  flesh,  that 
of  the  dress  which  is  to  beautify  it. 
This  is  the  art  of  the  painter ;  we  must 


434 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


seize  witli  taste  the  variegated  shades  ; 
we  must  employ  the  chiar'  oscuro,  and 
the  distribution  of  the  shadows  to  give 
more  spirit  to  the  complexion,  and 
more  expression  to  the  graces.  Some- 
times the  whiteness  of  the  skin  will 
be  heightened  by  the  auburn  tint  of 
the  locks,  and  the  too  lively  splendor 
of  the  fair  will  be  softened  by  the 
grayish  cast  with  which  we  tinge  the 
tresses." 

In  another  place,  to  prove  that  their 
art  has  claims  to  genius,  the  coifleurs 
de  dames  add : 

"  If  the  arrangement  of  the  hair,  and 
the  various  colors  we  give  the  locks,  do 
not  answer  our  intention,  we  have  un- 
der our  hands  the  brilliant  treasures  of 
Golconda.  To  us  belongs  the  happy 
disposition  of  the  diamonds,  the  placing 
the  pearl  pins,  and  the  suspending  of 
the  feathers.  The  general  of  an  army 
knows  what  reliance  he  can  make  on  a 
'  half  moon '  (a  term  of  the  then  fash- 
ionable dress)  placed  in  front — he  has 
engineers,  who  are  distinguished  by 
their  titles ;  and  we,  with  a  sparkling 
cross  advantageously  placed,  know 
how  difficult  it  is  for  an  enemy  not  to 
yield.  It  is  we,  indeed,  who  strengthen 
and  extend  the  statelier  and  eternal 
empire  of— beauty."  And  then  fol- 
lows the  felicitous  peroration : 

"  Some  rigid  censurers  will  perhaps 
say,  that  they  could  very  well  do  with- 
out us,  and  that,  if  there  were  less  art 
and  ornaments  at  the  toilettes  of  the 
ladies,  things  would  be  all  for  the  bet- 
ter. It  is  not  for  us  to  judge,  if  the 
manners  of  Sparta  were  preferable  to 
those  of  Athens  ;  and  if  the  shepherdess 
who  gazes  on  herself  in  the  glassy  foun- 
tain, interweaves  some  flowers  in  her 
tresses,  and  adorns  herself  with  natural 
graces,  merits  a  greater  homage  than 
those  brilliant  citizens,  who  skilfully 
employ  the  refinements  of  a  fashionable 
dress.  We  must  take  the  age  in  the 
state  we  find  it.  We  feel  a  congenial 
disposition  to  the  living  manners  to 
which  we  owe  our  existence,  and  while 


they  subsist,  we  must  subsist  with 
them." 

The  coiffeurs  gained  their  cause 
against  the  perruquiers.  The  trial  was 
crowded  throughout,  not  only  by  rep- 
resentatives of  the  two  trades  enlisted 
in  the  question  at  issue,  but  by  a  most 
brilliant  assemblage  of  wealth  and  fash- 
ion ;  and  when  the  grave  decision  of 
the  court  wa-s  finally  made,  it  was  ap- 
proved by  rapturous  applause. 

This  is  decidedly  one  of  the  richest 
cases  of  litigation  between  two  oppos- 
ing trades  anywhere  to  be  found. 


Treatment  of  Insolvents  by  the  Bank 
of  Eng-land. 

As  soon  as  an  English  house  has 
failed,  the  Bank  of  England  picks  out 
the  bills  accepted  by  that  firm,  and  re- 
turning them  to  the  house  from  whom 
it  has  received  them,  demands  instanter 
the  amount  less  the  discount  for  the 
time  they  have  to  run.  As  the  law 
does  not  recognize  this  proceeding,  nor 
furnish  any  means  for  compelling  ac- 
quiescence in  the  demand,  it  is  quite 
optional  with  the  indorser  to  comply 
with  it  or  not ;  but  if  he  does  not  com- 
ply, or  makes  even  a  momentary  hesi- 
tation in  handing  bank  notes  for  the 
undue  bills  bearing  his  indorsement, 
his  credit  with  the  bank  is  ended,  his 
discount  account  closed,  and  the  best 
and  easiest  source  of  obtaining  accom- 
modation cut  off.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, the  unfortunate  merchant  will 
make  strenuous  exertions  to  uj^hold  his 
standing  in  such  an  important  quarter. 


Rare  Magnanimity  of  a  French. 
Creditor. 

A  RICH  French  merchant,  doing  busi- 
ness in  Lyons,  wishing  to  befriend  a 
manufacturer  in  that  city,  advanced 
him  fifty  thousand  livres  for  goods 
which  he  was  to  furnish.  The  manu- 
facturer, soon  afterward  finding  that  so 
far  from  being  able  to  fulfil  his  engage- 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


435 


ment,  he  was  in  danger  of  bankruptcy, 
repaired  immediately  to  the  merchant, 
and  acquainting  Mm  with  the  critical 
situation  of  his  affairs,  returned  the 
whole  sum  he  had  received  in  advance. 
"  No,"  said  the  magnanimous  merchant, 
"  you  have  made  me  your  confidant, 
but  I  should  consider  myself  as  an  ac- 
complice in  your  bankruptcy,  if  I  were 
to  receive  this  money  without  the 
knowledge  of  your  other  creditors; 
therefore  take  it  back — forget  that  you 
are  my  debtor,  and,  if  possible,  pre- 
serve your  honor  and  credit.  But  if, 
notwithstanding  this,  you  are  under 
the  necessity  of  giving  up  your  effects, 
enter  me  among  the  rest  of  your  credit- 
ors, and  let  me  be  paid  in  proportion 
to  the  dividends  they  may  receive." 


Borrowers  and  Lenders  :  a  Melangre. 

The  borrowers  and  lenders  of  money 
form  two  classes,  as  simply  distinct  as 
the  dead  and  the  living. 

First  in  this  throng  is  the  licensed 
lender,  affectionately  termed  by  the 
grateful  borrowers  "  uncle,"  whose  ar- 
morial bearings  are  Three  Balls  or,  with 
the  well  understood  motto, 

"  Ex  nihilo  nihil  Jit : " 

for  he  never  advances  except  on  the  de- 
posit of  a  valuable  security,  in  the  tan- 
gible and  convertible  shape  of  plate, 
linen,  wearing  apparel,  or  other  per- 
sonal property,  for  which  he  delivers  a 
memorandum  written  on  a  miserable 
specimen  of  pasteboard,  two  inches  by 
one  and  a  half  inches  square,  termed 
a  "  duplicate,"  charging  the  moderate 
interest  of— well,  twenty  per  cent. 
Truly,  he  ought  to  be  an  excellent 
chess  player;  for  no  one  knows  the 
value  of  a  pawn  better  than  "  mine  un- 
cle." From  a  "  flat "  to  a  flatiron,  he 
"  takes  in  "  everything.  And  thus  it  is 
no  stretch  of  the  imagination  to  fancy 
a  literary  man  "  pledging  "  Anacreon, 
or  "  spouting  "  Cicero  !  or  an  old  woman 
"  raising  the  wind  "  upon  a  pair  of  bel- 


lows— both  these  beneficiaries  conge- 
nially leaning  over  the  same  counter, 
and  mutually  gazing  upon  the  same 
oUapodrida  of  "  traps." 

Then  there  are  borrowers,  whose  real 
and  personal  estate  it  would  puzzle  the 
most  expert  to  define  or  catalogue,  who 
condescendingly  communicate  their 
need  to  a  friend,  abducting  a  certain 
portion  of  superfluous  coin  in  the  most 
off-hand  manner  imaginable,  as  if  they 
were  actually  conferring  a  favor.  But, 
although  these  "  metallic  tractors,"  or 
rather  sub-tractors,  appear  always  quite 
"  at  home,"  they  are  invariably  "  found 
out,"  when  their  too  easy  friends  "  make 
a  call  upon  them." 

The  lenders,  of  course,  are  numerous, 
or  it  would  be  impossible  for  the  bor- 
rowers to  live  ;  and,  notwithstanding 
the  vocation  requires  the  utmost  cir- 
cumspection, is  fraught  with  danger, 
and  bristles  with  the  thorns  of  anxiety, 
it  is  well  known  that  most  of  these  pe- 
cuniary purveyors  take  a  great  interest 
in  lending !  With  some,  indeed,  this 
lending  becomes  a  perfect  passion ;  and, 
mixing  as  they  do  with  men  of  no  prin- 
cipal, they  frequently  abandon  their 
own  and  are  ruined,  while  the  chorus 
of  the  ungrateful  and  designing  bor- 
rowers is  more  curious  than  classical  in 
its  strain— as,  "  The  old  fellow's  '  done 
brown,'  "  says  A.  "  I  always  thought 
him  '  green,'  "  adds  B.  "  He  looks 
'  blue,'  at  any  rate,  now,"  chimes  in  C. 
"  He's  a  '  gray  '  old  badger,"  declares 
D.  "  He  is,"  ejaculates  E.,  "  an  extor- 
tionate old  hunks.  I  once  borrowed  a 
cool  hundred  pounds  of  him,  and  he 
actually  deducted  twenty-five  pounds 
for  interest  and  commission."  "  Shock- 
ing !  "  cries  A.,  indignantly.  "  Did  you 
repay  the  hundred  pounds  ?  "  inquires 
B.,  with  a  dubious  leer.  "  Repay  !  " 
replies  E.,  "certainly  not.  Why,  I 
should  have  considered  such  an  act  a 
downright  encouragement  of  usury. 
No,  sir,  I  had  too  much  attachment  to 
my  principal,  as  well  as  respect  for  the 
'  morals  '  of  society  to  do  that." 


436 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


The  advertising  borrowers,  under  tlie 
cabalistics  of  "  C.  D.,"  "  Y.  Z.,"  etc.,  do 
this  thing  in  a  more  business-like  man- 
ner. Thus,  "  Five  pounds  will  be  given 
for  the  loan  of  fifty  pounds  for  three 
months.  Undeniable  security  and  ref- 
erences if  required.  No  money-lender 
need  apply.    Address  C.  D.,"  etc. 

Five  pounds  for  three  months  !  This 
bait  is  nibbled  at  by  many,  and  eagerly 
devoured  by  some  retired  middling- 
class  tradesman,  who  is  probably  dis- 
contented with  the  dull  and  paltry 
three  per  cents.,  the  produce  of  his 
savings  invested  in  the  bank.  He  con- 
cludes, without  however  intimating  to 
any  one  his  intentions,  to  just  seek  an 
interview  with  C.  D.,  confesses  prelimi- 
narily that  he  is  "  not  in  the  habit  of 
doing  these  things,"  and  asks  as  a  favor 
just  to  glance  at  the  "  securities."  C.  D. 
forthwith  produces  a  cash  box,  and  dis- 
plays some  old  leases  (already  assigned, 
or  long  since  expired,  or  perhaps  ficti- 
tious altogether),  and  a  number  of 
shares  in  the  Pen-gully  mines,  situated 
— somewhere,  and  which,  he  gratuit- 
ously informs  the  small  capitalist,  are, 
according  to  the  last  annual  report,  ex- 
pected to  produce  "  lots  of  tin."  Then, 
as  to  promised  references,  he  can  give 
some  of  the  first  names  in  the  city,  but 
confesses  it  is  rather  a  ticklish  aifair, 
and  might  compromise  his  credit  (?)  to 
let  his  friends  suppose  that  a  man  of 
his  "  resources  "  is  in  want  of  money ,^- 
many  of  them  being  ready  to  hand  him 
a  check  for  ten  times  that  amount ;  but 
he  wishes  to  be  independent,  and  would 
rather  make  a  sacrifice  (of  the  small 
capitalist  ?)  than  lay  himself  under  an 
obligation.  Still,  to  satisfy  the  lender, 
if  not  already  assured  of  his  ability  to  re- 
imburse the  trifle  in  question,  of  course 
he  is  ready,  etc.,  etc.  The  novice,  who 
is  probably  quite  as  anxious  as  the  bor- 
rower to  keep  this  delicate  transaction 
a  secret,  willingly  foregoes  the  "  mere 
formality  "  of  references.  The  aff'air  is 
thus  amicably  arranged  ;  notes  are  ex- 
changed— that  is,  a  note  of  hand  for  a 


bank  note — and  the  lender  walks  gin- 
gerly away  with  the  very  liberal  dis- 
count in  his  pocket,  his  flustered  imagi- 
nation filled  with  lively  visions  of  raj)- 
idly  increasing  his  store.  He  has 
opened  a  new  mine ;  but,  should  he 
continue  to  "  work  it,"  he  may  find  to 
his  cost  what  many  other  and  wiser 
heads  have  done  before,  that  new  mines 
often  consume  more  than  they  produce. 


Aid  in  the  Nick  of  Time :  Jacob  Bar- 
ker and  John  "Wells. 

The  unexpected  failure,  at  the  close 
of  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain,  of 
Jacob  Barker's  Liverpool  house,  to- 
gether with  the  opposition  to  his  bank- 
ing operations  in  New  York,  finally  re- 
sulted in  the  overthrow  of  his  bank ; 
all  of  its  depositors,  and  a  vast  propor- 
tion of  its  circulation,  were  paid  at 
sight;  yet  the  suspension  created  a 
strong  prejudice  with  all  those  who 
continued  to  hold  his  bank  notes,  and 
all  this  had  a  withering  influence  on 
his  further  operations. 

Distressed  by  the  multitudinous  ap- 
plications to  redeem  bank  notes  in  the 
hands  of  needy  persons — which,  al- 
though the  amounts  were  small,  he  had 
not  the  means  at  command  to  redeem, 
on  their  first  presentation,  he  called 
upon  his  friend,  Mr.  John  Wells,  stated 
his  troubles,  and  observed  :  "  I  believe 
I  had  better  shoot  myself."  That  gen- 
tleman replied  :  "  Are  you  crazy  ?  How 
much  do  you  want?"  taking  up  his 
pen  and  commencing  to  write.  IVIr. 
Barker,  wanting  five  thousand  dollars, 
replied  three  thousand.  Mr.  Wells 
gave  him  one  of  his  most  earnest  looks, 
and  said,  "Is  that  all?  if  you  want 
more,  name  it  now,  and  forever  after 
hold  your  peace."  "  That  will  answer ; 
but  why  do  you  give  it  to  me  ?  If  I 
should  die  you  will  never  get  a  cent." 

Mr.  Wells,  saying,  "  That's  none  of 
your  business,"  went  on  writing,  and 
handed  to  Mr.  Barker  an  order  for 
three  thousand  dollars,  in  the  stock  of 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND   JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


437 


the  Bank  of  America,  saying,  "  I  have 
no  money;  make  that  stock  answer 
your  purpose." 

The  yellow  fever  soon  after  termina- 
ted the  life  of  this  "  friend  in  need,"  on 
which  event  Mr.  Barker  showed  his 
gratitude  as  well  as  mercantile  honor 
by  promptly  handing  the  amount  to 
the  administrator. 


"Settling"  an  Account. 

To  settle  coffee  with  an  egg  is  an  easy 
matter ;  but  it  is  not  eggsactly  so  easy 
to  settle  an  old  account — a  truth  which 
will  be  found  illustrated  in  the  follow- 
ing conversation  between  an  honest 
miner,  named  Riley,  upon  the  north 
fork  of  the  Salmon  River,  in  California, 
and  one  Mike  Donelly,  a  trader,  to 
whom,  it  seems,  Riley  was  indebted 
some  forty  dollars  for  provisions.  Said 
D.  to  R.,  "  You  ought  to  pay  me  this 
little  bill,  for  you  know  I  trusted  you 
when  no  other  trader  on  the  river 
would.  Come,  now,  I'll  throw  off  half, 
if  you'll  pay  the  rest."  "  Well,  Mike," 
said  Riley,  "  I'll  be  hanged  if  I'll  allow 
you  to  be  more  liberal  than  I  am.  If 
you  throw  off  one  half,  I'll  throw  off 
the  other  !  "  But  this  proof  of  liberali- 
ty did  not  satisfy  Mike,  and  he  replied, 
as  might  be  expected,  "  But  that  don't 
settle  my  account."  "Then  break  an 
egg  into  it ! "  said  Riley,  and  coolly 
walked  off. 


German  financial  Operation. 

There  were  once  two  well-known 
settlers  in  the  western  part  of  York 
County,  Pa.,  both  of  honest  old  Ger- 
man stock,  and  belonging  to  those 
good  old  times  when  everybody  was 
"  as  honest  as  the  days  are  long."  Pe- 
ter, it  appears,  had  increased  the  size 
of  his  farm,  by  annexing  thereto  a 
small  tract  adjoining,  and  lacked 
about  one  hundred  dollars  of  the  sum 
necessary  to  pay  for  the  new  acquisi- 
tion.    He  called  upon  his  neighbor. 


George,  to  borrow  the  amount.  George 
brought  out  an  old  bread  basket,  and 
counted  down  the  desired  number  of 
"  thalers,"  and  then,  of  course,  the  two 
sat  down  to  two  large  earthen  mugs  of 
cider,  and  so  many  pipes  of  tobacco. 
After  smoking  over  the  matter  for  a 
while,  it  occurred  to  Peter  that  in  simi- 
lar transactions  he  had  heard  or  seen 
something  like  a  "note"  passing  be- 
tween the  borrower  and  the  lender, 
and  he  suggested  as  much  to  George. 
The  lender  assented  to  the  reasonable- 
ness of  the  thing — papers,  pen,  and  ink 
were  produced — and  between  the  two 
a  document  was  concocted,  stating  that 
George  had  loaned  Peter  one  hundred 
dollars,  which  Peter  would  repay  to 
George  in  "  dree  monts  "  (three  months). 
This  Peter  signed,  and  thus  far  our  two 
financiers  had  made  the  thing  all  regu- 
lar and  shipshape. 

But  at  this  point  a  difficulty  present- 
ed itself.  They  both  knew  that  notes 
were  made  in  the  operations  of  borrow- 
ing and  lending,  which  they  had  some- 
times witnessed ;  but  it  now  appeared 
that  neither  of  them  had  observed  what 
disposition  was  made  of  the  document — 
neither  could  tell  whether  it  was  en  re- 
gie for  the  borrower  or  lender  to  take 
charge  of  the  paper — and  here  was  a 
dilemma !  At  length  a  bright  idea 
struck  George. 

"  You  has  de  money  to  pay,  Peter ; 
so  be  sure  you  must  take  dis  paper,  so 
you  can  see  as  you  has  to  pay  it !  " 

This  was  conclusive — the  common 
sense  of  the  thing  was  obvious  and  un- 
answerable— and  Peter  pocketed  the 
money  and  his  note,  "  so  as  he  could 
see  as  he  had  to  pay  it."  The  three 
months  passed  over,  and  punctually 
to  the  day  appeared  our  friend  Peter, 
and  paid  over  the  promised  sum  to 
George.  This  being  done,  the  mugs 
and  pipes  were  again  paraded.  After 
puffing  awhile,  Peter  produced  the  note, 
and  handed  it  to  George,  with  the 
remark — 

"  Now  you  must  take  de  note,  so  as 


438 


COMMERCIAL   AXD   BUSINESS    ANECDOTES. 


you  can  see 
paid." 


as  dat  de  money  has  been 


Backing  up  his  Becozuznendation. 

A  YOUNG  man,  desirous  of  entering 
into  business  on  his  own  account,  ap- 
plied to  a  wholesale  dealer  in  linens,  to 
give  him  credit  for  goods  to  the  amount 
of  £500.  Being  met  with  the  usual  in- 
quiry for  a  reference  as  to  character,  he 
mentioned  Mr.  B.,  a  well  known  gentle- 
man, and  belonging  to  the  Quaker 
body.  On  being  applied  to,  Mr.  B. 
gave  the  young  man  such  a  character, 
as  induced  the  tradesman  immediately 
to  let  him  have  the  goods  he  wished 
for.  After  being  some  time  in  business, 
and  by  his  conduct  justifying  the  trust 
reposed  in  him,  he  unfortunately  fell 
into  habits  of  dissipation,  neglected  his 
store,  and,  as  a  natural  consequence, 
became  insolvent.  The  injured  credit- 
or, meeting  Mr.  B.,  complained  that  he 
had  been  deceived  as  to  the  character 
of  the  man,  and  had  thus  lost  £500. 
The  honest  Quaker  replied,  that  he  had 
spoken  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge, 
and  had  himself  been  deceived.  As, 
however,  it  was  on  his  representation 
the  credit  had  been  given  to  the  insol- 
Tent,  he  would  himself  pay  the  debt ; 
which  he  did  immediately,  by  a  check 
on  his  banker. 


Ziawsuits  of  Girard. 

Of  all  the  various  attitudes  and 
qualifications  of  character  presented  in 
Girard's  wonderful  career,  he  appears 
in  none  more  extraordinary  than  in  his 
address  and  tact  as  a  quack  lawyer. 
Few  men  could  defeat  or  circumvent 
Girard  in  a  lawsuit;  and  notwith- 
standing the  great  number  in  which  he 
was  a  party,  during  his  eventful  life- 
time, he  was  seldom  known  to  be  van- 
quished, and  he  took  a  peculiar  pride 
in  boasting  of  his  victories  in  this  line. 

Nothing  mortified  him  so  deeply  as 
to  be  cast  in  a  lawsuit,  whether  for  a 


petty  amount  before  a  magistrate  or  an 
alderman,  or  for  a  hundred  thousand 
dollars  in  the  supreme  court  of  the 
United  States.  Ambition  to  defeat  his 
adversary  quite  as  much  as  mere  pecu- 
niary advantage  seemed  to  animate  him 
to  obtain  a  verdict.  This  feeling,  it  is 
supposed,  influenced  him  on  the  occa- 
sion when,  prosecuted  for  the  bank  in- 
terest on  the  funded  debt  of  the  United 
States,  by  certain  subscribers  to  the  Na- 
tional Bank  stock,  he  pleaded  the 
statute  of  limitations,  and  by  this 
means  secured  a  verdict  in  his  own 
favor  for  a  small  amount.  In  petty 
cases  before  justices  and  aldermen,  he 
exhibited  the  same  skill,  art,  finesse  and 
evasion. 

Once  he  was  sued  by  a  country  neigh- 
bor for  a  trespass,  by  suffering  his  fen- 
ces to  go  unrepaired,  so  that  his  cattle 
broke  into  the  fields,  and  trod  down 
the  wheat  of  the  farmer.  Girard  met 
the  case  at  all  points  like  a  well  drilled 
lawyer,  thrusting  his  attorney  aside, 
and  taking  the  case  into  his  own  hands. 
He  came  to  trial,  fortified  by  witnesses, 
together  with  drawings  and  maps  of 
all  his  fields  and  fences;  and  after  a 
full  examination,  turned  the  whole  force 
of  the  suit  against  his  neighbor — prov- 
ing that  it  was  the  plaintiff  who  allow- 
ed his  fences  to  go  unrepaired,  and  that 
it  was  the  plaintiff's  cattle  that  had 
trespassed  upon  him,  and  not  his  cattle 
upon  the  farmer.  So  that  Girard  not 
only  escaped,  but  obtained  a  judgment 
against  the  farmer. 


Grant  Thorburn's  Bankruptcy. 

Mr.  Thorburn,  though  distinguish- 
ed for  the  old-school  carefulness  in 
business  transactions  peculiar  to  his 
day,  at  one  time  of  his  life  found  that, 
after  toiling  and  striving  by  sunlight 
and  moonlight,  in  wet  weather  and  diy 
weather,  he  was  several  thousands  of 
dollars  w^orse  than  nothing.  Under 
these  circumstances,  he  gave  up  all  to 
his  creditors,  and  that  he  might  be  en- 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


439 


abled  to  commence  business  anew,  he 
applied,  with  an  empty  pocket  and  a 
clear  conscience,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Insolvent  Act.  To  this  end  it  was 
necessary,  as  a  first  step,  that  he  should 
either  go  to  jail  or  the  limits.  He  pre- 
ferred the  former,  as  he  could  board  for 
one  half  the  expense.  So,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1813,  he  left  his  wife  with  one  dol- 
lar and  sixty-two  cents,  and  four  young 
children  to  support,  without  any  cer- 
tainty where  the  next  dollar  was  to 
come  from.  As  he  was  walking  down 
the  main  street,  in  Newark,  while  be- 
ing conducted  to  jail,  the  sheriff's  oflS- 
cer  politely  going  some  distance  before 
or  behind  him— it  matters  not  which — 
he  was  accosted  by  a  man  whom  he  had 
not  seen  for  two  years  previous.  Said 
he  to  Mr.  Thorburn,  "  I  have  owed  you 
fifteen  dollars  for  a  long  time,  but  it 
was  never  in  my  power  to  pay  you  un- 
til now ;  just  step  in  this  store,  and  I 
will  pay  you,"  pointing  to  one  close  by. 
Mr.  T.  says  he  received  the  money  with 
as  much  wonder  and  thankfulness  as 
if  he  had  seen  it  drop  from  the  clouds 
into  his  path.  He  had  not  seen  the 
man  for  so  long  a  time,  that  he  never 
expected  the  money.  This  man  told 
Mr.  T.  some  months  after,  that  at  the 
time  he  paid  him  that  money,  he  knew 
nothing  whatever  of  his  diflSculties. 
After  having  staid  the  time  appointed 
in  jail,  and  gone  through  the  forms  by 
law  prescribed,  "  I  came  out,"  says  Mr. 
T.,  "  whitewashed  from  all  claims  as 
far  as  the  law  could  go,  but  I  thought 
I  was  as  much  bound  in  justice  as  ever 
I  was  to  pay  my  honest  debts,  should 
Providence  put  it  in  my  power,  by 
prospering  my  future  exertions.  He 
did  prosper  my  future  exertions,  and 
I  can  now  show  receipts  for  thousands 
of  dollars  which  were  by  law  cancelled." 


liegral  Damages  and  Coxapound  Inter- 
est in  Africa. 

Some  of  the  natives  of  Africa,  al- 
though they  may  have  little  pretensions 


to  a  knowledge  of  mathematics  in  gen- 
eral, seem  to  have  a  very  clear  and 
comprehensive  idea  of  the  principles 
of  compound  interest  on  debts  result- 
ing from  legal  damages. 

This  appears  from  the  custom  of  a 
certain  tribe,  according  to  which,  if  a 
native  should  steal  a  fowl  from  another, 
the  owner,  if  he  had  witnesses  of  the 
fact,  would  suffer  the  matter  to  rest  for 
two  or  three  years.  He  would  then  in- 
stitute an  action  for  damages,  which 
are  measured  by  this  curious  standard : 
it  is  in  the  first  place  calculated  how 
many  eggs  the  fowl  would  probably 
have  laid  in  the  course  of  one  or  two 
years,  how  many  of  these  would  have 
been  hatched,  how  many  of  these 
chickens  themselves  would  have  be- 
come parents,  for  the  period  of  time 
between  the  commission  of  the  robbery 
and  the  conviction  of  the  offender.  For 
this  imaginary  wrong,  damages  have 
been  given  to  the  fullest  extent,  and 
the  husbands  and  wives,  and  whole 
family  sold,  to  requite  the  owner  of 
the  fowl  for  his  loss. 


Pecuniary  Anxiety  of  the  Greatest 
Merchant  in  tlie  "World. 

It  would  seem  as  though  no  pinnacle 
of  power  and  affluence  can  place  a  man 
wholly  out  of  the  reach  of  pecuniary 
exigencies,  or  the  anxiety  engendered 
by  their  anticipation.  It  was  so  with 
that  merchant  monarch — the  greatest  in 
his  day — Lorenzo  de  Medici.  In  pro- 
viding for  the  expenses  of  the  wars  in 
which  the  Florentines  had  been  en- 
gaged, considerable  debts  had  been  in- 
curred; and  as  they  had  not  then 
learnt  the  destructive  expedient  of  an- 
ticipating their  future  revenue,  or  trans- 
ferring their  own  burdens  to  their  pos- 
terity, it  became  necessary  to  provide 
for  the  payment  of  those  demands. 

Besides  the  debts  contracted  in  the 
name  of  the  republic,  Lorenzo  had  been 
obliged  to  have  recourse  to  his  agents 
in  different  countries  to  borrow  large 


440 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


sums  of  money  which  had  been  applied 
to  the  exigencies  of  the  State ;  but  it 
was  no  improbable  conjecture,  that  the 
money  which  had  been  lavishingly  ex- 
pended during  the  heat  of  the  contest 
would  be  repaid  with  reluctance  when 
the  struggle  was  over.  These  consider- 
ations occasioned  him  the  most  harrow- 
ing anxiety ;  for  while  on  the  one  hand 
he  dreaded  the  disgrace  of  being  want- 
ing in  the  performance  of  his  pecuniary 
engagements,  he  was  not  perhaps  less 
apprehensive  on  the  other  hand  of  di- 
minishing his  influence  in  Florence,  by 
the  imposition  of  additional  taxes. 
From  this  difficulty  he  saw  no  possi- 
bility of  extricating  himself,  but  by 
the  most  rigid  attention,  as  well  to  the 
improvement  of  the  public  revenue,  as 
to  the  state  of  his  own  business  con- 
cerns. The  increasing  prosperity  of 
the  city  of  Florence  seconded  his  eflbrts, 
and  in  a  short  time  the  creditors  of  the 
State  were  fully  reimbursed,  without 
an  increase  of  the  public  burdens. 

His  own  engagements  yet  remained 
incomplete ;  but  whilst  he  was  endeav- 
oring, from  his  large  property  and  ex- 
tensive concerns,  to  discharge  the  de- 
mands against  him,  a  decree  providing 
for  the  payment  of  his  debts  out  of  the 
public  treasury  relieved  him  of  his 
difficulties,  and  proved  that  the  affec- 
tion of  his  fellow  citizens  yet  remained 
unimpaired.  Lorenzo  did  not,  how- 
ever, receive  this  mark  of  esteem  with- 
out utter  humiliation  at  the  negligence 
and  imprudence  of  his  factors  and  cor- 
respondents, who  by  their  inattention 
to  his  affairs,  had  reduced  him  to  the 
necessity  of  accepting  such  a  favor. 
From  this  period  he  determined  to  re- 
linquish the  fluctuating  advantages  of 
commerce — to  close  his  mercantile  af- 
fairs with  all  possible  expedition — well 
considering,  that  besides  the  inherent 
uncertainty  of  commercial  transactions 
on  so  vast  a  scale,  the  success  of  them 
depended  too  much  on  the  industry  and 
integrity  of  others. 


On  the  Forgiven  List. 

One  of  the  old-school  merchants  of 
Boston,  very  extensively  engaged  in 
commerce,  and  located  on  Long  Wharf, 
in  that  city,  died  in  February,  1806, 
intestate,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine. 
His  eldest  son  administered  upon  the 
estate.  This  old  gentleman  used  pleas- 
antly to  say,  that  for  many  years  he 
had  fed  a  large  number  of  Catholics  on 
the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean  during 
Lent — referring  to  his  very  extensive 
connection  with  the  fishing  business. 
In  his  day  he  was  certainly  well  known ; 
and  to  the  present  time  is  well  remem- 
bered by  some  of  the  "  old  ones  down 
along  shore,"  from  the  Garnet's  Nose 
to  Race  Point. 

Among  his  papers,  a  package  of  con- 
siderable size  was  found  after  his  death, 
carefully  tied  up,  and  labelled  as  fol- 
lows :  "  Notes,  due  bills,  and  accounts 
against  sundry  persons  down  along 
shore.  Some  of  these  may  be  got  by  a 
suit  or  severe  dunning.  But  the  peo- 
ple are  poor ;  most  of  them  have  had 
fisherman's  luck.  My  children  wUl  do 
as  they  think  best.  Perhaps  they  will 
think  with  me,  that  it  is  best  to  burn 
this  package  entire." 

About  a  month  (said  the  narrator  of 
this),  after  our  father  died,  the  sons 
met  together,  and,  after  some  general 
remarks,  our  eldest  brother,  the  admin- 
istrator, produced  this  package,  read 
the  superscription,  and  asked  what 
course  should  be  taken  in  regard  to  it. 
Another  brother,  a  few  years  younger 
than  the  eldest,  a  man  of  strong,  impul- 
sive temperament,  unable  at  the  mo- 
ment to  express  his  feelings  by  words, 
while  he  brushed  the  tears  from  his 
eyes  with  one  hand,  by  a  spasmodic  jerk 
of  the  other  toward  the  fireplace,  in- 
dicated his  desire  to  have  the  paper 
put  into  the  flames.  It  was  suggested 
by  another  of  our  number,  that  it 
might  be  well  to  make  a  list  of  debtors' 
names,  and  of  the  dates  and  accounts, 
that  we  might  be  enabled,  as  the  in- 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


441 


tended  discharge  was  for  all,  to  inform 
such  as  might  offer  payment,  that  their 
debts  were  forgiven.  On  the  following 
day  we  again  assembled,  the  list  had 
been  prepared,  and  all  the  notes,  due 
bills,  and  accounts,  whose  amount,  in- 
cluding interest,  exceeded  thirty- two 
thousand  dollars,  were  committed  to 
the  flames. 

It  was  about  four  months  after  our 
father's  death,  in  the  month  of  June, 
that,  as  I  was  sitting  in  my  eldest  broth- 
er's counting  room,  waiting  for  an  op- 
portunity to  speak  to  him,  there  came 
in  a  hard- favored,  little  old  man,  who 
looked  as  if  time  and  rough  weather 
had  been  to  the  windward  of  him  for 
seventy  years.  He  asked  if  my  brother 
was  not  the  executor.  He  replied  that 
he  was  administrator,  as  our  father  died 
intestate.  "  Well,"  said  the  stranger, 
"  I  have  come  up  from  the  Cape  to  pay 
a  debt  I  owed  the  old  gentleman."  My 
brother  requested  him  to  be  seated, 
being  at  the  moment  engaged. 

The  old  man  sat  down,  and  putting 
on  his  glasses,  drew  out  a  very  ancient 
wallet.  When  he  had  thus  done, — and 
there  was  quite  a  parcel  of  notes, — as 
he  sat  waiting  his  turn,  slowly  twisting 
his  thumbs,  and  his  old  gray  medita- 
tive eyes  fixed  upon  the  floor,  he  sighed ; 
and  I  well  supposed  the  money,  as  the 
phrase  runs,  came  hard,  and  secretly 
wished  the  old  man's  name  might  be 
found  upon  the  forgiven  list.  My 
brother  was  soon  at  leisure,  and  asked 
him  the  common  question — his  name, 
etc.  The  original  debt  was  $440;  it 
had  stood  a  long  time,  and,  with  the 
interest,  amounted  to  $800.  My  broth- 
er went  to  his  table,  and  after  examin- 
ing the  forgiven  list  attentively,  a  sud- 
den smile  lighted  up  his  countenance, 
and  told  me  the  truth  at  a  glance — the 
old  man's  name  was  there  !  My  broth- 
er quietly  took  a  chair  at  his  side,  and 
a  conversation  ensued  between  them. 

"Your  note  is  outlawed;  it  was 
dated  twelve  years  ago,  payable  in  two 
years ;  there  is  no  witness,  and  no  in- 


terest has  ever  been  paid ;  you  are  not 
bound  to  pay  this  note — we  cannot  re- 
cover the  amount." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  old  man,  "  I  wish  to 
pay  it.  It  is  the  only  heavy  debt  I 
have  in  the  world.  I  should  like  to 
pay  it,"  and  he  laid  the  bank  notes  be- 
fore the  administrator,  and  requested 
him  to  count  them  over. 

"  I  cannot  take  this  money,"  was  the 
reply. 

The  old  man  became  confused.  "  I 
have  cast  simple  interest  for  twelve 
years  and  a  little  over,"  said  he;  "I 
will  pay  you  compound  interest,  if  yoii 
say  so.  That  debt  ought  to  have  been 
paid  long  ago,  but  your  father,  sir,  was 
very  indulgent;  he  knew  I  had  been 
unfortunate,  and  told  me  not  to  worry 
about  it." 

My  brother  then  set  the  whole  matter 
plainly  before  him,  and,  taking  the 
bills,  returned  them  to  the  old  man, 
telling  him,  that  although  our  father 
left  no  formal  will,  he  had  recommend- 
ed to  his  children  to  destroy  certain 
notes,  due  bills,  and  other  evidences  of 
debt,  and  release  those  who  might  be 
legally  bound  to  pay  them.  For  a  mo- 
ment the  worthy  old  man  seemed  to  be 
stupefied.  After  he  had  collected  him- 
self, and  wiped  a  few  tears  from  his 
eyes,  he  stated,  that  from  the  time  he 
had  heard  of  our  father's  death,  he  had 
raked  and  scraped,  and  pinched  and 
spared,  to  get  the  money  to  pay  this 
debt.  "  About  ten  days  ago,"  said  he, 
"  I  had  made  up  the  sum  within  twen- 
ty dollars.  My  wife  knew  how  much 
the  payment  of  this  debt  lay  upon  my 
sj)irits,  and  advised  me  to  sell  a  cow, 
and  make  up  the  difference,  and  get 
the  heavy  burden  off  my  mind.  I  did 
so,  and  now,  what  will  my  old  woman 
say  ?  I  must  get  home  to  the  Cape, 
and  tell  her  this  good  news.  She'll 
probably  say  over  the  very  words  she 
said  when  she  put  her  hands  on  my 
shoulder  as  we  parted :  '  I  have  never 
seen  the  righteous  forsaken,  nor  his 
seed  begging  bread.' "    With  a  hearty 


442 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


shake  of  the  hand,  and  a  blessing  upon 
our  father's  memory,  he  went  upon  his 
way  rejoicing. 

After  a  short  silence,  seizing  his  pen- 
cil and  casting  a  few  figures,  "  There  !  " 
exclaimed  my  brother,  "  your  part  of 
the  amount  would  be  so  much;  con- 
trive a  plan  to  convey  to  me  your  share 
of  the  pleasure  derived  from  this  opera- 
tion, and  the  money  is  at  your  service." 


Changes  in  Mercantile  Standing-. 

In  old  times,  when  debtors  were  lia- 
ble to  imprisonment,  a  gentleman,  now 
well  known  in  Philadelphia,  failed,  and 
was  forced  by  some  of  his  relentless 
creditors  to  become  the  inmate  of  a 
prison.  But  among  his  creditors  there 
was  one  glorious  spirit,  who,  by  great 
exertion,  and  by  personally  involving 
himself,  accomplished  the  liberation  of 
his  friend.  He  was  a  commission  mer- 
chant and  partner  in  a  house  that 
ranked  with  the  first  in  that  city  for 
nearly  fifty  years,  without  the  slightest 
taint  or  blemish.  In  the  evening  of 
his  days,  however,  misfortune  reached 
him,  and  he  found  his  house  tottering 
amidst  the  financial  storm  then  raging; 
and  while  his  distress  was  greatest,  and 
his  fortunes  looked  darkest,  the  bread 
he  had  cast  upon  the  waters  six-and- 
twenty  years  before,  came  fioating  back 
to  his  door.  It  was  his  former  debtor^s 
check  hook^  showing  a  halance  in  one  of 
the  city  danJcs,  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars^  with  checks  signed  in 
blank  to  his  order,  and  a  request  that 
he  would  use  the  whole  or  any  part,  if 
it  would  be  of  service  to  him  ! 


Hypothecating  one's  Person  for  a 
lioan. 

Pawnbrokers  have  all  sorts  of  cus- 
tomers, pledges,  and  experiences.  The 
celebrated  tragedian,  Mr.  Cooke,  was 
always  fond  of  a  frolic,  on  his  benefit 
night,  declaring  that  he  never  took 
liberties  with  his  friends  at  any  other 


time.  It  once  happened,  during  an 
engagement  in  Philadelphia,  that  on 
such  an  occasion  he  was  short  of  money, 
and  at  a  loss  to  raise  the  wind  for  the 
accustomed  breeze.  In  this  dilemma  he 
started  up  town  in  a  speculative  mood, 
determined  to  inspirit  himself  in  some 
way  or  other.  Having  reached  the 
corner  of  Callowhill  and  Eighth  streets, 
he  cast  his  eyes  toward  the  Delaware, 
and  perceived  one  of  those  enticing 
signs  of  three  golden  balls.  He  turned 
the  corner,  and,  entering  the  fatal  door, 
addressed  the  man  behind  the  counter 
thus :  "  My  name  is  Cooke.  This  is 
my  benefit  night.  The  manager  can't 
do  without  me,  as  I  am  up  for  Richard 
the  Third.  I  want  some  liquor.  I 
have  no  money.  Now  I  propose  to  hy- 
pothecate my  royal  person  for  ten  dol- 
lars, and  you  may  lay  me  upon  one  of 
your  shelves."  The  joke  was  a  queer 
one,  and  the  master  of  ceremonies  paid 
the  ten  dollars,  and  Cooke  was  laid  up. 
The  theatre  that  night  was  crowded, 
and  at  seven  o'clock  the  manager  came 
forward  to  apologize,  stating  that  with 
the  permission  of  the  audience  the  per- 
formance would  commence  with  the 
farce.  He  had  sent  in  difierent  direc- 
tions, but  was  unable  to  find  Mr.  Cooke 
in  the  city.  He  presumed  the  trage- 
dian would  be  forthcoming  in  the 
course  of  the  next  half  hour.  As  the 
manager  retired,  he  was  informed  that 
a  boy  wished  to  see  him  in  the  green- 
room. He  found  the  lad,  who  presented 
a  note  written  in  cypher,  which  he  at 
length    translated    thus :     "  My    dear 

,  I  am  in  pawn  for  $10  ;  send  and 

redeem  me,  or  it  will  be  impossible  for 
Richard  to  be  himself  to-night.  Yours, 
Cooke."  The  manager  started  imme- 
diately after  the  fixed  star,  and  found 
him  nicely  shelved,  with  a  plate  of 
crackers  and  cheese,  and  a  bottle  of 
brandy  by  him.  In  the  button-hole  of 
his  coat  was  a  piece  of  paper  marked 
"No.  1473,  pawned  for  $10."  The 
amount  was  paid,  a  hack  called,  and 
Mr.  Cooke  and  manager  rolled  to  the 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


443 


theatre,  where  the  former  had  just  time 
to  dress,  and  commence  "  Now  ia  the 
winter  of  our  discontent,"  &c.  It  is 
said  he  never  played  Richard  better,  or 
received  greater  applause. 

Business,  Bankruptcy  and  Literature : 
John  Pierpont  and  John  Neal. 
John  Neal  and  John  Pierpont, 
whose  names  are  now  so  famous  as  lit- 
terateurs, were  formerly  active  business 
men,  ceasing  to  be  such  only  with  mis- 
fortune and  bankruptcy.  Neal  once 
tried  shopkeeping  in  Boston  awhile, 
opening  a  small  establishment  on  a 
capital  of  some  two  hundred  dollars — 
sometimes  prosperous  in  money  affairs, 
and  then  again  suffering  the  greatest 
embarrassments.  In  the  course  of  time 
he  made  the  acquaintance  of  John  Pier- 
pont, and  the  two  Johns  subsequently 
opened  a  large  wholesale  establishment 
together  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  with 
a  brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Pierpont  as 
partner,  and  did  an  extensive  and  prof- 
itable business  for  some  time,  upon  the 
revival  of  commerce  following  the  war 
of  1812.  But  in  the  space  of  two  years, 
"  Pierpont,  Neal  &  Lord,"  having  then 
two  wholesale  establishments  and  a  re- 
tail one  in  full  blast,  found  their  busi- 
ness utterly  ruined  by  the  depreciation 
of  all  imported  articles,  and  they  failed, 
— failed  honestly  and  entirely,  leav- 
ing themselves  so  poor  that  Pierpont 
sold  his  wife's  spoons  in  order  to  pay 
for  lodgings  in  chambers ;  and  Neal 
parted  with  all  the  little  comforts  and 
luxuries  he  possessed  in  order  to  ap- 
pease a  Shylock  of  a  creditor,  who 
would  take  nothing  less  than  "the 
pound  of  flesh."  The  future  career  of 
these  two  men  proved  that,  if  their 
bankruptcy  was  a  damage  to  some,  the 
next  generation  were  gainers  by  it. 


Kindness  to  Debtors:  Chickering:, 
Peabody,  Lorillard. 

Jonas  Chickering,  whose  great 
business  involved  multitudes  in  the 
relation  to  him  of  debtor,  was  most 


indulgent  to  those  who,  from  disap- 
pointment or  other  honest  causes, 
became  unable  to  make  prompt  pay- 
ment. He  was  accustomed  to  say,  "  If 
you  cannot  pay  me  now,  pay  me  when 
you  can  ;  and  if  never  able  to  pay  me, 
I  shall  not  trouble  you ;  do  not  be 
discouraged;  go  about  your  business, 
and  you  will  get  along  well  enough." 
Such  assurances  quieted  many  a  one, 
who  had  unexpectedly  become  unable 
to  meet  his  liabilities,  and  it  was  doubt- 
less the  manifestation  of  this  accommo- 
dating si^irit  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Chick- 
ering toward  others,  that  secured  to 
him  the  indulgent  consideration  of  his 
workmen  and  others,  at  a  time  when 
his  own  business  was  so  shaken  by  the 
great  commercial  crisis  of  a  former 
day. 

Joseph  Peabody,  the  Salem  mer- 
chant, lost  between  one  and  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars,  by  the  failure 
of  Mr.  Williams,  the  American  banker 
of  London.  Yet,  so  far  from  bearing 
him  ill-will,  when  that  gentleman  re- 
turned to  Salem,  after  an  absence  of 
forty  years,  Mr.  Peabody,  then  at  a  very 
advanced  age,  painstakingly  crossed 
the  street,  and,  with  an  extended 
hand,  welcomed  him  to  his  native  city. 

"  When  you  meet  with  another  honest 
man  in  similar  circumstances,"  wrote 
Dr.  Franklin  once  to  a  poor  man  whom 
he  had  generously  assisted,  "  you  must 
pay  me  by  lending  this  sum  to  Jiim, 
enjoining  him  to  discharge  the  debt  by 
a  like  operation  when  he  shall  be  able, 
and  shall  meet  with  such  another 
opportunity.  This  is  a  trick  of  mine 
for  doing  a  deal  of  good  with  a  little 
money." 

Jacob  Lorillard  was  not  only  very 
considerate  of  his  own  debtors,  but  as 
much  so  of  others'  debtors.  One  who 
had  been  the  companion  of  his  youth, 
and  the  friend  of  his  age,  and  who, 
like  him,  had  been  blessed  with  pros- 
perity and  honor,  was  suddenly  over- 
taken with  calamity  and  threatened 
with    ruin.      When  he    received   the 


444 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


news,  he  was  affected  even  to  tears. 
This  shall  not  be,  said  he  ;  if  I  can  sus- 
tain him,  I  will  mortgage  my  property 
first — and  he  did  so.  He  immediately 
assumed  all  the  debts  of  his  friend  to 
a  particular  institution,  which  were 
heavy.  When  creditors,  knowing  the 
intimacy  which  had  subsisted  between 
them,  crowded  around  him  to  ascertain 
the  truth  or  falsehood  of  the  rumored 
failure,  he  simply  replied,  "  Bring  me 
the  notes  which  are  due  to  you,  and  on 
the  usual  guaranty  I  will  pay  them." 
He  did  do  it,  to  a  large  amount ;  and 
by  the  aid  which  he  rendered,  and  the 
confidence  he  inspired,  he  not  only  sus- 
tained and  reestablished  his  friend, 
but  the  whole  profits  of  the  operation 
for  the  risk  which  he  incurred  were 
entirely  devoted  to  charity. 


Rougrh,  Treatment  of  Insolvents. 

The  insolvent  debtor,  among  the 
Romans,  was  cut  to  pieces  and  dis- 
tributed among  his  creditors, — more 
barbarous  than  the  Thugs.  Even  in 
England,  the  bankrupt  was  formerly 
treated  as  a  criminal,  and  subjected  to 
personal  punishment.  In  Scotland,  till 
within  a  hundred  years,  they  set  the 
"  dyvour  "  upon  a  pillory,  with  stock- 
ings of  various  colors,  to  subject  him 
to  the  scorn  of  the  multitude. 


Jewish  Traders,  and  Straw  BaU. 

"  Are  you  worth  £1,800,  after  all  your 
debts  are  paid  ? "  said  a  London  magis- 
trate to  a  Jew  trader,  who  had  been 
placed  before  him  by  an  attorney,  to 
justify  in  bail  for  one  of  his  roguish 
clients.  "  Eighteen  hundred  pounds," 
replied  the  Jew,  "is  a  great  deal  o' 
monish ;  I  haven't  got  half  so  much ; 
but  as  the  attorney  has  given  me  a 
twenty-pun'  note,  what  am  I  to  do 
with  it  ? "  "  Put  it  in  your  pocket," 
said  the  judge.  The  old  Jew  folded  up 
the  bank-note  deliberately,  placed  it  in 
bis  pocket,  and  retired. 


Philanthropic  Debtor. 

The  fine  moral  tone  and  exquisite 
sense  of  justice  of  a  certain  unfortunate 
debtor,  is  worthy  of  all  appreciation. 
He  was  in  the  kindly  benevolent  stage 
of  inebriety,  and  full  of  universal  phi- 
lanthropy and  exuberant  liberality. 
After  pouring  forth  his  warmest  desires 
to  make  all  men  happy," he  wound  up 
thus :  "  And  if  I  owe  any  man  any- 
thing, I  freely  forgive  him  the  debt ! " 


Imperial  Affection  for  a  Banker. 

One  of  the  tight  Jew  bankers,  in  the 
reign  of  Frederic,  being  fearful  of  sub- 
sidies and  loans,  sent  a  letter,  petition- 
ing the  king  "  to  allow  him  to  travel 
for  the  benefit  of  his  health,"  and  re- 
ceived the  following  tender  answer  : 

"  Dear  Ephraim.  —  Nothing  but 
death  shall  part  us.    Frederic." 

A  reply  pregnant  with  terrible  mean- 
ing to  the  poor  Israelite. 


Washington  Irving' s  Commercial 
Bankruptcy. 

Prior  to  1817,  Washington  Irving 
was  engaged  in  commercial  affairs  with 
his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Van  Wart,  of 
Birmingham;  and  the  house  was  in 
that  year,  like  many  others,  subjected 
to  the  ruinous  effects  of  one  of  those 
extended  revulsions  of  trade,  which 
were  more  frequent  and  more  disas- 
trous then  than  in  recent  times.  In 
the  winter  of  1817-18  (says  Mr.  Lord, 
a  friend  of  Mr.  Irving),  being  in  Liver- 
pool at  the  crisis  of  those  calamities, 
I  passed  a  considerable  period  in  daily 
intercourse  with  Mr.  Irving.  Meeting 
him  one  morning  after  the  receipt  of 
letters  from  New  York,  I  observed  a 
smile  on  his  countenance,  and  con- 
gratulated him  on  the  receipt  of  what 
I  presumed  to  be  good  news  concern- 
ing his  affairs.  "Yes,"  said  he,  "I 
was  relieved :  I  feel  that  I  have  got 
down  to  hard  pan.    The  last  debts  on 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


445 


wliich  I  relied  have  proved  bad ;  and 
in  that  respect  I  have  no  more  ill  news 
to  receive."  It  is  believed  that  it  was 
in  pursuance  of  suggestions  made  to 
him  by  Roscoe  the  banker  and  author 
of  the  lives  of  the  Medici  family  of 
merchants,  that  Mr.  Irving,  after  the 
bankruptcy  of  the  house  in  which  he 
was  a  partner,  determined  upon  his 
future  pursuit  as  a  writer  of  books. 


Qranting:  an  Extension. 

Mr.  B.  had  failed ;  that  is,  a  series 
of  misfortunes  unlocked  for,  and  against 
which  it  was  impossible  to  provide,  had 
reduced  his  means,  so  that  he  was  un- 
able to  meet  his  engagements.  With 
a  gloom  of  mind  natural  under  the 
circumstances,  B.  prepared  to  meet  his 
creditors  and  give  them  satisfaction, 
so  far  as  he  was  able.  The  day  on 
which  they  assembled  at  his  counting- 
room  was  rainy  and  dreary — a  day  on 
which  a  single  gleaming  ray  of  the  sun 
would  have  been,  to  him,  a  blessing. 

The  creditors  were  gathered  around 
a  table,  and  with  gloomy  brows  they 
awaited  the  announcement  of  the 
amount  they  were  to  expect  upon 
each  dollar  they  had  advanced  to  the 
broken  merchant.  B.  appeared  with 
an  expression  of  resignation  upon  his 
countenance,  and  yet  it  was  not  diffi- 
cult to  perceive  the  suppressed  agony 
in  his  heart. 

For  a  time  there  was  a  silent  examina- 
tion of  books  and  papers,  as  each  credi- 
tor sought  to  ascertain  the  amount  for 
which  he  would  have  to  suffer.  Then, 
a  man  of  ready  sympathies,  to  whom 
this  silence  was  painful,  remarked,  "  It 
is  a  rainy  day."  "Yes,"  replied  B., 
and  there  was  now  a  beam  of  light 
on  his  countenance,  "  but  it  will  not 
always  be  rainy."  The  tone  and  nature 
of  this  expression  struck  the  sym- 
pathizing merchant,  and  he  almost 
immediately  arose,  and  proposed  that 
an  extension  should  be  granted,  to 
allow  B.  to  recover  from  his  disaster. 


There  was  but  little  discussion.  The 
proposition  was  received  with  general 
favor,  and  unanimously  agreed  to.  The 
result  of  this  extension  was,  that  B.  re- 
turned to  his  business  with  a  light 
heart,  labored  earnestly  and  devotedly, 
and  in  a  surprisingly  short  time  was 
enabled  to  pay  all  to  whom  he  was 
indebted. 


Breach  of  the  Bond. 

An  English  trader,  having  sustained 
a  heavy  loss,  began,  in  great  despair, 
to  denounce  his  calling,  and  to  declare 
that  he  would  never  follow  it.  One, 
for  some  trifling  consideration,  pro- 
cured his  bond,  with  a  penalty,  not  to 
be  again  engaged  in  that  occupation. 
Afterward,  the  necessities  of  his  family 
forcing  him  to  a  breach  of  his  bond,  an 
action  was  brought  upon  the  penalty. 
On  the  facts  being  disclosed,  in  the 
trial  of  the  case,  the  judge,  who  seems 
to  have  been  a  firm  and  just,  but  im- 
petuous man,  is  reported  to  have  flown 
into  a  violent  passion,  and  given  this 
very  emphatic  opinion  in  Norman 
French  : — "  In  my  opinion  there  should 
have  been  a  demurrer,  because  the  obli- 
gation is  void,  and  the  condition  is 
against  the  common  law ;  and  by —  t 
if  the  plaintiff  were  here,  I  would  im- 
prison him  until  he  paid  a  fine  to  ^the 
king." 


Pay  or  Charge. 

There  was  a  landlord  in  Georgia, 
jolly  and  free-hearted,  but  his  wit  was 
often  blunt-pointed,  and  missed  fire. 
He  had  furnished  a  hurried  breakfast 
for  some  Southern  passengers  by  the 
cars — bustling  about,  with  all  sorts  of 
helter  skelter  sayings.  "  Gentlemen, 
here's  your  breakfast.  I've  seen  better, 
and  I've  seen  worse."  "  I  never  did 
see  much  worse,"  says  one  of  the  pas- 
sengers. The  landlord  was  taken 
down.  As  they  rose  to  pass  out,  ask- 
ing what  was  to  pay,   "Fifty  cents 


446 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


down,  or  a  dollar  when  we  charge  it," 
said  the  landlord,  with  emphatic  brev- 
ity. "  Well,  charge  it,  then,"  said  our 
grumbling  friend.  "  I'm  sold  !  "  said 
the  landlord — "  Go  on,  gentlemen,  I'll 
charge  it." 


Business  Value  of  a  Name. 

M.  Alexis  Benoit  Soyer,  the  pre- 
siding cook  of  the  Reform  Club  in 
London,  had  become  so  famous  in  his 
line  of  business,  that  his  name  alone 
had  a  high  commercial  or  money  yalue. 
Of  this  the  law  reports  of  the  London 
journals  record  an  amusing  instance. 
One  Piper  &  Gibbs  entered  into  a 
partnership  for  the  manufacture  and 
sale  of  a  beverage  invented  by  Piper, 
and  called  "  Tortoni's  AmanaP  After- 
ward a  Mr.  Baker  joined  the  concern, 
bringing  a  capital  of  five  thousand 
dollars.  Still  they  were  not  content. 
Tortoni  was  not  the  name  to  make 
men's  mouths  water  for  their  divine 
drink.  So  they  finally  induced  M. 
Soyer  to  join,  on  the  understanding 
that  he  was  to  have  one  third  of  the 
profits  for  allowing  the  drink  to  be 
called  "  Soyer's  Nectar.''''  The  concern 
in  this  way  became  so  flourishing  that 
the  other  partners  wished  to  cheat  the 
inventor  out  of  his  share  of  the  gains, 
resulting  in  a  suit  at  law. 


Treatment  of  Chinese  Bankruptcy. 

In  China,  the  merchants  doing  busi- 
ness on  a  particular  street  or  immediate 
neighborhood  are  associated  together 
for  immediate  protection,  counsel,  etc., 
under  the  name  of  the  Kai-fong.  In 
Canton,  there  are  several  thousands  of 
these  small  bodies. 

These  men,  in  the  event  of  a  bank- 
ruptcy occurring  among  them,  mark  the 
delinquent,  and  watch  lest  he  should 
ever  return  to  do  business  in  their  quar- 
ter. "  Gone  to  Hong  Kong,"  is  as  famil- 
iar a  phrase  applied  to  an  absconding 
debtor  in  Canton,  as  "  gone  to  Texas  " 


was  in  by-gone  days  to  a  northern  debtor 
on  his  sudden  withdrawal  from  his 
creditors.  On  the  shop  door  of  a  trader 
who  has  thus  "  vamosed,"  is  posted  a 
red  paper — an  ordinary  bill  made  out 
in  usual  form  by  some  creditor,  and 
thus  attached  to  the  house  as  a  formal 
demand  for  payment ;  this  is  followed 
in  a  few  days  by  many  others,  until  the 
shop  door  and  windows  completely 
glare  with  the  vermilion  hue.  And 
there  they  remain,  none  daring  to  re- 
move them,  continually  publishing  to 
every  passer-by  the  name  and  just  lia- 
bilities of  the  abscondmg  debtor.  The 
law  of  the  land  gives  to  the  creditor 
the  right  to  sell  the  wife  and  children 
of  a  debtor  into  slavery,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  recourse  is  had  to  this  mode 
of  reimbursement ;  but  there  is  gener- 
ally a  dread  of  having  anything  to  do 
with  Chinese  officers  of  justice. 

If  the  delinquent  return,  the  Kai- 
fong,  as  a  body,  belabor  and  worry  him 
in  various  ways,  injure  his  credit,  inter- 
fere with  his  custom,  and,  by  many 
methods,  so  harass  him,  that  he  is 
obliged  to  quit.  And  even  should  he 
go  to  another  quarter  of  the  city,  the 
Kai-fong  of  that  neighborhood  are  soon 
posted  up,  and  the  bankrupt  is  com- 
pletely driven  away.  He  must,  of 
necessity,  go  to  another  city,  where 
he  is  not  known.  As  to  appealing  to 
the  police  for  help,  in  such  a  case,  it 
is  entirely  useless;  the  Kai-fong  are 
too  powerful  to  fear  any  interference. 
It  is  not,  generally  speaking,  to  any 
settled  principle  of  honesty,  but  rather 
to  the  dread  of  the  commercial  disabili- 
ties involved,  that  these  Chinese  shop- 
keepers' wholesome  observance  of  sol- 
vency is  owing. 


Sharp  Hit  at  Repudiation. 

Shortly  after  that  startling  fact 
in  American  finance— the  repudiation 
of  the  Pennsylvania  bonds,— Sydney 
Smith  was  shown  a  lump  of  American 
ice,  upon  which  he  remarked,  "  That  he 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


447 


was  glad  to  see  anything  solvent 
from  America  !  " 


from  America 


come 


Obtaining-  a  Certificate  of  Bankruptcy. 

The  "  Brothers  Cheeryble "  of  the 
novelist  are,  in  fact,  scarcely  over- 
charged portraits  of  two  real  English 
merchants ;  and  of  these  men  the  fol- 
lowing story  is  well  authenticated  : 

The  elder  brother  of  this  house  of 
merchant  princes  amply  revenged  him- 
self upon  a  libeller,  who  had  made 
himself  merry  with  the  peculiarities  of 
the  amiable  fraternity.  This  man  pub- 
lished a  pamphlet,  in  which  one  of  the 
brothers  (D.)  was  designated  as  Billy 
Button,  and  talking  largely  of  their 
foreign  trade,  having  travellers  who 
regularly  visited  Chowbent,  Bullock 
Smithy,  and  other  foreign  parts.  Some 
"kind  friend"  had  told  W.  of  this 
pamphlet,  and  W.  had  said  that  the 
man  would  live  to  repent  of  its  jDubli- 
cation.  This  saying  was  in  turn  kind- 
ly conveyed  to  the  libeller,  who  said 
that  he  should  take  care  never  to  be  in 
their  debt.  But — the  man  in  business 
does  not  always  know  who  shall  be  his 
creditor.  The  author  of  this  pamphlet 
in  course  of  time  became  bankrupt,  and 
the  brothers  held  an  acceptance  of  his 
which  had  been  indorsed  by  the  draw- 
er, who  had  also  become  bankrupt. 
The  wantonly  libelled  men  had  thus 
become  creditors  of  the  libeller — they 
now  had  it  in  their  power  to  make 
him  repent  of  his  audacity.  He  could 
not  obtain  his  certificate  without  their 
signature,  and,  destitute  of  that,  he 
could  not  enter  into  business  again. 
He  had  secured  the  number  of  signa- 
tures required  by  the  bankrupt  laws, 
except  one. 

It  seemed  folly  to  hope  that  the  firm 
of  brothers  would  supply  the  important 
deficiency  in  question.  What !  they 
who  had  been  cruelly  made  the  laugh- 
ing-stock of  the  public,  forget  the 
wrong,  and  favor  the  wrong-doer? 
He  despaired ;  but  the  claims  of  a  wife 


and  children  forced  him  at  last  to  make 
the  application.  Humbled  by  misery, 
he  presented  himself  at  the  counting 
room  of  the  wronged,  W.  was  there 
alone,  and  his  first  words  to  the  delin- 
quent were,  "  Shut  the  door,  sir  !  " 
sternly  uttered.  The  door  was  shut, 
and  the  libeller  stood  coweringly  be- 
fore the  libelled.  He  told  his  tale,  and 
produced  his  certificate,  which  was 
instantly  clutched  by  the  injured  mer- 
chant. 

"  You  wrote  a  pamphlet  against  us 
once  !  "  exclaimed  W.  The  supplicant 
expected  to  see  his  parchment  thrown 
into  the  fire  ;  but  this  was  not  its  des- 
tination. W.  took  a  pen,  and  writing 
something  on  the  document,  handed  it 
back  to  the  owner.  He,  poor  bank- 
rupt, expected  to  see  there,  "Rogue, 
scoundrel,  libeller  !  "  inscribed ;  but 
there  was,  in  fair,  round  characters,  the 
signature  of  the  firm  !  "  We  make  it 
a  rule,"  said  W.,  "  never  to  refuse  sign- 
ing the  certificate  of  an  honest  trades- 
man, and  we  have  never  heard  that  you 
were  anything  else."  The  tears  started 
into  the  poor  man's  eyes. 

"  Ah,"  said  W.,  "  my  saying  was  true. 
I  said  you  would  live  to  repent  writing 
that  pamphlet.  I  did  not  at  all  mean 
it  as  a  threat ;  I  only  meant  that  some 
day  you  would  know  us  better,  and 
would  repent  you  had  tried  to  injure  us. 
I  see  you  repent  it  now."  "  I  do — I  do," 
said  the  grateful  man.  "  Well,  well, 
my  dear  fellow,"  said  W.,  "  you  know 
us  now.  How  do  you  get  on  ?  What 
are  you  going  to  do  ?  "  The  poor  man 
stated  that  he  had  friends  who  would 
assist  him  when  his  certificate  was  ob- 
tained. "  But  how  are  you  off  in  the 
mean  time  ? " — to  which  the  answer 
was,  that  having  given  up  everything 
to  his  creditors,  he  had  been  compelled 
to  stint  his  family  of  even  the  necessa- 
ries of  life,  that  he  might  be  enabled  to 
pay  the  cost  of  his  certificate.  "  My 
dear  fellow,"  said  W.,  "  this  will  never 
do ;  your  family  must  not  suffer.  Be 
kind  enough  to  take  this  ten-pound 


448 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


note  to  your  wife  from  me.  There^ 
there,  my  dear  fellow — don't  sob ;  it 
will  be  all  well  with  you  yet.  Keep  up 
your  spirits,  set  to  work  like  a  man, 
and  you  will  raise  your  head  yet."  The 
overpowered  man  endeavored  in  vain 
to  express  his  thanks — his  tears  and 
emotions  forbade  words. 


Day  &  Martin— New  and  Old. 

On  the  death  of  the  surviving  part- 
ner of  the  celebrated  and  wealthy  firm 
of  Day  &  Martin,  blacking  manufac- 
turers, the  executors  continued  the 
business  and  the  name  of  the  old  firm, 
the  same  as  heretofore.  One  of  the 
original  Day's  nephews,  however,  soon 
after  associated  himself  with  a  person 
named  Martin,  and  set  up  a  blacking 
manufactory,  thus  using  the  old  firm's 
name,  and  labelling  their  bottles  in 
close  imitation  of  those  of  the  old  es- 
tablishment. The  genuine  blacking 
was  put  up  in  bottles,  with  a  label 
containing,  as  the  place  of  manufacture, 
the  words  "  97  High  Holborn."  The 
new  concern,  in  devising  the  cut  for 
their  label,  substituted  the  royal  arms 
for  those  of  the  original  firm,  and  in- 
serted "  901  Holborn  Hill,"  in  place  of 
97  High  Holborn.  This  affair  led  to  a 
suit  at  law,  when  it  was  decided  that 
the  contrivances  of  the  new  concern 
were  calculated  to  lead  the  bulk  of  the 
unwary  public  into  the  impression  that 
that  concern  was  connected  with  the 
old  manufactory,  and  thus  to  benefit 
the  new  to  the  injury  of  the  old  estab- 
lishment; and  "No.  901  Holborn  Hill" 
was  soon  among  the  things  that  were 
and  are  not. 


Slieridan's  Treatment  of  a  Creditor. 

Shehidan  had  for  some  years  hired 
his  carriage  horses  from  Mrs.  Edbrooke 
in  Clarges  street,  and  his  bill  was  a 
heavy  one.  Well,  IVIrs.  Edbrooke 
wanted  a  new  bonnet,  and  blew  up  her 
mate  for  not  insisting  on  payment.  The 


curtain  lecture  was  followed  next  day 
by  a  refusal  to  allow  Mr.  Sheridan  to 
have  the  horses  till  the  account  was 
settled.  Mr.  S.  sent  the  politest  possi- 
ble message  in  reply,  begging  that  Mrs. 
Edbrooke  would  allow  his  coachman  to 
drive  her  in  his  own  carriage  to  his 
door,  and  promising  that  the  matter 
in  question  should  be  satisfactorily  ar- 
ranged. The  good  woman  Avas  de- 
lighted ;  dressed  in  her  best,  and  bill 
in  hand,  she  entered  the  M.  P.'s  chari- 
ot. Sheridan  had  meanwhile  given  or- 
ders to  his  servants.  Mrs.  Edbrooke 
was  shown  up  into  the  back  drawing 
room,  where  a  slight  luncheon,  of  which 
she  was  begged  to  partake,  was  laid 
out;  and  she  was  assured  that  her 
debtor  would  not  keep  her  waiting 
long,  though  for  the  moment  engaged. 
The  horse-dealer's  wife  sat  down  and 
discussed  a  wing  of  chicken  and  glass 
of  wine,  and  in  the  mean  time  her  vic- 
timizer  had  been  watching  his  oppor- 
tunity, slipped  down  stairs,  jumped 
into  the  vehicle,  and  drove  off.  JMrs. 
Edbrooke  finished  her  lunch  and  wait- 
ed in  vain  ;  ten  minutes,  twenty,  thirty 
passed,  and  then  she  gave  the  bell  a 
woman's  pull :  "  Very  sorry,  ma'am, 
but  Mr.  Sheridan  went  out  on  impor- 
tant business  half  an  hour  ago."   "  And 


the    carriage 


"  Oh,    ma'am,    Mr. 


Sheridan  never  walks ! 


Won't  Look  at  Him. 

That  eminent  and  excellent  Boston 
merchant,  Robert  G-.  Shaw,  was  one 
day  met  by  a  gentleman,  who,  after  a 
brief  conversation,  asked  Mr.  S.  to  lend 
him  a  certain  sum  of  money,  as  he  was 
short  of  that  article— not  an  uncommon 
thing  with  said  individual,  as  with 
many  others.  Mr.  Shaw,  raising  his 
spectacles,  replied,  "Yes,  sir,  with 
pleasure,  on  one  condition."  "What 
is  that,  sir  ?  "  "  Why,  that  when  we 
next  meet,  you  will  turn  your  face 
toward  me,  look  pleasant,  and  not  turn 
away  I    I  lent  Mr. a  small  sum  of 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


449 


money,  about  a  month  ago,  and  ever 
since  that  time  he  has  cut  me,  most  de- 
cidedly. Meet  him  where  I  may,  on 
State  street.  Commercial  street,  or  in 
the  Exchange,  and  he  always  turns  his 
head  away.  When  I  lend  a  man  money, 
and  he  is  owing  me,  I  want  him  to  look 
me  full  in  the  face,  as  though  nothing 
had  happened  ;  and  then  I  shall  be  wil- 
ling to  lend  him  again." 


No  Use  for  Pistols. 

On  a  certain  occasion,  a  French  mer- 
chant from  Bordeaux,  who  had  a  house 
at  Barcelona,  where  he  resided,  receiv- 
ed, in  the  course  of  business,  a  large 
sum  of  money  from  a  Spanish  trader, 
at  a  time  when  he  was  much  embar- 
rassed in  his  affairs  ;  he  was,  therefore, 
unwilling  to  receive  the  money,  and 
yet  fearful  to  refuse  it,  lest  his  credit 
should  be  shaken.  Shortly  afterward, 
he  failed  and  absconded.  His  creditor 
traced  him  to  Gibraltar,  and  thence  to 
Cadiz.  There  he  found  him  lying  sick, 
without  attendants,  in  a  garret.  On 
entering  the  room,  the  Spaniard  stern- 
ly demanded  his  debtor's  books.  Re- 
ceiving them,  he  sat  himself  down,  and 
spent  several  laborious  hours  examin- 
ing them,  referring  to  the  Frenchman 
merely  upon  points  where  he  wanted 
information.  When  he  had  completed 
this  investigation,  he  returned  the 
books  without  comment,  and  departed. 
Shortly  afterward  he  returned,  accom- 
panied by  a  physician,  and  had  his 
debtor  removed  to  a  comfortable  apart- 
ment, and  then  addressed  him  thus : 
*'  I  am  satisfied  that  you  have  not  been 
guilty  of  fraud,  but  you  have  done  me 
a  great  wrong :  had  you  been  frank,  I 
should  have  enabled  you  to  hold  your 
ground.  Now  that  we  are  in  the  same 
boat,  let  me  know  how  much  will  ena- 
ble you  to  recommence  business."  The 
sum  being  specified,  he  said,  "  Well, 
you  shall  have  it,  on  condition  that 
you  pledge  me  your  word  of  honor 
that  you  will  not  leave  Spain  without 
29 


my  permission."  The  debtor  was  about 
to  give  vent  to  expressions  of  grati- 
tude, when  his  creditor  stopped  him : 
''  It  is  you,"  said  he,  "  who  have  ren- 
dered me  a  service,"  and,  unbuttoning 
his  coat,  showed  him  a  brace  of  pistols, 
adding,  "  one  of  these  was  for  myself." 


Credit." 


Among  the  piquant  aphorisms  upon 
this  somewhat  shaky  topic  may  be 
mentioned  Lord  Alvanley's  description 
of  a  man  who  "  muddled  away  his  for- 
tune in  paying  his  tradesmen's  bills ;  " 
Lord  Orford's  definition  of  timber,  "  an 
excrescence  on  the  face  of  earth,  placed 
there  by  Providence  for  the  payment 
of  debts ; "  and  Pelham's  argument, 
that  "it  is  respectable  to  be  arrested 
for  debt,  because  it  shows  that  the 
party  once  had  credit." 


"  What  is  Sauce  for  the  Goose  is,"  &c. 

EvEKYBODY  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
and  many  outside  of  that  village,  re- 
member how  actively  Mayor  Kings- 
land  exerted  himself  in  causing  various 
city  nuisances  to  be  abated,  during  his 
term  of  office.  Among  his  various  re- 
forms, he  caused  the  various  boxes, 
bales,  and  barrels  which  had  so  long 
encumbered  sidewalks,  in  the  business 
portion  of  the  city,  to  be  removed,  and 
any  merchant  caught  using  the  side- 
walk as  a  storehouse  was  forthwith 
made  to  pay  a  penalty  for  his  violation 
of  the  city  ordinance.  Many  mer- 
chants were  victims  of  the  mayor's  un- 
relenting adherence  to  the  laws,  and  a 
vast  improvement  was  certainly  mani- 
fest in  the  regions  of  the  old  "  burnt 
district."  But  it  proved  the  mayor's 
lot  to  play  in  the  same  meshes  which 
had  thus  involved  others.  While  the 
persons  employed  by  him  at  his  oil 
store  were  engaged  in  receiving  a  large 
consignment  of  oil,  his  neighbors  were 
taking  notes  and  entering  complaints 
at  the  mayor's  office  for  his  violations 


450 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


of  the  city  laws.  The  complaints  were 
well  founded,  the  proofs  abundant,  and 
before  the  well-directed  wrath  of  Kings- 
land  the  mayor  could  be  appeased, 
Kingsland  the  merchant  enriched  the 
city  treasury  some  three  hundred  dollars. 


Buying:  a  Pianoforte  Establishment. 

On  the  death  of  Mackay,  of  the  firm 
of  Chickering  &  Mackay,  the  Boston 
pianoforte  makers,  Mr.  C.  was  the  pur- 
chaser of  the  whole  concern,  amount- 
ing, it  is  believed,  to  more  than  half  a 
million  of  dollars.  The  condition  of 
sale  was,  Mr.  Chickering  was  to  give 
his  own  notes,  secured  by  mortgage  on 
the  premises.  Thus  the  security  was 
good,  although  perhaps  the  best  friends 
of  Mr.  Chickering  scarcely  dared  to 
hope  he  would  ever  be  able  to  pay  a 
sum  so  large.  It  was  divided  into  in- 
stalments, for  each  of  which  a  distinct 
note  was  given,  payable  "  on  or  before  " 
a  specified  day.  This  mode  of  making 
the  notes  was  indicated  by  Mr.  Chick- 
ering, and  to  which,  of  course,  no  ob- 
jection was  offered.  The  legal  adviser, 
however,  of  Captain  Mackay,  a  shrewd 
lawyer  and  a  friend  also  of  Mr.  Chick- 
ering, intimated  his  scepticism  in  re- 
gard to  the  utility  of  the  permission  to 
pay  the  notes  "  before  "  they  came  due, 
by  playfully  asking  the  maker  of  them, 
if  he  emr  expected  to  pay  them  I  Mr. 
Chickering  without  hesitation  replied 
in  his  wonted  simplicity,  that  he  should 
not  have  given  them,  did  he  not  expect 
to  pay  them.  Accordingly,  all  of  these 
notes  were  paid,  as  they  became  due, 
till  the  agent  of  Captain  Mackay's  es- 
tate requested  that  they  might  remain, 
desiring  no  better  investment  than  the 
notes  themselves.  Yet,  shortly  subse- 
quent to  the  great  fire,  notwithstanding 
this  request,  the  notes  were  all  paid. 


Saving  tlie  Credit  of  a  City :  Theodore 
Payne. 
In  the  gloomiest  days  that  San  Fran- 
cisco has  ever  known — when  the  city 


was  involved  in  debt  to  an  immense 
amount,  and  very  few  could  discern 
by  what  means  its  liabilities  could 
ever  be  met,  or  its  difficulties  over- 
come— when  many  lost  all  confidence, 
and  even  left  the  place  in  despair — 
when  real  estate  had  deteriorated  in 
value  to  almost  nothing — when  the 
corporation  scrip  could  not  be  sold 
for  one  third  its  face  value — when,  in 
fact,  the  great  mass  of  the  population 
were  fast  relinquishing  all  hopes  of  its 
future  prosperity — there  was  one  mer- 
chant prince,  Theodore  Payne,  a  clear- 
sighted and  therefore  far-seeing  citizen, 
who  doubted  not  its  subsequent  great- 
ness. A  large  portion  of  the  city  prop- 
erty had  been  sold  at  sheriff's  sale  un- 
der executions  in  favor  of  the  creditors, 
at  mere  nominal  prices,  redeemable  six 
months  after  date  of  sale.  The  limited 
time  expired,  but  the  commissioners 
were  without  funds  to  redeem  the 
property.  Mr.  P.  took  a  deep  interest 
in  matters  thus  vitally  affecting  the 
credit  and  honor  of  the  city,  and  per- 
ceiving that  this  large  amount  of  prop- 
erty was  likely  to  be  inevitably  sacri- 
ficed, nobly  stepped  forward  and  offered 
the  needed  relief — drawing  his  check 
for  the  whole  sum,  which  was  gladly 
accepted.  "With  great  exertion  and 
persevering  tact  he  succeeded  in  call- 
ing the  attention  of  capitalists  to  the 
true  condition  of  things,  and  the  ulti- 
mate destiny  of  the  city  as  a  great  com- 
mercial metropolis :  and  the  advice  he 
gave  to  others  he  followed  himself,  and 
thus  became  one  of  the  wealthiest  citi- 
zens of  the  place. 


Death  of  an  old  Business  Favorite. 

CoKGAT,  in  his  "  Crudities,"  says  that 
he  saw  the  following  quasi-obituary 
inscription,  which  some  witty  rogue 
had  posted  up  :  "  On  ne  loge  pas  ceans 
a  credit :  car  il  est  mort— les  mauvais 
payeurs  I'ont  tue."— ("  Here  is  no 
lodging  upon  credit :  for  credit  is 
dead— bad  payers  have  killed  it.") 


AFRAID  OF  SHERIFFS   HAT. 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


451 


Eriuli,  the  Florentine  Merchant,  and 
his  liost  Purse. 

A  PEASANT  once  entered  the  hall  of 
justice  at  Florence,  at  the  time  that 
Alexander,  duke  of  Tuscany,  was  pre- 
siding. He  stated  that  he  had  the 
good  fortune  to  find  a  purse  of  sixty 
ducats ;  and  learning  that  it  belonged 
to  Friuli  the  merchant,  who  offered  a 
reward  of  ten  ducats  to  the  finder,  he 
restored  it  to  him,  but  that  the  latter 
had  refused  the  promised  reward.  The 
duke  instantly  ordered  Friuli  to  be 
summoned  into  his  presence,  and  ques- 
tioned him  as  to  why  he  refused  the 
reward.  The  merchant  replied,  that 
he  conceived  the  peasant  had  paid 
himself;  for  although,  when  he  gave 
notice  of  his  loss,  he  said  this  purse 
only  contained  sixty  ducats,  it,  in  fact, 
had  seventy  in  it.  The  duke  inquired 
if  this  mistake  was  discovered  before 
the  purse  was  found.  Friuli  answered 
in  the  negative.  "Then,"  said  the 
duke,  "  as  I  have  a  very  high  opinion 
of  the  honesty  of  this  peasant,  I  am  in- 
duced to  believe  that  there  is  indeed  a 
mistake  in  this  transaction ;  for,  as  the 
purse  you  lost  had  in  it  seventy  ducats, 
and  this  which  he  found  contains  sixty 
only,  it  is  impossible  that  it  can  be  the 
same."  He  then  gave  the  purse  to  the 
peasant,  and  promised  to  protect  him 
against  all  future  claimants. 


Wine  Merchant  at  his  Debtor's  Table. 

CHAiiiER,  the  wine  merchant,  was 
Sheridan's  creditor  to  a  large  amount, 
and  had  stopped  supplies.  Sheridan 
was  to  give  a  grand  dinner  to  the  lead- 
ers of  the  Opposition,  and  had  no  port 
or  sherry  to  offer  them.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  day  fixed,  he  sent  for  Cha- 
lier,  and  told  him  he  wanted  to  settle 
his  account.  The  importer,  much 
pleased,  said  he  would  go  home  and 
bring  it  at  once.  "Stay,"  cried  the 
debtor,  "will  you  dine  with  me  to- 
day ?    Lord ,  and  So-and-so 


are  coming."  Chalier  felt  flattered, 
and  readily  accepted.  Returning  to 
his  office  he  told  his  clerk  that  he 
should  dine  with  Mr.  Sheridan,  and 
therefore  leave  early.  At  the  proper 
hour  the  merchant  arrived  in  full  dress, 
and  was  no  sooner  in  the  house  than 
his  host  dispatched  a  message  to  the 
clerk  at  the  ofl[ice,  saying  that  Mr.  Cha- 
lier wished  him  to  send  up  at  once 
three  dozen  of  Burgundy,  two  of  claret, 
two  of  port,  etc.,  etc.  Nothing  seemed 
more  natural,  and  the  wine  was  for- 
warded, just  in  time  for  dinner.  It  was 
highly  praised  by  the  guests,  who  ask- 
ed Sheridan  who  was  his  wine  mer- 
chant. The  host  bowed  graciously 
toward  Chalier,  gave  him  a  high  re- 
commendation, and  impressed  him 
with  the  belief  that  he  was  telling  a 
polite  falsehood,  in  order  to  secure  him 
other  customers.  Little  did  Chalier 
think  that  he  was  drinking  his  own 
wine,  and  that  it  was  not,  and  probably 
never  would  be,  paid  for ! 


Afraid  of  the  Sheriff's  Hat. 

C was  an  unfortunate  man,  so  far 

as  financial  and  business  matters  were 
concerned.  Bills  were  presented  to  him 
for  payment,  and  writs  served  upon  him 
so  often,  that  he  finally  became  desper- 
ate. One  warm  summer  day,  he  was 
passing  by  the  Skinpenny  North  Amer- 
ican Hotel,  on  the  steps  of  which  he 
all  at  once  discovered  the  sheriff"  stand- 
ing. Now  the  sheriff  was  a  portly  man, 
and  perspired  freely.  Accordingly  he 
took  off  his  hat  to  wipe  his  brow,  just 
as  the .  unfortunate  individual  came 
alongside.     "For  Heaven's  sake,  Mr. 

Sheriff;  don't ! "  shrieked  C ;  "  shoot 

me,  stab  me,  but  dori't  let  me  see  them 
''are  papers  !  " 

"Them  'are  papers"  didn't  happen 

to  be  in  the  hat  that  time,  and  C > 

bore  the  laugh  willingly. 


452 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Jobbinir  in  Debtors'  Shop-Lieases. 

Speculation  in  shop-leases  is  a  favo- 
rite species* of  excitement  and  traffic 
with  a  certain  class  of  jobbers  in  Lon- 
don. The  plan  is  to  lend  money  at  a 
usurious  interest  upon  the  lease  of  a 
tradesman  in  difficulty  ;  if  he  recovers 
his  position,  and  pays  off  the  loan,  it 
is  not  a  bad  stroke  of  business  for  him  ; 
but  if  he  fails,  and  goes  into  the 
"  Gazette,"  it  is  a  better  one,  as  the 
lease  is  sure  to  be  bought  at  a  good 
profit  by  some  one  in  the  same  line  of 
business,  who  on  the  strength  of  the 
bankrupt's  connection  added  to  his 
own,  hopes  to  do  better.  A  tradesman 
who  has  a  lease  can  always  make  money 
upon  it;  and  there  are  a  prodigious 
number  of  leases  at  all  times  in  the 
hands  of  the  money  lenders.  Some- 
times it  comes  to  pass,  at  the  failure 
of  a  trader,  that  the  lease  of  his  shop 
forms  the  sum  total  of  the  assets  of 
the  bankrupt,  and  even  that,  it  may  be, 
is  mortgaged  for  its  full  value. 


Cabinet  of  Debtors'  Autographs. 

The  man  who,  in  the  late  "  tin  pan- 
ic," or  crisis,  replied  to  the  remark  of 
a  polite  notary  "  that  he  had  brought 
a  notice  of  protest  for  five  thousand 
dollars,  probably  a  mistake," — "  Oh  ! 
no,  a  regular  bu'st ! " — that  man  is 
almost  equalled  by  the  editor  of  a 
western  paper,  who  owes  a  bank  a 
thousand  dollars,  for  which  they  hold 
his  note.  The  wag  of  a  debtor  an- 
nounces it  thus  in  his  paper : — "  There 
is  a  large  and  rare  collection  of  auto- 
graphs of  distinguished  individuals  de- 
posited for  safe-keeping  in  the  cabinet 
of  the  Farmers'  and  Merchants'  Bank, 
each  possessing  an  additional  associa- 
tive value  from  being  accompanied 
with  a  note  in  the  hand-writing  of  the 
autographist.  We  learn  that  they  have 
cost  the  bank  a  great  deal  of  money. 
They  paid  over  a  thousand  dollars  for 
ours.    We  hope  great  care  is  exercised 


in  preserving  these  capital  and  interest- 
ing relics,  as,  should  they  be  lost,  we 
doubt  whether  they  could  be  easily 
collected  again.  Should  the  bank, 
however,  be  so  unfortunate  as  to  lose, 
we'll  let  them  have  another  at  half 
price,  in  consequence  of  the  very  hard 
times, — a  gain  of  five  hundred  dollars 
to  the  bank,  considering  that  they  had 
to  pay  us  a  thousand  for  our  first  auto- 
graph ! " 


"Wouldn't  Steal  Indiana  Money  at 
Par." 

By  the  laws  of  Indiana,  the  jury  are 
obliged,  in  the  trial  of  all  indictments 
of  larceny,  if  they  find  the  defendant 
guilty,  to  estimate  the  value  of  the 
property  stolen ;  when,  if  the  amount 
is  five  dollars,  or  over,  the  penalty  is 
imprisonment  in  the  State  penitentiary. 
If  under  five  dollars,  the  culprit  is  only 
confined  in  the  county  jail. 

A  fellow  was  under  trial  for  stealing 
a  five-dollar  note  of  the  State  Bank  of 
Indiana ;  and  his  counsel,  finding  an 
acquittal  hopeless,  called  several  brokers 
to  testify  that  the  note  was  at  a  dis- 
count of  one  per  cent,  for  specie,  which 
testimony  the  prosecuting  attorney 
rebutted  by  calling  several  business 
men,  who  testified  that  they  were 
always  in  the- habit  of  receiving  and 
paying  such  notes  at  five  dollars. 

In  summing  up  and  giving  the  case 
to  the  jury,  the  prosecutor,  a  man  of 
little  cultivation  but  considerable 
shrewdness,  told  the  jury  that  this 
defendant  was  "the  meanest  man  he 
ever  saw.  Why,  gentlemen  of  the 
jury,"  said  he,  "I  have  practised  in 
the  courts  of  this  state  twelve  years, 
and  have  prosecuted  criminals  guilty  of 
all  sorts  of  crimes  and  meannesses,  but 
I  never  before  found  a  rascal  so  *  all 
fired '  mean,  that  he  wouldn't  be  wil- 
ling to  steal  Indiana  money  at  par  !  " 


Honest  Quaker  Bankrupt. 
A    PROMINENT    Quaker    merchant, 
having  through  accumulated  reverses 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


45a 


become  insolvent,  and  not  being  able 
to  pay  more  than  about  fifty  per  cent, 
on  his  creditors'  demands,  formed  a 
resolution,  if  fortune  favored  bis  future 
endeavors,  to  pay  the  whole  amount, 
and  in  case  of  death  he  ordered  his 
sons  to  liquidate  his  debts  by  their 
joint  proportions.  His  life,  however, 
was  spared,  and,  after  struggling  with 
a  variety  of  difficulties,— for  his  liveli- 
hood chiefly  depended  on  his  own 
labor, — he  at  length  saved  sufficient 
to  satisfy  every  demand.  One  day,  the 
old  man  went  with  a  very  considerable 
sum  to  the  surviving  son  of  one  of  his 
creditors,  who  had  been  dead  thirty 
years,  and  insisted  on  paying  him  the 
money  he  owed  his  father,  which  he 
accordingly  did  with  heartfelt  satis- 
faction. 


Wiping:  out  an  Old  Score. 

Mr. ,  a  Boston  merchant,  who 

was  unfortunate  in  business  thirty 
years  ago,  and  consequently  unable  at 
that  time  to  meet  his  engagements  with 
his  creditors,  after  more  than  twenty 
years  of  toil,  succeeded  in  paying  every 
creditor,  except  one  whose  residence 
could  not  be  ascertained,  the  whole 
amount  due  them.  During  those 
twenty  years  he  brought  up  and  edu- 
cated a  large  family  ;  but  still  he  owed 
one  of  his  former  creditors.  He  was 
not  satisfied  to  thus  keep  another's 
j>roperty ;  he  made  inquiry,  and  re- 
ceived information  that  the  part^  had 
died  some  years  since.  He  then  pur- 
sued his  inquiries  respecting  the 
administrator,  and  ascertained  his 
name  and  residence,  wrote  to  him, 
explained  the  circumstances  of  the 
debt,  and  requested  him  to  inform  him 
of  the  manner  in  which  he  would  receive 
the  money.  The  answer  to  this  was 
responded  to  by  a  remittance  of  the 
whole  amount,  principal  and  interest. 


James  G.  King-,  the  Banker,  and  Lord 
Ashburton  :  Cause  of  Merchants 
Pailingr. 

In  the  year  1832,  James  G.  King,  the 
renowned  banker,  took  up  his  residence 
on  the  heights  of  Weehawken,  on  the 
Hudson  river,  where  he  had  previously 
bought  some  fifty  acres  of  land  and 
built  a  substantial  house.  The  beauty 
of  the  spot,  rough  and  unimproved  as 
it  was  when  he  purchased,  its  fine 
natural  forest,  and  its  great  capabili- 
ties, gave  ample  employment  to  his 
taste  and  his  means,  yet  never  tempted 
him  into  hasty,  excessive,  or  other  than 
gradual  and  measured  outlay  and  im- 
provement— a  sure  test  of  his  calm  and 
sober  judgment. 

The  late  Lord  Ashburton,  when 
walking  round  these  grounds  with 
Mr.  King,  and  listening  to  his  descrip- 
tion of  what  he  had  done  and  how 
long  he  had  been  doing  it,  and  of 
what  yet  might  be  done,  and  the  time 
it  would  require  to  accomplish  it,  said 
to  him  :  "  Half  the  failures  of  eminent 
London  merchants  have  been  occa- 
sioned by  the  ambition  to  have  a  fine 
place,  and  by  undue,  excessive,  and 
hasty  expenditure  thereon;  but  I  see, 
by  the  manner  in  which  you  have  gone 
about  your  improvements,  that  you  are 
in  no  danger  from  that  source." 


Helping:  G-irard  to  Collect  a  Debt. 

Mr.  Girard  was  once  waited  on  by 
a  gentleman,  who  said  :  "  Mr.  Girard, 
if  I  can  tell  you  how  you  can  make  a 
thousand  dollars,  will  you  give  me  five 
hundred  toward  our  new  church  ? " 
To  this  Mr.  Girard  readily  assented. 
The  gentleman  then  told  him  of  a  debt 
of  a  thousand  dollars,  which  he,  Girard, 
had  long  considered  dead,  but  which 
might  be  recovered  by  taking  certain 
steps.  The  debt  was  recovered  by  the 
means  thus  pointed  out,  and  Girard 
subscribed  the  five  hundred  dollars. 


454 


COMMERCIAL   AND   BUSINESS    ANECDOTES. 


English  Booksellers  and  American 
Customers. 

Daniel  Appleton  was  almost  the 
pioneer  American  bookseller  who  visit- 
ed England,  for  the  purpose  of  opening 
a  commercial  credit  in  that  country, 
and  the  result  proved  that  he  was  equal 
to  what  he  undertook. 

He  found  that  Americans  were  in  bad 
odor,  and  it  was  difficult  to  produce 
any  impression  which  would  counteract 
that  feeling.  He  called  on  one  large 
firm,  with  whom  he  wished  to  open  an 
account,  but  was  met  by  the  cold  reply, 
that  they  had  lost  too  much  by  Ameri- 
cans, and  made  up  their  minds  not 
to  trust  any  more  dealers  from  that 
country. 

Mr.  Appleton  at  once  replied,  "  You 
say  you  have  lost  money  by  Ameri- 
cans !  "Will  you  be  kind  enough  to 
turn  to  the  accounts,  and  make  out 
bills  for  all  the  goods  sold  to  Ameri- 
cans, and  I  will  give  you  a  check  for 
the  amount  on  the  spot." 

The  English  publisher  was  complete- 
ly taken  aback,  and  could  not  believe 
what  he  had  heard. 

"  Turn  to  the  accounts,"  says  Mr. 
Appleton,  "and  I  will  pay  every  bill 
that  you  have  lost  by  trusting  an 
American."  The  bookkeeper  was  call- 
ed and  told  off  the  debit  amounts  and 
names,  but  not  one  single  American 
firm  was  found.  They  were  all  Eng- 
lishmen ! 

After  that,  Mr.  Appleton  had  no 
difficulty  in  procuring  credit. 


Jolin  J.  Audubon  and  John  J.  Astor. 

Among  the  subscribers  to  Audubon's 
magnificent  work  on  ornithology,  the 
subscription  price  of  which  was  one 
thousand  dollars  a  copy,  appeared  the 
name  of  John  Jacob  Astor.  During 
the  progress  of  the  work,  the  prosecu- 
tion of  which  was  exceedingly  expen- 
sive, Mr.  Audubon,  of  course,  called 
upon  several  of  his  subscribers  for  pay- 


ments. It  so  happened  that  Mr.  Astor 
(probably  that  he  might  not  be  trou- 
bled about  small  matters)  was  not  ap- 
plied to  before  the  delivery  of  all  the 
the  letterpress  and  plates.  Then,  how- 
ever, Audubon  asked  for  his  thousand 
dollars;  but  he  was  put  off  with  one 
excuse  or  another. 

"  Ah,  M.  Audubon,"  would  the  own- 
er of  millions  observe,  "  you  come  at  a 
bad  time  ;  money  is  very  scarce  ;  I  have 
nothing  in  bank;  I  have  invested  all 
my  funds." 

At  length,  for  the  sixth  time,  Audu- 
bon called  upon  Astor  for  his  thousand 
dollars.  As  he  was  ushered  into  the 
presence,  he  found  William  B.  Astor, 
the  son,  conversing  with  his  father.  No 
sooner  did  the  rich  man  see  the  man  of 
art,  than  he  began — 

"Ah,  M.  Audubon,  so  you  have 
come  again  after  your  money.  Hard 
times,  M.  Audubon — money  scarce." 
But  just  then,  catching  an  inquiring 
look  from  his  son,  he  changed  his  tone : 
"  However,  M.  Audubon,  I  suppose  we 
must  contrive  to  let  you  have  some  of 
your  money,  if  possible.  William,"  he 
added,  calling  to  his  son,  who  had 
walked  into  an  adjoining  parlor,  "  have 
w^e  any  money  at  all  in  the  bank  ? " 

"  Yes,  father,"  replied  the  son,  sup- 
posing that  he  was  asked  an  earnest 
question  relating  to  a  matter  which 
they  had  been  talking  about  when  the 
ornithologist  came  in,  "  we  have  two 
hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars 
in  tlfe  Bank  of  New  York,  seventy 
thousand  in  the  City  Bank,  ninety 
thousand  in  the  Merchants',  ninety- 
eight  thousand  four  hundred  in  the 
Mechanics',  eighty-three  thousand — " 

"That'll  do,  that'll  do,"  exclaimed 
his  father,  interrupting  him.  "  It  seems 
that  William  can  give  you  a  check  for 
your  money." 


Crinkles  in  the  Credit  System. 

The  advantage  of  the  credit  system 
is  pretty  well  illustrated  in  the  follow- 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


455 


ing  item :  In  one  of  the  interior  villages 
of  Wisconsin  is  a  tavern  keeper,  and  in 
the  same  place  an  honest  old  German 
blacksmith,  of  whom  the  former  relates 
that  he  employed  him  to  do  some  iron 
work,  and  paid  him  cash  for  it  at  the 
time ;  but  afterward  that  a  neighbor 
had  some  similar  work  done  on  time  for 
a  less  price ;  he  inquired  the  reason 
therefor,  and  the  reply  was  as  follows  : 
"  You  zee,  I  'ave  zo  much  scharge  on 
my  book,  and  I  zometimes  lose  um, 
and  zo  ven  I  'ave  a  goot  cash  customer 
I  scharge  goot  price  ;  but  ven  I  puts  it 
on  my  book  I  do  not  like  to  scharge  zo 
much,  zo  if  he  never  pay  um  I  no  lose 
zo  much." 


Confidence  in  a  Debtor's  Promise. 

In ,  Connecticut,  Mr.  Ewing  had 

borrowed  twenty  dollars  of  his  neigh- 
bor. Squire  Robinson,  and  had  failed 
to  make  payment  according  to  promise. 
Two  or  three  times  he  had  failed ;  and 
at  length  he  told  the  squire  that  he 
would  certainly  pay  him  on  Saturday 
next,  if  his  life  was  spared  till  that 
day.  The  day  came  and  went,  and 
no  money  came.  The  next  morning, 
bright  and  early,  the  squire  sent  word 
to  the  sexton  of  the  church  that  Mr. 
Ewing  was  dead,  and,  as  was  custom- 
ary in  those  days,  the  bell  should  be 
tolled.  The  sexton  tolled  forty-nine 
times,  the  deceased  being  in  his  fiftieth 
year.  "  Who  is  dead  ?  "  the  neighbors 
asked.  "  Mr.  Ewing,"  said  the  sexton. 
But  in  the  course  of  the  morning  Mr. 
Ewing  was  out  as  usual,  on  his  way  to 
church,  and  learned  that  he  was  dead, 
and  the  town  had  been  told  of  it  when 
the  sexton  tolled  the  bell  in  the  morn- 
ing. The  joke  soon  leaked  out,  and 
the  next  day  the  squire  got  his  money. 


Staying  his  Own  Debt. 

One  of  the  kindest-hearted  men  in 
the  world,  probably,  is  Squire  Paul,  of 
Nashville.    The  squire  is  a  rich  man, 


has  tenants,  sells  property,  and  has 
many  debts  owing  to  him.  His  agent 
sued  a  man  for  a  debt,  and  according 
to  law  the  debt  must  be  paid  when 
judgment  was  rendered,  or  "  stayed  " 
by  some  good  man  becoming  security 
for  the  payment  of  the  debt,  interest, 
and  costs  at  the  end  of  eight  months. 
The  "poor  party"  applied  to  Squire 
Paul  to  stay  a  debt  for  him,  and,  ac- 
cording to  custom,  the  squire  could  not 
say  no,  but  complied ;  and  thus,  much 
to  the  agent's  disgust,  became  t\\G  stay- 
er of  his  own  debt. 


Jury  Deliberations  on  a  Kailroad 
Case. 

"  Once  on  a  time,"  a  case  was  tried 
before  the  Wisconsin  Circuit  Court, 
against  a  railroad  comjDany.  The 
plaintiff  had  sold  to  the  company  in 
former  years  a  piece  of  land  for  about 
|1,000,  and  was  to  take  his  pay  in  the 
stock  of  the  company,  if  delivered 
within  a  certain  time.  It  was  proved 
on  the  trial  of  the  cause,  that  the  stock 
was  delivered  to  the  agent  of  plaintiff, 
but  not  till  long  after  the  time  agreed 
upon,  and  it  had  thus  depreciated,  so 
as  to  be  almost  worthless.  The  plain- 
tiff, in  consequence,  refused  to  accept 
it  as  pay,  and  brought  his  suit  for  the 
value  of  the  land.  There  was  consider- 
able said  in  the  progress  of  the  cause 
about  this  stock,  etc.,  but  the  attorney 
for  the  defendant  contented  himself 
with  excepting  to  certain  rulings  of 
the  judge,  and  when  the  case  went  to 
the  jury,  knowing  that  under  the 
rulings  of  the  Court  the  plaintiff  had 
made  a  complete  case,  declined  making 
any  argument  to  the  jury.  The  jury 
retired.  To  the  astonishment  of  the 
bar,  and  everybody  else,  they  were 
out  a  long  while,  but  they  finally  re- 
turned a  verdict  for  the  plaintiff  for  all 
he  claimed.  Considerable  curiosity  was 
manifested  to  know  the  reason  why  the 
jury  delayed  so  long  in  finding  a  ver- 
dict in  so  plain  a  case.   One  of  the  jury 


456 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


finally  let  the  secret  escape.  It  appears 
that .  Jemmy  Mann  v/as  on  that  jury. 
Jemmy  had  dealt  some  in  cattle,  etc., 
but  not  largely  in  law,  nor  did  he 
know  much  about  railroads.  After  the 
jury  retired,  the  first  ballot  showed 
eleven  to  one — eleven  for  plaintiff  and 
one  for  defendant.  Several  ballots  were 
taken  with  the  same  effect.  After  some 
investigation,  it  was  ascertained  that 
Jemmy  was  the  man  who  was  for  the 
defendant.  His  reason  for  voting  in 
this  way  was  demanded.  "  And  sure," 
replied  Jemmy,  "  would  you  be  after 
paying  a  man  twice  for  his  land? 
Didn't  the  witness  say  that  the  plain- 
tiff had  received  his  pay  in  stock;  and 
wouldn't  I  like  to  know  what  he  did 
with  the  cattle,  before,  as  an  honest 
man,  I  can  vote  for  giving  him  any 
more  ?  "  It  took  some  time  to  make 
Jemmy  understand  the  difference  be- 
tween railroad  stoclc,  at  fifteen  cents  on 
the  dollar,  and  horses  and  cattle,  etc. ; 
but  he  finally  yielded  to  the  persisten- 
cy of  the  eleven  obstinate  men  who 
were  for  the  plaintiff,  and  who  didn't 
seem  to  care  what  he  had  done  with 
the  "  cattle." 


Stealing:  Goods  at  the  Retail  Price. 

At  a  session  of  the  Circuit  Court  in 
Pepin  County,  Wisconsin,  a  criminal 
was  on  trial  for  grand  larceny — the  in- 
dictment charging  the  stealing  of 
sundry  articles  of  dry  goods,  clothing, 
etc. — and  the  amount  proved  to  be 
stolen  was  but  little  more  than  suffi- 
cient to  make  the  required  amount  ne- 
cessary to  sustain  the  indictment  for 
grand  larceny.     The  jury  found  him 

guilty;   and  Judge  W ,  presiding, 

asked  him  if  he  had  anything  to  say 
why  he  should  not  proceed  to  pro- 
nounce sentence.  The  prisoner  quietly 
remarked  that  he  thought  the  goods 
were  valued  too  high,  and  that  they 
ought  to  charge  them  at  cost.     Judge 

W replied  that  the  construction 

of  the  law  was  such  that  a  prisoner 


could  not  steal  at  cost,  but  only  at  the 
retail 'price  ;  and  he  was  thereupon  sen- 
tenced to  be  sent  to  the  State  prison 
for  two  years. 


Certificates  of  Solvency. 

The  moral  of  the  following  is  to  pay 
as  you  go ;  and  if  you  can't,  don't  go 
at  all.     (Fi^e"  Harper.") 

One  of  the  legal  fraternity  of  the 
village  of  Cohoes  is  a  man  who  not 
many  years  ago  earned  his  bread  and 
butter  by  making  boots  and  shoes; 
but  having  been  assured  by  an  itine- 
rant phrenologist  that  he  had  mistaken 
his  calling,  he  applied  himself  to  the 
study  of  law,  and  in  due  time  "  de- 
scended from  the  bench  to  the  bar." 
Finding  it  impossible  in  his  new  voca^ 
tion  to  make  both  ends  meet,  he  was 
not  unfrequently  annoyed  by  brief  and 
uncourteous  notes,  reminding  him  of 
long-forgotten  notes  that  needed  some- 
thing to  place  them  in  equilibrio.  One 
of  these  was  (unfortunately,  as  the  se- 
quel will  show)  thrust  in  his  coat 
pocket  and  forgotten.  Having  ex- 
hausted his  credit  among  the  tailors 
of  Cohoes,  he  attempted  to  "stick" 
Messrs.  Tape  and  Linen,  of  Albany.  A 
coat  having  been  made  according  to 
his  order,  he  called  to  take  it  away, 
at  the  same  time  remarking  that  "  he 
would  send  his  check  for  the  amount 
next  week."  To  this  the  senior  part- 
ner replied  that,  "although  it  was 
probably  all  right,  yet,  as  he  was  an 
entire  stranger,  they  could  not  be  con- 
sidered unreasonable  if  they  required 
some  sort  of  reference  before  allowing 
the  coat  to  be  taken  from  the  shop." 
The  propriety  of  this  was,  after  a 
slight  affectation  of  wounded  pride, 
admitted;  and  our  seedy  counsellor 
left  in  search  of  a  certificate  of  solven- 
cy. Having  finally  secured  the  neces- 
sary document,  he  returned  to  the 
scene  of  his  late  discomfiture,  and  with 
an  air  of  triumph  drew  an  envelope 
from  his  pocket,  threw  it  on  the  coun- 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


467 


ter,  and  requested  Mr.  Tape  to  "  read 
that."  The  latter  gentleman  complied, 
and  read  as  follows  : 

"  CoHOES,  October  25, 1853. 

"  J M ,  Esq. : 

"  Sir  :  Inclosed  find  our  bill  of  $43 
against  you,  for  clothing  furnished 
nearly  two  years  ago.  Unless  paid  at 
once,  it  will  be  placed  in  the  hands  of 
an  attorney  for  collection. 

"  Yours,  etc.,    Jones  &  Mason." 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  when  the 
above  note  was  handed  back  with  the 
remark  that  there  had  evidently  been 
some  mistake,  the  counsellor  left  the 
store  very  abruptly,  and  in  a  style  that 
contrasted  most  ludicrously  with  that 
in  which  he  entered. 


Suit  against  a  Railroad  Company. 

In  a  city  not  one  hundred  miles  from 
New  York,  the  president  of  one  of  the 
city  railroads  was  informed  by  his 
counsel  that  a  suit  was  commenced 
against  his  company  by  a  neighboring 
corporation.  The  counsel  stated  that 
the  suit  was  by  lill  in  equity,  Not 
being  familiar  with  law  terms,  he  was 
heard  informing  a  number  of  his  broth- 
er presidents  of  the  suit  in  question, 
which  he  said  most  sincerely  was  ly 
lill  of  iniquity  !  That  he  came  so  near 
the  truth  in  the  novel  statement,  made 
some  amusement  to  the  parties  listen- 
ing to  him. 


Unexpected  Judgment  against  Bank 
Directors. 

One  of  the  most  curious  legal  and 
criminal  events  in  the  history  of  the 
Bank  of  England  occurred  in  the  year 
1819.  Mr.  Ransom,  an  engraver,  hav- 
ing paid  a  one-pound  note  to  a  Mr. 
Mitchener,  the  latter  found  it  was  de- 
tained by  the  bank,  upon  the  ground 
of  its  being  a  forgery.  Upon  this,  Mr. 
Mitchener  claimed  a  repayment  of  the 
amount  from  Mr.  Ransom,  which  was 


refused  until  the  return  of  the  note. 
Mr.  M.  immediately  summoned  him, 
and  procured  the  attendance  of  Mr. 
Fish,  an  inspector  of  the  bank,  with 
the  note  in  question.  Ransom  request- 
ed to  look  at  it,  and  permission  having 
been  granted,  he  deliberately  placed  it 
in  his  pocket,  and  avowed  his  inten- 
tion of  keeping  it.  An  appeal  to  the 
magistrate  was  of  no.  avail,  as  he  de- 
clined to  interfere ;  on  which  Ransom 
went  to  Mitchener's  house,  and  paid 
the  twenty  shillings. 

This  style  of  treatment  was  rather 
too  decided  for  the  bank  quietly  to 
permit,  and  Fish — it  is  presumed  at 
the  instigation  of  the  directors — made 
a  charge  in  writing  against  Ransom, 
for  knowingly  having  a  forged  note  in 
his  possession.  On  this  the  magistrate 
committed  him,  to  remain  till  duly  dis- 
charged by  law.  After  a  few  days'  in- 
carceration, he  was  liberated  on  bail. 
Mr.  Ransom,  however,  was  not  to  be  so 
quietly  dismissed.  He,  in  turn,  brought 
an  action  for  false  and  malicious  im- 
prisonment against  Fish;  and,  after 
IDroducing  several  witnesses,  the  evi- 
dence of  whom  went  to  show  that  the 
note  was  genuine,  and  no  person  being 
present  from  the  bank  to  prove  the 
contrary,  as  the  directors  were  quite 
unprepared  for  this  statement,  the  jury 
brought  in  a  verdict  for  the  plaintiff 
of  £100.  Previous  to  this  period,  it 
had  always  been  the  practice  of  the 
bank  to  detain  the  forged  notes  which 
were  offered  to  them  for  payment,  with 
the  view  of  saving  the  public  from  be- 
ing again  imposed  upon.  Since  the 
circumstances  enumerated,  however,  the 
notes  have  been  returned  to  the  parties 
presenting  them;  the  same  beneficial 
result  being  obtained  by  stamping  the 
word  "  forged  "  upon  them  in  several 
places.  ___^_ 

Deciding  a  Case  in  Botany  before  a 
Dutcli  Magistrate. 

An  English  amateur  botanist,  while 
travelling  in  Holland  when  the  tulip 


458 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


fever  was  raging,  and  being  quite  a 
novice  in  tuberous  plants,  happened 
one  day  to  see  a  tulip  root  lying  in  the 
conservatory  of  a  wealthy  Dutch  mer- 
chant. Being  ignorant  of  its  quality, 
he  took  out  his  penknife  and  peeled  off 
its  coats,  with  the  view  of  making  ex- 
periments upon  it.  When  it  was  by 
this  means  reduced  to  half  its  original 
size,  he  cut  it  into  two  equal  sections, 
making  all  the  time  many  learned  re- 
marks on  the  singular  appearance  of 
the  unknown  bulb.  Suddenly  the 
owner  pounced  upon  him,  and  with 
fury  in  his  eyes,  and  stamping  with  ex- 
citement, asked  the  amazed  botanist  if 
he  knew  what  he  had  been  doing  ? 

"Peeling  a  most  extraordinary  on- 
ion," replied  the  philosopher. 

''^  Hundert  tausend  duytel^''  said  the 
Dutchman,  ''it's  an  Admiral  Van  der 
Eych  !  " 

"  Thank  you,"  replied  the  traveller, 
taking  out  his  note  book  to  make  a 
memorandum  of  the  same  ;  "  are  these 
admirals  common  in  your  country  ?  " 

"  Death  and  the  devil,''''  said  the  Dutch- 
man, seizing  the  astonished  man  of  sci- 
ence by  the  collar,  "come  before  the 
syndic,  and  you  shall  see." 

In  spite  of  his  remonstrances,  the 
traveller  was  led  forthwith  through  the 
streets,  followed  by  a  mob  of  persons. 
When  brought  into  the  presence  of  the 
magistrate,  he  learned,  to  his  consterna- 
tion, that  the  root  upon  which  he  had 
been  quietly  experimenting  was  worth 
four  thousand  florins;  and,  notwith- 
standing all  he  could  urge  in  extenua- 
tion, he  was  lodged  in  prison  until  he 
found  securities  for  the  payment  of  this 
sum. 


Artifice  to  Escape  Bankruptcy. 


The  expedition  of  Charles  Edward 
fills  a  conspicuous  page  in  the  history 
of  England.  It  was  as  romantic  as  it 
was  remarkable,  and  struck  a  panic 
into  the  commercial  heart  of  England. 
Landing  in  the  wilds  of  Moidart,  at- 


tended by  only  seven  devoted  men,  the 
prize  at  which  he  aimed  was  a  king- 
dom. His  march  was  one  scene  of  tri- 
umph. With  but  a  solitary  guinea  in 
his  pocket,  the  gallant  adventurer  en- 
tered the  fair  city  of  Perth.  From 
Perth  he  passed  on  to  the  capital  of 
Scotland— the  lofty  loyalty  of  the  peo- 
ple of  Scotland  responding  to  the 
claims  of  the  unfortunate  house,  and 
the  tartan  of  the  clan  Stuart  waving  a 
joyous  welcome  from  street  and  square 
of  the  city  of  palaces.  The  person  of 
the  Pretender,  his  chivalrous  adven- 
ture, his  princely  bearing,  won  him 
golden  opinions.  Men  fought  for  him. 
Women  embraced  him.  At  Doune 
some  Scottish  lasses  kissed  his  hand; 
and  one,  with  the  romantic  enthusiasm 
of  girlhood,  begged  permission  to  kiss 
the  royal  lips.  The  favor  was  gracious- 
ly granted  by  the  young  chevalier,  who, 
taking  the  loyal  lady  in  his  arms,  kissed 
her  blushing  face  from  ear  to  ear,  to 
the  great  vexation  of  the  other  ladies, 
who  had  been  contented  with  a  less 
liberal  allowance  of  his  princely  grace. 
When,  therefore,  Carlisle  had  capitu- 
lated, when  Pearith  was  invested,  and 
Manchester,  with  its  thirty  thousand 
inhabitants,  "  was  taken  by  a  sergeant, 
a  drummer,  and  a  girl,"  dismay  pos- 
sessed all  hearts.  London  expected,  at 
once,  to  witness  the  triumphant  entry 
of  the  rebel  army,  the  seizure  of  her 
treasure,  and  the  plunder  of  her  citi- 
zens. Substantial  traders  exaggerated 
the  alarm  thus  spread  throughout  the 
shops  and  the  counting  houses;  and 
the  merchants  outvied  each  other  in 
liberal  subscriptions — for  the  Pretend- 
er was  already  at  Derby. 

The  effect  of  this  alarming  state  of 
things  upon  the  national  bank  was  as 
usual.  Its  interests  were  closely  in- 
volved in  those  of  the  State ;  and  the 
creditors  flocked  in  crowds  to  obtain 
payment  for  their  notes.  The  direct- 
ors, unprepared  for  such  a  casualty, 
had  recourse  to  a  justifiable  artifice. 
The  Chevalier    Johnston,   whose    evi- 


THEIR  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  ASPECTS. 


459 


dence  was  collected  immediately  after 
the  battle  of  CuUoden,  says,  that  the 
bank  only  escaped  lankruptcy  hy  a  strat- 
agem. Payment  was  not  refused,  but 
the  corporation  retained  its  specie,  by 
employing  agents  to  enter  with  notes, 
who,  to  gain  time,  were  paid  in  six- 
j)euces ;  and  as  those  who  came  first 
were  entitled  to  priority  of  payment, 
the  agents  went  out  at  one  door  with 
the  specie  they  had  received,  and 
brought  it  back  to  another,  so  that  the 
dona  fide  holders  of  notes  could  never 
get  near  enough  to  present  them.  By 
this  artifice,  the  bank  preserved  its 
credit,  and  literally  faced  its  creditors. 
History  records  the  retreat  of  the  young 
Pretender  from  Derby,  the  news  of 
which  stopped  the  run. 


Pailure  of  the  Governor  of  the  Bank 
of  England. 

In  1834  a  great  sensation  was  created 
throughout  England  by  a  circumstance 
Vv'hich  was  only  important  from  its  in- 
cidental connection  with  the  Bank  of 
England.  Mr.  Richard  Mee  Raikes, 
governor  of  the  bank,  a  gentleman 
universally  respected,  was  compelled, 
from  various  unforeseen  events,  to  an- 
nounce a  suspension  of  payments,  which 
was  followed  by  the  appearance  of  his 
name  in  the  list  of  bankrupts.  The 
rumor  spread  among  the  less-informed 
class — among  the  dwellers  in  the  sub- 
urbs, and  the  inhabitants  of  the  coun- 
try, that  the  governor  of  the  bank  had 
failed.  The  annuitants  and  small  class 
of  fund-holders,  who  look  upon  the 
head  of  the  establishment  as  an  inte- 
gral part  of  the  corporation,  regarded 
their  fortunes  gone,  and  their  property 
forfeited.  The  autumn  dividends  were 
just  due :  and  it  was  remarkable  to 
witness  the  earnestness  with  which 
they  were  applied  for.  The  offices 
were  crowded  with  applicants;  and, 
if  the  slightest  delay  occurred,  though 
occasioned  by  their  own  ignorance, 
they  regarded  it  as  an  invidious  delay 


of  their  rights,  and  a  confirmation  of 
their  fears.  Time,  however,  in  this  as 
in  other  things,  brought  "healing  on 
its  wings,"  and  confidence  to  the  breasts 
of  public  creditors. 


Subscriptions  for  the  Government  "by 
Philadelphia  Merchants. 

At  a  critical  period  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  when  there  was  great 
danger  of  the  dissolution  of  the  Ameri- 
can army,  for  want  of  provisions  to 
keep  it  together,  a  number  of  patriotic 
gentlemen  in  Philadelphia — principally 
the  bankers  and  merchants — subscribed 
to  the  amount  of  some  two  hundred 
and  sixty  thousand  pounds,  payable  in 
gold  and  silver,  for  procuring  them. 
This  movement  was  considered  nearly 
equivalent  to  assuming  the  debt  of  the 
Government,  and  was  in  the  highest 
degree  creditable  to  the  mercantile 
community.  The  provisions  were  pro- 
cured. The  two  highest  subscriptions 
were  those  of  Robert  Morris,  for  £10,- 
000,  and  Blair  McClenachan,  £10,000. 
Thomas  Willing  subscribed  £5,000.  Mr. 
Willing,  and  his  associate  in  commerce, 
Robert  Morris,  as  well  as  his  connec- 
tion, Mr.  Clymer,  were  all  members  of 
Congress  of  1776.  To  the  great  credit 
and  well-known  patriotism  of  the  house 
of  Willing  &  Morris,  the  country  owed 
its  extrication  from  those  trying  pecu- 
niary embarrassments  so  familiar  to  the 
readers  of  our  Revolutionary  history. 
The  character  of  Mr.  Willing  has  been 
thought  to  resemble,  in  many  respects, 
that  of  Washington ;  and  in  the  discre- 
tion of  his  conduct,  the  fidelity  of  his 
professions,  and  the  great  influence, 
both  public  and  private,  which  belong- 
ed to  him,  the  destined  leader  (Wash- 
ington) was  certain  to  find  the  elements 
of  an  affinity  by  which  they  would  be 
united  in  the  closest  manner. 


Lafayette's  Loan  to  Matthew  Carey. 
After  passing  through  many  strik- 
ing experiences  as   a   politician    and 


460 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


journalist  abroad,  Matthew  Carey  land- 
ed in  Philadelphia  on  the  1st  of  No- 
vember, 1784 ;  and,  while  he  was  yet 
contemplating  a  removal  to  the  coun- 
try, until  sufficient  funds  should  be  re- 
ceived from  the  sale  of  his  newspaper 
in  Dublin  (which  place  he  found  it 
prudent  to  leave,  in  view  of  the  Gov- 
ernment prosecution  for  libel  which 
hung  like  a  drawn  sword  over  his 
head)  to  enable  him  to  engage  in  busi- 
ness, the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  having 
heard  of  his  arrival,  desired  that  he 
should  call  upon  him.  The  marquis^ 
previously  aware  of  the  persecutions  he 
had  suffered,  and  admiring  his  noble 
spirit,  made  inquiries  of  him  as  to  his 
future  plans  and  prospects.  On  stating 
that  it  was  his  intention,  at  as  early 
a  day  as  possible,  to  establish  a  news- 
paper, Lafayette  entered  fully  into 
the  project,  and  promised  him  such 
influence  as  he  could  command 
with  Robert  Morris,  Thomas  Fitzsim- 


mons,  and  other  leading  men  in  that 
region. 

On  the  following  morning,  Mr.  Carey 
was  surprised  at  receiving  a  letter  from 
Lafayette,  containing  the  sum  of  four 
hundred  dollars.  This  was  the  more 
remarkable  from  his  not  having  said  a 
word  about  desiring  to  borrow,  or  in 
any  way  to  receive  money  from  the 
marquis — no  such  thought  having  en- 
tered his  mind.  This  sum  of  money — 
the  fabric  upon  which  it  may  be  said 
Mr.  Carey  built  his  fortune,  first  as  a 
journalist  and  then  as  a  printer  and 
bookseller — he  considered  it  a  solemn 
duty  to  repay,  in  assisting  Frenchmen 
in  distress;  which  he  did,  fully  and 
amply.  While  it  was  not  the  desire  of 
Lafayette  that  it  should  be  regarded  in 
the  light  of  a  loan,  but  as  a  free  gift, 
Mr.  Carey,  in  after  years,  consigned  to 
him  an  invoice  of  tobacco,  besides,  on 
his  arrival  in  New  York,  in  1824,  re- 
paying him  the  entire  amount. 


PART  NINTH. 


Anecdotes  of  Merchants,  Bankers,  Traders,  and 
millionnaires,  in  their  domestic  relations. 


V 


f 


PAET  E'lI^TTH. 

Anecdotes  of  Merchants,  Bankers,  Traders,  and  Millionnaires,  in 
their  Domestic  Eolations. 

PERSONAL  APPEARANCE,  MANNERS,  CONVERSATION,  TASTES,  SOCIAL  TRAITS  AND  HABITS ;  PE- 
CULIAR EXPERIENCES  ;  GENIAL  SALLIES,  JESTS,  AND  JOCULARITIES  ;  LAST  HOURS,  WILLS, 
ETC. 


Domestic  happiness,  thou  only  hliss 

Of  paradise  that  hath  eurvived  the  fall ! 

Cowper's  "Task." 
No  money  is  better  spent  than  \vhat  is  laid  out  for  domestic  satisfaction.— Johnsok. 
A  man  that  knows  how  to  mix  pleasures  with  business,  is  never  entirely  possessed  by  them.— St. 


EVRKMOND. 


He  is  so  full  of  pleasant  anecdote — 
So  ricb,  so  gay,  so  poignant  in  his  wit. 

Baillib's  "Db  Montford." 


What  you  leave  at  your  death,  let  it  be  without  controversy  ,  else  the  lawyers  will  be  your  heirs. 

— -OSBORN. 

The  grave  is  the  common  treasury  to  which  we  must  all  be  taxed.— Burke. 


Baring's  Daughter  and  M.  LalDOU- 
chere. 

In  1823,  M.  Labouchere,  then  a  clerk 
in  the  banking  house  of  Hope  &  Co., 
Amsterdam,  was  sent  by  his  patrons  to 
Mr.  Baring,  the  London  banker,  to  nego- 
tiate a  loan.  He  displayed  in  the  affair 
so  much  ability,  as  to  entirely  win  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  the  great 
English  financier. 

"  Faith  ! "  said  Labouchere  one  day 
to  Baring,  "  your  daughter  is  a  charm- 
ing creature ;  I  wish  I  could  persuade 
you  to  give  me  her  hand." 

"  Young  man,  you  are  joking ;  for 
seriously,  you  must  allow  that  Miss 
Baring  could  never  become  the  wife  of 
a  simple  clerk." 

"  But,"  said  Labouchere,  "  if  I  were 
in  partnership  with  Mr.  Hope  ?  " 

"  Oh !  that  would  be  quite  a  differ- 
ent thing;  that  would  entirely  make 
up  for  all  other  deficiences." 

Returned  to  Amsterdam,  Labouchere 


said  to  his  patron,  "  You  must  take  me 
into  partnership." 

"  My  young  friend,  how  can  you 
think  of  such  a  thing  ?  It  is  impossi- 
ble.    You  are  without  fortune,  and  " — 

"  But  if  I  became  the  son-in-law  of 
Mr.  Baring  ? " 

"In  that  case  the  affair  would  be 
soon  settled,  and  so  you  have  my 
word." 

Fortified  with  these  two  promises, 
M.  Labouchere  returned  to  England, 
and  in  two  months  after  married  Miss 
Baring,  because  Mr.  Hope  had  promised 
to  take  him  into  partnership ;  and  he 
thus  became  allied  to  the  house  of 
Hope  &  Co.  His  was  a  magnificent 
fcareer. 


Domestic  Trouble  of  Eothschild. 

At  the  time  of  the  decease  of  Baron 
Rothschild's  grandson,  a  very  young 
child,  the  Baron  was  so  much  afflicted, 
that  for  some  time  he  gave  up  the  care 


464 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


of  his  affairs,  and  neglected  his  vast 
business  enterprises.  During  this  sea- 
son of  grief,  a  friend  came  to  offer  him 
his  condolence ;  the  Baron  recalled, 
with  a  melancholy  tenderness,  the  win- 
ning ways  of  the  lost  little  child : 
"  They  brought  him  to  me  every  morn- 
ing," said  he,  "  here  is  my  cabinet,  and 
I  think  I  see  him  now,  on  my  table, 
overturning  all  my  papers." 

At  this  moment,  an  agent  from  the 
exchange  came  in.  It  was  the  hour 
when  he  came  to  take  the  orders  of  the 
prince  of  finance,  and  to  render  him  an 
account  of  the  movement  in  the  funds, 
and  the  aspect  affairs  had  taken  on  the 
Bourse  down  to  the  latest  period.  In- 
terrupted in  the  overflowings  of  his 
memories  and  regrets,  M.  de  Rothschild 
fell  into  a  melancholy  revery,  while  the 
agent  launched  bravely  into  the  subject 
of  his  habitual  visit,  and  continued, 
with  the  most  minute  detail,  his  expos6 
of  the  state  of  financial  matters,  with- 
out being  disconcerted  by  the  silence 
of  his  auditor,  which  he  attributed  to 
continued  and  deep  financial  calcula- 
tion. 

Having  thus  finished  his  report  on 
the  state  of  all  the  various  stocks  nego- 
tiated on  'Change,  the  agent  added : 
"  A  new  advance  in  the  public  funds  is 
expected — do  you  believe  in  it,  M.  le 
Baron  ?  "  M.  de  Rothschild,  aroused 
from  his  revery,  raised  his  head,  and 
replied,  with  an  accent  full  of  sadness 
and  gravity,  "  I,  sir  ?  I  believe  only  in 
God." 


Coutts,  the  Great  Banker,  choosing:  a 
"  Partner." 

Not  a  partner  for  his  counting-house, 
but  for  the  domestic  circle.  When  a 
single  man,  and  known  to  be  a  banker 
of  such  great  wealth,  Mr.  Coutts  was 
an  object  of  attraction  to  more  than 
one  noble  family  having  portionless 
daughters,  in  the  hope  that  such  an  al- 
liance would  be  the  means  of  relieving 
them  from  their  pecuniary  necessities  ; 
but  these  aristocratic  matrimonial  spec- 


ulators were  all  self- deceived  and  con- 
founded by  the  choice  Mr.  Coutts  made 
of  a  wife — falling,  as  it  did,  upon  Eliz- 
abeth Starkey,  a  superior  domestic  in 
his  brother's  service,  with  whom  he 
lived  many  years  in  the  enjoyment  of 
every  domestic  comfort.  The  result  of 
this  union  was,  three  daughters,  who 
respectively  married  the  Marquis  of 
Bute,  the  Earl  of  Guilford,  and  Sir 
Francis  Burdett. 

On  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Coutts 
married  Miss  Mellon,  an  actress — a 
marriage  which  caused  both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  C.  much  ridicule.  These  attacks, 
however,  were  mainly  directed  against 
the  lady;  but  they  only  tended  to 
strengthen  the  confidence  Mr.  Coutts 
had  placed  in  his  wife,  and  this  confi- 
dence was  in  the  end  displayed  in  a 
most  remarkable  manner.  When  he 
died,  he  left  the  whole  of  his  vast 
property  —  nine  hundred  thousand 
pounds — ^to  Mrs.  Coutts,  for  her  sole 
use  and  benefit,  and  at  her  own  dis- 
posal, without  even  mentioning  any 
other  person,  or  leaving  a  single  legacy, 
large  or  small,  to  any  individual  or  for 
any  object. 

Mrs.  Coutts  subsequently  married  the 
Duke  of  St.  Albans,  but  under  her  mar- 
riage settlement  reserved  to  herself  the 
sole  control  over  the  property  left  by 
Mr.  Coutts ;  and  on  her  death,  true  to 
the  confidence  placed  in  her  by  Mr.  C, 
she  left  the  whole  of  his  great  wealth 
to  his  favorite  grand-daughter  Angela 
Burdett,  now  Miss  Angela  Burdett 
Coutts,  who  is  the  principal  proprietor 
of  the  Coutts  Bank,  the  business  being 
conducted  by  trustees  for  Miss  Burdett, 
under  the  old  style  of  Coutts  &  Co. 


Personal  Appearance  of  Stephen 
Qirard. 

Girard's  form  was  low  and  square, 
although  muscular,  with  feet  large,  and 
his  entire  person  and  address  exhibit- 
ing the  aspect  of  a  rough  old  sailor. 
Nor  was  his  countenance  calculated  to 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,  BANKERS,  ETC. 


465 


alter  tlie  imi3ressioii  that  would  be 
likely  to  be  produced  by  the  appear- 
ance of  his  person. 

A  face  dark,  and  colorless,  and  cold, 
although  deeply  marked  with  the  lines 
of  thought,  indicated  a  man  who  had 
been  accustomed  to  the  hard  fare  of 
life ;  and  it  possessed  an  iron,  or,  as  it 
has  been,  perhaps,  more  properly  desig- 
nated, a  stone-like  expression.  His 
"  wall-eye  "  seemed  to  add  to  that  air 
of  general  abstraction,  which  was 
evinced  by  his  general  demeanor, 
whether  engaged  in  his  domestic 
affairs,  or  the  more  active  business  of 
his  banking  operations.  But  the  dull 
eye,  which  seemed  ordinarily  to  sleej) 
in  its  socket,  and  whose  predominant 
expression  was  cunning,  sometimes  kin- 
dled as  if  with  fire,  when  any  topic 
adapted  to  his  taste  was  pressed  upon 
his  attention.  His  mouth,  when  not 
relaxed  by  an  insinuating  smile,  ex- 
pressed unutterable  determination.  His 
high  cheek  bones,  and  breadth  of  face, 
gave  indications  of  the  extraordinary 
character  of  the  man ;  and  this  was  not 
diminished  by  his  wearing  a  queue. 

His  mind  appeared  to  be  engaged 
less  upon  the  little  details  of  business 
than  in  devising  those  great  projects  of 
mercantile  speculation  which  tended  so 
directly  to  swell  his  coffers,  and  yet  he 
was  scrupulous  in  his  devotion  to  all 
those  minute  points  of  business  which 
fell  within  the  wide  circle  of  his  enter- 
prises. But  if  a  ship  was  to  be  built, 
or  a  house  constructed,  or  a  vessel  to 
be  freighted,  his  presence  was  seldom 
wanting  to  superintend  and  direct  the 
most  unimportant  details. 

From  the  year  1812,  he  was  partially 
defective  in  the  hearing  of  one  ear,  and 
as  he  could  only  speak  in  broken  Eng- 
lish, and  seldom  conversed,  excepting 
upon  business,  this  circumstance  threw 
around  his  appearance  an  air  of  even 
greater  mystery.  His  ordinary  style  of 
dress  was  in  exact  keeping  with  his 
plain  and  homely  traits.  He  constant- 
ly wore  an  old  coat  cut  in  the  French 
30 


style,  and  remarkable  only  for  its  an- 
tiquity, generally  preserving  the  same 
garment  in  use  for  four  or  five  years. 
Nor  did  he  maintain  a  mry  costly 
equipage.  An  old  chair,  distinguished 
chiefly  for  its  rickety  construction,  as 
well  as  its  age,  which  he  at  last  caused 
to  be  painted  and  marked  with  the 
letters  S.  G.,  drawn  by  an  indifferent 
horse,  suited  to  such  a  vehicle,  was  the 
style  he  j)referred  in  this  respect. 


Astor's  Appearance  and  Manners. 

Considering  his  extraordinary  ac- 
tivity until  a  late  period  of  his  life,  Mr. 
Astor  submitted  to  the  helplessness  of 
age  with  uncommon  resignation.  When 
his  impaired  eyesight  no  longer  permit- 
ted him  to  read,  his  principal  relief 
from  the  wearisomeness  of  unoccupied 
time  was  in  the  society  of  his  friends 
and  near  relatives.  All  who  knew  him 
were  strongly  attached  to  him,  and 
none  but  those  who  were  ignorant  of 
his  true  character  believed  him  unami- 
able  and  repulsive.  His  smile  was  pe- 
culiarly benignant,  and  expressive  of 
genuine  kindness  of  heart,  and  his 
whole  manner  candid  and  courteous  to 
every  one  entitled  to  his  respect.  There 
was  something  so  impressive  in  his 
appearance,  that  no  one  could  stand 
before  him  without  feeling  that  he  was 
in  the  presence  of  a  superior  intelli- 
gence. His  deep,  sunken  eye,  his  over- 
arched brow,  denoted  the  prophetic 
mind  within.  Although  he  lived  to  a 
great  age,  and  was  the  victim  of  much 
suffering,  he  did  not  murmur,  nor  did 
he  become  unreasonable  and  peevish. 
He  was  not  wont  to  talk  much  on  the 
subject  of  religion,  or  freely  communi- 
cate his  views  in  relation  to  the  life 
beyond  the  grave.  With  regard  to  his 
religious  views,  it  is  known  that  he 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
Congregation  in  New  York. 


.466 


COMMERCIAL   AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


De  Medici,  the  "  Magnificent  Mer- 
chant," when  a  Child. 

LoBENZo  DE  Medici,  the  "magnifi- 
cent mercliant "  of  his  time,  was,  when 
a  child,  presented  one  day  by  his  father 
to  a  royal  ambassador,  to  whom  he  wa-s 
talking  of  him  with  the  natural  fond- 
ness of  a  parent,  and  desired  the  am- 
bassador to  put  some  question  to  his 
son,  and  thus  see  by  his  answer  wheth- 
er he  was  not  a  boy  of  parts.  The  am- 
bassador did  as  he  was  desired,  and 
was  soon  convinced  of  the  truth  of 
what  the  father  had  told  him;  but 
added,  oracularly,  "  This  child,  as  he 
grows  old,  will  most  probably  become 
stupid,  for  it  has  in  general  been  ob- 
served that  those  who,  when  young,  are 
very  sprightly  and  clever,  hardly  ever 
increase  in  talent  as  they  grow  older." 
Young  Lorenzo,  hearing  this,  crept 
gently  to  the  ambassador,  and  looking 
him  archly  in  the  face,  said  to  him,  "  I 
am  certain  that  when  you  were  young, 
you  were  a  boy  of  very  great  genius." 
Lorenzo  being  then  asked,  "  Who  are 
the  greatest  fools  in  the  world  ? "  re- 
plied promptly,  "  Those,  surely,  who 
put  themselves  in  a  passion  with  fools." 


Slightly  Personal.  "^ 

From  some  cause  or  other.  Lord  Al- 
len had  taken  it  into  his  head  to  make 
a  butt  of  a  certain  banker,  who  be- 
longed to  the  same  club  as  himself; 
and  hearing  that  this  banker  had  peti- 
tioned for  the  removal  of  a  monument 
which  had  been  placed  opposite  to  his 
place  of  business,  asked  him,  one  day, 
in  rather  an  imperious  manner,  his  mo- 
tive for  joining  the  inhabitants  of  the 
district  in  such  a  petition. 

The  banker  replied  that  it  collected 
a  throng  of  idlers  and  dirty  boys  about 
the  spot,  to  the  great  hindrance  of 
business,  and  the  annoyance  of  his 
neighbors. 

"  Oh,"  said  his  lordship,  "  of  course 
every  man  knows  his  own  business  best. 


but  I  should  have  thought  it  rather 
advantageous  to  you  than  otherwise." 

"  How  so,  my  lord  ?  "  rejoined  the 
banker. 

"  Because,"  said  his  lordship,  "  while 
you  are  standing  idle  at  your  own  shop 
door,  it  would  prevent  your  seeing  the 
crowds  of  people  that  flock  to  the  re- 
spectable banking  house  of  Messrs.  Bul- 
lion &  Co.,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
street ! " 

Of  course  his  lordship's  spleen  was 
now  gratified,  for  the  whole  club  was 
convulsed  with  laughter;  but  the  tri- 
umph was  only  of  short  duration,  for 
the  banker  soon  learned  that  his  lord- 
ship— whose  peculiarly  pompous  man- 
ner had  obtained  for  him  the  sobriquet 
of  "  King,"  by  which  title  and  no  other 
was  he  commonly  known  among  his 
most  intimate  friends — had  previously 
arranged  with  his  creditors  by  the  pay- 
ment of  ten  shillings  on  the  pound. 
The  banker  was  determined  to  be  re- 
venged, and  within  a  few  hours,  before 
the  novelty  of  King  Allen's  last  had 
subsided,  he  went  to  the  club,  when  it 
was  crammed  with  members,  and  hav- 
ing got  their  attention,  observed  that 
"  if  '  King  Allen's '  coronation  was  to 
take  place,  and  his  champion  were  to 
throw  down  his  gauntlet  in  Westmin- 
ster Hall,  he  would  pick  it  up." 

"  Why,  why  ?  "  resounded  from  all 
the  members  of  the  club. 

"  Because,"  said  the  banker,  "  I  find 
he  has  assumed  a  title  to  which  he  has 
no  claim,  for  he  has  compounded  with 
his  creditors,  and  paid  them  ten  shil- 
lings in  the  pound ;  he  is  therefore  no 
king,  but  merely  a  half-sovereign." 


Baron  Rothschild  Defending-  Himself 
with  a  Big  Leger. 

Threats  of  murder  were  frequently 
sent  to  Rothschild  by  persons  intent  on 
obtaining  from  him  sums  of  money.  A 
stranger  once  waited  upon  him  with 
the  information  that  a  plot  had  been 
formed  to  take  his  life  ;  that  the  loans 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,  BANKERS,   ETC. 


467 


which  he  had  made  to  Austria,  and  his 
connection  with  Governments  adverse 
to  the  liberties  of  Europe,  had  marked 
him  lor  assassination ;  and  that  the 
mode  by  which  he  was  to  lose  his  life 
was  arranged. 

But  though  Rothschild  smiled  out- 
wardly at  this  and  similar  threats,  they 
said,  who  knew  him  best,  that  his  mind 
was  often  troubled  by  these  remem- 
brances, and  that  they  haunted  him  at 
moments  when  he  would  willingly 
have  forgotten  them.  Occasionally  his 
fears  took  a  ludicrous  form.  Two  tall, 
mustachioed  men  were  once  shown 
into  his  counting  house.  Mr.  Roths- 
child bowed ;  the  visitors  bowed,  and 
their  hands  wandered  first  in  one  pock- 
et, and  then  in  another.  To  the  anx- 
ious eye  of  the  millionnaire  they  as- 
sumed the  appearance  of  persons  search- 
ing for  deadly  weapons.  Ko  time 
seemed  for  thought;  a  big  leger, 
without  a  moment's  warning,  was 
hurled  at  the  intruders ;  and,  in  a 
paroxysm  of  fear,  he  called  for  assist- 
ance, to  drive  out  two  customers,  who 
were  only  feeling  in  their  pockets  for 
letters  of  introduction.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  he  dreaded  assassination 
greatly. 

"You  must  be  a  happy  man,  Mr. 
Rothschild,"  said  a  gentleman  who  was 
sharing  the  hospitality  of  his  splendid 
home,  as  he  glanced  at  the  more  than 
regal  sumptuousness  of  the  appoint- 
ments of  the  mansion. 

"  Happy  !  me  happy  !  "  was  the  re- 
ply. "  What !  happy,  when,  just  as 
you  are  going  to  dine,  you  have  a  let- 
ter placed  in  your  hand,  saying,  '  If 
you  don't  send  me  £500,  I  will  blow 
your  brains  out !  Happy  !  me  happy  !  " 
And  the  fact  that  he  frequently  slept 
with  loaded  pistols  at  the  side  of  his 
gilded  bed,  is  comment  enough  upon 
the  happiness  of  the  richest  man  on  the 
face  of  the  globe. 


Francis  Baring:  at  the  Virginia  Inn. 

When  a  young  man,  Mr.  Baring 
travelled  through  the  western  part  of 
Virginia,  which  was  at  that  time  peo- 
pled, in  some  of  its  localities,  by  a  pret- 
ty rough  class,  and  the  vehicle  he  used 
was  a  very  handsome  and  newly  var- 
nished travelling  carriage,  in  style 
comporting  with  his  high  personal  and 
business  character.  In  accordance  with 
the  favorite  custom  of  those  wild  fel- 
lows, who  usually  carried  a  penknife 
or  nail  in  their  pockets,  one  of  the 
idlers,  who  stood  and  leaned  about  the 
door  of  the  tavern,  when  the  banker 
had  alighted  for  refreshment,  amused 
himself  by  scratching,  with  a  nail,  all 
sorts  of  ridiculous  figures  on  the  var- 
nished surface  of  the  carriage  door. 
Baring,  who  came  out  of  the  inn,  and 
caught  our  friend  engaged  in  this 
agreeable  and  polite  occupation,  the 
instant  he  saw  what  was  going  on, 
very  sharply  expressed  his  disappro- 
bation. The  loiterer  responded  as 
quickly : 

"  Look  here,  %ir !  don't  be  saucy  ; 
we  make  no  ceremony.  T'other  day 
we  had  a  European  fellow  here,  like 
yourself,  who  was  mighty  saucy,  so  I 
pulled  out  my  pistol  and  shot  him 
dead,  right  on  the  spot.  There  he 
lies  !  "  The  banker  rejoined,  in  the 
coolest  manner  imaginable,  by  asking  : 

"  And  did  you  scalp  him,  too  ?  " 

The  fellow  was  so  struck  with  this, 
and  felt  the  reproach  upon  his  savage 
rudeness  so  keenly,  that,  after  gazing 
at  Baring  suddenly  and  earnestly  for  a 
laoment  in  silence,  he  exclaimed  : 

"  By !  sir,  you  must  be  a  clever 

fellow  !  let's  shake  hands  !  " 

It  would  not  have  been  easy  to  give 
a  sharper  lesson. 


Palace  of  Lafitte,  the  French  Banker. 

The  long-celebrated  "Rue  Lafitte," 
in  Paris,  was  originally  christened  Rue 
d'Artois,  in  1770— in  honor  of  the  ill- 


468 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


fated  prince  whom,  after  sixty  agitated 
years,  the  great  banker  Lafitte  was,  by 
his  masterly  combinations,  to  drive 
from  the  throne.  After  a  while,  the 
name  of  Cerutti  was  substituted.  At  the 
end  of  the  street  rose  the  magnificent 
Hotel  Thelusson — a  residence  of  the 
Genevese  banker,  the  patron  of  Necker, 
whose  fortune  and  less  ambitious  pop- 
ularity survived  those  of  his  more  illus- 
trious junior  partner.  It  became  the 
headquarters  of  the  luxury  of  the  day. 
In  course  of  time,  Murat  took  this  pal- 
ace ;  and  not  long  after  it  fell  into  the 
hands  of  Berchut,  an  army  tailor,  who 
had  made  a  fortune  by  selling  uniforms, 
in  days  when  their  first  owners  seldom 
had  the  good  luck  to  wear  them  out. 
He  invested  it  in  the  erection  of  build- 
ings on  speculation,  and,  in  the  carry- 
ing out  of  these  schemes,  the  hotel 
which  had  become  so  famous  in  the 
annals  and  chronicles  of  its  occupants 
was  at  last  demolished. 

Here,  in  this  memorable  quarter^ 
lived  Jacques  Lafitte,  whose  financial 
greatness  was  felt  in  both  hemispheres, 
at  times  overtopping  the  influence  and 
power  even  of  crowned  heads.  Hither, 
on  the  29th  of  July,  1830,  when  the 
battle  was  well-nigh  decided,  flocked 
the  courtiers  of  his  provisional  majesty, 
the  populace,  and  who  seemed  on  the 
eve  of  a  definite  reinstatement  in  his 
anarchical  rights.  The  sordid  in- 
triguer, the  waiter  on  Providence,  the 
timid  capitalist  who  sought  protection 
rather  than  promotion — all  eagerly 
crowded  these  approaches,  now  so  soli- 
tary, with  urgent  advice  and  covert 
solicitations.  It  was  a  trembling  and 
undignified  assemblage  in  such  a  place ; 
for  the  result  of  affairs  out  of  doors  yet 
hung  in  the  balance ;  the  fear  of  being 
too  late  was  in  ludicrous  conflict  with 
that  of  being  too  early ;  at  any  moment 
a  few  files  of  infantry  might  direct 
their  steps  thitherward,  become  the 
focus  of  insurrection— and  then  the 
game  was  up  ! 

It  is  due  to  the  brilliant  and  cour- 


ageous banker  to  say,  that  he  stood 
firm,  as  became  the  representative  of 
the  great  moneyed  interest,  in  this  its 
crowning  struggle.  On  one  occasion, 
the  sound  of  musketry  in  the  neighbor- 
hood actually  cleared  the  palace  of  all 
its  visitors;  it  proved  to  be  only  the 
discharge  in  the  air  of  a  regiment  fra- 
ternizing with  the  mob— but  Lafitte, 
unterrified  and  unconquerable,  remain- 
ed at  his  post,  and  profited  by  the  in- 
terval of  domestic  solitude  to  get  his 
sore  leg  dressed. 

But  Lafitte  was  ruined  by  this  revo- 
lution, as  is  well  known.  His  palace 
was  repurchased  for  him  by  subscrip- 
tion; and  an  inscription  on  the  front 
long  recorded  this  fact  to  passers  by. 
It  has,  however,  now  been  removed  into 
the  courtyard.  Surely,  it  was  not  a 
thing  to  be  ashamed  of.  The  genius 
of  finance,  however,  in  its  domesticity, 
has  not  quite  abandoned  its  favor- 
ite quarter.  M.  Rothschild  himself 
long  lived  in  the  Rue  Lafitte,  and  now 
and  then  illumined  the  locality  with  a 
splendor  of  Hebrew  hospitality  which 
reduced  the  Christendom  of  Paris  to 
envy  and  despair. 


"  merely  a  Pamily  Dinner." 

The  maxim  "  All  is  not  gold  that 
glitters,"  if  not  purely  English  in  its 
origin  and  application,  is  at  all  events 
not  much  recognized  in  France.  In 
the  latter  country,  the  reputation  of  a 
man  for  wealth  is  about  in  proportion 
to  his  display  of  it.  A  showy  house 
of  business,  and  an  elegant  style  of  liv- 
ing, indicating  that  the  proprietor  has 
abundant  wealth  himself,  are  essential 
prerequisites  to  his  being  intrusted 
with  the  wealth  of  others. 

The  contrast  which  prevails  to  this 
state  of  things  in  England,  is  strikingly 
illustrated  by  the  following  domestic 
incident :  A  retired  merchant,  of  enor- 
mous fortune,  and  living  in  great  seclu- 
sion, is  said  to  have  kept  his  money 
account  with  a  banking  firm  headed  by 


i 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,  ETC. 


469, 


a  baronet.  His  balance  in  the  bank 
was  generally  from  thirty  to  forty  thou- 
sand pounds,  and  the  baronet  deemed 
it  only  a  proper  attention  to  so  valua- 
ble a  customer,  to  invite  him  to  dinner 
at  his  villa  in  the  country.  The  splen- 
dor of  the  banquet,  to  which  the  old 
man  reluctantly  repaired,  impelled  him 
to  indulge  in  an  apology  to  his  host 
for  subjecting  the  latter  to  so  much  do- 
mestic inconvenience.  The  baronet  re- 
plied that,  on  the  contrary,  it  was  in- 
cumbent on  him  to  apologize,  for  tak- 
ing the  liberty  of  asking  his  guest 
to  partake  of  a  merely  family  dinner. 
Nothing  further  passed ;  but  the  next 
morning,  the  customer,  who  had  thus 
partaken  of  only  a  "  family  dinner  "  at 
his  titled  banker's,  drew  his  whole  bal- 
ance out  of  the  bank.  It  would  not  be 
safe  to  estimate  the  customer's  "  spec  " 
by  that  invitatipn  to  dinner  at  much 
less  ^han  "thirty  to  forty  thousand 
pounds,"  the  amount  which  he  shrewd- 
ly drew  out  the  next  morning. 


Scene  at  a  Banker's  Dejeuner  :  Kobert 
Morris  and  his  Father. 

In  the  zenith  of  Robert  Morris's 
mercantile  fame,  a  friend  had  presented 
him  with  a  fine  turtle.  Unwilling  to 
incur  the  trouble  of  dressing  it  at 
home,  Mr.  Morris  sent  it  to  a  celebrated 
refectory  a  few  miles  from  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Schuylkill,  and  gave  quite  a  general 
invitation  to  ladies  and  gentlemen  to 
partake  of  his  hospitality. 

Festivity  was  at  its  height;  every 
countenance  was  clothed  in  smiles, 
when  suddenly  the  countenance  of  the 
lively  host  grew  pale,  his  gayety  for- 
sook him,  and  every  attempt  to  rally 
his  paralyzed  spirits  was  Ineifectual. 
A  general  anxiety  to  discover  the  cause 
of  this  change  was  evident  through  the 
whole  circle ;  yet  a  restraining  delicacy 
prevented  a  too  minute  inquiry ;  until, 
at  length,  Mr.  Morris  himself,  taking 
one  of  the  company  aside,  addressed 


him  thus :  "A  circumstance  has  oc- 
curred which  has  greatly  affected  me. 
I  am  this  moment  informed  that  the 
man  who  killed  my  father  is  in  this 
house."  The  association  of  ideas  pro- 
duced by  this  accident  was  too  power- 
ful to  be  subdued ;  and  he  added,  to 
the  information  of  the  cause  of  his  dis- 
tress, a  request  that  his  friend  would 
apologize  for  his  weakness,  and  retired 
from  a  scene,  the  cheerfulness  of  which 
was  now  become  irksome,  and  its  mirth 
a  scene  of  intolerable  anguish. 

The  circumstances  of  the  event  in 
question  were,  in  brief,  as  follows: 
About  two  years  had  elapsed  since  his 
father's  establishment  in  this  country  as 
a  merchant.  On  the  fatal  morning,  he 
had  received  information  of  the  arrival 
in  the  Delaware  of  a  ship  from  Liver 
pool,  consigned  to  himself;  he  imme- 
diately went  on  board,  and  having 
made  the  necessary  inquiries  and  ar- 
rangements, left  the  vessel  to  return  to 
the  shore.  At  this  moment,  just  as  he 
had  reached  the  boat,  the  captain,  as  a 
tribute  of  particular  respect  to  his  vis- 
itor, ordered  a  gun  to  be  fired — it  was 
the  flattery  of  death ;  the  wadding  of 
the  gun  lodged  in  his  shoulder,  and, 
notwithstanding  the  promptest  and 
most  able  exertions  of  medical  skill,  a 
mortification  took  place,  which,  in  a 
few  days,  terminated  his  existence, 
leaving  Robert,  in  his  fifteenth  year, 
fatherless. 


Unfortunate  Polly  lium,  the  Wife  of 
Girard. 

At  the  early  age  of  nineteen,  Girard 
appears  to  have  been  r.usceptible  to  the 
"  tender  passion  ;  "  for  at  that  period 
his  affections  became  warmly  interested 
in  the  daughter  of  an  old  caulker,  or 
shipbuilder,  who  resided  in  that  section 
of  the  city  where  Girard  kept  his  shop. 
The  object  of  his  attachment  was  Mary, 
or  Polly  Lum,  as  she  was  then  familiar- 
ly called,  a  damsel  who  was  then  but 
very  young,  distinguished  for  her  plain 
comeliness,  and  who  resided  as  a  servant 


470 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


girl  in  the  family  of  one  of  the  citizens. 
As  soon  as  it  was  found  that  affairs 
were  hastening  to  a  crisis,  and  Girard 
harboring  serious  designs  of  making 
her  his  wife,  a  feeling  of  downright 
opposition  was  aroused,  and  he  was  for- 
bidden an  entrance  to  the  house.  This 
difficulty  was,  however,  encountered 
with  success,  and  Polly  Lum  became 
his  wife.  The  matrimonial  alliance 
thus  formed,  was  attended  with  any- 
thing but  domestic  hapijiness.  A  want 
of  congeniality  in  their  dispositions,  a 
neglect  of  duty  on  her  part,  or  an 
austere  and  morose  temper  in  himself, 
appears  to  have  prevented  any  portion 
of  domestic  bliss,  which  ended  in  his 
application  to  the  Legislature  of  Penn- 
sylvania for  a  divorce,  but  unsuccess- 
fully. She  was  subsequently  received 
into  the  hospital  as  a  lunatic,  where 
she  remained  twenty-five  years,  till  her 
death.  His  only  child,  a  daughter, 
born  in  the  hospital,  died  in  infancy. 
On  receiving  information  of  her  death, 
her  husband  selected  the  place  of  her 
interment,  and  requested  that  as  soon 
as  all  the  arrangements  for  her  funeral 
had  been  completed,  he  should  be 
called.  At  the  close  of  the  day,  her 
coflin  was  seen  moving  along  the 
avenue  to  the  grave,  and  was  there 
deposited  in  the  manner  of  the  Friends. 
Among  the  group  of  mourners  was  her 
husband,  whose  countenance  remained 
unchanged  as  monumental  bronze  while 
the  funeral  obsequies  were  performing. 
He  shed  no  tear;  and  after  bending 
over  the  remains  of  his  wife,  as  if  to 
take  a  last  look,  he  departed,  saying 
to  his  companions,  in  the  tone  of  a 
stoic,  as  he  left  the  spot,  "  It  is  very 
well,"  and  thus  returned  home.  Some 
reparation  was,  however,  made  for  this 
unfeeling  spirit  by  a  gift  to  the  hospi- 
tal, about  this  time,  of  three  thousand 
dollars,  besides  suitable  presents  to  the 
attendants ;  and  also  a  considerable 
sum  that  was  originally  granted,  in- 
cluding his  fee  as  a  member  of  the  cor- 
poration.    It  is  related  that  he  first  saw 


Polly  Lum,  when  she  was  a  servant  girl, 
going  to  the  pump,  without  shoes  or 
stockings,  but  with  rich,  black,  and 
glossy  hair,  hanging  in  dishevelled 
curls  about  her  neck.  On  applying  to 
the  Legislature  for  a  divorce — because 
the  condition  of  his  wife  was  a  great 
inconvenience  to  him  in  the  manage- 
ment of  his  vast  real-estate  property — 
he  offfered  a  large  sum,  for  the  use  of 
the  State,  if  it  might  be  effected,  but 
unavaUingly. 

* — 

Boston  Mercliant's  Reason  for  not 
Marrying". 

John  Beomfield,  a  wealthy  Boston 
merchant,  remained,  through  life,  proof 
against  the  binding  charms  of  "  the 
silken  cord."  It  was  a  subject  seldom 
touched  upon  by  his  friends,  as  they 
knew  it  rather  annoyed  him.  Occa- 
sionally, however,  the  matter  would  be 
brought  up — as  is  almost  inevitable ; 
and,  when  questioned  as  to  his  motives 
for  remaining  in  a  state  of"  single  bless- 
edness," he  would  treat  it  pleasantly, 
and  reply,  in  substance,  that  he  regard- 
ed the  other  sex  too  highly  to  inflict 
upon  any  one  of  them  such  a  husband 
as  he  should  make.  "  No  woman,"  he 
would  say,  "  who  has  a  grain  of  dis- 
cretion, would  consent  to  bind  herself 
to  such  a  nervous  old  bachelor  as  I  am ; 
and  a  woman  without  discretion  would 
be — not  to  my  taste." 


Thirty  Thousand  Dollars'  "Worth  of 
Sleep  by  a  Boston  Merchant. 

One  of  the  wealthy  merchants  of 
Boston,  now  dead,  often  told  his  friends 
an  anecdote  in  his  own  experience,  and 
which  he  recommended  to  all  those 
who  desired  to  enjoy  a  serene  old  age, 
without  allowing  their  wealth  to  dis- 
turb their  peace  of  mind.  He  said  that 
when  he  had  obtained  his  fortune,  he 
found  that  he  began  to  grow  uneasy 
about  his  i3ecuniary  affairs,  and  one 
night — ^when  he  was  about  sixty  years 
of  age — his  sleep  was  disturbed  by  un- 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS   OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,   ETC. 


471 


pleasant  thoughts  respecting  some  ship- 
ments he  had  just  made.  In  the  morn- 
ing, he  said  to  himself:  "This  will 
never  do ;  if  I  allow  such  thoughts  to 
get  the  mastery  over  me,  I  must  bid 
farewell  to  peace  all  my  life.  I  will 
stop  this  brood  of  care  at  once,  and  at 
a  single  blow  ! "  Accordingly,  he  went 
to  his  counting  room,  and  upon  exam- 
ination found  that  he  had  thirty  thou- 
sand dollars  on  hand.  He  made  out  a 
list  of  his  relations  and  others  he  de- 
sired to  aid,  and  before  he  went  to  bed 
again  he  had  given  away  every  dollar 
of  the  thirty  thousand.  He  said  he 
slept  well  that  night,  and  for  a  long 
time  after  his  dreams  were  not,  as  for- 
merly, disturbed  by  anxious  thoughts 
about  vessels  or  property.  There  may 
perhaps  be  some  among  the  relatives 
of  other  such  rich  but  anxious  mer- 
chants, who  would  like  to  have  the 
sleep  of  the  latter  promoted  by  just 
such  means  !      __.__ 

Glut  in  the  Market. 

A  WEALTHY  London  merchant,  who 
resided  near  Windsor,  and  lately  retired 
from  business,  called  upon  Sir  Astley 
Cooper,  to  consult  with  him  upon  the 
state  of  his  health.  The  patient  was 
not  only  fond  of  the  good  things  of 
this  world,  but  indulged  in  high  living 
to  a  great  excess.  This  was  soon  dis- 
covered by  Sir  Astley,  who  thus  ad- 
dressed him :  "  You  are  a  merchant, 
sir,  and  therefore  must  possess  an  ex- 
tensive knowledge  of  trade ;  but  did 
you  ever  know  of  an  instance  in  which 
the  imports  exceeded  the  exports,  that 
there  was  not  a  glut  in  the  market? 
That's  the  case  with  you,  sir;  take 
more  physic,  and  eat  less  !  "  The  gen- 
tleman took  the  hint,  and  has  since 
declared  that  Sir  Astley 's  knowledge 
of  the  "  first  principles  of  commerce," 
and  the  mode  of  giving  his  advice,  ren- 
dering it  "  clear  to  the  meanest  capaci- 
ty," has  not  only  enabled  him  to  enjoy 
good  health  since,  but  has  probably 
prolonged  his  life  for  many  years. 


W.  B.  Astor  and  his  Clerical  Classmate. 

Among  the  classmates  of  William  B. 
Astor,  in  Columbia  College,  was  a 
young  man  who  became  a  preacher. 
The  students  separated — the  one  to 
handle  millions  and  to  touch  the 
springs  of  the  money  market,  and  be- 
come the  colossus  of  wealth  ;  the  other 
to  his  flock,  as  a  poor  domestic  mis- 
sionary, whose  history  was  indeed  a 
"  shady  side."  The  latter  struggled  on, 
through  thick  and  thin,  and  never  in 
all  his  privations  thought  of  sending  a 
begging  letter  to  his  old  classmate. 
But  being  once  on  a  time  in  New  York, 
he  yielded  to  the  inclination  to  make 
him  a  visit.  Mr.  Astor  received  him 
courteously,  and  the  two  conversed  on 
the  scenes  of  their  early  days.  As  the 
pastor  rose  to  depart,  an  idea  struck 
the  capitalist's  heart,  which  may  be 
mentioned  to  his  credit.  "  Can  I  do 
anything  for  you  ?  "  he  inquired.  He 
had,  in  fact,  misconceived  the  object 
of  the  visit,  and  supposed  that  under 
the  guise  of  a  friendly  call,  lurked  an 
inclination  to  beg,  which  fear  of  refusal 
had  repressed.  The  poor  clergyman  at 
once  perceived  the  drift  of  the  ques- 
tion. Nothing  could  have  been  further 
from  his  mind,  and,  blushing  at  the 
thought,  he  acknowledged  the  sugges- 
tion with  gratitude,  and  retired. 


Making:  a  "Will:  Samuel  Appleton. 

The  practical  form  which  Samuel 
Appleton's  faith  in  a  spiritual  life  as- 
sumed was  touchingly  illustrated  in  an 
incident  that  occurred  during  the  year 
preceding  his  own  death.  A  favorite 
nephew,  to  whom  he  had  bequeathed 
in  his  will  a  large  proportional  amount 
of  his  estate,  died  before  him ;  and  by 
the  terms  of  the  will,  a  half  sister,  be- 
tween whom  and  Mr.  Appleton  there 
was  no  blood  relationship,  became  en- 
titled to  these  bequests.  The  executor 
called  Mr.  Appleton's  attention  to  the 
fact,  thinking  that  he  might  wish  to 


472 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


make  some  change  in  the  disposition 
of  his  property.  After  taking  the  sub- 
ject into  full  consideration,  his  reply 
was :  "  K  in  the  other  world  there  is 
any  knowledge  of  what  is  done  in  this, 
I  should  not  like  to  have  my  nephew, 
whom  I  so  loved  and  trusted,  find  that 
my  first  act,  on  learning  his  death,  was 
the  revocation  or  curtailment  of  a  be- 
quest made  in  his  favor,  and  which,  if 
he  had  survived  me,  would  have  even- 
tually benefited  her  who  was  nearest 
and  dearest  to  him.  The  will  must 
stand  as  it  is." 


"Will  of  Guyot,  the  Frencli  Millionnaire. 

An  old  man,  of  the  name  of  Guyot, 
lived  and  died  in  the  town  of  Mar- 
seilles, France.  He  amassed  a  large 
fortune  by  the  most  laborious  industry 
and  the  severest  habits  of  abstinence 
and  privation.  His  neighbors  consid- 
ered him  a  miser,  and  thought  that  he 
was  hoarding  up  money  from  mean  and 
avaricious  motives.  The  populace  often 
pursued  him  with  hootings  and  execra- 
tions, and  the  boys  not  unfrequently 
amused  themselves  by  throwing  stones 
and  other  missiles  at  him,  all  of  which 
treatment  he  bore  without  the  least  re- 
sentment. He  at  length  died,  and  in 
his  will  were  found  the  following  calm 
and  generous  words :  "  Having  ob- 
served, from  my  infancy,  that  the  poor 
of  Marseilles  are  ill  supplied  with  wa- 
ter, which  can  only  be  purchased  at  a 
great  price,  I  have  cheerfully  labored, 
the  whole  of  my  life,  to  procure  for 
them  this  great  blessing ;  and  I  direct 
that  the  whole  of  my  property  shall  be 
laid  out  in  building  an  aqueduct  for 
their  use." 


Anselm  Bothschild's  Will. 

Anselm  Rothschild,  who  died  in 
1855,  left  no  issue,  but  a  fortune  valued 
at  some  twenty-five  to  thirty  million 
dollars.  He  bequeathed  the  sum  of 
five  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  con- 


tinue the  alms  which  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  distributing  every  week,  as 
well  as  for  the  distribution  of  wood  to 
the  poor  in  winter.  To  the  fund  for 
giving  a  dower  to  Jewish  maidens,  he 
left  twenty-five  thousand  dollars;  to 
the  fund  for  the  sick,  as  well  as  to  the 
Jewish  hospital,  five  thousand  dollars 
each  ;  to  the  Jewish  school,  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars,  and  sums  of  twelve  to 
fifteen  hundred  dollars  each  to  the  sev- 
eral Christian  establishments.  To  the 
clerks  who  were  more  than  twenty 
years  in  the  employ  of  the  firm,  he  left 
one  thousand  dollars  each ;  to  the 
others,  five  hundred  dollars  each ;  to 
the  juniors,  from  one  hundred  and  fifty 
to  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  each ; 
and  many  legacies  to  servants.  It  is 
said  that  he  left  to  his  godson.  Sir  An- 
thony Rothschild,  of  London,  ten  mil- 
lion dollars,  and  an  equal  share  with 
the  other  nephews  and  nieces  in  the 
residue  of  his  estate. 


Gastronomic  Peats  of  a  Merchant. 

There  are  some  curious  anecdotes 
told  about  the  awful  eating  habits  of 
"  Old  Salles,"  so  well  known  in  former 
times  as  an  eccentric  and  wealthy  New 
York  merchant.  At  one  time  he  went 
to  a  boarding  house  in  Pearl  street, 
kept  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conrad.  He  had 
been  turned  out  of  various  places, 
where  his  voracity  became  too  great  for 
any  profit.  At  the  new  place  he  was 
unknown,  and  terms  were  agreed  upon 
for  one  month.  When  it  expired,  the 
bill  was  handed  to  him,  with  a  request 
to  leave.  The  proprietor  informed  him 
that  he  could  not  afi'ord  to  keep  him 
at  that  price. 

"Is  dat  de  matter?  Den  chargee 
more,"  said  Salles.  The  previous  price 
was  four  dollars  a  week ;  two  dollars 
were  added,  making  it  six  dollars  per 
week,  and  another  month  was  com- 
menced." At  its  expiration,  a  bill  was 
presented  to  Mr.  Salles,  and  he  was 
a^ain  told  he  must  leave.     The  bill 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,  BANKERS,  ETC. 


473 


was  paid.  Another  montli  was  entered 
upon  at  eight  dollars  a  week.  Another 
month,  and  it  was  raised  to  ten  dollars 
per  week.  When  that  expired,  the  un- 
happy landlord  received  the  sum  due, 
and  again  besought  Mr.  Salles  to  leave. 
Salles  said,  with  an  oath,  "  Chargee 
more.     Chargee  all  you  want." 

With  tears  in  his  eye,  the  man  re- 
plied :  "  It  is  no  use,  Mr.  Salles.  I  will 
not  have  you  any  longer,  anyhow. 
The  more  I  charge,  the  more  you  eat." 


Cope,  the  Quaker  Merchant,  mistaken 
for  a  Major-General. 

Some  years  since,  Thomas  P.  Cope, 
the  eminent  Quaker  merchant  of  Phila- 
delphia, was  travelling  in  the  Western 
States  with  General  Cadwallader,  who 
was  indeed  "  every  inch  a  general." 
On  arriving  at  a  hotel,  the  names  of 
the  travellers  were  of  course  registered. 
Having,  perhaps,  some  business  with, 
or,  more  probably,  desiring  to  be  hos- 
pitable to  General  Cadwallader,  a  resi- 
dent of  the  place  where  the  travellers 
were  spending  the  night,  after  examin- 
ing the  record  of  the  names,  stepped 
to  the  porch,  and  observing  a  gentle- 
man walking  up  and  down,  with  a 
quick,  firm  step,  and  wearing  a  surtout 
icith  an  upright  military  collar^  he 
thought  he  could  not  be  deceived  as  it 
regarded  the  ofiicial  title  of  the  visitor, 
whom  he  immediately  saluted  as  "  Gen- 
eral," and  proceeded  at  once  to  intro- 
duce himself  and  his  business.  It  was 
not  an  easy  matter  to  satisfy  him  that 
he  had  mistaken  a  worthy  member  of 
the  "  Society  of  Friends,"  in  the  full 
dress  of  that  peaceable  sect,  for  a 
United  States  "  Major-General." 


"William  Sturgis  in  the  Legrislature. 

The  name  of  William  Sturgis  is  well 
known  as  that  of  a  Cape  Cod  man  who 
became,  in  due  time,  one  of  the  "  solid 
men  of  Boston '' — in  early  days  captain 
of  a  ship  trading  on  the  northwest 


coast,  and  afterward  of  the  firm  of 
Bryant  «&  Sturgis.  A  man  of  indomi- 
table energy  and  unerring  sagacity,  he 
amassed  a  large  fortune,  and  then  en- 
joyed in  his  old  age  the  luxury— the 
greatest  luxury  for  which  the  afiluent 
are  to  be  envied — of  doing  good. 
Years  since,  Mr.  Sturgis  was  a  member 
of  the  Massachusetts  Legislature.  On 
one  occasion  a  somewhat  pretentious 
member  interlarded  his  speech  with 
Latin  quotations,  to  the  annoyance  of 
the  practical  merchant,  who  was  in- 
terested in  the  matter  under  discussion, 
and  meditated  taking  part  in  it.  To 
his  request  that  the  learned  gentleman 
would  confine  himself  to  the  vernacu- 
lar, he  received  a  curt  response.  But 
in  making  his  reply,  he  put  his  adver- 
sary to  utter  confusion  by  a  long  har- 
angue in  Indian,  with  which  language 
he  was  familiar  through  his  commercial 
dealings. 

♦ 

Too  Much  Money. 

Mr.  p.,  a  wealthy  man  retired  from 
business,  was  urged  by  a  friend  to  en- 
gage in  a  mercantile  scheme,  from 
which  the  realization  of  large  profits 
was  very  apparent.  "  You  are  right," 
said  he,  "  as  regards  the  probable  suc- 
cess of  the  speculation,  but  I  shall  not 
embark  in  it.  /  have  too  much  money 
nowy 

He  was  naturally  asked  for  an  expla- 
nation of  this  very  unusual  remark,  and 
said,  in  reply  :  "  Yes,  I  would  not  cross 
the  street  to  gain  thousands  ;  I  should 
be  a  happier  man  if  my  income  were 
less.  I  am  old,  and,  in  a  year  or  two, 
whatever  I  possess  will  avail  me  nought 
— my  daughters  are  dead,  and  I  have 
three  sons  upon  whom  I  look  with  a 
father's  fondness.  My  own  education 
had  been  neglected;  my  fortune  was 
gained  by  honest  labor  and  careful 
economy  ;  I  had  no  time  for  study,  but 
I  resolved  that  my  sons  should  have 
every  advantage.  Each  had  the  oppor- 
tunity of  gaining  a  fine  classical  educa- 


474 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


tion,  and  then  I  gave  them  the  choice 
of  a  profession.  The  eldest  would  be  a 
physician ;  the  second  chose  the  law ; 
the  third  resolved  to  follow  my  foot- 
steps as  a  merchant.  This  was  very 
well — I  was  proud  of  my  sons,  and 
hoped  that  one  day  I  might  see  them 
distinguished,  or  at  least  useful  to  their 
fellow  men.  I  had  spared  no  expense 
in  their  training  ;  they  had  never  want- 
ed money,  for  I  gave  each  a  liberal  al- 
lowance. Never  had  men  fairer  pros- 
pects of  becoming  honored  and  re- 
spected— but  look  at  the  result.  The 
physician  has  no  patients ;  the  lawyer 
not  a  single  client ;  and  the  merchant 
is  above  visiting  his  counting  room. 
In  vain  I  urge  them  to  be  more  indus- 
trious. "What  is  the  reply  ?  '  There  is 
no  use  in  it,  father — we  never  shall 
want  for  money;  we  know  you  have 
enough  for  all.'  Thus,  instead  of  being 
active,  energetic  members  of  society, 
my  sons  are  but  idlers,  men  of  fashion 
and  display.  Had  they  been  obliged 
to  struggle  against  diflSculties,  to  gain 
their  professions,  and  were  they  now 
dependent  on  their  own  exertions  for 
support,  my  sons  would  have  gained 
honor  to  themselves  and  me." 


Experience  of  a  lievantine  Merchant. 

Matthias,  the  renowned  Levantine 
merchant  of  former  days,  had  spent  his 
whole  life,  from  his  boyhood  upward, 
in  travelling,  for  the  sake  of  gain — to 
the  east,  and  the  west,  and  to  the 
islands  of  the  South  Seas.  He  had  re- 
turned to  his  native  place,  Tarsus,  in 
the  full  vigor  of  manhood,  and  in  pos- 
session of  the  vast  wealth  which  his 
commercial  enterprise  had  enabled  him 
to  amass.  His  first  step  was  to  make 
a  respectful  call  upon  the  governor, 
and  to  present  him  with  a  purse  and 
a  string  of  pearls,  in  order  to  bespeak 
his  good  will.  Then  he  built  himself 
a  spacious  palace  in  the  midst  of  a  gar- 
den of  unvarying  beauty  on  the  borders 
of  an  enchanting  stream,  and  began  to 


lead  a  quiet  life — so  congenial  after  the 
fatigues  of  his  many  voyages.  Most 
persons  considered  him  to  be  the  hap- 
piest of  men  and  merchants  ;  but  those 
intimate  with  him  knew  that  his  con- 
stant companions  were  sadness  and  dis- 
content. When  he  had  departed,  in 
youth,  in  quest  of  fortune,  he  had  left  his 
father,  and  his  brothers  and  sisters,  in 
health',  although  poor  ;  but  when  he  re- 
turned, in  hopes  to  brighten  and  gild 
the  remainder  of  their  days,  he  found 
that  during  his  years  of  absence  the 
hand  of  death  had  fallen  upon  them 
every  one,  and  that  there  was  no  one  to 
share  his  prosperity.  The  blight  that 
came  over  his  heart  no  wealth  of  gold 
or  brilliant  surroundings  could  remove 

or  make  up  for. 

— ♦ — 

Going:  to  g-et  Acquainted  with  his 
Family. 

Some  men  devote  themselves  so  ex- 
clusively to  business  concerns,  as  to  al- 
most entirely  neglect  their  domestic  and 
social  relations.  A  gentleman  of  this 
class  having  at  last  failed,  was  asked 
what  he  intended  to  do  :  "I  am  going 
home  to  get  acquainted  with  my  wife 
and  children,"  said  he. 


Girard's  E.eception  of  Mr.  Baring*. 

When  one  of  the  head  partners  of 
the  house  of  Baring, — Francis,  the 
second  son  of  Lord  Ashburton, — visited 
Philadelphia,  his  birthplace,  in  1818, 
he  supposed  that  he  might  excite  an 
agreeable  surprise  to  Mr.  Girard,  by 
informing  him  of  the  safe  arrival  of 
his  ship,  the  Voltaire,  from  India.  Ac- 
cordingly, he  called  at  the  counting 
room  of  Mr.  Girard,  whom  he,  how- 
ever, did  not  find  there  at  the  time. 
The  clerk  told  him,  that  if  he  wanted 
to  see  Mr.  Girard  himself,  he  must 
visit  him  early  in  the  morning,  at  his 
large  farm,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  city.  Having  engaged  a  carriage, 
Mr.  Baring  proceeded  to  the  farm  of 
the  banker,  in  Passyunk,  and  imme- 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,   ETC. 


475 


diately  asked  for  Mr.  Girard.  He 
received  in  reply,  "  Yonder  he  stands." 
They  pointed  out  to  him  a  small,  low- 
set  man,  of  about  sixty,  "with  gray  hair, 
bare-headed,  without  coat  or  jacket, 
and  in  his  shirt  sleeves,  rolled  up  above 
the  elbows,  who  stood  with  a  hay-fork 
in  his  hand  helping  to  load  hay  on  a 
farm-wagon.  He  said,  "  Is  that  Mr. 
Girard  ? "  "  Yes,"  they  answered ; 
whereupon  he  stepped  up  to  him  and 
gave  his  name. 

"  So,  so  !  "  remarked  Mr.  Girard ; 
"  then  you  are  the  son  of  the  man  that 
got  married  here  ? " 

"  I  came  to  inform  you,"  said  Mr. 
Baring,  "  that  your  ship,  the  Voltaire, 
has  arrived  safely." 

"  I  knew  that  she  w^ould  reach  port 
safely,"  replied  Girard ;  "  my  ships 
always  arrive  safe  ;  she  is  a  good  ship. 
Well,  now,  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you, 
but  I  have  no  time  to  talk  with  you  at 
present ;  it  is  harvest  time,  and  I  have 
a  great  deal  to  do.  There,  walk  around 
yonder  a  little,  look  at  'my  cows,  and 
get  some  of  the  folks  to  give  you  a 
glass  of  milk,  for  yon  can't  get  such 
milk  in  all  London." 

Baring  complied  with  Girard's  blunt 
invitation;  and,  as  he  himself  was 
something  of  an  eccentric,  and,  conse- 
quently, liked  eccentrics,  he  was  not  a 
little  amused  at  thinking  what  a 
curious  reception  was  this,  for  one  of 
the  heads  of  the  first  house  in  London 
to  meet  with,  at  the  hands  of  one  who 
was  at  the  head  of  the  American  com- 
mercial world ! 


German  Merchant  of  One  Hundred 
Houses. 

At  Hanau  a  merchant  resided,  whose 
history  was  somewhat  curious.  A 
quarrel  with  his  stepmother  induced 
him  to  "  leave  his  father's  house,"  w^hen 
young,  and  embark  for  England. 
Having  acquired  in  trade,  in  London, 
a  fortune  sufficient  for  comfort  in  Ger- 
many, he  married,  and  returned  to  his 
native  town,  where  he  found  that  his 


parents  were  dead,  and  that  their  pro- 
perty had  fallen  to  him.  A  large  ram- 
bling house  containing  thirteen  rooms 
on  a  floor,  and  adorned  with  pictures 
of  old  electors  and  landgraves  was  a 
part  of  his  patrimony.  The  house  goes 
by  the  name  of  Noah's  Ark,  from  the 
singularity  of  its  construction,  arising, 
as  the  story  goes,  from  a  cause  not  less 
singular.  The  upper  story  is  a  com- 
plete second  house,  erected  on  the  first. 
The  builder,  an  opulent  citizen,  who 
possessed  ninety-nine  houses  in  Hanau, 
was  ambitious  of  rounding  his  number 
to  one  hundred,  but  the  jealousy  of  the 
citizens  opposed  his  whim,  unless  he 
consented  to  pave  a  path  to  the  church, 
some  hundred  yards  long,  with  rix-dol- 
lars.  He  declined  this  exorbitant  tax 
to  gratify  their  "  whim ; "  but  unwil- 
ling to  forego  the  distinction  of  owning 
one  hundred  houses,  he  contented  him- 
self with  a  hundredth  placed  on  the  top 
of  one  of  the  ninety-nine. 


Stock  Broker  and  his  Family  in  the 
Studio  of  Hoppner. 

A  WEALTHY  stock  broker  once  drove 
up  to  the  door  of  Hoppner,  the  cele- 
brated painter — and  who  was  one  of 
the  genus  irritdbile — and  two  carriages 
emptied  into  his  hall,  the  party  com- 
prising a  gentleman  (the  said  broker) 
and  lady,  with  five  sons  and  seven 
daughters,  all  samples  of  pa  and  ma, 
as  well  fed  and  as  city  bred  and  comely 
a  family  as  any  within  the  sound  of 
Bow  bell. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Painter,"  said  the  stock 
broker,  "  here  we  are — a  baker's  dozen. 
How  much  will  you  demand  for  paint- 
ing the  whole  lot  of  us — prompt  pay- 
ment for  discount  ? "  "  Why,"  replied 
the  astonished  painter,  who  then  might 
be  likened  to  a  superannuated  ele- 
phant,— "why,  sir,  that  will  depend 
upon  the 
tion,  and- 
quoth  the  enlightened  broker:  "we 
are  all  to  be  touched  off  in  one  piece 


dimensions,   style,  composi- 
"     "  Oh,  that  is  settled," 


476 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


as  large  as  life,  all  seated  upon  our 
lawn  at  Clapliam,  and  all  singing  '  God 
save  the  King.' " 

"  These  things,"  said  Hoppner,  in 
relating  the  circumstance  to  his  edito- 
rial friend  and  crony,  Gifford, — "  these 
things — and  be  hanged  to  you  scrib- 
blers !  are  part  and  parcel  of  the  delec- 
tables  of  portrait  painting." 


The  Merchant  and  his  Disting-uished 
Valet,  Joh.n  Philpot  Curran. 

One  morning,  at  an  inn  in  the  south 
of  Ireland,  a  gentleman  who  was  travel- 
ling on  mercantile  business,  came  run- 
ning down  stairs,  a  few  minutes  before 
the  appearance  of  a  stage  coach,  in 
which  he  had  taken  a  seat  for  Dublin. 
Seeing  an  ugly  looking  little  fellow 
leaning  against  the  door  post,  with 
dirty  face  and  shabby  clothes,  he  hailed 
him,  and  ordered  him  to  brush  his  coat. 
The  operation  proceeded  rather  slowly ; 
the  impatient  merchant  cursed  the  lazy 
valet  as  an  idle,  good  for  nothing  dog, 
and  threatened  him  with  corporal 
punishment  on  the  spot,  if  he  did  not 
make  haste  and  finish  his  job  well 
before  the  arrival  of  the  coach.  Terror 
seemed  to  produce  its  effect ;  the  fel- 
low brushed  the  coat,  and  then  the 
trowsers,  with  great  diligence,  and  was 
rewarded  with  sixpence,  which  he  re- 
ceived with  a  low  bow. 

The  merchant  went  to  the  bar,  and 
paid  his  bill  just  as  the  expected  vehi- 
cle arrived  at  the  door.  Upon  getting 
inside,  guess  his  astonishment  to  find 
his  friend,  his  quondam  valet,  seated 
snugly  in  one  corner,  with  all  the  look 
of  a  person  well  used  to  comfort.  After 
two  or  three  hurried  glances,  to  be  sure 
his  eyes  did  not  deceive  him,  he  com- 
menced a  confused  apology  for  his 
blunder,  condemning  his  own  rashness 
and  stupidity;  but  he  was  speedily 
interrupted  by  the  other  exclaiming — 

"  Oh,  never  mind ;  make  no  apolo- 
gies ;  these  are  hard  times,  and  it  is 
well  to  earn  a  trifle  in  an  honest  way. 


I  am  much  obliged  for  your  handsome 
fee  for  so  small  a  job.  My  name,  sir, 
is  John  Philpot  Curran ;  pray  what  is 
yours  ? " 

The  merchant  was  thunderstruck  by 
the  idea  of  such  an  introduction ;  but 
the  drollery  of  Curran  soon  overcame 
his  confusion,  and  the  traveller  never 
rejoiced  more  at  the  termination  of  a 
long  journey  than  when  he  beheld  the 
distant  spires  of  Dublin  glittering  in 
the  light  of  a  setting  sun. 


Polly  Kenton  and  Qirard's  Doctors. 

Conscious,  on  one  occasion,  of  being 
overtaken  by  a  violent  disease,  Girard 
called  to  him  Miss  Polly  Kenton,  who 
had  lived  with  him  for  upward  of 
thirty  years,  and  said  to  her,  "  Polly, 
I  am  about  to  be  sick.  I  shall  proba- 
bly become  deranged  or  delirious,  and 
the  doctors  will  be  called  in,  and  they 
will  stuff  me  with  medicine.  Now,  I 
wish  you  to  swear  that  you  will  taste 
everything  they  prescribe,  before  giving 
it  to  me,  and  don't  allow  me  to  take 
anything  except  camomile  tea,  and 
senna  and  manna."  She  was  accord- 
ingly sworn ;  and  in  the  result  the 
patient  recovered. 

A  short  time  before  his  death.  Miss 
Kenton,  in  putting  up  a  curtain,  fell 
and  dislocated  her  wrist.  Upon  Girard 
being  informed  of  it,  he  directed  her  to 
place  her  arm  in  a  bucket  of  ice  water, 
which  she  did;  but  the  pain  became 
so  excessive,  that  she  was  induced  in 
her  situation  to  send  for  a  physician ; 
unluckily,  Girard  returned,  discharged 
the  physician,  and  followed  that  up  by 
discharging  Miss  Kenton,  who  had  been 
so  many  years  his  indispensable  attend- 
ant. He  afterward,  it  is  true,  left  her, 
in  his  will,  three  hundred  dollars  a  year, 
but  he  never  forgave  the  disregard  of 
his  orders. 

He  had  an  agent  and  a  confidential 
clerk,  Mr.  R.,  who  had  been  years  with 
him,  and  who  was  what  might  be  called 
his  right-hand  man.     Mr.  R.  was  sick 


DOMESTIC  KELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,   ETC. 


477 


with  typhus  fever.  Of  course  Mr. 
Girard  was  7iis  only  doctor  also;  he 
prescribed,  as  a  cure,  Holland  gin,  and 
of  course  the  patient  died. 


Italian  Banker's  Bargain  for  a  Fish. 

A  WEALTHY  banker  in  Italy  was 
about  to  celebrate  his  marriage  feast. 
All  the  elements  were  propitious  to  his 
pm-pose,  except  the  ocean,  which  had 
been  so  boisterous  as  to  deny  the  very 
necessary  appendage  of  a  fish  "  course." 
On  the  very  morning  of  the  f6te, 
however,  a  poor  fisherman  made  his 
appearance,  with  a  turbot  so  large, 
that  it  seemed  to  have  been  created  for 
the  occasion.  There  was  much  satis- 
faction at  its  appearance,  and  the  fisher- 
man was  ushered  with  his  splendid 
prize  into  the  saloon,  where  the  banker, 
in  the  presence  of  his  gay  visitors,  re- 
quested him  to  put  any  price  he  thought 
proper  on  so  rare  an  object,  and  it 
should  be  instantly  paid  him. 

"  One  hundred  lashes,"  said  the  fisher- 
man, "  on  my  bare  back,  is  the  price  of 
my  fish,  and  I  will  not  bate  one  strand 
of  whip-cord  on  the  bargain." 

The  banker  and  his  guests  were  not 
a  little  astonished,  but  our  chapman 
was  resolute,  and  remonstrance  was  in 
vain.  At  length  the  banker  exclaimed, 
"  Well,  well,  the  fellow  is  a  humorist, 
and  the  fish  we  must  have,  but  lay  on 
lightly,  and  let  the  price  be  paid  in  our 
presence." 

After  fifty  lashes  had  been  adminis- 
tered, "  Hold,  hold  ! "  exclaimed  the 
fisherman,  "  I  have  a  partner  in  this  busi- 
ness, and  it  is  fitting  that  he  should 
receive  his  share." 

"  What !  are  there  two  such  mad- 
caps in  the  world?"  exclaimed  the 
banker;  "name  him,  and  he  shall  be 
sent  for  instantly  ! " 

"  You  need  not  go  for  him,"  said  the 
fisherman  ;  "  you  will  find  him  at  your 
gate,  in  the  shape  of  your  own  porter, 
who  would  not  let  me  in  until  I  prom- 
ised that  he  should  have  the  half  of 


whatever  I  might  receive  for  my  tur- 
bot." 

"  Oh,  oh  !  "  said  the  banker ;  "  I  now 
see  through  it — bring  him  up  instantly ; 
he  shall  receive  his  stijDulated  moiety 
with  the  strictest  justice." 

The  ceremony  being  finished,  the 
porter  was  discharged,  and  the  banker 
amply  rewarded  the  fisherman. 


Dress  and  Personal  Peculiarities  of 
Iiongrv7ortli. 

Mb.  Longworth  was  of  small  stat- 
ure, his  height  being  five  feet  and  one 
inch,  an  evident  stoop  in  his  figure 
making  him  appear  shorter  than  he 
really  was.  His  hair  was  partially  gray, 
thin,  and  scattered  over  the  sides  and 
back  of  his  head.  It  was  to  him  a 
matter  of  thorough  indiff'erence  wheth- 
er his  clothes  were  new  or  old,  or  in 
any  possible  resemblance  to  style  and 
fit ;  and  if  they  became  somewhat  over- 
worn, or  soiled  by  labor  in  his  garden, 
or  here  and  there  torn  a  bit,  it  was  to 
him  no  matter.  He  might,  when  the 
dilapidation  was  a  little  excessive,  and 
the  company  more  elegant  than  he  ex- 
pected, get  off  a  sly  joke  or  two  about 
his  appearance  in  such  fiishionable 
company,  and  say  that  his  wife  would 
scold  him  for  not  brushing  up  a  little 
when  he  was  going  out  among  gentle- 
men ;  but  he  felt  not  the  slightest  per- 
sonal concern  about  it,  and  the  very 
consciousness  of  it  would  pass  away 
with  the  quizzical  smile  that  always 
accompanied  his  apology. 

He  was  always  regular  and  temperate 
in  his  habits,  vigorous  and  active  in 
body,  and  gave  daily  personal  atten- 
tion to  his  business,  spending  much  of 
his  time  with  strings  and  pruning  knife 
in  his  grapery  and  garden.  Until  a  few 
years  before  his  death,  when  a  stroke 
of  disease  somewhat  impaired  the  fac- 
ulty, he  was  possessed  of  a  remarkably 
comprehensive  and  tenacious  memory, 
forgetting  nothing  he  ever  knew,  and 
nothing  he  ever  said.     He  repeated  his 


478 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


quotations  and  told  his  stories,  of 
which  a  varied  and  endless  store 
seemed  at  his  command,  always  in  the 
same  invariable  words.  He  finally 
found  frequent  occasion  to  complain, 
when  at  a  loss  for  a  name  or  a  date, 
that  "  Old  Longworth  has  got  so  for- 
getful." To  aid  his  memory  in  matters 
relating  to  his  business  and  his  daily 
engagements,  he  usually  carried  a  mis- 
cellaneous assortment  of  papers  in  the 
crown  of  his  hat,  and  a  small  paper 
memorandum  pinned  upon  his  coat- 
sleeve. 

Mr.  Longworth  was  exceedingly 
talkative  and  companionable,  perfectly 
sincere,  and  in  his  hospitality  knew  no 
distinction  of  persons.  He  was  sharp 
and  sarcastic  in  repartee,  thoroughly 
informed  in  his  facts,  facetious  and 
cheerful  in  his  humor — which  was  one 
of  his  most  characteristic  traits — and 
abounded  in  quizzes  and  anecdotes  of 
the  most  enlivening  description.  He 
was  particularly  fond  of  banter,  and 
sly,  jocular  personalities,  and  of  speak- 
ing of  himself  in  the  third  persou — 
most  commonly  as  "  Old  Longworth." 

His  house  was  a  plain,  capacious, 
home-looking  building,  its  fine  locality 
and  beautiful  garden  and  surrounding 
grounds  rendering  it  the  most  popular- 
ly attractive  spot  in  the  city — univer- 
sally known  throughout  the  western 
country,  and  freely  used  by  citizens 
and  strangers  as  a  place  of  visit  and 
promenade. 


Extravagance  of  French  Bankers  in 
Private  Life. 

The  enormous  accumulations  of  the 
French  bankers  and  financiers  of  the 
old  school  were,  in  many  instances, 
dissipated  in  a  manner  which,  at  least, 
showed  the  easy  method  by  which 
their  gains  were  obtained.  M.  de  Ca- 
lonne,  one  of  the  great  bankers  of  his 
day,  furnishes  a  notable  example  of 
this.  For  a  New  Year's  gift,  he  gave 
a  favorite  lady  a  handful  of  pistachio 


nuts,  wrapped  up  in  papillotes ;  and  in 
presenting  them,  he  warned  her  not  to 
destroy  the  papillotes  without  proper 
precaution.  The  lady  wanted  a  comfit- 
box  to  contain  the  pistachios.  The  ex- 
travagant and  enamored  financier  offer- 
ed her,  for  the  purpose  named,  a  superb 
gold  box  enriched  with  diamonds  ;  but 
what  was  the  surprise  of  his  mistress 
when,  opening  the  box,  she  found  it 
full  of  new  louis,  and,  unfolding  the 
multitude  of  papers,  discovered  each 
of  them  to  be  a  cash  note  for  three 
hundred  livres. 

Another  banker,  M.  Baudard  de 
Saint  James,  affords  a  similar  case  of 
reckless  prodigality  in  his  personal 
habits.  This  renowned  financier,  hav- 
ing more  money  than  taste  or  principle, 
spent  enormous  sums  on  the  noted  cy- 
prian,  Mademoiselle  de  Beauvoisin, 
who  had  long  held  his  heart  by  her 
captivating  spell.  The  weak-minded 
millionnaire  gave  her,  in  jewels  and 
other  presents,  nearly  two  million 
livres,  besides  an  annuity  of  sixty 
thousand  livres.  At  her  death,  the 
sale  of  her  effects,  derived  from  her 
connection  with  the  banker,  furnished 
some  curious  developments  touching 
her  past  relations  to  that  monarch  of 
the  money  mart.  Among  the  number- 
less articles  pertaining  to  her  toilette 
were  some  two  hundred  rings,  each  ri- 
valling the  other  in  value  ;  there  were 
above  one  hundred  suits  of  the  most 
elegant  dresses ;  linen  of  choicer  qual- 
ity than  any  known  in  court  circles; 
and  her  collection  of  loose  diamonds, 
like  the  shop  of  a  jeweller,  were  amas- 
sed in  papers.  This  sale  made  a  great 
noise  in  Paris  ;  and  every  frail  one  as- 
pired to  become  the  mistress  of  the  be- 
reaved millionnaire.  But  M.  de  Saint 
James — whose  real  name  was  Saint- 
gemme,  which  he  had  thus  anglicized 
— shortly  afterward  became  bankrupt, 
and  finally  insane. 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,   ETC. 


479 


Magnificent  Residence  of  Rothschild 
in  Paris. 

The  French  chateau  or  palace  of  M. 
Rothschild — the  Ferrieres  domain,  once 
the  property  of  Fouche— was  built  by 
Sir  Joseph  Paxton ;  it  covers  an  im- 
mense surface,  and  is  all  in  a  style  of 
kingly  splendor. 

The  internal  decorations  have  all 
been  executed  after  the  designs  of  Eu- 
gene Lami,  architect.  Independent  of 
the  auxiliary  buildings  and  stables, 
which  are  all  that  wealth  can  make 
them  (the  stables  being  made  to  ac- 
commodate eighty  horses),  the  chateau 
is  a  magnificent  establishment,  the  ser- 
vice of  which  is  carried  on  by  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  servants.  Besides  the 
private  apartments  of  the  Rothschilds, 
there  are  eighteen  complete  suites  of 
apartments  for  visitors. 

An  extensive  porch,  remarkable  for 
candelabra  in  Italian  earthenware, 
forms  the  entrance.  A  winding  stair- 
case leads  into  the  hall — a  room  which 
is  always  unique  in  France — and  which 
occupies  the  grand  centre  of  the  build- 
ing ;  it  is  about  one  hundred  and  thirty 
feet  long,  and  of  nearly  the  same  width, 
seventy  feet  high,  and  is  covered  in  by 
a  glass  roof.  It  is  in  this  vast  apart- 
ment that  the  chief  portion  of  the  artis- 
tic riches  of  the  chateau  is  to  be  found, 
and  the  number  and  value  of  which  is 
so  great,  that  it  has  as  yet  been  found 
impossible  to  catalogue  them.  A  li- 
brary containing  thousands  of  superb 
volumes,  Italian  cabinets,  a  collection 
of  gems  and  medals,  noble  canvases 
by  Velasquez,  Vandyke,  Giorgione,  etc., 
are  arrayed  round  the  walls,  the  upper 
part  of  which  is  surrounded  by  a  gal- 
lery hung  with  tapestry  from  the  Gobe- 
lins. This  gallery  is  reached  by  an 
immense  stone  staircase,  protected  by  a 
richly-carved  ebony  balustrade,  and 
decorated  with  pictures  by  Snyders. 
Underneath  runs  a  frieze  of  Limoges 
enamels,  let  into  the  wall. 

The  staircase  leads  to  the  hall  gallery 
ou  one  side,  and  on  the  other  to  a 


sumptuously  decorated  lobby,  which 
communicates  with  the  private  and 
reception  rooms,  the  splendor  of  these 
latter  being  almost  beyond  description. 
The  style  of  the  dining  room  is  similar 
to  that  of  the  great  Garter  Room  at 
Windsor  Castle,  only  it  is  more  splen- 
did, and  in  better  taste.  It  opens  into 
a  smaller  family  dining  room,  decorat- 
ed with  fresco-paintings  by  Rousseau. 
It  would  fill  a  volume  to  describe  the 
grandeur  of  the  furniture,  the  gold  and 
silver  plate,  and  other  appointments  of 
this  palace  of  wealth  and  luxury. 


Louis  d'Ors  and  Razors;  or,  Bankers 
and  Barbers. 
Shortly  before  the  French  Revolu- 
tion, a  perruquier  attending  a  banker 
in  Paris,  had  dressed  his  hair,  and  was 
proceeding  to  shave  him,  when  he  sud- 
denly quitted  the  room  in  great  haste 
and  apparent  embarrassment.  After 
waiting  some  time,  the  banker  sent  to 
the  house  of  the  hair  dresser,  to  inquire 
why  he  had  left  him  without  finishing 
his  dressing.  The  poor  fellow  was  with 
much  difiiculty  induced  to  go  back, 
when  at  last  he  consented,  and  was  in- 
terrogated as  to  the  cause  of  his  quit- 
ting the  rooni  so  suddenly.  "  Why, 
sir,"  said  the  poor  fellow  to  the  banker, 
much  agitated,  "the  sight  of  those 
rouleaus  of  louis  d'ors  on  your  table, 
and  the  recollection  of  my  starving 
family,  so  wrought  upon  me,  that  I 
was  strongly  tempted  to  murder  you  ; 
but  I  thank  God  that  I  had  resolution 
to  quit  the  room  instantly,  or  I  fear 
I  should  have  committed  the  horrid 
crime."  The  banker,  sensible  of  the 
danger  he  had  escaped,  inquired  into 
the  circumstances  of  the  barber's  fam- 
ily, and,  finding  them  embarrassed,  set- 
tled an  annuity  on  him  of  one  thousand 
livres. 

Bleeding  a  Banker  by  the  Job. 

Monsieur  Vaudeville,  the  banker, 
was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men  in 


480 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Paris  on  the  score  of  avarice,  though 
rated  at  one  million  sterling.  At  the 
age  of  seventy-two  he  contracted  a  fe- 
ver, which  obliged  him  to  send — the 
first  time  in  his  life — for  a  surgeon  to 
bleed  him,  but  who,  asking  him  ten- 
pence  for  said  operation,  was  forthwith 
dismissed.  He  sent  for  an  apothecary, 
but  he  was  as  high  in  his  demand.  He 
then  sent  for  a  barber,  who  at  length 
agreed  to  undertake  the  operation  for 
threepence  each  time.  "  But,"  said  the 
stingy  old  fellow,  "how  often  will  it 
be  requisite  to  bleed  ? "  "  Three  times," 
answered  the  barber.  "And  what 
quantity  of  blood  do  you  intend  to 
take  ?  "  "  About  eight  ounces,"  was 
the  reply.  "  That  will  be  ninepence — 
too  much,  too  mwcA,"  said  the  miser ; 
"  I  have  determined  to  adopt  a  cheap- 
er way:  take  the  whole  quantity  you 
design  to  take  at  three  times  at  once, 
and  it  will  save  me  sixpence."  This 
being  insisted  upon,  he  lost  twenty- 
four  ounces  of  blood,  which  caused  his 
death  in  a  few  days.  He  left  his  im- 
mense property  to  the  king. 


Marriag-e  Suit  by  Colston,  the 
Millionnaire. 

The  well  known  charitable  inclina- 
tions of  Colston,  the  English  million- 
naire and  merchant,  were  put  to  a  very 
peculiar  test,  at  a  time  when  he  enter- 
tained some  thoughts  of  "  changing  his 
condition" — as  even  rich  men  will, 
sometimes.  He  paid  his  addresses  to 
a  lady  with  whose  attractions  he  had 
become  somewhat  smitten,  but  being 
somewhat  timorous  lest  he  should  be 
hindered  in  his  favorite  charitable  de- 
signs, he  thought  he  would  once  for  all 
make  a  trial  of  her  temper  and  disposi- 
tion ;  he  therefore,  one  morning,  filled 
his  pockets  with  gold  and  silver,  in  or- 
d^r  that,  if  any  object  presented  itself 
in  the  course  of  their  tour  over  London 
Bridge,  he  might  satisfy  his  intentions. 
"While  they  were  walking  near  St.  Mag- 
nus' church,  a  woman  in  extreme  mis- 


ery, with  twins  in  her  lap,  sat  begging ; 
and,  as  he  and  his  interested  lady  were 
arm  in  arm,  he  beheld  the  wretched 
object,  put  his  hand  into  his  pocket, 
and  took  out  a  handful  of  gold  and  sil- 
ver, casting  it  unhesitatingly  into  the 
poor  woman's  lap.  The  lady,  being 
greatly  alarmed  at  the  profuse  generos- 
ity, colored  prodigiously ;  so  that,  when 
they  had  gone  a  little  further  toward 
the  bridge,  she  turned  to  him  and  said, 
"  Sir,  do  you  know  what  you  did  a  few 
minutes  ago  ? "  "  Madam,"  replied  Mr. 
C,  "I  never  let  my  left  hand  know 
what  my  right  hand  doeth."  He  then 
took  his  leave  of  her,  and  for  this  rea- 
son he  never  married  to  the  day  of  his 
death,  although  he  lived  to  the  age  of 
fourscore  and  five. 


Gideon  Lee  and  His  liitirary. 

When  Gideon  Lee  commenced  busi- 
ness in  New  York,  on  his  return  from 
the  South,  his  health  was  impaired  and 
feeble,  yet  he  was  compelled  to  labor 
by  the  strong  law  of  necessity.  "I  re- 
member," said  he,  "  one  day,  while 
lifting  and  piling  up  leather,  my 
strength  failed  me,  and  I  fell  on  the 
floor.  I  wept.  My  spirits  were  so 
broken  by  the  thought  that  I  must  die 
in  the  day-spring  of  life,  and  leave  my 
family  unprovided  for ;  it  seemed  to  be 
so  cruel  a  fate.  I  got  home  and  sent 
Ibr  my  physician.  He  was  a  man  of 
sound  sense,  and  knew  me  w^ell.  I 
asked  him  if  he  thought  I  could  recov- 
er ?  '  Why,  yes,  if  you  choose.'  '  Well, 
I  do  choose.'  '  Then  send  that  library 
of  yours  to  the  auction — that  will  stop 
your  reading;  eat  a  fresh  beefsteak 
every  day,  and  with  it  drink  a  glass  of 
brown  stout ;  buy  yourself  a  horse — ^ 
'  Why,  doctor,  I  am  unable  to  incur  the 
expense.'  '  Then  die  ;  for  die  you  will, 
if  you  don't  do  so.'  I  sent  every  book 
in  my  possession,  except  the  Bible,  im- 
mediately to  the  auction.  I  bought  an 
old  horse,  and  lived  as  he  had  directed. 
I  did  not  suffer  myself  for  years  to  looTc 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,  ETC. 


481 


into  a  book,  nor  did  I  omit  to  take  my 
exercise  each  day.  I  gradually  got 
better,  but  I  had  a  long  and  tedious 
time  of  it." 

The  independence  and  steadiness  of 
Lee's  character  were  manifested  on  a 
tour  of  travel  which  he  had  undertaken 
on  foot,  when  wanting  a  supper  and 
night's  lodging,  and  having  no  money 
to  pay  for  them.  He  knocked  at  the 
door  of  a  farmer,  and,  after  explaining 
his  circumstances,  he  proposed  to  chop 
enough  wood  to  pay  for  his  meal  and 
lodging ;  which,  being  assented  to  by 
the  farmer,  he  went  to  work  and  earned 
what  his  self-respect  forbade  him  to  ac- 
cept as  a  charity. 


Jewisli  Banker's  Pree  Table. 

It  is  one  of  the  many  interesting  an- 
ecdotes told  of  the  domestic  life  of 
Abraham  Goldsmid,  of  London,  so 
eminent  as  a  banker  in  the  last  century, 
that  he  was  unstinted  in  the  hospitali- 
ties of  his  house,  manifesting  this  trait 
sometimes  in  a  peculiar  manner.  Being 
an  extraordinary  early  riser — generally 
the  first  in  his  family — it  was  his  con- 
stant habit  to  call  up  his  numerous  vis- 
itors by  four  o'clock  on  summer  morn- 
ings, and  after  taking  a  refreshment  of 
the  choicest  tea  and  coffee,  etc.,  he 
would  take  them  round  his  grounds 
and  garden  till  the  hour  of  breakfast, 
after  which  he  dressed  for  the  day,  and 
was  in  his  town  counting  house  gene- 
rally by  ten  o'clock. 

Notwithstanding  the  vast  extent  and 
responsibilities  of  his  business,  no  man 
seemed  to  take  more  delight  in  domes- 
tic pleasures  and  hospitalities.  Accord- 
ing to  the  tenets  of  his  religion,  he 
strictly  observed  the  Jewish  Sabbath ; 
and  that  of  the  Christians,  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  was  kept  by  him,  at  his 
country  house,  with  a  general  and  lux- 
urious hospitality,  open  to  all  who  had 
ever  been  once  introduced  to  him. 

On  these  occasions,  the  table  was  fur- 
nished with  everything  in  its  season, 
31 


cooked  both  according  to  the  Dutch 
and  English  fashions,  the  latter  of 
which  he  never  partook  of  himself,  but 
his  visitors — generally  as  many  Chris- 
tians as  Jews — were  at  liberty  to  in- 
dulge themselves  either  according  to 
fancy  or  religion  ;  and  the  great  bank- 
er seemed  never  happier  than  when, 
mingling  in  this  social  company,  he 
divested  himself  of  all  ideas  of  ^^  Jive  per 
cent.  1 " 


Pleasant  Parlor  Voyagres. 

A  MERCHANT  well  known  for  his 
facetiousness,  was  dining  with  an  Eng- 
lish nobleman,  and  as  the  company 
were  talking  of  a  voyage  to  India, 
some  glasses  of  Cape  wine  were  handed 
round  the  table.  All  the  guests  ex- 
pressed their  praises  of  its  exquisite  fla- 
vor, and  wished  much  to  have  a  sec- 
ond taste  of  it.  When  the  merchant 
found  it  was  in  vain  to  indulge  this 
hope,  he  turned  to  the  person  who  sat 
next  to  him,  and,  happily  alluding  to 
the  voyage  to  India,  said,  "  As  we  can- 
not dovhle  the  Gape^  suppose  we  go  back 
to  Madeira." 


Rothschild's  Purchase  of  a  Painting. 

That  Rothschild's  liberality  was  not 
commensurate  with  his  wealth,  is  at- 
tested by  an  anecdote  related  by  Mar- 
goliouth,  who  had  a  particular  knowl- 
edge of  the  great  Hebrew.  There  was, 
he  says,  a  Mr.  Herman,  in  London,  an 
Israelite,  who  dealt  in  fine  pictures  and 
paintings.  He  used  to  know  Eoths- 
child,  when  in  Manchester.  They 
used  frequently  to  meet  together  at  the 
same  dining  rooms.  When  Mr.  Herman 
subsequently  established  himself  in 
London,  he  called  upon  the  then  chief 
rabbi,  Dr.  Herschell,  and  asked  him 
for  a  line  of  recommendation  to  Roths- 
child,  with  a  view  to  disposing  of  a 
couple  of  most  valuable  paintings. 
The  rabbi  vouchsafed  the  recommen- 
dation.   Mr.  Herman  called  upon  the 


482 


COMMERCIAL   AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


millionnaire,  his  co-religionist,  witli  the 
precious  objects  of  art.  Rothschild 
seemed  startled  when  Mr.  Herman 
asked  £300  for  a  picture,  which  was 
really  cheap  at  that  price.  "  What ! 
three  hundred  pounds  !  I  cannot  afford 
to  spend  so  much  money  on  pictures ; 
I  must  buy  ponies  for  my  boys,  and 
such  like  things,  which  are  either  use- 
ful or  profitable;  but  I  cannot  throw 
away  money  on  paintings.  However, 
as  the  rabbi  recommends  you  to  me,  I 
will  buy  a  picture  from  you  for  one 
hundred  and  thirty  pounds.  I  do  not 
care  what  sort  of  a  thing  it  is— I  want 
to  make  it  a  present  to  some  one. 
Choose  one  from  among  your  collec- 
tion for  that  amount." 


"The  Stona  that  was  Rejected:" 
Judah  Touro's  Benefactions. 

An  instance  of  the  disinterested 
character  of  Judah  Touro's  religious 
benefactions  is  thus  related :  •  Some 
poor  wandering  Orientals,  professing 
to  be  agents  to  collect  funds  for  the 
relief  of  the  persecuted  Christians  in 
Jerusalem,  had  applied  in  vain  to  sev- 
eral rich  men  in  New  Orleans.  At  last, 
a  gentleman,  of  rather  a  jocular  turn  of 
mind,  suggested,  as  a  joke,  that  the 
poor  Christians,  who  desired  to  raise 
funds  to  build  up  their  church  in  Jeru- 
salem, should  seek  the  aid  of  Mr.  Touro 
(who,  though  a  most  wealthy  and  be- 
nevolent merchant,  was  a  strict  Jew)^  in 
behalf  of  their  object.  The  missiona- 
ries acted  upon  the  suggestion,  and 
soon  returned  to  thank  the  gentleman 
who  had  directed  them  to  so  "  liberal  a 
Christian."  Mr.  Touro  had  subscribed 
two  hundred  dollars  to  their  cause  ! 


TTnder  Medical  Treatment— Jacob 
Barker  as  a  Patient. 

Jacob  Barker  having  occasion  to 
expose  himself  to  peculiar  danger, 
when  the  yellow  fever  was  raging  in 
New  Orleans  in  1837,  and  not  being 


acclimated,  asked  his  physician.  Dr. 
Kerr,  for  a  prescription  to  be  used  in 
case  of  attack ;  the  doctor  prepared  the 
medicine,  and  instructed  Mr.  B.  under 
no  circumstances  to  have  a  vein  opened 
— that  as  soon  as  the  approach  of  the 
enemy  was  perceptible,  usually  indicat- 
ed by  a  chill,  to  resort  to  cupping  of 
the  head  and  ancle,  baths  of  warm  wa- 
ter strongly  impregnated  with  cayenne 
pepper  and  mustard,  drinking  warm 
lemonade,  and  as  soon  as  the  skin  be- 
came a  little  softened,  to  take  the  medi- 
cine. Should  there  be  much  pain  in 
the  head  or  back,  w^hich  is  usual,  ice  to 
be  applied  constantly,  refraining  from 
all  food  save  ice,  and  eating  as  much 
of  this  as  inclination  dictated.  If  the 
fever  continued  or  returned,  twenty 
grains  of  calomel  to  be  taken  the  fol- 
lowing day,  in  either  case  in  a  day  or 
two  a  large  dose  of  castor  oil.  Mr. 
Barker  was  taken  at  Plaquemine,  in 
the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  court.  He 
immediately  repaired  to  the  hotel,  pur- 
sued the  course  recommended  by  Dr. 
Kerr,  sending  for  Dr.  Cummings,  a 
highly  respectable  physician  of  that 
place,  to  visit  him  with  his  cupping 
apparatus.  He  came,  said  he  had  no 
such  apparatus,  and  proposed  to  open 
a  vein,  which  Mr.  Barker,  of  course,  de- 
clined. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  doctor,  "  you  are  a 
very  sick  man,  and  ought  to  have  some 
medicine  immediately." 

"  I  know  that,  but  not  until  I  have 
been  cupped." 

"  Then,  for  what  have  you  sent  for 
me?" 

"  To  cup  me." 

"  You  might  as  well  have  sent  for  a 
barber." 

"Provided  he  could  cup  me  as 
well." 

Cupping  apparatus  not  being  found 
in  Plaquemine,  an  express  was  sent  to 
Baton  Rouge.  Dr.  Ogden  came  pro- 
vided, and  the  operation  being  per- 
formed, the  doctor  remarked : 

"You    are    a    veiy  sick  man,   and 


DOMESTIC   RELATIONS  OF  MEIICIIAXTS,   BANKERS,   ETC, 


483 


ought  to  take  some  medicine  imme- 
diately." 

"I  intend  to  do  so,"  replied  Mr. 
Barker,  "  for  which  purpose  I  have  it 
in  my  pocket." 

"  I  suppose,"  said  the  doctor,  "  you 
have  no  objection  to  letting  me  see  it ;  " 
and  who,  having  seen  it,  said,  "  I  do 
not  think  it  will  do  you  any  harm,  al- 
though I  should  not  give  you  half  the 
quantity." 

Mr.  Barker  took  it,  believing  it  to  be 
fifty  grains  of  calomel,  when  the  doctor 
remarked,  "  You  seem  to  love  it."  "  Oh, 
no,"  said  Mr.  Barker,  "  I  do  it  mechan- 
ically, because  it  is  to  be  done."  Mr. 
Barker  was  well  again  in  ten  days. 


Hancock,  the  Patriot  Merchant. 

During  the  siege  of  Boston,  General 
Washington  consulted  Congress  upon 
the  propriety  of  bombarding  the  town  of 
Boston.  Mr,  Hancock,  a  distinguished 
merchant,  was  the  President  of  Congress. 
After  General  Washington's  letter  was 
read,  a  solemn  silence  ensued.  This 
was  broken  by  a  member  making  a 
motion  that  the  House  should  resolve 
itself  into  a  committee  of  the  whole,  in 
order  that  Mr.  Hancock  might  give  his 
opinion  upon  the  important  subject,  as 
he  was  deeply  interested,  from  having 
all  his  estate  in  Boston,  which  estate 
was  very  large  and  valuable.  ' 

After  Mr.  Hancock  had  left  the 
chair,  he  addressed  the  chairman  of 
the  committee  of  the  whole,  in  the  fol- 
lowing words  :  "  It  is  true,  sir ;  nearly 
all  the  property  I  have  in  the  world  is 
in  houses  and  other  real  estate  in  the 
town  of  Boston ;  but  if  the  expulsion 
of  the  British  army  from  it,  and  the 
liberties  of  the  country,  require  their 
being  burnt  to  ashes — issue  the  order 
for  that  purpose  immediately." 


Priend  Coates's  Management  of  Girard. 

GiRARD  insisted  on  being  the  sole 

and  immovable  judge  of  his  benevolent 


duty.  If  rightly  approached,  he  would 
give  largely,  but  if  dictated  to  or  treat- 
ed with  impertinence,  he  would  not 
give  at  all.  Samuel  Coates,  one  of  the 
old  Friends,  knew  how  to  manage 
Girard,  while  many,  from  want  of  this 
specific  knowledge,  sought  aid  from 
him  unsuccessfully.  Mr.  Coates  was 
one  of  the  managers  of  the  Pennsylva- 
nia Hospital,  which  was  then  much  in 
need  of  funds.  He  undertook  to  get  a 
donation  from  Mr.  Girard,  and  meeting 
him  in  the  street,  stated  his  object. 
Mr.  Girard  asked  him  to  come  to  him 
the  next  morning. 

Mr.  Coates  called,  and  found  Girard 
at  breakfast.  He  asked  him  to  take 
some,  which  Mr.  Coates  did.  After 
breakfast,  Mr.  Coates  said,  "  Well,  Mr. 
Girard,  we  will  proceed  to  business." 
"  Well,  what  have  you  come  for,  Sam- 
uel?" said  Mr.  Girard.  "Just  what 
thee  pleases,  .Stephen,"  replied  Mr. 
Coates.  Girard  drew  a  check  of  two 
thousand  dollars,  which  Mr.  Coates  put 
in  his  poeket  without  looking  at  it. 
"  What !  you  no  look  at  the  check  I 
gave  you  ?  "  said  Mr.  Girard.  "  No  ; 
beggars  must  not  be  choosers,  Ste- 
phen," said  Mr.  Coates.  *  "  Hand  me 
back  again  the  check  I  handed  you," 
demanded  Girard.  "  No,  no,  Stephen 
— a  bird  in  the  hand  is  worth  two  in 
the  bush,"  responded  Mr.  Coates.  "  By 
George,"  said  Girard,  "  you  have  caught 
me  upon  the  right  footing."  He  then 
drew  a  check  for  five  thousand  dollars 
and  presented  it  to  Mr.  Coates,  observ- 
ing, "  Will  you  now  look  at  it  ? " 
"  Well,  to  please  thee,  I  will,"  said  Mr. 
Coates.  "  Now  give  me  back  the  first 
check,"  demanded  Mr.  Girard — which 
was  accordingly  done. 


John  J.  Aster's  Board  and  Clothes. 

It  is  said  that  when  John  Jacob 
Astor  was  once  congratulated  by  a  cer- 
tain person  for  his  wealth,  he  replied 
by  pointing  to  his  pile  of  bonds,  and 
maps  of  property,  at  the  same  time  in- 


484 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


quiring,  "  "Would  you  like  to  manage 
these  matters  for  your  board  and 
clothes  ?  "  The  man  demurred  at  the 
idea.  "  Sir,"  continued  the  rich  man, 
'' it  is  all  that  I  get  I '' 


Seventy-Pive  Thousand  Dollars  at  one 
Draug-ht. 

One  of  the  most  singular  anecdotes 
is  related  of  Thomas  Gresham,  the 
princely  merchant  of  Queen  Elizabeth's 
time.  The  Spanish  ambassador  to  the 
English  court  having  extolled  the 
great  riches  of  the  king  his  master,  and 
of  the  grandees  of  his  kingdom,  before 
the  queen,  Sir  Thomas,  who  was  pres- 
ent, told  him  that  the  queen  had  sub- 
jects who,  at  one  meal,  expended  not 
only  as  much  as  the  daily  revenues  of 
his  king,  but  also  of  all  his  grandees  ; 
and  added,  "  this  I  will  prove  any  day, 
and  lay  you  a  considerable  sum  on  the 
result."' 

The  ambassador  soon  after  came  un- 
awares to  the  house  of  Sir  Thomas, 
and  dined  with  him  ;  and,  finding  only 
an  ordinary  meal,  said,  "  Well,  sir,  you 
have  lost  your  wager."  "  Not  at  all," 
replied  Sir  Thomas,  "  and  this  you 
shall  presently  see."  He  then  pulled 
out  a  box  from  his  pocket,  and  taking 
one  of  the  largest  and  finest  eastern 
pearls  out  of  it,  exhibited  it  to  the  am- 
bassador, and  then  ground  it,  and 
drank  the  powder  of  it  in  a  glass  of 
wine,  to  the  health  of  the  queen  his 
mistress.  "  My  lord  ambassador,"  said 
Sir  Thomas,  "  you  know  I  have  often 
refused  fifteen  thousand  pounds  for 
that  pearl ;  have  I  lost  or  won  ?  "  "I 
yield  the  wager  as  lost,"  said  the  am- 
bassador, "  and  I  do  not  think  there 
are  four  subjects  in  the  world  that 
would  do  as  much  for  their  sovereigns." 


New  Orleans  Broker  Benouncing  a 
Fortune. 

When    Mr.    Lefevre,    the    wealthy 
Louisiana  sugar  planter,  died,  his  es- 


tate was  appraised  at  about  seven  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars.  He  died  with- 
out issue,  and  his  wife  had  some  time 
previously  preceded  him  to  the  grave. 
On  his  will  being  opened,  it  was  found 
that  he  had  left  the  whole  of  his  prop- 
erty to  be  divided  equally  between  two 
gentlemen  of  New  Orleans,  one  a  neph- 
ew of  the  testator's  wife,  and  the  other 
the  broker  who  had  transacted  his 
business  in  that  city — a  man  in  no 
wise  related  to  him,  only  in  the  way  of 
business.  To  the  astonishment  of  his 
friends,  this  broker,  on  finding  that  he 
had  been  made  legatee  to  half  the  mil- 
lionnaire's  vast  estate,  went  before  a 
notary  public  and  renounced  the  whole 
legacy,  making  it  over  in  favor  of  the 
relatives  of  the  deceased  in  France, 
consisting  of  nephews  and  nieces  to  the 
number  of  twenty  or  thirty,  and  all 
humbly  situated  in  life.  The  old  man 
had  previously  made  a  will,  in  which 
his  French  relatives  were  handsomely 
remembered ;  but,  on  returning  from  a 
visit  from  them,  for  some  reason  known 
only  to  himself,  he  tore  the  will  to 
pieces  and  wrote  a  new  one,  leaving 
everything  to  his  wife's  nephew  and 
his  broker.  The  broker  who  thus  so 
magnanimously  renounced  his  share  of 
the  estate,  gave  as  his  reason  for  so  do- 
ing, that  he  was  already  as  rich  as  he 
wished  to  be,  and  felt  so  independent 
that  he  did  not  wish  it  to  be  in  the 
power  of  any  one  to  say  that  any  part 
of  his  fortune  was  not  of  his  own 
making. 


Amos  Lawrence's  Opinion  of 
Marriage. 

This  distinguished  and  excellent 
merchant  w^as  an  advocate  of  early 
maiTiages,  but  was  strenuously  opposed 
to  any  man's  marrying  a  fortune.  Speak- 
ing of  a  desirable  match  for  a  friend, 
he  said,  "  My  only  objection  to  her  is, 
she  has  a  few  thousand  dollars  in  cash. 
This,  however,  might  be  remedied  ;  for 
after  purchasing  a  house,   the  lalance 


DOMESTIC   RELATIONS  OF   MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,   ETC. 


485 


might  de  given  to  near  connections^  or  to 
some  puUic  institutiony  As  this  benev- 
olent millionnaire  was  in  the  habit  of 
illustrating  and  giving  point  to  his 
opinions  by  pleasing  reminiscences,  the 
absence  of  anything  of  the  kind  in  con- 
nection with  the  above  remark,  is  evi- 
dence that  the  good  man  was  unable  to 
cite  any ! 


Ebenezer  Francis  and  the  Students* 
Table. 

When  the  late  Ebenezer  Francis, 
one  of  the  heaviest  of  Boston  bankers, 
was  treasurer  of  Harvard  College,  he 
used  occasionally  to  visit  the  Com- 
mons' Hall,  and  from  the  first  w^as  dis- 
agreeably struck  with  the  ordinary  ap- 
pearance of  the  table,  both  the  food  and 
the  equipage.  He  saw  only  a  bare 
pine  table,  on  which  no  cloth  was  ever 
spread,  the  cheapest  kind  of  crockery, 
iron  spoons,  and  the  poorest  descrip- 
tion of  knives  and  forks.  Of  this  for- 
bidding scene  he  gave  a  lively  picture 
to  the  corporation,  and  proposed  an 
entire  reform.  Induced  by  his  repre- 
sentations, some  of  the  faculty  made  a 
personal  inspection,  which  convinced 
them  of  the  justice  of  Mr.  Francis's  dis- 
satisfaction, and  rendered  them  equally 
displeased  with  the  condition  of  things 
in  the  Commons'  Hall.  But  with  an 
impoverished  treasury,  there  seemed  to 
be  an  insuperable  bar  to  effecting  the 
needed  changes.  Indeed,  much  hesi- 
tancy was  felt  as  to  the  expediency  of 
the  proposed  reform,  both  on  account 
of  the  cost,  and  the  liability  to  destruc- 
tion of  the  property  by  a  set  of  unruly 
young  men.  These  objections  were 
met  by  Mr.  Francis,  by  the  declara- 
tion that,  as  to  the  cost,  he  would  see 
that  the  college  was  not  the  poorer  by 
the  reform,  and  as  to  the  destruction  of 
the  property,  he  would  trust  to  the  stu- 
dents' honor.  Immediately  he  pur- 
chased, at  his  own  expense,  a  suitable 
supply  of  good  table  linen;  ordered 
from  England  the  necessary  quantity 


of  tableware  of  the  best  kind,  and,  to 
give  it  a  distinctive  character,  had  it 
decorated  with  views  of  the  college 
buildings;  he  also  sent  an  order  to 
Sheffield  for  the  best  knives  and  forks, 
and  procured  from  Boston  a  supply  of 
spoons.  Such  decided  improvements 
naturally  astonished  the  students,  who 
could  scarcely  believe  their  own  eyes. 
So  great  was  the  contrast,  that  they 
doubted  the  reality  of  the  scene,  and 
suspected  the  spoons  to  be  only  the  old 
iron  ones,  slightly  coated  with  silver. 
To  satisfy  their  doubts,  a  student  car- 
ried one  of  the  spoons  to  an  assayer  in 
Boston,  who  pronounced  it  the  best  of 
silver.  There  was,  as  Mr.  Francis  had 
predicted,  no  destruction  of  the  table 
wares.  So  carefully,  indeed,  was  it 
kept,  that  a  part  of  the  same  service 
is  now  in  use  at  the  commencement 
dinners. 


Unparalleled  "Will  of  Thelluson,  the 
liondon  Banker. 

Peter  Thelluson  was  a  London 
banker  whose  ruling  passion  was  an  in- 
satiate love  of  money.  He  died  in 
July,  1787,  worth  upward  of  seven 
hundred  thousand  pounds  sterling. 
By  his  singular  will,  after  bequeathing 
to  his  wife  and  children  about  one 
hundred  thousand  pounds,  he  directed 
that  the  residue  of  his  property  should 
be  vested  in  the  purchase  of  estates,  to 
accumulate  until  such  time  as  all  his 
children,  and  the  male  children  of  his 
sons  and  grandsons,  shall  die,  and  then 
the  lineal  male  descendants,  who  must 
bear  the  name  of  Thelluson,  shall  in- 
herit in  three  equal  lots — the  number 
of  his  sons — thus  creating  prospective- 
ly three  large  landed  estates.  In  case 
of  failure  of  male  descendants,  the  es- 
tates to  be  sold  and  the  proceeds  ap- 
plied toward  the  paying  of  the  nation- 
al debt.  Many  attempts  were  made  to 
upset  this  singular  will,  but  they  all 
failed.  It  has  been  calculated  that 
ninety    or    one    hundred    years    must 


486 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


elapse,  from  tlie  date  of  the  will,  before 
the  lineal  male  descendants  can  take 
possession  of  the  property;  and  if, 
during  that  period,  the  sums  of  money 
left  by  the  testator  could  have  been  in- 
vested at  five  per  cent.,  compound  in- 
terest, they  would  amount  to  more 
than  three  hundred  and  fifty  million 
dollars.  No  more  wills  of  this  kind 
can  be  made,  for  a  subsequent  act  of 
Parliament  limits  the  power  of  bequest 
to  a  life  or  lives  in  being,  and  twenty- 
one  years  after  the  death  of  the  sur- 
vivor. 


Business  and  Something:  Else. 

A  YOUNG  man  went  from  New  York 
city  to  the  far  West,  where  he  com- 
menced business  on  his  own  account, 
and  married.  His  former  business  asso- 
ciates in  the  city  were  interested  in  his 
"  luck,"  and  when  a  merchant  of  that 
city  was  about  to  journey  to  the  place 
where  the  young  man  had  located,  he 
was  requested  just  to  visit  the  emi- 
grant trader,  and  ascertain  how  things 
vrere  getting  along.  Accordingly,  the 
New  York  Paul  Pry  ascertained  the 
whereabouts  of  the  young  man,  and 
called  on  him  quite  early  in  the  morn- 
ing. The  introduction  of  the  New  York- 
er to  his  wife  was  quite  ofi'hand  and  un- 
ceremonious, and  he  was  requested  to 
be  seated,  and  partake  of  the  morning 
meal.  The  young  wife  had  prepared  the 
steak,  biscuit,  and  coffee  with  her  own 
hands,  and  for  a  table  had  used  her 
kneading-board,  over  which  a  napkin 
was  spread,  and  the  "  board  "  placed 
on  her  lap.  The  New  Yorker  declined 
a  seat  at  the  meal,  and  by  and  by  took 
his  leave.  On  making  his  report  to  his 
New  York  friends  as  to  how  he  found 
their  former  comrade  living,  he  describ- 
ed the  style  as  "  magnificent !  " — and 
for  explanation  of  the  superlative,  he 
said  that,  "  were  he  the  owner  of  that 
young  man's  furniture,  Tieicould  not  take 
ten  thousand  dollars  for  the  legs  of  Ms 
table  r' 


Medical  Practice  as  viewed  "by  Girard. 

Girard's  belief  in  the  many  simple, 
though  not  always  adapted  remedies 
with  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
treating  the  sick,  was  accompanied,  as 
is  not  unusual  in  such  cases,  with  a 
rather  disparaging  opinion  of  the  medi- 
cal profession.  In  the  annual  recur- 
rence of  the  fever  which  followed  for 
many  years  the  epidemic  of  1793,  and 
in  which  his  services  w^ere  always  freely 
rendered  to  the  sick  and  poor,  he  at- 
tributed much  of  the  severity  of  the 
disease  to  the  ignorance  of  the  local 
physicians  about  the  nature  of  the  pes- 
tilence. The  following  humorous  allu- 
sion to  the  doctors  is  found  in  a  letter 
written  in  January,  1799,  to  his  friend 
Devize,  then  in  France,  but  w^ho  had 
been  associated  with  him  as  physician 
of  the  Bush  Hill  hospital  in  1793.  Af- 
ter describing  the  effects  of  the  epi- 
demic, he  says :  "  During  all  this 
frightful  time,  I  have  constantly  re- 
mained in  the  city,  and  without  neg- 
lecting my  public  duties,  I  have  played 
a  part  which  wiH  make  you  smile. 
Would  you  believe  it,  my  friend,  that  I 
have  visited  as  many  as  fifteen  sick 
peojDle  in  a  day^  and  what  will  sur- 
prise you  still  more,  I  have  lost  only 
one  patient,  an  Irishman,  who  would 
drink  a  little.  I  do  not  flatter  myself 
that  I  have  cured  one  single  person, 
but  you  will  think  with  me,  that  in 
my  quality  of  Philadelphia  physician, 
I  have  been  very  moderate,  and  that 
not  one  of  my  confreres  has  killed 
fewer  than  myself." 


An  old  Merchant's  Style  and 
Equipag-e. 

Among  the  most  eminent  New  Eng- 
land merchants  of  the  last  century  was 
Thomas  Russell,  who  was  one  of  the 
first  who  engaged  in  the  American 
trade  with  Russia  at  the  close  of  the 
revolutionary  war,  his  place  of  busi- 
ness being  Boston.     He  was  of  an  old 


DOMESTIC   RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,  ETC. 


487 


Charlestown  (Mass.)  family— if  any- 
thing relating  to  family  can  be  called 
old  in  this  country,  especially  in  refer- 
ence to  the  middle  of  the  last  century — 
and  resided  there  a  part  of  the  year  till 
his  death.  Mr.  Russell  was  regarded, 
in  his  day,  as  standing  at  the  head  of 
the  merchants  of  Boston.  According 
to  the  fashion  of  the  day,  he  generally 
appeared  on  'Change  in  full  dress — 
which  implied  at  that  time,  for  elderly 
persons,  usually  a  coat  of  some  light- 
colored  cloth,  small-clothes,  diamond 
or  paste  buckles  at  the  knee  and  in  the 
shoes,  silk  stockings,  powdered  hair, 
and  a  cocked  hat ;  in  cold  weather,  a 
scarlet  cloak.  A  scarlet  cloak  and  a 
white  head  were,  in  the  last  centurj^,  to 
be  seen  at  the  end  of  every  pew  in  some 
of  the  Boston  churches.  Though  living 
on  the  bank  of  Charles  river,  on  great 
occasions,  before  the  bridge  connected 
Charlestown  with  Boston,  his  family 
drove  to  town  in  a  coach  drawn  by 
four  black  horses,  through  Cambridge, 
Brighton,  and  Roxbury.  Mr.  Russell, 
at  his  decease  in  1796,  is  supposed  to 
have  left  the  largest  property  which 
had  at  that  time  been  accumulated  in 
New  England. 


Tavern-Waiter  and  his  Banker. 

To  be  a  tavern-waiter  and  yet  have  a 
banker  is  what  falls  to  the  lot  of  but 
few.  Indeed,  such  a  case,  if  existing 
at  all,  must  be  found  to  stand  quite  by 
itself.  Old  Mr.  Goldsmid,  the  million- 
naire  banker,  was  for  many  years  ac- 
customed to  dine  in  a  plain  and  simple 
way  at  the  London  Tavern,  and  was 
usually  served  by  the  same  waiter. 
This  waiter  had  always  been  remark- 
able for  his  civility  and  attention.  One 
day,  however,  Mr.  Gr.  observed  th9,t  he 
was  very  inattentive,  and  seemingly 
absent-minded. 

"  What's  the  matter  with  you  to-day, 
John  ? "  inquired  the  banker,  just  as  he 
was  about  to  quit  the  house. 

"Nothing,  sir;    that  is  to  say,  sir, 


nothing  very  particular,"  observed  John, 
in  a  somewhat  faltering  tone. 

Mr.  Gr.  was  strengthened  in  his  con- 
viction, by  the  waiter's  confused  man- 
ner of  speaking,  that  something  j)ar- 
ticular  was  the  matter. 

"  Come,  come,  John,  just  tell  me 
what  makes  you  so  absent-minded  and 
unhappy  like  ?  "  said  Mr.  G. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Goldsmid,  since  you  are 
so  pressing  in  your  kind  inquiries,  I 
am  soiTy  to  say  that  about  half  an  hour 
ago  I  w^as  arrested  for  debt,  and  must 
go  to  prison  this  evening,  if  I  cannot 
pay  the  money." 

"Arrested  for  debt,  John!  What 
induces  you  to  get  into  debt  ?  " 

"  Why,  sir,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  am 
not  able  to  support  my  wife  and  five 
children  with  what  I  can  make  in  this 
house,"  said  the  waiter,  in  very  touch- 
ing terms. 

"  And  what  may  be  the  amount  for 
which  you  are  arrested  ?  " 

"  I  am  ashamed  to  mention  it,  sir." 

"  Let  me  hear  it,"  said  Mr.  G. 

"  Why,  sir,  it's  for  fifty-five  pounds," 
stammered  the  waiter,  in  broken  ac- 
cents, and  looking  steadfastly  at  the 
floor. 

"  Bring  me  a  pen  and  ink,"  said  Mr. 
G.  A  pen  and  ink  were  immediately 
brought,  when  Mr.  G.  drew  from  his 
pocket  his  check  book,  and  having 
written  a  check  for  one  hundred  pounds, 
put  it  into  the  waiter's  hand,  saying, 
"Here,  go  with  that,  John,  to  my 
banking  house,  and  you  will  get  as 
much  for  it  as  will  pay  your  debt,  and 
be  a  few  pounds  to  your  family  be- 
side." 


"  One  among-  Ten  Thousand." 

About  the  year  1772,  the  well-known 
London  grocer  Higgins  died,  and  left  a 
considerable  amount  to  a  merchant  in 
that  city,  saying  to  him  at  the  time 
that  he  made  his  will,  "  I  do  not  know 
that  I  have  any  relations,  but  should 
you  ever  by  accident  hear  of  such,  give 


488 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


them  some  relief."  The  merchant, 
though  thus  left  in  full  and  undisputed 
possession  of  a  large  fortune,  on  which 
no  person  could  have  any  legal  claim, 
advertised  for  the  next  of  kin  to  the 
deceased,  and  after  some  months  were 
spent  in  inquiries  of  this  sort,  he  at 
length  discovered  some  scattered  links 
in  the  genealogical  chain.  He  called 
these  distant  relatives  together  to  dine 
with  him,  and  after  distributing  the 
whole  of  the  money,  according  to  the 
different  degrees  of  consanguinity,  jDaid 
the  expenses  of  advertising  out  of  his 
own  pocket.  The  fact  of  such  conduct 
on  the  part  of  a  man  no  more  than  hu- 
man is  almost  ^beyond  credence. 


Hansion  of  Morris,  tlie  Philadelphia 
Financier. 

It  has  been  remarked  as  somewhat 
striking  in  the  personal  history  of  Rob- 
ert Morris,  that  while  his  financial  ope- 
rations for  the  Government  were  pre- 
eminently characterized  by  a  wise  and 
successful  management,  his  direction 
of  his  own  private  affairs  was  attended 
with  little  else  than  error  and  ruin. 
This  was  strikingly  manifested  in  the 
building  of  his  palatial  residence,  the 
grandest  ever  attempted  in  Philadel- 
phia. The  whole  proved,  by  the  mis- 
calculations of  his  architect,  Major 
I'Enfant,  a  ruinous  and  abortive 
scheme.  A  gentleman  was  present  at 
Mr.  Morris's  table  when  I'Enfant  was 
there,  and  first  broached  the  scheme  of 
building  him  a  grand  house  for  $60,- 
000.  Ml'.  Morris  said  he  could  sell  out 
his  lots  and  houses  on  High  street,  for 
$80,000,  and  so  the  thing  was  begun. 

Mr.  Morris  purchased  the  whole 
square,  extending  from  Chestnut  to 
"Walnut  street,  and  from  Seventh  to 
Eighth  streets,  for  $50,000— a  great 
sum,  for  what  had  been,  till  then,  the 
Norris  family's  pasture  ground.  Its 
original  elevation  was  twelve  to  fifteen 
feet  above  the  present  level  of  the  adja- 
cent streets ;  and  with  such  an  extent 


of  high  ground  in  ornamental  cultiva- 
tion, and  a  palace  fronting  on  Chest- 
nut street,  the  effect  could  not  but  be 
signally  grand. 

Immense  funds  w^ere  expended  before 
the  structure  reached  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  and  the  arches,  vaults,  and  la- 
byrinths were  numerous.  It  was  final- 
ly got  up  to  its  intended  elevation  of 
two  stories,  presenting  four  sides  of  en- 
tire marble  surface,  and  much  of  the 
ornamentation  worked  in  costly  relief. 
It,  however,  failed  to  meet  the  owner's 
taste,  and,  as  he  became  more  and  more 
sensible  of  the  ruin  thus  brought  upon 
him  by  the  undertaking,  he  was  often 
seen  contemplating  it,  and  heard  to 
vent  imprecations  on  himself  and  his 
lavish  architect.  He  had,  besides,  pro- 
vided by  importation  and  otherwise 
the  most  costly  furniture — all  of  which, 
together  with  the  marble  mansion  it- 
self, had  to  be  abandoned  to  his  cred- 
itors. 

He  saw  the  mansion  raised  enough 
to  make  a  picture,  and  to  preserve  the 
ideal  presence  of  his  scheme  ;  but  that 
was  all.  The  magnitude  of  the  estab- 
lishment could  answer  no  individual's 
wealth ;  and  the  fact  was  speedily  real- 
ized, that  what  cost  so  much  to  rear, 
could  find  no  purchaser  at  any  reduced 
price.  The  creditors  were  therefore 
compelled,  by  slow  and  patient  labor, 
to  pull  down,  piecemeal,  what  had 
been  so  expensively  got  up.  Some  of 
the  underground  labyrinths  were  so 
deep  and  massive  as  to  have  been  left 
undisturbed,  and  at  some  future  age 
may  be  discovered,-  to  the  great  per- 
plexity of  archaeological  Quidnuncs. 


♦♦  Old  Ben  Russell." 

Probably  no  man  was  better  known 
in  the  business  and  social  circles  of 
Boston,  at  a  former  period,  than  the 
above-named  worthy.  He  was  a  good 
joker,  but  "  once  on  a  time  "  was  fair- 
ly caught  in  his  own  trap.  He  was 
perhaps  better  known  as  Major  Ben. 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,  BANKERS,  ETC. 


489 


Russell,  and  being  met  one  day  by  his 
old  friend  Busby,  he  was  familiarly  sa- 
luted -with  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand, 
and  "  How  do  you  do,  old  Ben.  Rus- 
sell ? "  "  Come,  now,"  said  Major  Ben., 
"I'll  not  take  that  from  you — not  a  bit 
of  it ;  you  are  as  old  as  I  am  this  min- 
ute." "  Upon  my  word,"  said  Mr.  Bus- 
by, "  you  are  my  senior  by  at  least  ten 
years."  "Not  at  all,  friend  Busby; 
and,  if  you  please,  we  will  determine 
that  question  very  soon — ^just  tell  me 
what  is  the  first  thing  you  can  recol- 
lect ?  "  "  Well,  the  mry  first  thing  I 
recollect,"  said  Mr.  Busby,  "  was  hear- 
ing people  say,  '  There  goes  old  Ben. 
Russell!'" 


Girard  and  the  Beg-gur. 

A  POOR  beggar,  on  a  stormy  winter 
evening,  called  at  Mr.  Girard's  office, 
and  stated  that  his  family  was  in  want 
of  bread.  Girard  refused  to  give  him 
anything,  but  took  a  memorandum  of 
his  residence,  and  dismissed  him.  Up- 
on the  poor  man's  leaving,  Girard  told 
one  of  his  clerks  to  follow  him  and  as- 
certain whether  his  story  was  true. 
Upon  the  clerk's  return,  with  the  in- 
formation that  the  statement  was  true, 
Girard  gave  orders^  that  his  baker 
should  leave  four  loaves  of  bread  a  day 
for  the  poor  man's  family,  as  long  as  it 
might  be  necessary,  and  send  the  bill 
to  him. 


Samuel  Applet  on' s  Disposition  of  his 
Income. 

Among  the  resolutions  formed  by 
Samuel  Appleton,  of  Boston,  as  found 
among  his  papers,  was  the  following : 
"  I  promise  during  the  following  year, 
to  spend  the  whole  of  my  income, 
either  in  frivolity,  amusement,  public 
utility,  or  benevolence."  Although  the 
last  object  is  introduced  so  casually, 
those  who  were  acquainted  with  him 
will  understand  how  large  a  place  it 
held  in  his  thoughts. 


Another  similar  paper  was  found,  of 
a  subsequent  date,  in  which,  after  say- 
ing in  general  terms  that  he  has  ob- 
served men,  as  they  have  grown  old  in 
years,  growing  anxious  about  property 
tilhthey  have  seemed  to  think  of  little 
else — and  wishing  himself  to  avoid  that 
state  of  mind,  he  promises  that  during 
the  ensuing  year  he  will  spend  tJie  icJioIe 
of  his  income  ;  making,  however,  with 
the  careful  forethought  of  one  who 
meant  to  perform  what  he  resolved,  the 
single  reservation  of  such  a  part  of  the 
dividends  on  his  manufacturing  stocks 
as  should  be  required  to  pay  any  new 
assessments.  How  large  and  liberal 
w^ere  his  ideas  of  one's  duty  to  promote 
the  welfare  of  others,  is  attested  by  the 
fact  that  the  amount  which  he  gave 
away  during  his  life  was  scarcely  less 
than  what  he  had  retained  for  himself. 


A  Millionnaire  on  Giving:  Away 
Money :  Peter  C.  Brooks. 

Peter  C.  Brooks,  one  of  New  Eng- 
land's most  noted  millionnaires,  made 
it  a  systematic  practice  to  give  away 
considerable  sums  of  money,  both  for 
public  and  private  purposes,  though 
always  in  the  same  way  that  he  did 
everything  else,  namely,  without  any 
parade.  It  appeared  from  his  books, 
that  he  annually  expended,  in  this  way, 
large  amounts,  but  known  at  the  time 
only  to  "  Him  who  seeth  in  secret.*^ 
He  remarked  to  one  of  his  sons,  not 
long  before  his  death,  that  "  of  all  the 
ways  of  disposing  of  money,  giving  it 
away  is  the  most  satisfactory." 


Mr.  GHrard  and  th.e  Baptist  Clergyman. 

Rev.  Dr.  Stoughton  called  on  Mr. 
Girard  for  aid  in  behalf  of  the  Sansom 
street  new  Baptist  church  edifice,  Phila- 
delphia, Dr.  S.  being  pastor,  and  very 
highly  distinguished  at  the  time.  Girard 
received  him,  as  he  usually  did  beg- 
gars, coolly  and  courteously,  and  gave 
him  a  check  for  five  hundred  dollars. 


490 


COMMERCIAL   AXD  BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


Dr.  Stoughton  received  it  with  a  low 
bow ;  but  upon  examining  it,  expressed 
his  astonishment,  adding  :  "  only  five 
hundred  dollars :  surely  you  will  not 
give  us  less  than  a  thousand  !  "  "  Let 
me  see  the  check,  Mr.  Stoughton,"  s?iid 
Girard;  "perhaps  I  have  made  one 
mistake."  The  doctor  returned  him 
the  check.  With  the  utmost  sangfroid 
Girard  tore  it  into  fragments,  observ- 
ing, "  Well,  Mr.  Stoughton,  if  you  will 
not  have  what  I  give,  I  will  give  noth- 
ing." 


Belig-ious  Opinions  of  Girard. 

The  religious  sentiments  which  Gir- 
ard maintained,  and  which  he  was  un- 
willing to  disguise,  were  of  the  school  of 
Rousseau  and  Voltaire  ;  and  so  deeply 
did  he  venerate  their  characters,  that 
the  marble  busts  of  these  two  scholars 
were,  it  is  stated,  the  only  works  of  art 
that  adorned  his  confined  chamber,  and 
a  complete  set  of  the  writings  of  the 
latter  author,  together  with  a  few 
treatises  on  gardening,  were  the  only 
volumes  which  constituted  the  library 
of  his  dwelliug  house.  The,  respect 
with  which  he  regarded  the  names  of 
these  individuals  is  evinced  in  the 
beautiful  ships  which,  from  time  to 
time,  were  dispatched  by  him  from  the 
port  of  Philadelphia.  He  appears,  in- 
deed, to  have  preseiwed  throughout 
life  a  stoicism  in  his  merely  speculative 
opinions,  which  referred  all  surround- 
ing circumstances  to  second  causes, 
rather  than  to  their  true  source.  A 
total  disbeliever  in  the  Christian  sys- 
tem, he  was  still  willing  to  bestow  large 
sums  upon  dififerent  Christian  denomi- 
nations, bounties  which  took  effect 
while  he  was  yet  alive. 


Suspected  Religious  Fidelity 
of  Rothschild:   Remarkable  Scene. 

There  has  long  been  a  curious  story 
current  amongst  the  Jews,  to  the  effect 
that  Baron  Rothschild  was  at  one  time 


thinking  of  renouncing  Judaism  and 
of  embracing  Christianity.  His  eldest 
brother,  Anselm,  was  informed  of  the 
report;  he  immediately  wrote  letters 
to  his  four  brothers,  Solomon,  Nathan, 
Charles,  and  James,  urging  upon  them 
to  repair  with  the  least  possible  delay 
to  Frankfort.  The  brothers  obeyed 
the  summons.  When  all  met,  Anselm 
said :  "I  want  you  all  to  accompany 
me  to  our  father's  grave."  When  there, 
the  first-bom  said  :  "  I  insist  upon  all 
of  you  taking  a  solemn  oath  at  this 
solemn  jDlace,  that  you  will  never  re- 
nounce the  religion  of  your  father,  nor 
ever  embrace  Chiistianity."  The  broth- 
ers were  taken  by  surprise,  and  of 
course  took  the  required  oath.  Whether 
the  precise  details  of  this  story  be  true, 
it  at  least  shows  that  Baron  Rothschild 
was  looked  upon  with  suspicion  by  his 
Jewish  brethren,  since  they^ould  con- 
jure up  a  fiction  of  this  kind,  and  give 
it  the  widest  circulation. 

Judab.  Touro  and  Dr.  Clapp. 

One  of  the  personal  legacies  in  Judah 
Touro's  will,  was  the  sum  of  three 
thousand  dollars  to  Rev.  Dr.  Clapp, 
the  prominent  Universalist  divine,  who 
so  long  officiated  in  the  first  and  only 
church  of  that  denomination  in  the 
State  of  Louisiana.  The  personal  rela- 
tions of  Dr.  Clapp  and  this  Hebrew 
merchant  were  of  a  very  interesting 
nature,  and  strikingly  illustrate  the 
liberality  and  expansiveness  of  Mr. 
Touro's  religious  character.  The  church 
erected  many  years  ago  for  Mr.  Clapp's 
society  became  incumbered  with  debt, 
and  was  sold  by  the  sheriff.  The  rapid 
growth  of  the  second  municipality,  in 
the  most  central  part  of  which  this 
church  stood,  had  rendered  this  a  very 
desirable  site  for  stores.  It  was  apf)re- 
hended  by  Mr.  Clapp's  friends  that  the 
church  would  be  bought  by  parties  in- 
imical to  him,  and  that  this  then  small 
congregation  would  be  left  without  a 
suitable  place  in  which  to  hold  their 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,  BANKERS,  ETC. 


491 


worship.  Great  sympathy  and  interest 
were  exhibited  in  behalf  of  the  popular 
divine,  but  the  great  value  of  the  prop-. 
erty  placed  it  beyond  the  power  of  his 
friends  to  save  it  from  passing  out  of 
the  hands  of  the  pastor  and  congrega- 
tion. Mr.  Touro  having  received  a 
hint  of  the  state  of  ajffairs,  appeared  at 
the  sale,  in  his  usual  quiet,  modest 
manner,  and  without  intimating  to  any 
person  his  intention,  bid  off  the  church. 
He  then  informed  Mr.  Clapp,  that  he 
could  continue  to  worship  God  in  his 
own  way  as  long  as  the  edifice  stood, 
"  with  none  to  make  him  afraid."  And 
so,  for  twenty  years,  the  Universalists 
of  New  Orleans,  with  their  eloquent 
minister,  were  indebted  to  the  kindness 
and  liberality  of  a  strict  Israelite,  for  a 
temple  in  which  to  perform  their  relig- 
ious duties.  All  this  time,  the  property 
occupied  by  the  church  was  of  the  value 
of  fifty  or  eighty  thousand  dollars.  Not 
a  cent  of  rent  was  ever  demanded  by 
Mr.  Touro,  for  the  use  of  the  property, 
and  the  pastor  was  allowed  to  receive 
the  pew  rents  for  his  own  remuneration. 


John  McDonogrli's  Personal  Appear- 
ance. 

JoHisr  McDoNOGH,  the  eccentric  mil- 
lionnaire  of  New  Orleans,  is  thus  de- 
scribed by  a  most  pleasing  writer  in 
the  Continental  Magazine,  who  also  fur- 
nishes some  other  most  readable  me- 
morabilia concerning  this  and  other 
noted  capitalists,  which  have  been 
transferred  to  these  pages  : 

In  the  year  1850,  and  for  nearly 
forty  years  previous,  there  could  be 
seen  almost  every  day  in  the  streets  of 
New  Orleans,  a  very  peculiar  and  re- 
markable-looking old  gentleman.  Tall 
and  straight  as  a  pillar,  with  stem,  de- 
termined features,  lit  up  by  eyes  of  un- 
common, almost  unnatural  brilliancy, 
with  his  hair  combed  back  and  gath- 
ered in  a  sort  of  queue,  and  dressed  m 
the  fashion  of  half  a  century  ago — to 
wit,  an  old  blue  coat,  with  high  collar, 


well-brushed  and  patched  but  some- 
what seedy,  pantaloons  of  like  date  and 
texture,  hat  somewhat  more  modern, 
but  bearing  unmistakable  proof  of  long 
service  and  exposure  to  sun  and  rain ; 
old  round-toed  shoes,  the  top-leathers 
of  which  had  survived  more  soles  than 
the  wearer  had  outlived  souls  of  his 
early  friends  and  companions  ;  a  scant 
white  vest,  ruflled  shirt,  and  voluminous 
white  cravat,  completed  the  costume  of 
this  singular  gentleman,  who,  with  his 
ancient  blue  silk  umbrella  under  his 
arm,  and  his  fierce  eye  fixed  on  some 
imaginary  goal  ahead,  made  his  way 
through  the  struggling  crowds  which 
poured  along  the  streets  of  New  Or- 
leans. 

The  last  time  this  strange  and  spec- 
tral figure  was  seen  making  its  accus- 
tomed rounds  was  on  the  26th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1850.  On  that  day,  a  very  re- 
markable event  occurred,  which  at- 
tracted the  notice  of  passers-by,  and 
was  even  snatched  up  as  an  item  by 
the  ever-vigilant  reporters  of  the  daily 
press ;  this  consisted  simply  in  a  nota- 
ble variation  from  the  routine  and  hab- 
its of  the  old  gentleman  in  the  long- 
tailed  blue.  He  was  seen  to  stop  on 
Canal  street,  to  hesitate  for  a  few  mo- 
ments, and  then  deliberately  enter  an 
omnibus  bound  for  the  lov/er  part  of 
the  city.  Such  an  occurrence  created 
quite  a  sensation  among  street-corner 
gossipers.  There  must  really  be  some 
new  and  pressing  emergency,  which 
could  produce  this  departure  from  the 
custom  and  invariable  habits  of  forty 
years  :  so  said  every  one  who  knew  the 
old  gentleman.  The  omnibus  stopped 
at  the  court  house ;  the  subject  of  these 
observations  and  his  blue  umbrella 
emerged  from  it,  and  both  soon  disap- 
peared in  the  corridor  leading  to  the 
so-called  "halls  of  justice." 

That  was  the  last  that  was  ever  seen 
of  the  strange  old  gentleman  on  the 
streets  of  New  Orleans.  The  evening 
journals  of  the  next  day  contained  the 
following :— 


492 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"  Died,  this  morning,  the  27th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1850,  at  McDonoghville,  opposite 
the  city  of  New  Orleans,  after  a  short 
illness,  John  McDonogh,  a  native  of 
Baltimore,  but  for  forty  years  a  resi- 
dent of  Louisiana." 


Looks  and  Manners  of  RothscMId. 

Rothschild's  beauty  of  countenance 
was  in  no  sort  of  equality  with  the  per- 
fection of  his  finances.  He  was,  in- 
deed, a  butt  in  this  respect,  for  the 
satirists  of  the  day,  who  "  loved  a  shin- 
ing mark"  then,  as  now.  His  huge 
and  somewhat  slovenly  appearance ; 
the  lounging  attitude  he  assumed  as 
he  leaned  ponderously  against  his  pillar 
in  the  Royal  Exchange  ;  his  rough  and 
rugged  speech  ;  his  foreign  accent  and 
idiom,  made  caricature  fasten  upon  and 
claim  him  as  its  own — while  even  ridi- 
cule lost  all  power,  in  the  end,  over  a 
subject  which  defied  its  utmost  skill. 


Taking  Care  of  His  Umbrella. 

A  MERCHANT  in  the  Dutch  trade, 
who  had  been  a  resident  of  New  York 
some  fifteen  or  twenty  years,  had  in  his 
possession  a  silk  umbrella  of  rather 
antique  appearance  and  uncommonly 
large  proportions,  which  attracted  the 
notice  of  a  friend  in  company,  who 
said  to  him  in  jest :  "  I  should  not  be 
surprised  to  hear  you  had  brought  out 
that  ancient  umbrella  with  you  from 
Holland."  "  You  have  guessed  right," 
he  replied  ;  "  I  did  bring  it  when  I 
came  to  this  country,  and  have  had  it 
m  constant  use  ever  since ;  but  I  sent 
it  once  during  the  time  to  Holland  to  be 
newly  covered."  This  merchant  was 
liberal  and  charitable,  but  he  took  good 
care  of  his  umbrella,  as  of  other  things, 
and  died  worth  a  million  of  dollars. 


Wealthy  Men  Imag-ming:  Themselves 
Poor. 

Men  who  have   accumulated  large 

fortunes  from  small  beginnings,  when 


they  have  passed  the  middle  age  of 
life,  often  imagine  themselves  in  pover- 
ty. A  singular  case  of  this  kind  is  re- 
lated of  an  Englishman,  as  follows: 
A  large  manufacturer  residing  in  York- 
shire, one  day  called  on  the  relieving 
officer  of  the  district,  and  pleaded  for 
relief.  Appreciating  instantly  the  state 
of  mind  in  which  the  well-known 
applicant    was,    the    officer    replied, 

"  Certainly,  Mr. ;  call  to-morrow, 

and  you  shall  have  it."  Satisfied,  the 
applicant  retired,  and  the  officer  has- 
tened to  the  gentleman's  son,  stated  the 
case,  and  expressed  his  opinion  that 
the  relief  demanded  should  be  given. 
"  Give  it,"  said  the  son,  "  and  we'll  re- 
turn you  the  money."  Accordingly, 
this  wealthy  manufacturer  next  day  re- 
ceived relief,  and  for  many  weeks  regu- 
larly applied  for  his  five  shillings  per 
week;  until  at  last  the  hallucination 
vanished,  and  his  mind  was  completely 
restored. 


Death-bed  Stirronnding-s  of  the  New 
Orleans  Croesus. 

In  a  cold,  desolate,  dreary,  brick 
building,  constituting  almost  the  only 
visible  sign  of  the  existence  of  the  town 
of  McDonoghville,  situate  on  the  right 
bank  of  the  Mississippi,  opposite  to  the 
centre  of  New  Orleans,  and  in  a  large 
room,  the  furniture  of  which  was  old- 
fashioned,  worn,  and  time  stained,  there 
lay  on  a  small  hard  mattress  the  gaunt 
figure  of  John  McDonogh,  the  million- 
naire,  tortured  with  pain  and  fast  sink- 
ing under  the  ravages  of  that  terrible 
disease,  the  Asiatic  cholera.  The  only 
beings  near  were  negroes ;  no  white 
persons  were  ever  allowed  to  spend  the 
night  under  that  roof.  Those  negroes 
Avere  the  rich  man's  slaves  in  law,  but 
companions  and  friends  in  fact.  His 
immense  business,  his  vast  estates  were 
administered  through  them.  Even  his 
documents  were  copied  by  them.  They 
were  true  to  him  in  his  moment  of  dis- 
tress and  sickness.  All  that  their 
limited  knowledge  of  medicine  could 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,   ETC. 


493 


suggest  was  done  for  his  relief.  At 
last,  in  disregard  of  his  command,  a 
physician  was  brought  from  the  city, 
who  pronounced  his  condition  a  very 
critical  one.  The  doctor's  first  demand 
was  for  brandy. 

"  Massa,  there  aVt  bin  no  brandy  in 
this  house  for  twenty  years,"  was  the 
reply  of  an  old,  gray-headed  domestic. 

A  servant  was  despatched  to  the 
nearest  grocery,  but  it  proved  to  be  too 
late.  The  dying  man  perceived  his 
condition,  and  requested  that  his  law- 
yer should  be  sent  for.  In  an  hour  that 
gentleman  arrived.  He  was  just  in 
time, 

"  Roselins,"  he  said,  addressing  one 
of  the  most  eminent  of  the  lawyers  of 
the  New  Orleans  bar,  as  he  held  his 
hand,  "  you  see  I  am  going  ;  you  see  I 
am  not  afraid  to  die.  Take  care  of  the 
estate  ;  'tis  not  mine,  'tis  God's  and  the 
poor's."  And  thus,  without  a  struggle, 
the  soul  of  John  McDonogh  passed  to 
its  Maker. 


Signora  Almonastre  and  John 
McDonogh.. 

In  his  early  manhood,  John  McDon- 
ogh was  styled  the  handsomest  of  his  sex 
in  New  Orleans.  That  such  a  young 
man  should  attract  the  favorable  notice 
of  a.nbitious  Creole  beauties,  who  then 
composed  the  only  female  society  in 
New  Orleans,  of  managing  mothers, 
desirous  of  providing  for  their  daugh- 
ters, or  of  fathers,  who,  in  addition  to 
the  latter  motive,  might  also  desire  to 
secure  a  connection  which  might  pro- 
mote their  own  business  prospects, 
was  quite  natural.  The  handsome 
American  merchant,  with  his  still  hand- 
somer fortune,  was,  therefore,  much 
courted.  Though  always  gay,  gallant, 
and  polite,  Mr.  McDonogh  proved  for 
some  time  invulnerable  to  even  the 
charms  of  Creole  beauty.  At  last  there 
were  indications  that  a  young  Orleaur 
noise,  of  fortune  equal  to  his  own,  and 
of  personal  charms  that  were  the  theme 
of  general  praise  and  admiration,  had 


captured  the  obdurate  Croesus.  This 
young  damsel  was  then  emerging  into 
sweet  sixteen.  She  was  the  toast  and 
heiress  of  the  city.  Her  name  and 
family  were  among  the  oldest  in  the 
French  and  Spanish  colonies.  Her 
father  was  Sen  or  Don  Pedro  Almonas- 
tre, an  old  oiScial  under  the  Spanish 
Government,  who,  by  prudent  invest- 
ments, accumulated  a  large  property  in 
the  very  centre  of  New  Orleans.  He  it 
was  who  donated  the  ground  on  which 
the  Cathedral  of  St.  Louis  now  stands. 
It  is  for  the  rest  of  his  soul  that  mass 
is  offered  up  and  the  bells  are  tolled 
every  Sunday  afternoon  in  that  venera- 
ble temple. 

This  daughter  and  only  child  of  Al- 
monastre was  born  in  the  colony,  of  a 
French  Creole  mother.  She  had  at- 
tained the  age  of  sixteen  about  the  year 
1811.  It  was  then  that  Mr.  McDon- 
ogh's  propositions  for  an  alliance  were 
favorably  considered,  and  all  the  ar- 
rangements were  made  for  the  betrothal 
of  the  parties. 

Suddenly,  however,  a  new  actor  ap- 
peared on  the  stage,  who  overturned 
this  well-arranged  scheme.  There  re- 
sided in  the  city  a  grim,  austere,  and 
wealthy  man,  who  had  served  in  the 
French  and  Spanish  armies,  and  was 
noted  no  less  for  his  ferocity  and  pride 
— which  had  been  displayed  in  several 
sanguinary  duels — than  for  his  wealth. 
He  had  an  only  son,  a  handsome,  grace- 
ful, and  fascinating  young  man,  who, 
at  the  suggestion  of  his  father,  and  per- 
haps at  the  prompting  of  his  own 
heart,  stepped  forward  to  lay  his  claims 
at  the  feet  of  the  lovely  heiress  of  Al- 
monastre. Fortunately  for  the  cause 
of  humanity,  though  unfortunately  for 
the  American  merchant,  the  young 
Frenchman  supplanted  him  in  the  re- 
gard of  the  fair  Creole. 

The  alliance  of  two  such  wealthy 
families  as  the  Pontalbas  and  Almo- 
nastres,  was  a  great  event  in  the  city, 
and  it  was  duly  celebrated  by  many 
brilliant   festivities,  at    the    close   of 


494 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


wliicli  the  happy  couple  departed  for 
Paris,  accompanied  by  the  father  of  the 
yoang  man.  Purchasing  a  splendid 
hotel  in  the  Faubourg  St.  Germain,  the 
Pontalbas  gave  themselves  up  to  all 
the  fashionable  dissipations  of  that  gay 
city.  The  younger  Pontalba  was  ap- 
pointed by  Napoleon  one  of  his  pages, 
with  the  title  of  count.  But  in  course 
of  time,  discontent,  contention,  and 
jealousy  swept  like  a  storm  through 
that  household  ;  the  husband,  thinking 
he  had  been  dishonored,  left  his  own 
roof  for  the  chateau  of  his  father,  where 
they  both  lived  morose  and  secluded 
On  the  occasion  of  a  visit  of  the  count- 
ess, on  business,  one  day,  to  her  father- 
in-law,  during  the  absence  of  her  hus- 
band, a  terrible  tragedy  ensued — the 
blowing  out  of  the  elder  Pontalba's 
brains  by  his  own  hand,  and  the  al- 
most fatal  wounding  of  the  countess  in 
her  breast  and  hand,  by  shot  and  bul- 
let, probably  by  the  same  pistol  as  that 
in  her  father-in-law's  grasp.  After  her 
recovery,  she  lived  in  Paris,  in  great 
elegance,  until  1830,  when  the  Revolu- 
tion finding  her  a  fierce  Bourbonite,  she 
returned  to  New  Orleans  for  a  short 
time,  when  finding  Louis  Philippe's 
dynasty  an  unproscriptive  one,  she  left 
for  Paris  again.  Here  she  resided  un- 
til 1840,  when  she  came  back  to  New 
Orleans  once  more,  directing  her  atten- 
tion to  the  improvement  of  her  splen- 
did property,  which  encloses  Jackson 
Square,  where  she  built  some  forty  ele- 
gant houses,  and  otherwise  beautified 

that  locality. 

♦ 

Disposing:  of  One's  Surplus  Income. 

Nathaniel  Ripley  Cobb,  of  Boston, 
displayed  the  character  of  a  conscien- 
tious merchant  in  a  remarkable  degree. 
He  was  one  of  those  noble-hearted  men 
of  wealth  whose  afiiuence  is  constantly 
proved  by  their  munificence.  Yet  it 
was  not  always  proved  from  what  is 
strictly  denominated  "  affluence  "  that 
he  was  so  benevolent,  insomuch  as  the 


most  solemn  vows,  voluntarily  assumed, 
were  upon  him,  that  he  would  never  be- 
come rich.  Thus,  in  November,  1821, 
he  drew  up  the  following  remarkable 
document : 

"  By  the  grace  of  God,  I  will  never, 
be  worth  more  than  fifty  thousand 
dollars.  By  the  grace  of  God,  I  wiU 
give  one  fourth  of  the  net  profits  of 
my  business  to  charitable  and  religious 
uses.  If  I  am  ever  worth  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars,  I  will  give  one  half  of  my 
net  profits;  and  if  I  am  ever  worth 
thirty  thousand,  I  will  give  three 
fourths — and  the  whole  after  fifty 
thousand.  So  help  me  God,  or  give  to 
a  more  faithful  steward,  and  set  me 
aside.— N.  R.  Cobb,  Nov.,  1821." 

He  adhered  to  this  covenant  with 
strict  fidelity.  At  one  time,  finding 
that  his  property  had  increased  beyond 
fifty  thousand,  he  at  once  devoted  the 
surplus,  seven  thousand  five  hundred, 
as  a  foundation  for  a  professorship  in 
an  institution  for  the  education  of 
ministers,  to  which  he  also  gave,  on 
various  occasions,  during  his  short  life, 
twice  that  amount.  He  was  likewise  a 
generous  friend  to  multitudes  of  young 
men,  whom  he  assisted  in  establishing 
themselves  in  business,  and  to  many 
who  were  unfortunate. 


Girard's  Treatment  of  *'  Splendid 
Church"  Projects. 

It  is  known  that  Mr.  Girard  had  no 
preference  for  one  sect  more  than  an- 
other, and  he  not  unfrequently  contribu- 
ted considerable  sums  toward  building 
churches,  sometimes  of  one  denomina- 
tion and  sometimes  of  another. 

The  Methodists  w^ished  to  build  a 
church  in  Tenth  street,  just  north  of 
Chestnut.  Thomas  Haskins,  a  mer- 
chant, and  a  neighbor  of  Girard,  called 
on  him,  and  urged  his  suit  for  aid  in 
very  modest  terms.  Girard  replied,  "  I 
approve  of  your  object,"  and  presented 
him  with  a  check  for  five  hundred  dol- 
lars.  The  Methodist  society  failed,  and 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,   ETC. 


495 


the  house  was  bought  by  the  Episcopa- 
lians, who  wished  to  alter  it  into  the 
splendid  Gothic  house  now  called  St. 
Stephen's  Church.  A  committee  waited 
upon  Mr.  Girard,  told  him  their  plan, 
and  asked  his  aid.  He  gave  them  a 
check  for  five  hundred  dollars.  They 
were  disappointed,  and  said,  "  Why, 
you  gave  the  Methodists  five  hundred 
dollars  for  their  little  church,  and  we 
are  going  to  build  a  more  splendid 
edifice,  and  surely  you  will  give  us 
something  comporting  with  the  grand- 
eur of  our  design.  Have  you  not 
omitted  a  cipher  ? " 

They  returned  the  check,  asking 
Girard  to  make  it  five  thousand  dol- 
lars. Girard  tore  it  in  pieces,  and 
added,  "  I  will  not  give  you  one  cent. 
Your  society  is  rich — the  Methodists 
are  poor.  You  remind  me  of  the  rich 
man  in  the  Gospel.  fe[e  would  pull 
down  and  build  greater.  Profit  by  his 
fate,  gentlemen.  I  have  nothing  to 
give  for  your  splendid  church." 


Last  Days  of  Business  and  Financial 
Celebrities. 

Peter  C.  Brooks,  the  Boston  mil- 
lionnaire,  who  lived  to  the  age  of 
eighty  years,  retained  the  management 
of  his  affairs  in  his  own  hands,  till 
about  a  month  before  his  decease. 
Finding  himself,  one  morning,  some- 
what at  a  loss  to  understand  a  matter 
of  business  which  required  his  atten- 
tion, he  calmly  said  to  a  son  who  was 
with  him,  "  It  is  time  for  me  to  abdi- 
cate," and  having  executed  a  power 
of  attorney  to  dispossess  himself  of  the 
management  of  his  property  with  as 
little  concern  as  he  would  have  signed 
a  receipt  for  a  few  dollars,  never  spoke 
of  afiairs  again.  Mr.  Brooks  was  for 
many  years  a  prominent  Unitarian,  as 
have  also  been  his  sons-in-law,  Hon. 
Edward  Everett  (formerly  a  Unitarian 
preacher),  Rev.  Dr.  Frothingham,  and 
Hon.  Charles  Francis  Adams,  now 
Minister  to  England. 


Samuel  Appleton  had  always  dread- 
ed a  lingering  dissolution,  and  his  desire 
that  the  last  hour  might  come  suddenly 
was  granted.  On  the  last  morning  of 
his  life  he  enjoyed  his  usual  health. 
During  the  day  he  had  sufiered  some 
pain  and  uneasiness,  but  the  remedies 
applied  had  relieved  him,  and  he  said, 
"  I  will  now  try  to  sleep."  He  com- 
posed himself  for  this  purpose,  and 
sank  into  slumber.  In  a  few  minutes, 
however,  his  companion  was  alarmed 
by  his  louder  breathng  ;  she  ran  to  his 
bedside  and  summoned  an  attendant. 
He  was  lying  in  the  same  attitude  of 
repose,  but  it  proved  to  be  the  repose  of 
death.  His  gifts  to  religious  and  bene- 
volent objects,  through  his  long  life, 
were  constant  and  generous,  and  in  his 
last  will  and  testament  there  was  abun- 
dant evidence  of  his  desire  that  at  his 
death  "  his  works  should  follow  him." 

Gideon  Lee  spent  his  last  moments  in 
a  dying  charge  to  his  sons,  in  which  he 
enjoined  them  always  to  "fill  up  the 
measure  of  time,"  "  Be,"  said  he, 
"  always  employed  profitably  in  doing 
good,  in  building  up  ;  aim  to  promote 
the  good  of  yourselves  and  of  society  ; 
no  one  can  do  much  good  without 
doing  some  harm,  but  you  will  do  less 
harm  by  striving  to  do  good ;  be  indus- 
trious, be  honest." 

Jacob  Lorillard,  when  he  perceived 
that  his  death  was  approaching,  which 
he  had  not  expected  until  it  was  near 
at  hand,  exhibited  no  agitation  nor 
fear.  He  called  his  children  around 
him,  and,  beginning  with  the  youngest, 
he  gave,  in  an  affecting  and  impressive 
manner,  to  each  of  them,  according  to 
their  respective  dispositions,  characters, 
and  habits,  the  particular  kind  of  coun- 
sel appropriate  to  the  case.  After  do- 
ing this,  he  gradually  passed  away. 

Lorenzo  de  Medici  sustained  the 
last  conflict  with  equanimity.  It  appear- 
ed from  his  conduct  as  thou«xh  it  were 


496 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


those  about  Wm  who  momentarily 
expected  that  fate,  and  that  he  alone 
was  to  be  exempt.  Even  to  the  last, 
tJie  scintillations  of  his  former  vivacity 
were  perceptible.  Being  asked,  on 
taking  a  morsel  of  food,  how  he 
relished  it,  "  As  a  dying  man  always 
does,"  was  his  reply.  Having  affection- 
ately embraced  his  surrounding  friends, 
and  submitted  to  the  last  ceremonies 
of  the  church,  he  became  absorbed  in 
meditation,  occasionally  repeating  por- 
tions of  Scripture,  and  accompanying 
his  ejaculations  with  elevated  eyes  and 
solemn  gestures  of  his  hands,  till  the 
energies  of  life  declining,  he  pressed  to 
his  lips  a  magnificent  crucifix,  and 
calmly  expired. 

GiRARD,  in  liis  eighty-second  year, 
had  nearly  lost  the  use  of  his  eye,  and 
was  frequently  seen  groping  in  the 
vestibule  of  his  bank,  disregarding  the 
assistance  of  others,  a  species  of  temerity 
which,  as  it  proved,  nearly  cost  him  his 
life;  for,  crossing  Second  street  and 
Market,  a  dearborn  wagon  rapidly 
drove  by,  and  nearly  took  off  his  ear, 
and  bruised  his  face,  having  struck 
furiously  against  his  head,  and  pros- 
trated Iiis  person ;  an  injury  which 
proved  serious  and  permanent.  By 
this  accident  the  whole  of  his  right  ear 
was  nearly  lost,  and  his  eye,  which  was 
before  but  opened  slightly,  was  entirely 
shut ;  and  from  that  time  his  flesh  was 
gradually  wasted  away,  and  his  health 
declined,  Mr.  Girard  had  long  re- 
garded death  with  apparent  indiffer- 
ence, having  stated  many  years  pre- 
viously that  it  fell  within  the  course 
of  nature  that  his  life  should  terminate, 
even  at  that  period.  And  this  event 
was  soon  to  be  realized.  During  the 
month  of  December  he  was  attacked 
with  a  species  of  influenza,  and  the 
disease  undermined  his  system  until 
the  26th  of  that  month,  when  he  ex- 
pired, in  a  back  room  of  the  third  story 
of  his  house  in  Water  street.  A  short 
time  before  he  died,  he  got  out  of  bed 


and  walked  across  the  room  to  a  chair, 
but  almost  immediately  returned  to 
his  bed,  placing  his  hand  to  his  head, 
and  uttering  the  words,  "  How  violent 
is  this  disorder!  How  very  extraordi- 
nary it  is  !  " — being  the  last  intelligible 
words  that  ever  fell  from  his  lips. 

JuDAH  TouRO,  a  few  days  before  his 
death,  sent  for  a  notary  public,  and 
dictated  the  remarkable  will,  in  which 
he  made  so  noble  and  philanthropic  a 
distribution  of  his  large  wealth.  The 
bequests  were  all  conveyed  in  such 
calm  and  specific  terms,  and  were  so 
entirely  free  from  all  conditions  or 
saving  clauses,  that  there  could  not  be 
the  slightest  prospect  of  any  dispute 
or  litigation  growing  out  of  them.  Of 
all  things,  he  most  disliked  lawsuits 
and  controversijes  of  every  kind.  He 
had  provided  in  his  will  that  his  mor- 
tal remains  should  be  deposited  by  the 
side  of  the  other  members  of  his  family, 
in  the  Jewish  cemetery  of  Newport,  R. 
I.  Almost  in  his  last  moments  he  re- 
newed this  injunction,  and  said  to  those 
around  his  dying  couch,  "  When  I  am 
dead,  carry  me  to  the  spot  of  my  birth, 
and  bury  me  by  the  side  of  my  mother." 

Rothschild's  sickness  and  death 
proved  that  a  millionnaire — though 
the  greatest  under  the  sun — is  but  a 
man.  His  affairs  called  him  to  Frank- 
fort, and  he  was  there  seized  with  his 
last  illness.  The  profession  there 
could  do  nothing  for  him,  and,  scarcely 
even  as  a  last  hope,  Mr.  Travers,  the 
eminent  surgeon,  made  a  rapid  journey 
to  see  if  English  science  could  avail  the 
dying  CroGsus.  The  effort  was  vain, 
and  the  inevitable  fate  was  well  and 
worthily  met.  There  appears  even  a 
certain  degree  of  dignity  in  his  resig- 
nation to  the  last  struggle,  and  some- 
thing touchingly  manful  in  the  wording 
of  the  will  which  was  to  surrender  to 
others  the  gold  w^on  by  the  sweat  of 
his  brain.  Breathing  an  almost  patri- 
archal simplicity,  it  recommends  his 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,   ETC. 


497 


sons  to  undertake  no  great  transaction 
without  the  advice  of  their  motlier^  of 
-whom  he  speaks  with  tender  and  even 
touching  affection  :  "  It  is  my  special 
wish  that  my  sons  shall  not  engage  in 
any  transaction  of  moment,  without 
having  previously  asked  her  maternal 
advice."  The  first  intelligence  of  the 
death  of  the  great  financial  monarch 
was  received  by  the  same  method 
which  had  so  often  contributed  to  his 
success.  Beneath  the  wings  of  a  pi- 
geon, shot  in  sport  at  Brighton,  were 
discovered  the  words,  " /Z  est  morV 
(He  is  dead).  His  remains  were  carried 
to  England.  The  Austrian,  Prussian, 
Neapolitan,  and  Portuguese  ambassa- 
dors assisted  at  his  funeral.  The 
cofiiu  or  casket  which  contained  his 
massive  remains  was  elaborately  carved 
and  gorgeously  ornamented,  looking 
like  some  splendid  piece  of  artistic 
skill,  destined  for  the  boudoir  of  a 
lady,  rather  than  for  the  damp  of  the 
grave.  ^ 

Rekindling-  of  the  Old  Spark. 

The  youthful  flame  of  John  McDon- 
ogh,  of  New  Orleans,  when  he  was  a 
young  and  prosperous  merchant  of 
that  city,  was  the  Countess  Pontalba, 
or  Miss  Almonastre,  as  was  her  maid- 
en name.  It  happened  one  day,  many 
years  after,  while  the  countess  was  in  a 
notary's  office,  for  the  purpose  of  sign- 
ing some  deeds,  that  a  tall,  grave,  and  ec- 
centric-looking old  gentleman  entered, 
and  seeing  the  notary  engaged,  took 
his  seat  to  wait  his  turn.  After  com- 
pleting her  signature  of  the  deeds,  the 
countess,  raising  her  eyes  from  the 
parchment,  perceived  that  she  was  the 
object  of  close  and  keen  observation 
of  the  eccentric  old  gentleman  with 
tlie  very  brilliant  and  piercing  eyes. 
A  single  glance  served  to  bring  that 
face  and  form  distinctly  back  to  her 
memory.  Bushing  up  to  the  old  gen- 
tleman, she  threw  her  arms  around  his 
neck,  in  an  affectionate  embrace,  ex- 
claiming : 

32 


"  Oh,  Mr.  McDonogh  !  is  it  you  ?  I 
have  not  forgotten  you  during  our 
long  separation."  And  after  a  pause, 
her  emotions  checking  her  utterance, 
she  continued :  "  We  were  once  be- 
trothed ;  it  would  have  been  better  for 
both  if  we  had  married.  Is  it  too  late 
to  repair  that  fatal  error  ? " 

For  the  first  time  for  forty  years,  the 
old  man  was  deeply  affected  by  a  ten- 
der and  human  feeling.  The  ancient 
love  was  aroused  from  the  deep  re- 
cesses of  his  heart,  where  it  had  lain 
dormant  and  forgotten,  and  for  a 
moment  triumphed  over  the  passion 
w^hich  had  been  growing  and  expand- 
ing for  the  half  of  his  lifetime,  until  it 
had  gained  the  entire  mastery  of  his 
soul.  Greatly  moved  by  this  peni- 
tence of  his  once-loved  and  betrothed, 
Mr.  McDonogh  begged  to  be  permit- 
ted to  consult  his  better  judgment,  and 
tearing  himself  away  from  the  bewitch- 
ments of  the  countess,  he  repaired  in- 
stantly to  the  ofiB.ce  of  his  lawyer. 
Walking  in  with  the  appearance  of 
great  excitement,  he  paced  the  office 
of  the  lawyer  in  an  anxious  and  excited 
manner  for  some  time,  to  the  profound 
astonishment  of  his  ancient  counsellor. 
At  last  the  cause  of  this  emotion  was 
explained,  when,  turning  to  his  lawyer, 
Mr.  McDonogh  confessed  that  he  was 
under  a  great  excitement  produced  by 
meeting  his  old  love,  the  countess. 
"And  what  would  you  think  now, 
R ,  if  I  were  to  marry  her  ? " 

"  I  should  think,"  replied  the  unsen- 
timental counsellor,  "that  you  had 
become  crazy." 

"  Ah  ? "  replied  the  millionnaire  in- 
terrogatively, and  then  pausing  thought- 
fully, he  continued :  "  And  you  would 
think  right — you  would  think  right ; 
so  let  us  to  business." 


EdinbTirg-h  Merchant  Finding-  a  Pnrse. 

While  prosecuting  his  accustomed 
morning  tour  in  the  suburbs  of  Edin- 
burgh, a  merchant  of  that  city  found, 


498 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


as  he  walked  along,  a  purse  containing 
a  considerable  sum  of  money.  He  ob- 
served a  lady  at  a  considerable  dis- 
tance, who,  he  thought,  might  be  the 
owner  and  loser.  Determined  to  be 
correct  as  to  the  party  to  whom  he 
delivered  it,  he  fell  upon  a  strange  yet 
ingenious  plan  to  effect  this.  He  re- 
solved to  act  the  part  of  a  "  poor,  dis- 
tressed tradesman,"  and  boldly  went 
forward,  hat  in  hand,  and  asked  alms. 
This  was  answered  with  a  polite  "  Go 
away  I  I  have  nothing  to  give  you." 
The  poor  man,  however,  persisted  in 
his  entreaties  until  he  had  got  assist- 
ance for  his  "  famishing  wife  and 
children ; "  the  lady,  from  reasons,  no 
doubt,  similar  to  "Mrs.  Maclarty's," 
at  last  condescended — but,  to  her  dis- 
may, found  that  the  wherewith  was 
minus.  The  good  merchant,  now  satis- 
fied that  he  was  correct,  with  a  polite 
bow  returned  the  purse,  with  a  word 
of  advice  to  her,  that  in  future  she 
should  be  more  generous  to  the  dis- 
tressed and  destitute. 


Tile  Mercliant  Family  of  Medici, 
Hesurgrazu. 

As  whatever  relates  to  the  illustrious 
merchant  family  of  the  Medici  is  of 
universal  interest,  the  following  remark- 
able account  of  the  disinterment,  a  few 
years  ago,  of  about  sixty  of  its  mem- 
bers, who  were  buried  in  the  crypt  of 
the  stately  pile  of  San  Lorenzo  at  Flo- 
rence, is  peculiarly  noteworthy. 

The  wooden  coffins  of  the  vaults 
having  been  found  mouldering  away, 
orders  were  giving  to  have  them  re- 
placed, and  consequently  all  the  bodies, 
with  the  exception  of  two,  were  trans- 
ferred into  new  receptacles. 

During  these  operations,  the  remains 
of  the  famous  Giovanni  delle  Bande 
Keri,  and  his  son  Cosimo,  the  first 
Grand  Duke  of  Tuscany,  were  once 
more  exposed  to  mortal  gaze.  The 
bodies  of  Eleanora  di  Toledo,  wife  of 
the  latter,  and  her  son  Francis  the  First, 


were  found  to  be  so  fresh  as  to  appear 
only  recently  laid  in  the  sepulchre; 
that  of  Francis,  especially,  warranted 
the  supposition  of  his  having  died  from 
some  strong  arsenical  poison.  By  the 
side  of  Cosimo  lay  his  dagger,  possibly 
the  one  which  he  plunged  into  the 
breast  of  his  son  Garcia,  the  fratricide. 
Each  body  was  accompanied  with  a 
medal,  and  ticketed  and  labelled  with 
the  most  business-like  precision;  and 
all  were  arranged  in  the  state  costume 
of  their  day.  Giovanni,  the  father  of 
Cosimo,  was  the  only  one  covered  with 
a  helmet.  Gaston,  the  last  of  the  house, 
closed  the  series. 


Household  Magnificence  of  Portingna, 
the  Great  Chinese  Merchant. 

PoRTiNGUA,  the  famous  Chinese  mer- 
chant of  Canton,  has  an  estate  on 
which  he  spends  half  a  million  dollars 
a  year — an  immense  sum  in  a  country 
where  labor  is  to  be  had  almost  for 
nothing.  The  property  is  larger  than 
a  king's  domain. 

This  China  merchant  made  his  for- 
tune in  the  opium  trade,  and  is  said 
to  possess  more  than  twenty  million 
dollars.  He  has  fifty  wives  and  eigh- 
ty domestics,  without  counting  some 
thirty  laborers,  gardeners,  &c.,  and 
owns  in  the  north  of  China  a  still 
finer  estate.  In  front  of  his  residence 
is  a  fine  garden  of  vast  extent,  in  which 
are  the  rarest  flowers,  and  a  wide  alley 
leads  to  the  principal  entrance.  The 
apartments  of  the  house  are  magnifi- 
cent in  size,  and  the  floors  are  in 
marble;  the  rooms  are  also  orna- 
mented with  columns  of  the  same 
material  and  of  sandal  wood,  encrusted 
with  mother-of-pearl,  gold,  silver,  and 
precious  stones.  Splendid  mirrors  of 
unsurpassed  height,  furniture  in  rare 
and  costly  wood  covered  with  Japan 
lacquer,  and  sumptuous  carpets  of 
velvet  and  silk,  decorate  the  rooms. 
The  apartments  are  separated  from 
each  other  by  movable  partitions  of 


DOMESTIC  KELATIONS   OF  MERCHANTS,  BANKERS,  ETS. 


499 


cypress  and  sandal  wood,  which  parti- 
tions are  ornamented  with  charming 
designs,  cut  right  through  the  wood, 
so  as  to  permit  one  room  to  be  seen 
from  the  other.  From  the  ceilings  are 
suspended  the  most  gorgeous  chande- 
liers, glittering  with  gems  of  every 
hue. 

There  are  more  than  thirty  piles  of 
buildings  in  the  whole  of  this  private 
palace,  which  ^re  united  by  covered 
galleries,  with  columns,  and  pavements 
in  marble.  The  lodgings  of  the  women 
are  decorated  with  more  than  Eastern 
splendor.  An  entire  army  might  be 
lodged  in  the  house  and  grounds. 
Watercourses,  upon  which  are  gilded 
junks,  traverse  in  all  directions;  and 
at  intervals  are  prodigious  basins,  in 
which  are  swans,  ibices,  and  an  infinite 
variety  of  birds.  In  front  of  the  women's 
apartments  is  a  theatre,  in  which  a 
hundred  actors  can  perform,  and  so 
placed  that  those  who  are  in  the  apart- 
ments can  see  without  difficulty.  Near 
the  outer  door  is  a  printing  office,  in 
which  Portingua  causes  the  memoirs 
of  his  family  to  be  prepared  for  pos- 
terity. 


Doctrine  of  Benevolence  held  "by 
Girard. 

Although  Girard  granted  large  aids 
to  large  objects,  he  withheld  assistance 
from  deserving  subjects  of  individual 
benevolence.  No  man  sought  his  alms 
with  a  prospect  of  relief,  and  beggary, 
in  most  cases,  departed  from  his  door 
as  hungry  as  when  it  came.  His  doc- 
trine appears  to  have  been  this :  that 
the  granting  of  small  sums  to  obscure 
objects,  that  the  opening  of  his  heart 
to  those  appeals  which  would  naturally 
be  made  upon  the  wealth  of  so  opulent 
a  man,  would  have  diminished  his 
chances  of  bestowing  his  bounties 
upon  those  important  subjects  which 
would  redound  to  his  fame.  And  it 
was  necessary  to  understand  his  pecu- 
liar self-will,  and  the  character  of  his 
temper,  to  obtain  aid  at  ail.    The  so- 


licitor for  aid  who  made  small  de- 
mands upon  his  charity,  was  relieved 
with  thousands;  the  individual  who 
came  before  him  in  the  spirit  of  exac- 
tion, was  put  away  with  nothing. 


Lorillard  and  the  Load  of  Wood. 

It  was  an  opinion  entertained  by 
many  persons,  that  Lorillard  was  too 
free  and  undiscriminating  in  the  exer- 
cise of  his  bounty,  for  "  even  his  fail- 
ings leaned  to  virtue's  side."  On  one 
occasion,  in  the  depths  of  winter,  a 
woman,  whom  he  had  often  relieved, 
called  upon  him  for  a  little  assistance 
to  procure  some  wood.  Having  some 
doubts  of  her  worthiness,  he  said  that 
he  would  inquire  about  her,  and  dis- 
missed her  without  any  relief. 

A  short  time  after,  he  left  his  office 
in  company  with  a  gentleman  who  had 
been  present  at  the  interview,  and  ob- 
serving a  cartman  with  a  load  of  wood 
on  his  cart,  he  asked  the  price  of  it, 
and  directed  him  to  take  it  to  a  certain 
street  and  number,  which  was  the  place 
where  the  disappointed  petitioner  re- 
sided. His  companion  remarked,  with 
some  surprise,  "  Did  you  not  say  that 
you  intended  to  make  some  inquiry 
about  her?"  He  replied,  "While  I 
should  have  been  inquiring  about  the 
matter,  the  poor  woman  might  have 
frozen  to  death." 


Colston,  the  Benevolent  Millionnaire 
Merchant. 

Edwaed  Colston,  at  the  age  of  for- 
ty years,  became  a  very  eminent  East 
India  merchant,  prior  to  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  great  East  India  Company, 
and  had  forty  sail  of  ships  of  his  own, 
with  immense  riches  flowing  in  upon 
him.  He  still  remained  uniform  in 
his  charitable  disposition,  distributing 
many  thousand  pounds  to  various 
charities  in  and  about  London,  besides 
private  gifts  in  many  parts  of  the  king- 
dom. In  the  year  1708,  he  instituted 
a  very  magnificent  school  in  Bristol, 


500 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES 


which  cost  him  an  immense  sum,  and 
endowed  the  same  with  a  large  annual 
income.  He  likewise  gave  ten  pounds 
for  apprenticing  every  boy  in  that 
place,  and,  for  twelve  years  after  his 
death,  the  same  amount  to  put  them 
into  business.  His  private  charities, 
however,  are  believed  to  have  far  ex- 
ceeded those  in  public. 

A  most  interesting  act  of  beneficence 
on  the  part  of  Mr.  C.  was  the  follow- 
ing :  It  appears  that  one  of  his  ships, 
trading  to  the  East  Indies,  had  been 
missing  upward  of  three  years  and  was 
supposed  to  be  destroyed  at  sea,  but  at 
length  she  arrived,  richly  laden.  When 
his  principal  clerk  brought  him  the  re- 
port of  her  arrival,  and  of  the  riches 
on  board,  he  said,  that  as  she  was  to- 
tally given  up  for  lost,  he  would  by  no 
means  claim  any  right  to  her;  he  there- 
fore ordered  the  ship  and  merchandise 
to  be  sold,  and  the  proceeds  thereof  to 
be  applied  toward  the  relief  of  the 
needy,  which  directions  were  imme- 
diately carried  into  effect. 


Betnming'  a  Favor. 

A  Philadelphia  merchant,  in  for- 
mer times,  whose  wealth  and  standing 
were  only  equalled  by  the  uprightness 
of  his  principles  and  the  benevolence 
of  his  acts,  rescued  a  mechanic  from 
the  clutches  of  poverty,  and,  what  was 
worse  in  those  days,  from  the  hands  of 
the  sheriflF.  The  son  of  the  mechanic 
was  young  at  this  time,  but  old  enough 
to  know  his  father's  benefactor.  Many 
years  after  this,  the  merchant  himself 
fell  into  difficulties;  and  at  the  most 
trying  moment,  when  all  his  friends 
had  forsaken  him,  the  mechanic's  son, 
now  comparatively  wealthy,  stepped 
forward  to  his  relief.  "  I  am  much  in- 
debted to  you,"  said  the  reduced  mer- 
chant. "  By  no  means,"  was  the  reply ; 
*'  I  have  only  paid  the  debt  which  my 
father  contracted,  at  the  corner  of 
Chestnut  street,  thirty  years  ago,  when 
I  was  just  old  enough  to  know  the 


cause  of  my  poor  mother's  grief."  The 
merchant,  at  this  allusion  to  that  by- 
gone but  touching  reminiscence,  grasp- 
ed his  hand,  while  the  tears  were  al- 
lowed free  course  down  his  cheek. 


Settling  a  Knotty  Account :  Quaker 
Philosophy. 

A  MERCHANT  had  a  dispute  with  a 
Quaker  respecting  the  settlement  of  an 
account.  The  merchant  was  deter- 
mined to  bring  the  account  into  court, 
a  proceeding  which  the  Quaker  very 
earnestly  deprecated,  using  every  argu- 
ment in  his  power  to  convince  the  mer- 
chant of  his  error ;  but  the  merchant 
was  inflexible.  Desirous  to  make  a  last 
effort,  the  Quaker  called  at  his  house 
one  morning,  and  inquired  of  the  ser- 
vant if  his  master  was  at  home;  the 
merchant,  hearing  the  inquiry,  and 
knowing  the  voice,  called  out  from 
the  top  of  the  stairs,  "  Tell  that  rascal 
I  am  not  at  home."  The  Quaker, 
quietly  looking  up  at  him,  calmly  said, 
"  Well,  friend,  the  Lord  put  thee  in  a 
better  mind." 

The  merchant,  struck  afterward  with 
the  meekness  of  the  reply,  and  having 
more  deliberately  investigated  the  mat- 
ter, became  convinced  that  the  Quaker 
was  right  and  himself  wrong.  He  re- 
quested to  see  him,  and,  after  acknowl- 
edging his  error,  he  said,  "  I  have  one 
question  to  ask  you— how  were  you 
able,  with  such  patience,  on  various  oc- 
casions, to  bear  my  abuse  ? "  "  Friend," 
replied  the  Quaker,  "I  will  tell  thee. 
I  was  naturally  as  hot  and  violent  as 
thou  art.  I  knew  that  to  indulge  this 
temper  was  sinful,  and  I  also  found 
that  it  was  unprofitable.  I  observed 
that  men  in  a  passion  always  speak 
loud;  and  I  thought  that  if  I  could 
control  my  voice,  I  should  repress  my 
passion.  I  have,  therefore,  made  it  a 
rule  never  to  let  my  voice  rise  above  a 
certain  key ;  and  by  a  careful  observ- 
ance of  this  rule,  I  have,  by  the  bless- 
ing of  God,  entirely  mastered  my  nat- 


>< 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,  BANKERS,  ETC. 


501 


ural  tongue."  Such  good,  frank  pMl- 
osoi^liy  was  not  lost  upon  the  merchant 
in  after  years. 


Why  Guy  the  Millionnaire  never 
Married. 

Thomas  Guy,  for  many  years  a  book- 
seller carrying  on  business  at  No.  .1 
Cornhill,  London,  known  as  the  "  lucky 
corner,"  and  afterward  a  broker  and 
banker,  made  his  immense  fortune  by 
shrewd  speculations  in  stocks  and  Gov- 
ernment securities.  Among  the  various 
anecdotes  related  of  this  marvellous 
money-getter,  is  one  of  a  somewhat 
domestic  ^nature,  and  which  not  only 
illustrates  his  personal  traits,  but  also 
confirms  the  homely  adage,  that  "  there 
is  many  a  slip,"  &c. 

After  he  had,  as  he  thought,  discov- 
ered in  the  conduct  of  his  maid  ser- 
vant, in  addition  to  a  frugal  disposi- 
tion, one  who  would  at  all  times  con- 
form to  his  rules  and  regulations,  he  on 
a  particular  occasion  intimated  to  her 
that  it  was  his  intention  to  make  her  his 
wife ;  and,  having  taken  the  necessary 
steps  toward  the  completion  of  that  in- 
teresting ceremony,  the  wedding,  and, 
as  a  preparative,  given  particular  in- 
struction to  a  stone  mason  to  repair 
the  pavement  opposite  his  house,  it 
chanced  that  Sally,  the  intended  bride, 
observed  a  dilapidated  stone,  not  ex- 
actly within  the  line  of  her  master's 
house,  but  very  near  it ;  she,  therefore, 
heedless  of  Guy's  positive  orders  to  the 
contrary,  directed  the  man  to  remove 
it,  and  to  replace  it  by  a  new  one, 
which  was  accordingly  done. 

On  Guy's  return — for  he  had  been 
absent  during  the  day — his  eye  caught 
sight  of  the  new  stone,  and  in  an  angry 
tone  he  desired  to  know  why  his  or- 
ders had  not  been  obeyed,  and  why 
that  stone,  pointing  to  the  new  one, 
had  been  placed  there.  The  mason 
replied  that  it  was  by  his  mistress's 
orders.  Guy  immediately  called  poor 
Sally,  and  told  her  that  she  had  over- 
stepped her  duty,  adding,  "  If  you  take 


upon  yourself  to  order  matters  con- 
trary to  my  instructions  before  we  are 
married,  what  will  you  not  do  after  ?  I 
therefore  renounce  my  matrimonial  in- 
tentions toward  you."  So  Sally  failed 
to  become  the  banker's  wife,  and  as  the 
day  for  "  breach  of  promise  "  cases  did 
not  belong  to  that  period,  the  matter 
here  ended. 


Sir  Thoraas  F.  Buxton's  Conversations 
with  Hothschild. 

Sir  Thomas  F.  Buxton,  in  a  letter 
to  his  daughter,  says :  "  We  yesterday 
dined  at  Ham  House,  to  meet  the 
Rothschilds,  and  very  amusing  it  was. 
He  (Rothschild)  told  us  his  life  and 
adventures.  He  was  the  third  son  of 
the  banker  at  Frankfort.  "  There  was 
not,"  he  said,  "  room  enough  for  us  aU 
in  that  city.  I  dealt  in  English  goods. 
One  great  trader  came  there,  who  had 
the  market  to  himself:  he  was  quite 
the  great  man,  and  did  us  a  favor  if  he 
sold  us  goods.  Somehow  I  offended 
him,  and  he  refused  to  show  me  his 
patterns.  This  was  on  a  Tuesday.  I 
said  to  my  father,  I  will  go  to  Eng- 
land. I  could  speak  nothing  but  Ger- 
man. On  the  Thursday  I  started.  The 
nearer  I  got  to  England,  the  cheaper 
goods  were.  As  soon  as  I  got  to  Man- 
chester, I  laid  out  all  my  money,  things 
were  so  cheap,  and  I  made  good  profit." 

"  I  hope,"  said ,  "  that  your  chil- 
dren are  not  too  fond  of  money  and 
business,  to  the  exclusion  of  more  im- 
portant things.  I  am  sure  you  would 
not  wish  that." 

"  I  am  sure  I  would  wish  that,"  said 
Rothschild ;  "  I  am  sure  I  would  wish 
that.  I  tcish  them  to  give  mind,  and 
soul,  and  heart,  and  lody,  and  every- 
thing to  Imsiness ;  that  is  the  way  to  te 
happy.  Stick  to  one  business,  young 
man,"  said  Rothschild,  addressing  Ed- 
ward ;  "  stick  to  your  brewery,  and 
you  may  be  the  great  brewer  of  Lon- 
don. But  be  a  brewer,  and  a  banker, 
and  a  merchant,  and  a  manufacturer, 
and  you  will  soon  be  in  the  Qazette.'''' 


502 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Robert  Barclay  becoming:  a  Banker 
instead  of  a  Courtier. 

The  celebrated  financial  house  of 
Barclay,  in  London,  narrowly  escaped 
never  coming  into  existence — no  less  a 
personage  than  the  king  himself  stand- 
ing in  near  and  peculiar  relation  to  this 
fact,  as  the  following  will  show  : 

On  the  occasion  of  the  state  visit  of 
George  the  Third  to  the  city,  on  the 
first  lord  mayor's  day  after  his  acces- 
sion to  the  throne,  and  when  the  caval- 
cade had  reached  Cheapside,  the  ac- 
clamations of  the  people  were  so  great 
as  to  pierce  the  air  with  their  shouts ; 
added  to  w^ch  the  dismal  noise  made 
by  the  creaking  of  the  various  signs 
which  then  hung  across  the  streets, 
caused  one  of  the  horses  attached  to 
the  king's  carriage  to  become  unman- 
ageable, causing  considerable  confusion 
to  the  procession,  and  alarm  to  their 
majesties. 

Just  at  this  moment,  a  certain  Qua- 
ker, named  David  Barclay,  a  linen  dealer 
in  Cheapside,  and  who  was  viewing  the 
procession  from  the  balcony  of  his  first- 
floor  window,  perceived  the  critical  sit- 
uation of  the  king  and  queen,  and  at 
once  descended  to  the  street.  The 
procession  had  now  halted,  and  the 
Friend,  approaching  the  carriage,  calm- 
ly addressed  the  king,  saying,  "Wilt 
thee  alight,  George,  and  thy  wife  Char- 
lotte, and  come  into  my  house  and  view 
the  mayor's  show?"  The  king,  who 
had  on  many  occasions  before  he  came 
to  the  throne  evinced  a  strong  partial- 
ity for  Quakers,  and  who,  from  the 
plainness  of  his  manner,  would  very 
likely  have  been  one  himself,  had  he 
not  been  born  to  a  throne,  condescend- 
ed to  accept  the  invitation  of  the  wor- 
thy shopkeeper,  and  in  the  balcony  of 
the  first  floor  of  that  house,  the  king 
and  queen  stood  during  the  remainder 
of  the  pageant. 

David,  with  simple  gravity  of  man- 
ner, introduced  to  their  majesties  the 
whole  of  his  family.     His  eldest  son. 


Robert,  who  was  then  a  young  man 
about  twenty  years  of  age,  received 
especial  notice  from  their  majesties. 
On  taking  their  leave  to  proceed  to 
Guildhall,  his  majesty  said,  "David, 
let  me  see  thee  at  Saint  James's,  next 
Wednesday,  and  bring  thy  son  Robert 
with  thee."  Accordingly,  plain  David 
Barclay  and  his  son  Robert  attended 
the  court  levee,  and  on  approaching 
the  royal  presence,  the  king,  throwing 
aside  all  regal  restraint,  descended  from 
the  throne,  and  giving  the  Friend  a 
hearty  shake  of  the  hand,  welcomed 
him  to  St.  James's.  He  said  many 
kind  things  both  to  the  father  and  to 
his  son — among  the  rest  he  asked  Da- 
vid what  he  intended  to  do  with  Rob- 
ert ?  and  without  waiting  for  a  reply, 
said,  "  Let  him  come  here,  and  I  will 
provide  him  with  honorable  and  profit- 
able employment." 

The  cautious  and  self-possessed  Qua- 
ker, with  many  decorous  apologies,  and 
with  much  humility,  requested  permis- 
sion to  reject  the  proposal,  saying,  "  I 
fear  the  air  of  the  court  of  your  majesty 
would  not  agree  with  my  son."  The 
king,  who  had  seldom  or  never  wit- 
nessed a  similar  rejection  of  intended 
royal  favor,  said,  "  Well,  David,  well, 
well,  you  know  best,  you  know  best ; 
but  you  must  not  omit  to  let  me  see 
you  occasionally  at  St.  James's." 

Soon  after  this,  "  David  "  saw  his  son 
Robert  established  as  a  banker  in  Lom- 
bard street;  and  who,  instead  of  be- 
coming a  courtier,  under  such  flatter- 
ing favoritism  of  the  king,  became  the 
founder  of  one  of  the  most  eminent 
and  powerful  banking  firms  of  the  day. 


Hospitality  of  Stephen  Girard. 

Every  day,  Mr.  Girard  performed  a 
journey  to  the  "  Neck,"  where  lay  his 
farm,  and  to  the  laborious  cultivation 
of  which  he  devoted  the  greater  por- 
tion of  his  leisure  time.  But  even  here, 
where  it  might  be  supposed  that  he 
would    have    exercised    at    least    the 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS   OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,   ETC. 


503 


ordinary  rites  of  hospitality,  no  friend 
was  welcomed  with  a  warm  greeting. 
In  one  instance  an  acquaintance  was 
invited  to  witness  his  improvements, 
and  was  shown  to  a  strawberry  bed 
which  had  been,  in  the  greater  part, 
gleaned  of  its  contents,  and  told  that 
he  might  gather  the  fruit  in  that  bed, 
when  the  owner  took  leave,  stating 
that  he  must  go  to  work  on  a  neigh- 
boring bed.  That  friend,  finding  that 
this  tract  had  been  nearly  stripped  of 
its  fruit  by  his  predecessors,  soon  stray- 
ed to  another  tract,  which  appeared  to 
bear  more  abundantly,  when  he  was  ac- 
costed by  Mr.  Girard.  "I  told  you," 
said  he,  "  that  you  might  gather  straw- 
berries only  in  that  bed."  Such  was  his 
hospitality. 

M.  Rothschild  at  Home. 

As  might  be  expected,  the  entertain- 
ments given  by  the  elder  Rothschild, 
the  charities  to  which  he  occasionally 
subscribed,  and  the  amount  and  char- 
acter of  his  transactions  in  the  money 
market,  afforded  constant  material  for 
everybody's  talk.  Peers  and  princes  of 
the  blood  sat  at  his  table,  clergymen 
and  laymen  bowed  before  him,  and 
they  who  preached  loudest  against 
mammon,  bent  lowest  before  the  mam- 
mon worshipper.  Gorgeous  plate,  ex- 
quisite furniture — an  establishment  such 
as  many  a  noble  of  Norman  descent 
would  envy — graced  his  entertain- 
ments. 

Without  social  refinement,  with  man- 
ners which,  offensive  in  the  million, 
were  considered  but  hrusque  in  the  mil- 
lionnaire,  he  collected  around  him  the 
fastidious  members  of  the  most  fastidi- 
ous aristocracy  in  the  world.  He  saw 
the  representatives  of  all  the  states  in 
Europe  proud  of  his  friendship.  By 
the  democratic  envoy  of  the  new  world, 
by  the  ambassadors  of  the  imperial 
Russ,  was  his  hospitality  alike  accept- 
ed ;  while  the  man  who  warred  with 
slavery  in  all  its  forms  and  phases  was 


himself  slave  to  the  golden  reputation 
and  gracious  favors  of  the  Hebrew. 
Though  never  having  cultivated  a  taste 
for  literature  or  the  fine  arts,  his  palace 
contained  in  abundance  the  richest  vol- 
umes of  the  European  press,  in  the 
different  languages,  and  he  deferred  to 
the  exactions  of  his  position  by  possess- 
ing himself  of  the  rarest  and  costliest 
productions  of  painter  and  sculptor  for 
the  adornment  of  his  halls  and  draw- 
ing rooms.  Yet,  in  respect  to  these,  he 
was  in  no  sense  a  connoisseur,  for  his 
taste  and  perceptions  lay  in  an  entirely 
different  direction.  It  is  not  known 
that  he  ever  exhibited  any  reluctance 
to  gratify  the  wants  of  his  household, 
no  matter  what  the  expense,  nor  how 
widely  their  preferences  might  differ 
from  his  own. 


Mr.  Vanderbilt's  Holiday. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1854,  the  at- 
tention of  the  public  was  directed  to  an 
item  in  the  New  York  papers,  contain- 
ing information  that  Mr.  Cornelius 
Vanderbilt,  the  enterprising  and  opu- 
lent merchant,  was  constructing  an  im- 
mense and  magnificent  steamship,  which 
he  intended  as  a  yacht  for  the  accom- 
modation of  his  family  and  some  in- 
vited friends  in  a  voyage  to  the  prin- 
cipal seaports  of  Europe.  The  an- 
nouncement of  this  project  excited  no 
little  interest  in  the  public  mind,  and 
the  excursion  became  one  of  the  pleas- 
ant topics  of  conversation  of  the  day. 
Mr.  Vanderbilt  was  known— and  still 
continues  to  be — as  a  thoroughly  prac- 
tical man,  whose  energy  and  persever- 
ance, combined  with  strong  intellect 
and  high  commercial  integrity,  had 
given  him  immense  wealth  ;  all  his  un- 
dertakings had  been  crowned  with  sig- 
nal success,  and  his  great  enterprise  in 
opening  a  communication  with  the 
Pacific  by  the  Nicaragua  route  made 
him  a  reputation  in  Europe.  A  general 
expectation  was  naturally  excited,  there- 
fore, that  he  would  carry  out  his  plan, 


504 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


in  connection  with  the  noble  vessel  in 
process  of  construction,  in  a  manner 
that  would  redound  to  the  honor  of 
the  country,  and  of  the  mercantile  pro- 
fession, of  which  he  was  then  and  is 
now  so  prominent  a  member. 

Various  opinions  were  entertained  as 
to  Mr.  Vanderbilt's  ultimate  designs. 
Many  imagined  that  he  purposed  to 
effect  some  great  commercial  operation 
— he  was  to  sell  his  ship  to  this  mon- 
arch or  that  Government ;  or,  that  he 
was  to  take  contracts  for  the  supply  of 
war  steamers  :  all  sorts  of  speculations 
were  entertained  by  that  frequently 
misinformed  character — the  public.  In , 
February,  Mr.  Vanderbilt  gave  to  a 
friend  who  was  sitting  with  him  in  his 
library,  the  first  information  of  his  in- 
tention in  respect  to  the  vessel,  and  in- 
vited his  guest  to  accompany  him  to 
Europe  in  the  month  of  May. 

The  ship  was  then  on  the  stocks,  but 
the  owner  named  the  very  day  on  which 
he  should  sail,  giving  the  details  of  his 
proposed  route,  and  from  which  few 
deviations  were  afterward  made.  Mr. 
Vanderbilt  expressly  stated  that  his 
sole  object  was  to  gratify  his  family 
and  afford  himself  an  opportunity  to 
see  the  coast  of  Europe,  which  he  could 
do  in  no  other  way— ^remarking  that, 
after  more  than  thirty  years'  devotion 
to  his  business,  in  all  which  period  he 
had  known  no  rest  from  labor,  he  felt 
that  he  had  a  right  to  a  complete  holiday. 
It  is  well  known  that  the  cruise  of  the 
North  Star — a  most  superb  craft  of 
twenty-five  hundred  tons  burden,  and 
most  sumptuous  in  all  its  appointments 
— was  peculiarly  pleasant  and  success- 
ful, and  did  high  honor  abroad  to  the 
merchant  who  thus,  in  the  style  of  a 
sovereign,  visited  the  four  quarters  of 
the  globe. 


Costly  Banquet  by  a  Merchant  to 
Charles  the  Fifth. 

M.  Daniels,  a  Jewish  merchant  of 
Anvers,  gave  a  dinner  one  day  to 
Charles  the  Fifth,  and  had  served  up 


for  him,  at  the  dessert,  pies  cooked 
upon  a  cash  bond  for  two  millions, 
which  the  emperor  had  given  him  for 
that  sum,  borrowed  of  the  Jew  some 
time  previously,  when  the  monarch  was 
"  hard  up."  As  the  company  were  in 
ecstasies  at  so  rich  a  hospitality,  Dan- 
iels said  that  he  did  not  pay  too  dearly 
for  the  honor  which  the  emperor  had 
done  him,  a  simple  merchant,  in  dining 
at  his  table.  "  You  esteem  yourself  too 
little,"  interrupted  the  imperial  visitor ; 
"  for,  while  the  nobility  ruin  me,  the 
men  of  learning  instruct  me,  and  the 
merchants  enrich  me." 


Parlor  Talk  between  James  E,othschild, 
the  Banker,  and  the  Poet  Heine. 

Baron  James  Rothschild  had,  like 
his  brother  Nathan,  the  reputation  of 
being  a  boor — or  brute,  socially ;  at  any 
rate,  when  he  took  a  whim  to  be.  He 
seemed,  when  in  this  mood,  to  delight 
in  showing  off  his  parvenu  vulgarity, 
and  assumed  the  airs  of  a  nabob  with 
every  one  for  whom  he  did  not  particu- 
larly care.  One  or  two  good  anecdotes 
are  told  of  his  encounters  with  men  of 
mind.  Having  quizzed  the  poet  Heine 
once  rather  sharply,  at  dinner,  the  lat- 
ter betrayed  his  host  into  some  remark 
on  the  name  of  the  wine  they  were 
drinking — Lacrima  Christi.  "  Curious 
name — I  can't  account  for  it,"  said  the 
millionnaire.  "  Oh  !  "  replied  the  wit, 
"  the  etymology  is  very  simple  ;  Christ 
weeps  that  Jews  should  drink  such 
excellent  wine ! " 

On  another  occasion  having  been  in- 
troduced to  the  famous  lawyer,  M.  Cr^- 
mieux — a  coreligionist  of  the  banker's, 
by  the  way,,  and  slightly  deformed — 
Rothschild  rudely  said :  "  Wliy,  are 
you  Cremieux  ?  I  should  have  thought 
the  famous  Cremieux  w  ould  have  been 
a  better-looking  man."  Cremieux 
laughed,  and  after  some  remarks  ob- 
served, "  Well,  I  am  glad  I  have  met 
you,  baron.  You  are  sure,  by  the  way, 
that  you  are  Baron  Rothschild  ? "   "  Of 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,  BANKERS,   ETC. 


505 


course,"  replied  tlie  counting-liouse 
monarch;  "why  doubt  it?"  "Oh! 
only  because  I  fancied  the  great  Baron 
Rothschild  would  have  been  a  better- 
bred  man." 


Commercial  Advantage  of  a  Blind  Eye. 

The  fact  of  Mr.  Girard  having  one 
of  his  eyes  blind  is  t^iought  to  have 
contributed — as  Miltp4i  has  expressed 
it  under  a  similar  afiiictic^ — to  drive 
Ids  thoughts  inward,  and  thus  to  have 
engrafted  upon  his  native  stem  of  be- 
nevolence something  of  a  morose  and 
rugged  spirit,  under  the  dissatisfaction 
which  he  would  naturally  feel  with  his 
destiny,  and  panting  after  a  recompense 
for  his  loss. 

This  defect  in  his  vision,  and  which 
subsequently  increased  so  as  to  cause 
total  blindness,  was  not  observed  or  felt 
by  him  until  he  was  in  his  eighth  year. 
At  that  time,  his  attention  was  first  di- 
rected to  it  by  tfee  bo^^s,  who  began  to 
ridicule  him  forfhis  blind  eye,  or  what 
was  then  an  obvious'  deformity  to 
others,  though  unknown  to  himself. 
This  ridicule  from  his  playmates  and 
companions  he  felt  so  keenly,  that  he 
resolved  to  go  to  a  doctor,  and  take  his 
advice  how  to  cure  it.  The  physician, 
after  an  examination  of  the  eye,  assured 
him  the  defect  could  easily  be  removed, 
by  cutting  the  skin  or  film,  which  had 
grown  over  it ;  but  Girard,  always  in- 
clined to  be  self-willed  and  obstinate, 
and  having  a  boyish  repugnance  to  a 
surgical  operation,  declined  to  undergo 
such  treatment.  After  that,  he  does 
not  appear  to  have  made  any  efforts  to 
have  it  restored,  until  very  late  in  life, 
when  he  resorted  to  a  nostrum  present- 
ed to  him  by  one  of  his  captains ;  he 
used  it  without  success. 

It  is  probable  that  his  active  life  and 
incessant  movements  kept  him  from 
devoting  any  time  to  its  cure ;  or  that 
he  early  despaired  of  it,  having  made 
up  his  mind  never  to  submit  to  the 
operation  of  the  knife.    Many  supposed 


that  he  had  lost  his  eye  entirely,  and 
that  it  was  closed  up  ;  but  this  was  not 
the  fact — the  eye  was  entire,  though 
deformed  and  blind.  He  himself  con- 
fessed that  the  ridicule  of  the  boys  hurt 
him  much.  This  bodily  defect  con- 
tributed, no  doubt,  in  some  measure, 
to  sour  his  temper,  and,  at  an  after  pe- 
riod, to  turn  the  current  of  his  thoughts 
so  shrewdly  and  with  such  concentration 
to  the  pursuits  which  he  folloiced  with 
such  incomparaUe  success.  At  a  later 
day,  his  eye  was  still  further  injured, 
while  passing  through  the  streets,  by  a 
blow  from  a  snowball.  This  defect 
contributed  to  give  a  severe  and  harsh 
expression  to  his  ample,  and  otherwise 
well-expressed  and  well-formed  coun- 
tenance. 


Banker  vs.  Musician. 

M.  C K,  a  German  tenor  singer  of 

some  note,  resident  in  Paris,  was  in- 
jured by  a  fall,  so  as  to  be  unable  to 
use  his  voice  professionally,  until  the 
lapse  of  a  long  time,  and  his  recovery 
was  attended  with  the  presentation 
of  medical  and  apothecaries'  bills  which 
he  was  unable  to  meet.  On  applying 
to  Meyerbeer,  the  great  composer,  also 
a  German,  that  brother  introduced  him 
to  his  friends,  who  aff'orded  him  tem- 
porary aid;  but  in  order  to  meet  all 
his  necessities  he  projected  a  musical 
matinee,  and  was  favored  by  Meyerbeer 
with  a  note  of  introduction  to  Baron 
Rothschild,  whose  countenance  of  the 
project  was  known  to  be  very  desira- 
ble in  order  to  its  success.     M.  C r 

delivered  the  letter  to  Baron  R.,  whom 
he  found  at  breakfast.  The  baron  in- 
vited his  visitor  to  share  his  meal,  and, 
at  its  conclusion,  retiring  for  a  few 
minutes  to  his  cabinet,  returned  and 
handed  him  two  papers — one  a  note 
for  five  hundred  francs,  and  the  other 
a  note  to  M.  Meyerbeer,  as  follows  : 

"  M.  GiAcoMO   Meyerbeer  : — Dear 
and  great  friend :  I  am  only  an  earthly 


506 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


baron.  You,  on  tlie  contrary,  are  a 
prince  of  the  harmonious  spheres.  I 
am  more  than  a  millionnaire ;  you  are 
more  than  I.  Let  us  each  give  to  our 
friend  of  our  abundance — I  of  my 
bank-notes,  you  of  your  genius.  I  com- 
mend him  to  your  high  and  mighty 
protection.  He  needs  assistance  to- 
ward a  matinee.  Were  it  a  financial 
matinee,  my  bank-bills  might  aid  ma- 
terially toward  its  success ;  but  it  is  a 
musical  matinee,  and  this  comes  under 
your  province.  Do  you  as  follows : 
Cause  it  to  be  announced  that  you  will 
play  a  new  composition.  The  matinee 
will  bring  in  ten  thousand  francs — that 
is  to  say,  nine  thousand  and  five  hun- 
dred more  than  I  contribute.  You  are 
more  than  eighteen  times  as  rich  as 

Yours,  Rothschild." 

Meyerbeer  read  the  note,  and  ex- 
claimed with  anger,  "What  egotism 
this  financier  has  ! "  but  he  forgave  the 
point  of  the  rather  practical  joke,  and 

M.  C ^r's  matinee  brought  him  ten 

thousand  francs,  as  the  banker  fore- 
told. 


Goldschmid's  Comforting:  Sort  of 
Hoaz. 

Abraham  Goldschmid,  "  the  benev- 
olent Jew  banker,"  as  he  was  commonly 
and  very  justly  termed,  accidentally 
became  acquainted  with  one  of  those 
simple  and  single-minded  country  cu- 
rates, whose  poverty  was  the  disgrace, 
and  whose  piety  was  the  glory,  of  the 
Establishment.  This  was  the  man  for 
Abraham  Goldschmid— Jew  though  he 
was — at  once  to  approve  and  benefit. 
He  obtained  all  the  particulars,  as  was 
his  custom  in  such  a  case,  and  in  a  few 
weeks  a  letter  was  received  which  told 
the  curate  he  had  been  allotted  a  share 
of  the  new  loan.  Such  a  letter  was  in- 
deed a  mystery  to  the  worthy  clergy- 
man, who  indifferently  put  it  aside, 
with  a  confirmed  notion  that  some  sort 
of  a  hoax  was  intended.  He  had  not 
long  to  wait.     The  next  day  brought  a 


second  letter,  and  with  it  comfort  and 
consolation  in  the  shape  of  a  large  sum 
which  had  been  realized  in  the  allot- 
ment. 


Grand  Scheme  Disclosed  in  McDon- 
ogli's  Will. 

Intense  was  the  curiosity  of  the  pub- 
lic to  know  what  disposition  had  been 
made  by  John  McDonogh  of  his  enor- 
mous property,  wtien  his  will  was  pro- 
bated and  read  in  court.  It  was  a  cu- 
rious document,  written  on  stout  fools- 
cap by  the  testator  himself,  in  a  re- 
markably neat,  clear  hand,  with  the 
lines  as  close  as  type,  and  his  autograph 
signed  to  every  page.  Being  a  holo- 
graphic will,  under  the  law  of  Louisiana 
it  required  no  witness.  Ever  since 
1838,  the  will  had  lain  among  certain 
old  papers  of  the  deceased.  In  its  pre- 
paration, he  had  consulted  the  most 
eminent  lawyers  and  studied  the  most 
approved  law  books  bearing  on  his 
grand  scheme. 

After  setting  forth,  in  the  usual  form, 
his  nativity,  his  present  residence,  his 
belief  in  God  and  the  uncertainty  of 
life,  and  that  he  has  no  heirs  living  in 
the  ascendiag  or  descending  line,  and 
directing  an  inventory  of  his  property 
to  be  taken  immediately  after  his  death, 
he  proceeds  to  bequeath  to  the  children 
of  his  sister,  a  widow  lady  in  Balti- 
more, a  ten-acre  lot  in  that  city,  the 
usufruct  to  remain  in  the  widow,  with 
six  thousand  dollars  in  cash.  He  then 
emancipates  his  old  servants,  ten  in 
number,  whom  he  designates.  The 
rest  of  his  slaves  he  provides  shall  be 
sent  to  Liberia.  Certain  of  them  are 
to  be  sent  after  serving  those  who  shall 
succeed  to  his  estate  for  fifteen  years. 
The  slaves  to  be  sent  to  Liberia  are  to 
be  supplied  with  ploughs,  hoes,  spades, 
axes,  clothing,  garden  seeds,  etc. ;  also 
with  letters  of  recommendation  to  the 
colonists,  and  with  a  copy  for  each  of 
the  Holy  Gospel  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament. 

The  will  then  proceeds  to  declare 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,  BANKERS,  ETC. 


507 


that,  "  for  the  more  general  diffusion 
of  knowledge  and  consequent  well- 
being  of  mankind,  convinced  as  I  am 
that  I  can  make  no  disposition  of  those 
worldly  goods  which  the  Most  High 
has  been  pleased  so  bountifully  to  place 
under  my  stewardship,  that  will  be  so 
pleasing  to  Him  as  that  by  means  of 
which  the  poor  will  be  instructed  in 
wisdom  and  led  into  the  path  of  virtue 
and  holiness,"  he  gives  all  the  residue 
of  his  estate  to  the  corporations  of  New 
Orleans  and  Baltimore,  in  equal  propor- 
tions of  one  half  to  each,  for  the  several 
intents  and  purjDOses  set  forth,  and  es- 
pecially for  the  establishment  of  free 
schools  for  all  classes  and  castes  of  col- 
or, wherein  they  shall  all  be  instructed 
in  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  and  in 
reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  history, 
geography,  etc.,  provided  that  the  Bible 
shall  be  used  as  one  of  the  class-books, 
and  singing  taught  as  an  art. 

And  now  comes  the  ingenious  scheme 
which  had  engaged  the  constant 
thought  and  study  of  the  testator  for 
forty  years.  Of  his  real  estate,  no  part 
is  ever  to  be  sold ;  but  it  is  all  to  be 
let  out  on  leases  never  to  exceed  twen- 
ty-five years,  to  be  improved  by  the 
tenants  or  lessees.  At  the  expiration 
of  those  leases  the  property  is  to  revert, 
free  of  cost,  to  his  estate,  to  be  there- 
after rented  out  by  the  month  or  year. 
All  his  personal  property  is  to  be  sold 
and  converted  into  real  estate,  the  ag- 
gregate of  which  is  styled  his  general 
estate,  and  which  is  to  "  constitute  "  a 
permanent  fund  on  interest,  as  it  were, 
namely, — a  real  estate,  affording  rents, 
no  part  of  which  fund  (of  the  principal) 
shall  ever  be  touched,  divided,  sold,  or 
alienated,  but  shall  forever  remain  to- 
gether as  one  "  estate." 


Home  Luxuries  of  Ancient  Merchants. 

An  antique  specimen  of  the  trading 
craft  from  Norway,  reproaching  a 
Dutchman  with  luxury,  "  What  is  be- 
come," said  he,  "  of  those  happy  times, 


when  a  merchant  on  going  from  Am- 
sterdam to  the  Indies  left  a  quarter  of 
dry  beef  in  his  kitchen,  and  found  it  at 
his  return?  Where  are  your  wooden 
spoons  and  iron  forks?  Is  it  not  a 
shame  for  a  sober  Dutchman  to  lie  in 
a  damask  bed  ? "  "  Go  to  Batavia," 
answered  the  man  of  Amsterdam ;  "  get 
ten  tons  of  gold,  as  I  have  done,  and 
see  whether  you  will  not  want  to  be  a 
little  better  clothed,  fed,  and  lodged  !  " 


English  Merchant's  "Wife  Priced  by  a 
Mandarin. 

Not  long  since  a  young  English  mer- 
chant took  his  blooming  wife  with  him 
to  Hong  Kong,  where  the  couple  were 
visited  by  a  wealthy  mandarin.  The 
latter  regarded  the  lady  very  attentive- 
ly, and  seemed  to  dwell  with  delight 
upon  her  movements.  When  she  at 
length  left  the  apartment,  he  said  to 
the  merchant,  in  broken  English  (worse 
than  broken  China)  :  "  What  you  give 
for  that  wifey-wife  yours  ? "  "  Oh," 
replied  the  husband,  laughing  at  the 
singular  error  of  his  visitor,  "  two  thou- 
sand dollars."  This  the  merchant 
thought  would  appear  to  the  Chinese 
rather  a  high  figure ;  but  he  was  mis- 
taken. "  Well,"  said  the  mandarin, 
taking  out  his  book  with  an  air  of 
business,  "  s'pose  you  give  her  to  me ; 
I  give  joujive  thousand  dollars  !  " 

It  is  difficult  to  say  whether  the 
young  merchant  was  more  amazed  than 
amused  ;  but  the  very  grave  and  solemn 
air  of  the  Chinaman  convinced  him  that 
he  was  in  sober  earnest;  and  he  was 
compelled,  therefore,  to  refuse  the  offer 
with  as  much  placidity  as  he  could  as- 
sume. The  mandarin,  however,  con- 
tinued to  press  the  bargain  :  "  I  give 
you  seven  thousand  dollar,"  said  he ; 
"  you  to/L-e  'em  ?  " 

The  merchant,  who  had  no  previous 
notion  or  thought  of  the  commercial 
value  of  the  commodity  which  he  had 
taken  out  with  him  on  his  business 
tour,  was  compelled,  at  length,  to  in- 
form his  visitor  that  Englishmen  were 


508 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


not  in  the  habit  of  selling  their  wives 
after  they  once  came  in  their  posses- 
sion— an  assertion  which  the  Chinaman 
was  very  slow  to  believe.  The  mer- 
chant afterward  had  a  hearty  laugh 
with  his  young  and  pretty  wife,  and 
told  her  that  he  had  just  discovered 
her  full  value,  as  he  had  that  moment 
been  offered  seven  thousand  dollars  for 
her ;  a  very  high  figure,  "  as  wives  were 
going  "  ifli  China  at  that  time  I 


Disinterested  Feat  of  a  Merchant,  and 
its  2Eleward. 

M.  LoBAT,  a  notable  merchant  of 
Bayonne,  ill  in  heath,  had  retired  in 
the  beginning  of  winter,  to  a  country 
house  on  the  banks  of  the  Adour.  One 
morning,  when  promenading  in  his 
robe-de-cliambre^  on  a  terrace  elevated 
a  little  above  the  river,  he  saw  a  travel- 
ler thrown  by  a  furious  horse,  from  the 
opposite  banks,  into  the  midst  of  the 
torrent.  M.  Lobat  was  a  good  swim- 
mer ;  he  did  not  stop  a  moment  to  re- 
flect on  the  danger  of  the  attempt,  but 
ill  as  he  was,  threw  off  his  robe-de- 
chambre,  leaped  into  the  flood,  and 
caught  the  drowning  stranger  at  the 
moment  when,  having  lost  all  sensa- 
tion, he  must  have  otherwise  inevitably 
perished.  "  O  God  !  "  exclaimed  M. 
Lobat,  clasping  him  in  his  arms,  and 
recognizing  with  a  transport  of  joy  the 
individual  he  had  saved,  "  sacred  hu- 
manity !  what  do  I  not  owe  to  thee  ? 
I  have  saved  my  son  ! " 


Thomas  Gresham's  Curious  Armorial 
or  Crest. 

Thomas  Gresham,  v/ho  built  the 
Royal  Exchange  in  London,  was  the 
son  of  a  poor  woman,  who,  while  he 
was  an  infant,  abandoned  him  in  a  field. 
While  thus  exposed,  the  chirping  of  a 
grasshopper  attracted  a  boy  to  the  spot 
where  the  child  lay ;  and  his  life  was, 
by  this  means,  preserved.  After  Sir 
Thomas,  had,  by  his  unparalleled  suc- 


cess as  a  merchant,  risen  to  the  pinnacle 
of  commercial  wealth  and  greatness,  he 
chose  a  grasshopper  for  his  crest ;  and 
becoming,  under  Queen  Elizabeth,  the 
founder  of  the  Royal  Exchange,  his 
crest  was  placed  on  the  walls  of  the 
building  in  several  parts,  and  a  vane 
or  weathercock,  in  the  figure  of  a  grass- 
hopper, was  fixed  on  the  summit  of  the 
tower. 


Garden  of  a  French  Stock  Broker. 

M.  DE  la  Borde,  whose  stock  op- 
erations made  him,  at  one  time,  a  sec- 
ond Croesus  in  the  money  circles  of 
Paris,  conceived  the  idea  of  displaying 
his  opulence  and  taste  by  the  formation 
of  a  garden  of  marvellous  extent,  beauty 
and  cost.  The  spot,  respecting  which 
he  formed  this  conception,  appeared  to 
be  the  most  unfavorable  possible,  being 
an  extensive  marshy  ground — a  turfy 
earth  surrounded  by  mountains,  crossed 
by  the  river  d'Etampes.  The  financier, 
however,  said  let  there  be  a  garden, 
and  there  was  a  garden. 

To  give  this  loose  and  muddy  bot- 
tom a  proper  firmness,  was  the  first 
command;  about  four  hundred  labor- 
ers were  at  once  employed  to  trench  a 
mountain,  to  smooth  its  fragments,  and 
to  spread  it  in  a  layer,  after  having 
cleared  away  the  first  bed  of  the  marsh, 
of  its  immense  accumulation  of  slime 
and  mire.  This  marshy  earth  was 
then  thrown  over  the  smooth  bed  of 
the  mountain  which  had  disappeared  ; 
and  the  mingled  soils  thus  produced 
one,  equally  adapted  for  the  future 
plantations.  The  river,  which  ran  in 
a  straight  line,  was  made  to  assume 
that  of  Hogarth's  line  of  beauty,  roll- 
ing its  waters  in  serpentine  brightness  ; 
they  were  ingeniously  conducted,  and 
were  seen  falling  into  a  magnificent 
basin,  and  then  passing  under  an  im- 
mense artificial  bridge,  formed  of  ir- 
regular pieces  of  rock.  They  some- 
times rolled  into  little  cascades,  by  sub- 
terranean  grottoes,   where  the  velvet 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,  BANKERS,  ETC. 


509 


turf  lured  the  eye  by  its  enchantment. 
Without,  its  sparkling  brightness  riv- 
eted the  attention,  and  anon  its  deep- 
swelling  reverberations  engaged  the 
ear;  within,  mystical  murnmrs  lulled 
with  their  softness,  and,  at  a  farther 
distance,  to  vary  the  sensations  of  the 
traveller,  a  deep  silence  prevailed.  In 
still  another  place,  the  eflect  was  to 
startle  with  bewilderment  and  alarm. 
The  rocks,  piled  above  one  another  in 
a  gloomy  light,  discovered  their  point- 
ed and  threatening  fragments— every- 
thing appeared  in  a  crumbling  state, 
and  every  breeze,  echoing  through  hol- 
low arches,  seemed  to  betoken  disaster. 
And  then  more  agreeable  objects  di- 
versified the  scene  and  delighted  the 
vision.  The  way  was  studded  with 
elysian  beauties  and  winsome  views. 
Floating  islands  displayed  their  varie- 
gated charms,  and  rarest  gems  of  sculp- 
ture-art were  liberally  scattered  about 
the  lawns  and  green  bowers. 

Thus,  the  art  of  the  banker  vanquish- 
ed nature.  The  cost — upward  of  a  mil- 
lion dollars — was  enormous,  and  the 
taste  exquisite.  Though  seemingly 
wasteful,  the  employment  of  so  many 
hundreds  of  persons,  at  a  time  when 
France  was  crowded  with  living  skele- 
tons for  want  of  bread,  was  perhaps 
the  most  profitable  financial  *'  opera- 
tion "  (for  others)  which  the  great  bro- 
ker ever  engaged  in. 


Wedding:  Gift  of  Rothschild  to  his 
Niece. 

The  fashionable  world  of  London, 
and  indeed  of  all  Europe,  was,  in  1853, 
in  a  state  'of  the  greatest  ferment,  on 
account  of  the  marriage  of  Miss  Leo- 
nora Rothschild,  of  London,  daughter 
of  Baron  Lionel  de  Rothschild  of  that 
city,  to  her  cousin,  Baron  Alphonso,  of 
Paris,  son  of  Baron  James  Rothschild, 
of  the  latter  place.  All  the  prepara- 
tions were  on  a  scale  of  magnificence 
comporting  with  the  position  of  the 
"wealthiest  family  in  the  world,  and  the 


gifts  from  friends  ranged  all  the  way 
from  ten-cent  pincushions,  from  Jewish 
charity  pupils  who  were  made  com- 
fortable by  the  endowments  of  the 
bride'";;  family,  up  to  a  set  of  jewels  val- 
ued at  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars — or  as  much  as  an  East  India- 
man  loaded. 

But  strangest  among  all  the  gifts 
was  a  fat,  rather  dirty,  strong,  plain 
envelope  with  broken  seal,  and  ad- 
dressed to  Madame  la  Baronne  Al- 
phonse  de  Rothschild.  "  What  might 
this  contain,  pray  ? "  said  the  brides- 
maids, hustling  each  other  excitedly. 
Thereon  hung  a  tale.  This  marriage 
was  the  doing  of  Anselm  de  Roths- 
child, who  loved  his  fair  young  niece 
Leonora,  as  though  she  had  been  his 
daughter.  He  it  was  who  repressed 
the  somewhat  vagrant  tendencies  of 
young  Alphonse — hankering  after  Pa- 
risian sweets — and  forced  him,  by  a 
gentle  pressure,  to  cany  out  the  Roths- 
child policy  of  intermarriage.  So, 
when  the  old  man  had  carried  his 
point,  there  was  a  fluttering  among  the 
little  breasts  of  the  fair  daughters  of 
the  kindred  families,  and  a  terrible 
curiosity  to  know  how  "  Uncle  An- 
selm "  would  testify  his  joy.  Day  after 
day  it  leaked  out  that  this  uncle  had 
ordered  that,  and  that  that  aunt  in- 
tended to  give  this — but  what  Uncle 
Anselm  was  to  give  no  living  soul  could 
divine.  Even  when  the  day  came,  and 
strong-backed  porters  arrived  deeply 
laden  with  the  treasures  of  this  world, 
and  the  present-room  was  duly  set  out 
with  gorgeous  gifts,  no  word  came  from 
Baron  Anselm,  and  a  dreadful  sus- 
picion came  over  the  minds  of  the  fam- 
ily that  he  was  going  to  disgrace  him- 
self by  giving  nothing.  At  the  very 
last  moment,  when  the  old  gentleman 
had  depreciated  immensely  in  credit 
with  the  female  members  of  his  family, 
there  was  a  cry  that  he  was  coming. 
There  was  a  strange  mixture  of  twdnkle 
in  his  eye — reminding  one  of  the  stories 
told  of  his  father — and   of  quivering 


510 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


about  the  corners  of  his  lips,  as  he  ap- 
proached his  pet  and  kissed  her. 

"■  Here,  Leonora,"  said  the  old  baron, 
"here  is  a  letter  for  you."  And  he 
handed  her  a  fat  envelope,  and  sidled 
away. 

"  A  letter,  uncle  !  for  me  !  " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  old  man,  with  a  stop- 
page in  the  throat,  "a  letter— good 
advice."    And  he  disappeared. 

Of  course  there  was  a  rush  to  open 
the  letter.  It  contained  hanh  bills  for  Jive 
millions  of  dollars.  This  was  the  bank- 
er's present. 

— — ♦ — 

A  Banker's  Iiove  of  Birds— Girard's 
Xiittle  Song:sters. 

The  smallest  means  of  adding  to  his 
fortune  were  never  neglected  or  over- 
looked by  Girard.  To  him  nothing 
was  a  trifle,  if  a  penny  could  be  made 
by  it.  His  breed  of  canary  lirds  was 
among  the  most  choice  and  extensive 
in  the  world,  and  he  was  careful  to  sell 
them  at  the  highest  price.  The  fond- 
ness of  Girard  for  these  little  creatures 
was  remarkable;  he  had  his  favorites 
among  them,  and  doubtless  enjoyed 
many  a  happy  moment  under  the  in- 
fluence of  the  music  of  their  songs — a 
sweet  and  singular  solace  from  the  dis- 
tractions of  trade,  and  which  seemed 
to  indicate,  after  all,  a  native  trait  of 
tenderness  lurking  at  the  bottom  of  his 
heart.  True,  he  sold  them,  and  they 
contributed  to  gratify  his  superlative 
passion  in  that  way ;  but  it  would  be 
ungenerous  to  suppose  that  he  was  not 
susceptible  to  feelings  of  delight  from 
those  winsome  strains  of  melody  which, 
at  the  same  time,  naturally  commanded 
so  high  a  price  in  the  market. 


Household  Peculiarities  of  Girard. 

The  private  habits  of  Girard,  and 
his  manner  of  living,  partook  of  that 
seclusion  and  simplicity  which  charac- 
terized him  through  life.  Without  be- 
ing ostentatious,  he  was  remarkable  in 
his  household  arrangements  for  a  neat- 


ness that  made  up  for  lack  of  splendor, 
and  an  appearance  of  comfort  and  utili- 
ty which  nothing  could  exceed. 

His  dwelling  house,  in  winter,  was 
carpeted  from  the  cellar  kitchen  to  the 
attic  story.  His  furniture,  though 
plain,  was  substantial,  and  sometimes 
bearing  an  impress  of  the  opulence  of 
its  owner.  Thus,  his  drawing  room 
was  furnished  with  ebony  chairs  and 
sofa  having  crimson  velvet  seats,  which 
though  sombre,  were  rich,  and  capable 
of  enduring  for  centuries.  But  the  gen- 
eral aspects  of  his  rooms  was  that  of 
plain,  simple,  and  uncostly  character, 
which  one  would  expect  in  the  man- 
sion of  a  respectable  citizen,  who  had 
no  reputation  for  wealth.  His  furni- 
ture, like  his  dress,  exhibited  a  perfect 
contrast  to  the  wealth  of  the  man. 

In  his  chamber  there  was  nothing 
either  sumptuous  or  elegant;  on  the 
table,  he  kept,  unloaded,  a  brace  of 
splendid  blunderbusses,  of  Ketland's 
make,  with  brass  barrels  and  steel  bay- 
onets— they  were  of  admirable  work- 
manship, but  appeared  never  to  have 
been  used.  In  one  comer  of  his  bed 
chamber  stood  an  old-fashioned  small 
mahogany  desk  and  bookcase,  in  which 
was  contained  his  library  of  Voltaire's 
works.  The  walls  were  ornamented 
with  colored  prints,  representing  the 
female  negroes  of  St.  Domingo,  and  in 
one  spot  was  a  small  print  of  his  bank- 
ing house,  so  situated  that  his  first 
glance,  when  he  awoke,  as  he  lay  in 
bed,  must  necessarily  light  upon  it. 

His  meals  occupied  but  a  brief  pe- 
riod. To  his  breakfast  he  gave  but  a 
few  minutes,  unless  he  had  a  guest,  out 
of  whom  he  was  extracting'information 
essential  to  business  and  conducive  to 
profit.  He  generally  dined  about  one ; 
and  though,  when  in  robust  health,  a 
good  feeder,  yet  he  never  gratified  his 
appetite  to  the  full  extent.  Supper,  he 
took  none,  except  occasionally  a  biscuit 
and  a  glass  of  water,  previous  to  going 
to  bed.  At  a  more  advanced  period 
of  his  life,  he  varied  his  diet  and  mode 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,   ETC. 


511 


of  living,  so  as  to  adapt  them  to  his 
impaired  vigor  and  altered  constitu- 
tion; and  for  the  last  seven  or  eight 
years  of  his  existence,  he  abstained  al- 
together from  animal  food,  but  dined 
liberally  on  bean  broth,  and  similar 
vegetable  and  farinaceous  preparations. 
He  was  a  water  drinker,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  claret  and  cider,  of  both  of 
which  he  was  extremely  fond. 

With  the  society  of  children,  Girard 
was  excessively  gratified,  and  nothing 
pleased  him  so  much  as  to  have  some 
little  prattler  waiting  on  him — for  he 
always  made  it  a  point  to  keep  them 
employed  on  something  useful.  When 
his  nephews  amved  from  France,  en- 
gaging boys  of  twelve  and  fourteen,  he 
expressed  much  satisfaction,  and  seem- 
ed ardently  attached  to  them.  But  he 
appeared  afraid  to  indulge  this  feeling, 
and  hastily  despatched  them  off  to 
school,  lest  he  might  contract  a  habit 
toward  them  which  would  spoil  them 
in  the  end. 


Gideon,  the  Jew  Banker,  Catechising 
his  Child. 

Sampson  Gideon,  the  great  Jew 
banker  in  London,  and  the  founder 
of  the  house  of  Eardley,  was,  like  most 
men  whose  minds  are  absorbed  in 
one  engrossing  pursuit,  not  veiy  ad- 
vanced in  literary  or  religious  knowl- 
edge. He  educated  his  children  in 
the  Christian  faith,  but  said  he  was  too 
old  himself  to  change.  Being  desirous 
to  know  the  proficiency  of  his  son  in 
his  new  creed,  he  asked,  "  Who  made 
you  ? "  to  which  the  fitting  reply  was 
given,  viz.,  "  God."  He  then  asked, 
"  Who  redeemed  you  ? "  and  to  this 
the  Christian  response  was  promptly 
made.  Npt  knowing  what  else  to  say, 
he  stammered  out,  "  Who — who — who 
gave  you  that  hat?"  when  the  boy, 
with  parrot-like  precision,  replied  in 
the  third  person  of  the  Trinity.  The 
story  was  related  with  great  unctionL 
at  that  period,  at  the  wealthy  banker's 
expense. 


Groceries  and  Literature. 

A  GROCER  who,  naturally  enough  for 
his  trade,  had  retired  on  a  "  plum  " — 
being  the  reverse  of  one  making  many, 
since  in  this  case  many  plums  had  made 
one — took  a  literary  turn,  in  order  to 
amuse  himself  in  his  retirement.  One 
day,  at  table,  some  of  his  commercial 
guests  mentioned  the  town  of  Stockton- 
upon-Tees.  "  Bless  me,"  said  the  gro- 
cer, "  I  never  heard  of  that  work  before. 
I  should  certainly  like  to  read  Stockton 
upon  Teas."  Bent  upon  satisfying  his 
literary  taste,  he  on  the  same  day  took 
his  way  to  the  nearest  bookseller,  and 
inquired  for  the  work,  handing  him 
the  name  of  the  book  carefully  written 
thus:  "  Stockton  upon  Teas."  "There 
is  no  such  book — never  heard  of  it," 
said  the  bookseller.  Still  further  to 
satisfy  the  grocer,  he  looked  over  his 
catalogue.  "No,"  said  the  man  of 
books,  "  no  such  work  here,  and  Vm 
sure  you  wo'nt  find  it  anywhere.  There 
is  a  city  called  '  Stockton-upon-Tees ' — 
perhaps  it  is  that  you  mean."  The 
man  of  ounces  and  pounds  vamosed — 
a  ray  of  light  broke  upon  him — the 
first  that  had  invaded  his  plodding 
cranium  since  he  stood  behind  the 
counter  weighing  his  codfish — the 
genus  to  which  he  himself  belonged. 


Business  and  Beauty. 

The  deficien-cy  in  the  practical  part 
of  female  education  is  a  fact  which  has 
been  often  but  never  too  much  de- 
plored. The  following  notes  of  an 
examination  instituted  by  a  mercan- 
tile gentleman  in  search  of  a  wife  into 
a  young  lady's  knowledge  of  business 
is  testimony  complete  on  this  point. 

Young  lady  examined :  Has  heard 
of  the  monetary  question  ;  should  think 
it  was  a  warning.  Knew  what  Stocks 
were;  regard  them  as  the  "highest" 
necessity  in  a  gentleman's  dress.  A 
dividend  was  a  sum  in  Long  Division. 
A  bonus  was  a  sort  of  pill.     Scrip  was 


512 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


a  little  bag — something  like  a  reticule. 
Excliaiige  was  no  robbery.  Had  read 
about  Consols— they  were  ancient  Ro- 
mans; Julius  Caesar  was  one,  so  was 
Pompey.  Supposed  the  Three  Per 
Cents  must  mean  the  Triumvirate.  A 
Bull  was  a  horned  animal,  or  an  Irish 
mistake.  A  Bear  was  a  cross,  disagree- 
able person,  like  some  people  she  could 
name.  An  Exchequer  Bill  was  an  in- 
strument with  a  hook.  The  Bullionists 
were  a  religious  sect.  Was  afraid  the 
Inconvertibles  were  very  wicked  people. 
Gold  was  a  metal ;  knew  nothing  more 
about  it,  except  that  it  was  the  root  of 
all  evil,  and  that  railway  cuttings  and 
branch  banks  come  of  the  root. 


Philanthropic  Courage  of  Girard. 

During  the  prevalence  of  the  yellow 
fever  in  Philadelphia,  in  1793,  the  indi- 
vidual who  was  seen  with  the  badges 
of  mourning  upon  his  arm  was  avoided 
as  the  Upas  tree,  and  almost  every  per- 
son was  involved  in  the  fumes  of  cam- 
phor or  tobacco. 

While  this  pestilence  was  raging  at 
its  utmost  height,  an  individual,  of 
low  and  square  stature,  was  perceived 
alighting  from  a  coach  which  drew  up 
before  a  hospital  where  the  most  loath- 
some victims  of  this  disease  had  been 
collected  for  the  purpose  of  being  at- 
tended by  medical  aid.  The  man  en- 
tered this  living  sepulchre,  and  soon 
returned  bearing  in  his  arms  a  form 
that  appeared  to  be  suffering  in  the 
last  stages  of  the  fever — a  being  whose 
countenance  was  suffused  with  that 
saffron  color  which  seemed  to  be  the 
certain  harbinger  of  death.  The  body 
was  deposited  in  a  coach,  and  the 
carriage  drove  away.  The  man  who 
was  thus  seen  performing  this  act  was 
Stephen  Oirard.  It  might  be,  and 
indeed  has  been  said,  that  having  gone 
through  the  seasoning  process  in  a 
tropical  climate,  he  was  proof  against 
the  disease.  But  whether  that  was  or 
was  not  the  case,  it  docs  not  abate  in  I 


any  measure  the  credit  which  is  due  in 
thus  exposing,  at  least,  his  life  in  behalf 
of  a  fellow  being.  And  it  is  a  well-at- 
tested fact,  that  during  the  prevalence 
of  the  disease  he  continued  a  constant 
attendant  at  the  hospital,  performing 
all  those  offices  which  would  seem  revolt- 
ing to  the  most  humble  menial. 


Practical  Eloquence  of  a  Boston 

Merchant. 
While  a  committee  of  Boston  mer- 
chants were  collecting  subscriptions  in 
aid  of  the  Boston  testimonial  to  the  San 
Francisco  rescuers,  a  person  was  called 
upon  whose  benevolence  was  not  usu- 
ally commensurate  with  his  pecuniary 
ability,  and  something  of  a  "  set-to  " 
was  therefore  not  wholly  unanticipated 
by  his  visitors  on  the  occasion  in  ques- 
tion. He  hesitated  about  subscribing, 
averring  that  the  testimonial  should 
come  from  persons  engaged  in  com- 
merce, and  he  himself  was  not  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits.  The  member  of  the 
committee,  with  great  promptness  and 
justice,  answered  this  quibble  in  the  fol- 
lowing terms  :  "  Sir,  your  own  family  re- 
cently crossed  the  ocean  as  passengers  in 
a  ship.  Had  she  met  with  a  disaster,  and 
a  friendly  boat  come  to  take  off  those  on 
board,  and  refused  to  save  any  persons 
but  the  sailors,  as  society  had  adopted 
the  rule  that  each  class  of  the  community 
must  take  care  of  its  own  members  and 
no  others, — what  would  have  been  your 
feelings  to  have  known  that  your 
daughters  were  lost  on  account  of  their 
father's  advocating  such  distinctions 
in  cases  of  relief  ? "  This  manly  and 
felicitous  appeal  was  successful — the 
right  sort  of  a  response  coming  at  once 
from  the  gentleman's  pocketbook. 


Old-School  Merchant's  Offering  to  his 
Country:  John  Langrdon,  of  New 
Hampshire. 

When  the  news  of  the  fall  of  Ticon- 
deroga  reached  New  Hampshire,  the 
provincial  legislature  was  in  session  at 
Exeter.    It  was  a  period  when  the  re- 


DOMESTIC  RELATIOXS  OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,   ETC. 


513 


sources  of  the  patriots  were  almost 
exhausted;  the  public  credit  was 
gone ;  and  the  members  of  the  assem- 
bly Trere  disheartened.  John  Langdon, 
one  of  the  noblest  and  most  thorough- 
bred merchants,  was  speaker  of  the  as- 
sembly at  the  time.  He  rose  in  his  place, 
on  the  morning  after  the  intelligence 
was  received,  and  addressed  the  house, 
in  mercantile  brevity,  to  the  following 
effect :  "  My  friends  and  fellow  citizens 
— I  have  three  thousand  dollars  in  hard 
money ;  I  will  pledge  my  plate  for 
three  thousand  more.  I  have  seventy 
hogsheads  of  Tobago  rum,  which  shall 
be  sold  for  the  most  it  will  bring. 
These  are  at  the  service  of  the  State. 
If  we  succeed  in  defending  our  fire- 
sides and  homes,  I  may  be  remunera- 
ted ;  if  we  do  not,  the  property  would 
be  of  no  value  to  me."  Langdon  was 
an  old-school  merchant  of  the  genuine 

stamp. 

— » 

Samuel  Slatsr  on  Extravagance  in 
Living-. 

Mr.  Samuel  Slater's  habits  of  living 
was  often  the  topic  of  remark  among 
his  townsmen.  On  a  certain  occasion, 
this  subject  was  made  the  staple  of 
quite  an  interesting  conversation  be- 
tween himself  and  a  few  of  his  inti- 
mate friends,  when  he  was  a  little  more 
than  fifty  years  of  age,  and  estimated 
to  be  worth  half  a  million  of  dollars. 
It  was  in  the  front  room  of  the  Bank, 
where  they  were  accustomed  to  meet 
and  discuss  all  sorts  of  things  of  inter- 
est. At  that  time  he  lived  in  an  old 
wooden  house  which  might  have  cost 
two  or  three  thousand  dollars — decent 
and  comfortable,  it  is  true,  and  much 
like  the  better  sort  of  houses  in  the 
village,  excepting  perhaps  half  a  dozen. 
He  also  owned  a  good  horse  and  chaise^ 
the  common  pleasure  vehicle  at  that 
period  in  many  parts  of  New  England. 
His  friends  told  him  it  was  not  right 
for  a  man  of  his  property  to  live  in 
that  style;  that  he  ought  to  build  a 
better  house  and  keep  a  coach. 
33 


Mr.  Slater  replied  much  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner  :  "  Gentlemen,  I  admit 
that  I  am  able  to  have  a  large  and 
costly  house,  rich  furniture,  and  ser- 
vants to  take  care  of  it ;  that  I  am  able 
to  have  a  coach,  with  a  driver  and  foot- 
man to  attend  me.  And  it  is  not  that 
I  am  miserly  that  I  do  not  have  them. 
But  it  is  a  duty  in  me  to  set  an  exam- 
ple of  prudence  to  others,  and  especially 
to  my  children.  The  world  is  too  much 
inclined  to  extravagance.  If  the  style 
you  recommend  is  to  be  considered  an 
evidence  of  wealth,  and  I  were  on  that 
account  to  adopt  it,  others  not  able 
might  follow  my  example,  in  order  to 
be  thought  rich.  In  the  end  it  might 
prove  their  ruin,  while  prudent  and 
honest  people  would  have  to  suffer  for 
it.  And  you  know  I  have  six  boys.  If 
they  live,  and  have  families,  each  will 
want  to  live  in  as  much  style  as  their 
father.  Now,  if  I  am  able  to  live  as  you 
recommend,  my  property,  when  divided 
in  six  parts,  might  not  be  sufficient  to 
support  six  such  establishments;  be- 
sides, business  may  not  continue  as 
good  as  it  is  at  present.  I  wish  to 
set  a  good  example  for  my  children. 
If  they  do  not  follow  it,  the  fault  is 
not  mine." 


Freaks  of  Wealthy  Merchants. 

The  wealth  which  now  exists  in 
Amsterdam  is  said  to  fall  much  short 
of  what  it  was  during  the  period  of 
Dutch  commercial  preeminence.  It 
is  not  long  since  strangers,  in  visiting 
Amsterdam,  were  shown  the  spacious 
house  of  a  merchant,  who,  after  lavish- 
ing much  on  furniture  and  paintings, 
actually  caused  the  floor  of  one  of  his 
apartments  to  be  laid  with  Spanish 
dollars,  set  on  edge. 

Whims  equally  ridiculous,  for  dispo- 
sing of  an  overplus  of  wealth,  appear 
to  have  been  far  from  uncommon  in 
former  times  in  Holland.  There  is,  in 
Arnheim,  an  old,  fantastical-looking 
dwelling,  the  original  owner  of  which 


514 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


was  a  Jew  merchant,  and  lie  erected 
the  house  out  of  pure  revenge.  His 
coffers  were  so  well  replenished  that  he 
was  at  a  loss  how  to  employ  his  super- 
fluous cash.  At  last  he  hit  upon  a 
fanciful  expedient.  He  determined  to 
make  a  pavement  before  his  residence 
of  large  massive  plates  of  silver,  and  to 
surround  it  with  an  ornamental  chain, 
of  the  same  costly  material.  Before 
carrying  this  plan  into  effect,  however, 
it  behooved  him  to  obtain  the  sanction 
of  the  authorities.  These  worthies, 
however,  void  of  sympathy,  set  their 
faces  against  a  proposition  which 
might  have  compelled  them  to  increase 
the  strength  of  the  town-guard.  En- 
raged at  their  non-compliance,  Moses 
determined  to  punish  them.  He  ordered 
his  dwelling,  situated  in  the  principal 
street,  to  be  pulled  down,  and  on  its 
site  he  erected  the  one  now  standing. 
It  is  literally  covered  with  diabolical 
figures,  amounting,  it  is  said,  to  three 
hundred  and  sixty-five, — one  for  each 
day  in  the  year,  to  afford  the  city 
worthies  both  abundance  and  variety. 


Sportive  Death  of  the  Prench  Banker, 
Dangre. 

On  the  evening  before  his  death,  M. 
Dange,  illustrious  on  the  roll  of  French 
bankers  and  millionnaires,  received  vis- 
its of  fashion  in  the  most  pompous 
manner.  His  apartment  was  embel- 
lished in  the  most  luxurious  style. 
Seated  on  a  sumptuous  couch,  and 
dressed  in  a  magnificent  robe  de  cham- 
tre^  which  floated  around  him  in  folds 
shining  with  the  most  curious  embroi- 
dery, and  buttoned  with  a  diamond  of 
rarest  size  and  brilliancy,  he  talked  of 
quitting  the  world  in  the  gayest  man- 
ner possible.  But  this  was  not  the 
effect  even  of  French  philosophy,  but 
rather  of  that  characteristic  apathy  of 
his  nature,  which  had  rendered  him 
dead  to  every  touch  of  sensibility— a 
quality  quite  in  keeping  with  the  re- 
quisites of  an  unscrupulous  financier,  as 
he  was.     He  made  his  nephew  his  ex- 


clusive legatee,  on  condition  of  his  pay- 
ing five  millions  of  livres  in  legacies — a 
condition  which  that  favored  mortal 
very  cheerfully  complied  with,  and  ap- 
propriated to  himself  the  comfortable 
sum  of  eight  millions,  that  being  the  re- 
mainder of  M.  Dange's  fortune. 


Tliat  little  Child  in  the  CoTinting 
Room. 

The  counting  room  of  a  well-known 
mercantile  house  in  London  was  enter- 
ed by  a  gentleman,  just  as  some  unfa- 
vorable intelligence  had  been  received. 
The  head  of  the  firm,  with  his  hard  but 
honest  features,  looked  at  once  stern 
and  anxious.  A  small  hand  twitched  his 
coat  hehind  !  He  turned  slowly  around, 
with  a  sullen  and  almost  savage  brow. 
His  eye  fell  upon  the  prettiest  little  hu- 
man face  that  ever  gleamed  upon  the 
earth.  But  the  child's  merry  laughter 
was  scarcely  more  delightful  than  the 
bland  and  radiant  smile  that  kindled 
on  the  merchant's  careworn  cheek.  His 
aspect  underwent  such  an  instantaneous 
and  entire  change,  that  he  looked  as  if 
he  had  changed  his  nature  also.  Had 
a  painter  stamped  his  portrait  on  the 
canvas  at  that  happy  moment,  it  would 
have  presented  an  exquisite  illustration 
of  amenity  and  love.  Few,  however, 
of  his  mercantile  friends,  would  have 
recognized  in  that  portrait  the  man  of 
business.  He  was  single  and  childless ; 
but  the  fondest  parent  could  not  have 
greeted  his  own  offspring  with  a  sweet- 
er welcome  than  he  gave  to  that  little 
child  in  the  counting  room. 


Nicholas  Long-worth's  Bread. 

One  of  Mr.  Longworth's  permanent 
and  quiet  charities  was  the  weekly  dis- 
tribution at  his  house,  every  Monday 
morning,  of  three  hundred  to  eight 
hundred  ten-cent  loaves  of  bread  to 
whoever  would  apply  for  them.  Once, 
when  flour  was  high,  and  the  bakers 
had  reduced  the  size  of  their  loaves, 
Mr.  Longworth  thought  he  would  be 


THAT  LITTTLE  OH'LD  IN  THE  COr-NTING  KOOM. 


■  f    <       *  cr      "•*«'•« 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,   ETC. 


615 


doing  his  beneficiaries  a  good  turn  by- 
having  the  loaves  made  partly  of  rye, 
and  thus  considerably  enlarging  instead 
of  reducing  their  size.  His  "  patrons," 
however,  as  soon  as  they  found  it  out, 
raised  such  a  clamor,  and  called  him  so 
many  disparaging  names,  and  annoyed 
him  so  much  with  their  threats  and 
complaints,  that  he  was  glad  to  order 
a  return  to  the  pure  wheat. 


Relig-ious  Bearing-  of  Judaisra  on  Stock 
Operations:  the  Pereires. 

The  name  of  the  Pereire  brothers, 
Jewish  bankers  in  Paris,  is  well  known. 
A  member  of  some  large  stock  com- 
pany, of  which  one  brother  is  a  chief 
manager,  fell  into  dispute  with  him 
concerning  some  of  the  operations,  and 
being  dissatisfied  at  the  absorbing 
share  which  M.  Pereire  took  in  the 
management,  as  well  as  vexed  at  the 
rough  way  in  which  he  treated  his 
protestations,  finally  exclaimed,  "  Do 
you  mean  to  eat  me  up  ?  "  "  My  reli- 
gion," answered  the  banker,  "  prohibits 
me  from  doing  that." 


Out  of  FasMon. 

A  MERCHANT  dcsircd  the  most  fash- 
ionable tailor  in  Paris  to  make  him  a 
coat  in  a  particular  way.  "  Sir,"  said 
the  tailor,  "  that  shape  has  been  out  of 
fashion  these  six  months ;  pray,  do 
have  it  of  a  proper  cut."  "I  do  not 
care  for  the  fashion,"  said  the  mer- 
chant, "  I  will  wear  my  coat  in  the  way 
that  is  most  agreeable  to  me."  The 
tailor  remonstrated,  and  begged  in 
vain ;  but  at  last,  unwilling  to  lose  a 
good  customer,  he  said,  "  Well,  sir,  I 
have  only  to  entreat,  as  a  return  for  ex- 
ecuting your  order,  that  you  will  keep 
it  a  secret  who  is  your  tailor,  or  I  shall 
lose  all  my  business."' 


Retiring:  from  Business:   "Melting* 
Day." 

Almost  every  man  sets  out  in  life 

with  the  determination,  when  a  certain 


sum  has  been  accumulated,  to  retire 
from  the  cares  of  business  and  enjoy 
for  the  balance  of  his  days  "  otium  cum 
dignitate."  Visions  of  sunny  farms 
and  rural  retreats  are  ever  before  hira ; 
but,  unfortunately,  few  men  have  the 
courage,  when  the  required  sum  has 
been  obtained,  to  be  contented  to  re- 
tire. In  the  course  of  year»3,  new  tastes 
have  been  acquired,  and  new  wants 
added  to  the  humble  catalogue  with 
which  he  commenced  life.  The  rural 
retreat  has  now  become  a  suburban 
residence,  with  coach,  horses,  stable, 
&c.,  &c.,  and  a  few  thousands  more 
have  become  necessary.  So  he  goes 
toiling  on,  his  ambition  widening  and 
extending  as  he  pushes  and  urges  his 
way  on  to  competence  and  fortune. 
During  all  this  time  he  forgets  that  he 
is  getting  older — that  his  capacity  for 
enjoyment  is  getting  more  contracted 
every  day — that  his  tastes  and  habits 
are  becoming  unalterably  confirmed  in 
business  life,  so  that  when  he  does  mus- 
ter up  the  firmness  to  yield  his  place  in 
the  business  world  to  younger  men,  he 
is  about  as  unhappy  a  mortal  as  one 
could  wish  to  meet  on  a  summer's  day. 
Here  is  a  case  in  point : 

A  tallow  chandler  of  London,  after 
many  years'  devotion  to  his  calling, 
accumulated  a  handsome  fortune,  and 
retired  to  his  villa ;  but  time  hung  so 
heavily  on  his  hands  that  he  used  to 
have  a  melting  day  once  a  week,  and 
made  his  own  candles  for  amusement. 
He  had  neglected  through  his  life  to 
lay  in  any  store  of  knowledge  but  what 
pertained  to  candles,  had  neglected  a 
taste  for  reading,  or  otherwise  to  pre- 
pare his  mind  as  well  as  his  pocket  for 
the  purposes  of  a  period  of  leisure. 
His  great  object  had  been  to  make 
enough  to  retire  on^  without  caring  to 
provide  siamething  to  retire  mth. 


Girard's  Will :  the  Item  about 
Ministers. 

Girard's  will  contains  the  following 

memorable  provision,  which,  it  may 


516 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


safely  be  asserted,  is  without  a  parallel 
in  any  document  of  the  kind  drawn  up 
in  a  Christian  land  :  "  I  enjoin  and  re- 
quire, that  no  ecclesiastic,  missionary, 
or  minister,  of  any  sect  whatever,  shall 
ever  hold  or  exercise  any  station  or  duty 
whatever  in  the  said  college  ;  nor  shall 
any  such  person  ever  be  admitted  for 
any  purpose,  or  as  a  visitor,  within  the 
premises  appropriated  to  the  purposes 
of  said  college." 


Halifax,  the  Engrlish.  Banker's  Opinion 
of  " Lending-  to  the  Lord;"  with,  a 
Personal  Application. 

Thomas  Halifax,  the  once  noted 
millionnaire,  did  not  enjoy  a  high 
reputation  for  liberality.  During  a 
severe  winter,  when  requested  to  join 
his  neighbors  in  a  subscription  for  the 
poor,  and  being  pleasantly  remarked 
to,  that  "  he  who  giveth  to  the  poor 
lendeth  to  the  Lord,"  he  replied,  "  He 
did  not  lend  on  such  slight  security ;  " 
and  it  is  curious  that,  when  he  himself 
afterward  applied — on  his  becomhig 
bankrupt — to  a  rich  neighbor  for  assist- 
ance, a  similar  reply,  couched  in  similar 
language,  was  given  to  his  application. 


Female  Members  of  the  Bothschild 
Family. 

Most  of  the  members  of  the  Roths- 
child family  have  married,  and  lived 
in  great  splendor ;  and  it  is  observed, 
as  something  characteristic  of  the  race, 
that  their  choice  of  wives  has  usually 
been  very  creditable.  In  London,  the 
widow  of  Baron  Kathan  was  held  in 
great  esteem  on  account  of  her  inex- 
haustible charity ;  her  sister,  the  lady 
of  Sir  Moses  Montefiore,  was  not  less 
popularly  known  as  a  suitable  helpmate 
for  her  philanthropic  partner ;  and  the 
same  may  be  said  of  the  sister  of  Baron 
Nathan,  widow  of  the  brother  of  Sir 
Moses  Montefiore. 

But  there  is  another  woman  of  this 
wonderful  family  who  deserves  to  be 
mentioned  in  an  especial  manner.    This 


is  the  widow — since  dead — of  the  bank- 
er of  Frankfort,  the  mother  of  the  five 
brothers,  and  grandmother  of  those 
flourishing  men,  whose  fame  has  risen 
so  proudly  among  the  moneyed  aris- 
tocracy of  Europe.  The  following  no- 
tice of  this  remarkable  and  most  vener- 
ated lady,  written  a  short  time  before 
her  decease,  by  a  pleasant  German 
author,  is  of  peculiar  interest : 

In  the  Jews'  street  at  Frankfort-on- 
the-Maine,  in  the  midst  of  Gothic  fa- 
cades, black  copings,  and  sombre  al- 
leys, there  is  a  house  of  small  exterior, 
distinguished  from  others  by  its  luxu- 
rious neatness,  which  gives  it  an  ap- 
pearance singularly  cheerful  and  fresh. 
The  brass  on  the  door  is  polished,  the 
curtains  at  the  window  are  as  white  as 
snow,  and  the  staircase — an  unusual 
thing  in  the  damp  atmosphere  of  this 
dirty  quarter — is  always  dry  and  sliin- 
ing.  The  traveller  who,  from  curios- 
ity, visits  this  street — a  true  specimen 
of  the  times  when  the  Jews  of  Frank- 
fort, subjected  to  the  most  intolerable 
vexations,  were  restricted  to  this  in- 
fected quarter — will  be  induced  to  stop 
before  the  neat  and  simple  house,  and 
perhaps  ask,  "  Who  is  that  venerable  old 
lady  seated  in  a  large  arm  chair  behind 
the  little  shining  squares  of  the  window 
of  the  first  story  ? "  And  this  is  the 
reply  every  citizen  of  Frankfort  will 
make  :  "  In  that  house  dwelt  an  Israel- 
ite merchant,  named  Meyer  Anselm 
Rothschild.  He  there  acquired  a  good 
name,  a  great  fortune,  and  a  numerous 
oflspring  ;  and  when  he  died,  the  wid- 
ow declared  she  would  never  quit,  ex- 
cept for  the  tomb,  the  unpretending 
dwelling  which  had  served  as  a  cradle 
to  that  name,  that  fortune,  and  those 
children."  ^ 

Reminiscences  of  IMr.  Astor's  Library 
Bequest. 
In  an  account  of  the  interviews  of 
friendship  which  were  held,  not  un- 
frequently,  between  John  Jacob  Astor 
and  Washington  Irving,  a  few  reminis- 


DOMESTIC  RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,   ETC. 


517 


cenccs  are  given  of  the  manner  in 
which  the  former  prince  merchant  was 
led  to  found  the  magnificent  library 
which  bears  his  name.  According  to 
Irving,  Mr.  Astor  desired  to  leave  to 
New  York  some  memorial  of  his  citi- 
zenship. He  thought  of  several  ways, 
and  among  others  that  of  endowing  a 
Professorship,  but  finally  determined 
to  found  a  library,  and  frequently  con- 
sulted him  concerning  it.  The  plan 
met  with  his  most  hearty  approval ; 
and  he  frequently  endeavored  to  in- 
duce him  to  establish  it  during  his  life- 
time, in  order  that  he  might  be  witness 
to  its  good  results.  Mr.  Astor  fre- 
quently invited  Irving  to  dine  with 
Mm  at  his  country  residence  at  Hell 
Gate,  and  talk  about  the  library.  After 
dinner  he  would  call  for  the  city  plot 
and  discuss  its  location.  The  first  in- 
tention was  to  locate  it  in  Astor  Place, 
which  was  finally  changed  for  its  pres- 
ent more  eligible  site  in  Lafayette 
Place.  On  one  occasion  he  told  Irving 
that  he  thought  of  altering  his  will  in 
regard  to  the  library.  This  intelligence 
completely  dumbfounded  Irving,  who 
supposed  that  after  all  the  whole  pro- 
ject was  to  be  abandoned.  He  was, 
however,  quickly  reassured  by  the  in- 
formation that  Mr.  Astor  proposed  to 
add  to  the  original  bequest  of  three 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars 
an  additional  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
making  the  legacy  for  the  purpose 
four  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Irving 
was  delighted,  and  proposed  imme- 
diately to  draw  up  a  codicil  to  that 
effect,  which  he  did  on  the  spot.  He 
afterward  ascertained  that  the  codicil 
containing  this  bequest  was  not  the  one 
written  by  him,  but  was  drawn  up  by 
Mr.  Astor's  legal  adviser. 


Domestio  Advantagres  of  Coixunercial 
Decay. 

The  city  of  Salem,  Massachusetts, 
once  rivalled  Boston  in  the  extent  and 
importance  of  its  trade,  but  within  the 


last  fifty  years  it  has  fallen  from  its 
high  estate,  and  dwindled  into  com- 
parative commercial  insignifiance.  The 
people  of  this  ancient  burgh  are  natur- 
ally sore  on  this  point,  and  their  sensi- 
tiveness gives  the  point  to  the  follow- 
ing, which  occurred  not  many  years 
ago: 

A  merchant  of  Salem  meeting  a 
friend  from  the  adjoining  town  of 
Marblehead  told  him  that  he  had 
been  over  to  that  town  to  engage 
summer  lodgings  for  his  family  by 
the  seashore,  that  his  children  might 
have  the  benefit  of  the  pure  air  and 
green  fields;  and,  in  playful  allusion 
to  the  well-known  propensities  of  the 
urchins  of  that  town,  he  added,  "  And, 
strange  to  say,  for  once  the  boys  did'nt 
moch  me  as  I  went  along."  The  Marble- 
header,  a  little  touched,  humphed  once 
or  twice,  and  said,  as  he  walked  away, 
"  I  don't  see  why  you  want  to  run  such 
risks  in  sending  your  children  to  our 
town  at  all;  the  air  of  Salem  is  pure 
enough,  and  there  is  grass  enough  for 
them  to  play  on  in  any  of  your  streets.'''' 


Matrimonial  and  Financial  Bonds  in 
John  Law's  Time. 

One  of  the  lucky  speculators  in  John 
Law's  notorious  Mississippi  Scheme,  of 
the  last  century,  was  a  man  of  the  name 
of  Andre.  Without  character  or  educa- 
tion, this  man  had,  by  a  series  of  well- 
timed  speculations  in  Mississippi  bonds, 
gained  enormous  wealth,  in  an  incredi- 
bly short  space  of  time.  As  a  writer 
of  that  day  expresses  it ;  "  he  had 
amassed  mountains  of  gold."  As  he 
became  rich,  he  grew  ashamed  of  the 
lovmess  of  his  birth,  and  anxious 
above  all  things  to  be  allied  to  nobility. 
He  had  a  daughter,  an  infant  only  three 
years  of  age,  and  he  opened  a  negotia- 
tion with  the  aristocratic  and  needy 
family  of  D'Oyse,  that  this  child 
should,  upon  certain  conditions,  marry 
a  member  of  that  house.  The  Marquis 
D'Oyse,  to  his  shame,  consented,  and 


518 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


promised  to  marry  her  himself  on  her 
attaining  the  age  of  twelve,  if  the 
father  would  pay  him  down  the  sum 
of  a  hundred  thousand  crowns,  and 
twenty  thousand  livres  every  year, 
until  the  celebration  of  the  marriage. 
The  Marquis  was  himself  in  his  thirty- 
third  year.  This  scandalous  bargain 
was  duly  signed  and  sealed,  the  stock- 
jobber furthermore  agreeing  to  settle 
upon  his  daughter,  on  the  marriage 
day,  a  fortune  of  several  millions.  The 
Duke  of  Brancas,  the  head  of  the  family, 
was  present  throughout  this  negotiation, 
and  shared  in  all  the  profits.  M.  Simon, 
in  his  account  of  this  transaction,  and 
who  treats  the  matter  with  the  levity 
becoming  what  he  thought  so  good  a 
joke,  adds,  that  "  people  did  not  spare 
their  animadversions  on  this  beautiful 
marriage,"  and  further  states  that  the 
project  fell  to  the  ground  some  months 
afterward  by  the  overthrow  of  Law, 
and  the  ruin  of  the  ambitious  Mon- 
sieur Andr6.  It  would  appear,  how- 
ever, that  the  "  noble "  family  never 
had  the  honesty  to  return  the  hundred 
thousand  crowns. 


Executorsliip  of  Mr.  Astor's  "Will. 

The  personal  fiiendship  and  intimate 
confidential  relations  which  subsisted 
between  those  great  New  York  mer- 
chants, John  Jacob  Astor  and  James 
Gore  King,  were  well  known.  This 
continued  without  interruption,  until 
death  removed  the  former  from  among 
the  living.  It  was  a  cherished  wish  of 
Mr.  Astor,  many  years  previously  urged 
upon  Mr.  King,  that  he  would  consent 
to  be  one  of  the  executors  of  his  estate. 
Mr.  King  was  very  averse,  however,  to 
undertaking  any  such  trust,  of  which 
the  responsibilities  w^ould,  as  in  this 
case,  extend  beyond  the  probable 
period  of  his  own  life ;  but  after  re- 
peated requests  he  consented,  and  by 
the  last  will  of  ISIr.  Astor,  Mr.  King 
was  named  an  executor  and  also  a 
trustee  of  the  public  library,  for  the 


establishment  of  which  the  will  made 
so  liberal  provision.  It  so  happened 
that  owing  to  his  change  of  residence, 
and  consequently  ceasing  to  be  a  citi- 
zen of  New  York,  Mr.  King  could  not, 
according  to  the  laws  of  the  State, 
enter  upon  the  duty  of  an  executor 
without  giving  bond  in  twice  the 
amount  of  the  personal  property  of 
the  deceased,  for  the  faithful  perform- 
ance of  that  duty.  Mr.  W.  B.  Astor, 
who  well  knew,  and  himself  shared  in, 
his  father's  strong  desire  that  Mr.  King 
should  serve  in  that  capacity,  at  once 
offered  to  give  the  required  bonds  him- 
self, but  Mr.  King  absolutely  declined, 
not  willing  that  any  one  should  be  bound 
in  the  penalty  of  millions  for  him.  He, 
however,  at  the  request  of  the  executors, 
habitually  met  with  them  as  a  friend 
and  adviser,  but  without  any  official 
character. 


Down  on  the  Doctors. 

Benjamin  Fuller  was  the  most 
eminent  ship  broker  of  his  time  in 
Philadelphia,  and  was  remarkable  for 
his  correctness  in  business  transactions. 
He  accumulated  a  handsome  fortune, 
and  died  a  bachelor.  Like  many  other 
gentlemen  of  that  day,  he  abhorred 
physic,  and  the  visits  of  medical  men 
in  their  official  capacity.  At  one  time, 
while  lying  dangerously  ill,  on  his  snug 
little  bed,  in  his  bachelor  chamber,  over 
his  counting  house,  a  consultation  of 
physicians  was  held  in  his  room.  The 
doctors  conversed  together  in  an  audible 
voice,  and  just  as  they  had  concluded 
him  past  recovery,  and  that  nothing 
further  could  be  done  in  his  case,  to 
their  great  astonishment  he  drew  aside 
the  curtains,  and  exclaimed,  in  his  usu- 
al energetic  manner : 

"  Gentlemen,  I  am  greatly  obliged  to 
you — ^I  feel  much  better  since  you  en- 
tered the  room !  You  may  go  away 
now,  gentlemen  ;  I  shall  not  want  your 
services  any  longer." 

While  the  physicians  looked  at  each 


DOMESTIC   RELATIONS  OF  MERCHANTS,   BANKERS,  ETC. 


619 


other  in  amazement,  he  rang  the  bell, 
and  addressing  the  servant,  said, 

"  Show  the  gentlemen  down  stairs." 

The  medical  dignitaries  assured  the 
servant  that  his  master  was  delirious, 
and  presuming  there  was  no  hope  of 
his  recovery,  were  proceeding  to  give 
directions  that  he  might  be  indulged 
in  anything  he  might  desire  to  have, 
when  Mr.  Fuller  cut  them  short  by 
calling  out, 

"John,  John,  turn  them  out,  and 
fasten  the  doors  after  them;  Til  take 
no  more  of  their  infernal  drugs." 

On  the  return  of  the  servant,  he  had 
all  the  bottles  and  medicines  thrown 
out  of  the  window,  and  the  crisis  of 
his  disease  being  then  passed,  he  from 
that  moment  rapidly  recovered.  He 
lived  for  many  years  afterward,  and 
w^hen  his  friends  joked  with  him  on 
this  treatment  of  the  doctors,  he  would 
reply,  "  The  scoundrels  wanted  to  kill 
me  with  their  cursed  stuffs,  but  I  lived 
to  attend  both  their  funerals." 


Incidents  of  William  Bingham's 
Domestic  Life. 

The  name  of  William  Bingham  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  among 
the  ciiizens  and  capitalists  of  Philadel- 
phia, during  the  last  half  of  the  eight- 
eenth century.  He  married  Anne,  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  Willing,  one  of 
the  early  celebrated  families  of  that 
city.  He  was  well  known  in  Europe, 
and  his  wealth  and  position  introduced 
him  to  the  notice  of  many  eminent  for- 
eigners. Among  the  most  distinguish- 
ed were  the  Barings.  Alexander  and 
Henry  Baring  married  daughters  of  Mr. 
Bingham,  which  gave  to  the  family  a 
very  high  standing— so  much  so,  that 
Mr.   Bingham  carried  an    aristocratic 


hauteur  to  the  farthest  extent.  Alex- 
ander Baring  married  Anna,  the  eldest 
daughter ;  and  the  inheritance  he  had 
to  thank  her  for,  at  the  death  of  her 
father,  amounted  to  $900,000.  She 
bore  him  nine  children,  of  whom  seven 
are  still  living.  The  eldest  of  these, 
called  William  Bingham,  after  his 
grandfather,  became  afterward  better 
known  as  Lord  Ashburton.  His  wife 
w^as  Lady  Sandwich,  but  their  mar- 
riage was  childless.  Alexander  Baring 
was  just  twenty-four  years  of  age,  in 
1798,  when  he  was  married. 

Mr.  Bingham  was  the  first  person 
that  gave  a  masquerade  ball  in  Phila- 
delphia, and,  true  to  his  predilections, 
the  strictest  measures  were  used  to 
keep  out  mechanics  and  their  wives^ 
But  it  is  in  connection  with  his  Man- 
sion House  that  Mr.  Bingham  will  most 
peculiarly  be  remembered,  so  far  as  his 
personal  or  social  characteristics  are 
concerned.  The  ground  in  the  rear  of 
the  Mansion  House,  to  Fourth  street, 
was  a  vacant  lot,  inclosed  by  a  rail 
fence,  and  to  this  the  boys  resorted  to 
fly  their  kites.  Mr.  Bingham  built  the 
Mansion  House  about  the  year  1790 ; 
and  it  was  considered,  at  the  time,  the 
finest  house  in  the  city.  He  inclosed 
the  whole  area  with  a  painted  board 
fence,  and  planted  a  line  of  Lombardy 
poplars  around  it.  These  poplars  were 
the  first  ever  seen  in  Philadelphia.  The 
grounds  generally  were  laid  out  in 
beautiful  style,  and  variegated  with 
clumps  of  shade  trees.  The  fence,  be- 
ing very  high,  prevented  the  public 
from  seeing  this  beautiful  woodland 
scene ;  and,  in  consequence  of  this, 
William  Bingham  was  much  cen- 
sured for  doing  what  he  chose  with  his 
own  property.  After  his  death,  the 
whole  was  sold  off  in  lots,  and  was  soon 
covered  with  brick  houses. 


PART  TENTH. 


Anecdotes  of  Chance  Dealings  and  Ventures. 


PAET   TENTH. 

Anecdotes  of  Chance  Dealings  and  Ventures. 

AUCTIONS,  FANCY  STOCKS,  SHARE  COMPANIES,  LOTTERIES,  AND  QUIXOTIC  SPECULATIONS  ;  WITH 
NOTICES  OF  WONDERFUL  COMMERCIAL  DELUSIONS,  FINANCIAL  MANIAS,  BUBBLES,  PANICS, 
V— THEIR   CAUSES,   ABETTORS,   INCIDENTS,    VICTIMS,    AND   RESULTS. 


Mess.  O  yes  1  O  yes !    This,  8irt«,  is  to  give  notice,— 
The  auction  of  Mencechmus  -will  bet;in 
The  seventh  of  this  month  '.  when  will  be  sold 
Slaves,  household  goods,  farm^,  houses,  and— et  cetera. 

"  Twin  Brothers,"  Act  V.  8C.  7. 
Hope  1  fortune's  cheating^  lottery  I 
Where  for  one  prize  an  hundred  blanks  there  be.— Anok. 
The  earth  hath  bubbles,  as  the  water  has, 
And  these  are  of  them.— Shakspeare. 
Credulity's  always  in  fashion  : 
For  folly's  a  fund 
Will  ne'er  lose  p:round 
While  fools  are  so  rife  in  the  nation. 

Fielding's  "Farce." 
The  Tulip  next  appeared  ;  all  over  gay, 
But  wanton,  full  of  pride,  and  full  of  play. — Cowlet. 


Jack  and  the  Dutcli  Tulip  Speculator. 

"When  that  greatest  of  all  modern 
Utopias — the  Dutch  tulip  speculation — 
had  blinded  the  eyes  of  the  usually 
staid  capitalists  and  circumspect  bank- 
ers and  traders  of  Holland,  a  man's 
"wealth  was  estimated  not  according 
to  any  such  vulgar  standard  as  houses 
and  lands,  bonds  and  mortgages,  etc., 
nor  by  the  plebeian  treasures  represent- 
ed by  troy  weight,  but  by  the  num- 
ber of  tulip  bulbs  or  plants  which  he 
possessed — or  perhaps  had  merely  seen ; 
so  precious  was  the  sight  or  touch  of 
them  regarded  at  that  period  of  com- 
mercial fanaticism. 

It  happened,  one  day,  that  an  Eng- 
lish sea-captain  had  occasion  to  call  at 
the  residence  of  a  distinguished  capi- 
talist of  that  country,  at  an  early  hour 
of  the  morning,  accompanied  by  one 


of  his  sailors,  in  the  capacity  of  a  ser- 
vant, and  the  latter  was  told  that  he 
might  walk  in  Meinherr's  beautiful 
garden,  till  he  was  ready  to  return. 
After  admiring  the  regularity  of  the 
walks,  the  extreme  beauty  of  the  shrub- 
bery and  flowers  that  bordered  the  be- 
witchingly  attractive  paths,  as  they  led 
successively  to  sparkling  fountains,  par- 
terres fragrant  with  the  rarest  exotics, 
and  arbors  rich  with  song  birds  and 
hanging  vases,  he  noticed — in  con- 
trast with  all  this  affluence  of  style — a 
slender  stem  of  a  plant  which  he  took 
to  be  an  onion ;  without  hesitation  he 
pulled  it  up,  and  devoured  it,  but 
found  that  he  had  mistaken  its  char- 
acter on  chewing  it.  Directly  after, 
the  man  of  the  palace  came  into  the 
garden  to  gratify  the  English  ship- 
master with  a  sight  of  the  basis  of  his 
acknowledged  wealth.    On  discovering 


524 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


tlie  fact  of  the  destruction  of  his  tulip 
— for  this  it  was  on  which  Jack  had 
attempted  to  make  his  morning  re- 
past— the  luckless  man  exclaimed,  in 
an  agony  of  mind,  "  I  am  ruined !  I  am 
ruined ! " 


Panic  Blunders— Wrong  Certificate  at 
the  Bank. 

In  the  midst  of  one  of  the  worst  of 
our  business  panics,  and  at  the  moment 
when  everybody  thought  all  the  banks 
were  going  to  the  dogs  together,  Jones 
— the  inevitable  Jones — rushed  into  the 
bank  of  which  he  was  a  stockholder, 
and  thrusting  the  certificate  into  the 
face  of  the  transfer  clerk,  he  said,  in 
great  haste,  "  Here,  please  transfer  half 
that  to  James  P.  Smith  !  "  The  clerk 
looked  at  it,  and  asked,  "  Which  half, 
Mr.  Jones ? "  "I  don't  care  which  half," 
replied  Jones,  puzzled  at  the  inquiry. 
"You  had  better  go  to  the  courts;  I 
can't  make  the  transfer  without  a  legal 
decision.  If  you  really  wish  to  trans- 
fer your  other  half  to  Mr.  Smith,  we 
can't  do  it  here."  Jones  was  confound- 
ed. He  knew  the  banks  were  all  in  a 
muddle,  but  this  was  too  deep  for  him. 
He  took  his  certificate  from  the  hand 
of  the  smiling  clerk,  and,  on  looking  at 
it,  lo !  it  was  his  marriage  certificate ! 
Being  a  printed  form,  on  fine  paper, 
and  put  away  among  his  private  pa- 
pers, it  was  the  first  thing  that  Mr. 
Jones  laid  hands  on  when  he  went  to 
his  secretary  for  his  bank-stock  scrip. 
He  went  home,  kissed  his  wife — glad 
to  find  she  hadn't  been  transferred  to 
Mr.  Smith — and,  taking  the  right  pa- 
pers this  time,  hastened  down  town,  in 
season  to  get  the  matter  all  straight. 


Great  **  Spec."  on  the  Tapis. 

Among  the  speculations  at  present  in 
progress,  is  a  Great  Libyan  Desert  and 
West  End  Junction  Arabian  Sand  As- 
sociation, for  the  purpose  of  supplying 
England  and  the  Continent  of  Europe 
with  sand  paper.    Tables  have  already 


been  prepared,  showing  the  daily  con- 
sumption of  this  useful  article  in  the 
metropolis  alone ;  and  it  is  suggested 
that,  by  the  manufacture  of  scouring 
paper  also,  the  Company  will  be  able 
to  take  advantage  of  the  present  rage 
for  travelling,  and  put  it  in  the  power 
of  any  person  of  moderate  means  to 
scour  the  whole  continent.  A  sample 
of  the  sand  may  be  seen  at  the  Com- 
pany's temporary  (very  temporary) 
office  in street. 


Speculative  Frenzy  of  the  Prenc6,  in 
John  Law's  Time. 

The  volatile  and  inconsiderate  char- 
acter of  the  French  has  perhaps  never 
been  so  strikingly  illustrated  as  in  the 
frenzy  which  characterized  their  treat- 
ment of  Law's  Quixotic  Mississippi 
scheme.  On  his  issuing  the  fifty  thou- 
sand new  shares,  at  five  hundred  and 
fifty  livres  each,  the  dirty  street,  Quin- 
campoix,  in  which  Law  resided,  was 
fairly  impassable.  People  of  the  high- 
est rank  clustered  about  his  dwelling, 
to  learn  their  destiny,  and  delicate 
women  braved  all  weathers  with  the 
hope  of  enriching  themselves.  Three 
hundred  thousand  applications  were 
made  for  the  fifty  thousand  shares; 
and  the  destiny  of  an  empire,  remark- 
able for  its  national  hauteur,  seemed  in 
the  hands  of  John  Law,  the  son  of  a 
Scottish  jeweller.  Advantage  was  taken 
of  this  eagerness.  Three  hundred  thou- 
sand additional  shares  were  issued  at 
five  thousand  livres  each,  and  the  re- 
gent availed  himself  of  the  popular  ex- 
citement to  pay  off  the  national  debt. 
The  whole  of  the  foreign  trade  was 
placed  in  the  possession  of  the  com- 
pany, and  the  public  ran  with  increased 
eagerness  at  each  creation  of  stock. 
Prelates,  marshals,  and  peers  cringed 
to  the  lacqueys,  and  swarmed  in  the 
ante-chamber  of  a  Scottish  adventurer. 
A  rumor  of  his  indisposition  sent  the  ^ 
stock  down  nearly  two  hundred  per  ^ 
cent.,  and  the  announcement  of  his  re- 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


525 


covery  sent  it  up  in  the  same  propor- 
tion. The  frenzy  became  general.  A 
rage  for  shares  infatuated  every  rank, 
and  the  air  echoed  with  Mississippi 
and  Quincampoix.  From  six  in  the 
morning  until  eight  in  the  evening  the 
street  was  filled  with  fervent  worship- 
pers of  this  scheme. 

The  dissolute  courtiers  of  the  yet 
more  dissolute  regent  shared  in  this 
spoil.  The  princes  of  the  blood  were 
not  too  proud  to  participate.  The  ante- 
chamber of  Law  was  crowded  by  women 
of  rank  and  beauty — the  mistress  of 
Law  was  flattered  by  ladies  as  irre- 
proachable as  the  court  of  the  regent 
would  allow  them  to  be — and  inter- 
views with  Law  were  sought  with  so 
much  assiduity,  that  one  lady  caused 
her  carriage  to  be  upset  to  attract  his 
attention,  and  another  stopped  before 
his  hotel,  and  ordered  her  servant  to 
raise  the  cry  of  "Fire."  The  people 
emulated  one  another  in  luxury.  Equip- 
ages more  remarkable  for  splendor  than 
taste  rolled  about  the  streets.  Footmen 
got  up  behind  their  own  carriages,  so 
accustomed  were  they  to  that  position. 
One  of  those  who  had  done  so,  recol- 
lected himself  in  time  to  cover  his  mor- 
tifying mistake  by  saying  he  wished  to 
see  if  room  could  be  made  for  two  or 
three  more  lacqueys,  whom  he  had  re- 
solved to  hire.  The  son  of  a  baker, 
wishing  a  service  of  plate,  sent  the  con- 
tents of  a  jeweller's  shop  to  his  wife, 
with  directions  to  arrange  the  articles 
properly  for  supper.  The  opera  was 
crowded  with  cooks,  ladies'  maids,  and 
grisettes^  dressed  in  the  superbest  style 
of  fashion,  who  had  fallen  from  a  gar- 
ret into  a  carriage. 

At  last,  the  Rue  Quincampoix  be- 
came too  confined  for  the  mighty  fever 
which  infested  the  metropolis,  and  the 
Place  Vendome,  chosen  in  its  stead, 
soon  presented  the  appearance  of  a  fair. 
But  Law  was  again  compelled  to  move, 
owing  to  the  complaint  of  the  Chan- 
cellor, who  could  not  hear  the  pleading 
of  the  advocates.     The  projector  then 


purchased  tlie  Hotel  de  Soissons,  and 
in  its  beautiful  gardens  established  his 
temple.  In  the  midst,  among  the  trees, 
about  five  hundred  small  tents  and  pa- 
vilions were  erected.  Their  various 
colors,  their  gay  ribbons  and  banners, 
the  busy  crowd  which  passed  in  and 
out,  the  hum  of  voices,  the  noise,  the 
music,  the  strange  mixture  of  business 
and  pleasure,  combined  to  give  the 
place  the  air  of  enchantment. 


"  Down  with  your  Dust  I " 

This  is  one  of  the  patent  phrases  in 
sham  auction  establishments,  and  these 
establishments  are  now  a  decided  insti- 
tution in  the  mercantile  making-up  of 
large  cities.  They  are  composed  of 
imaginary  auctioneers,  imaginary  buy- 
ers, and  "  lots  "  of  imaginary  valuable 
property.  They  are  to  be  found  in  va- 
rious parts  of  our  great  city,  and  those 
who  attend  them  out  of  mere  curiosity 
are  never  known  to  complain  that  they 
were  not  enlightened  to  the  full  extent 
of  their  desire.  The  establishments 
generally  present  a  large  assortment  of 
showy  and  tempting  articles,  whose 
real  value  is  determined  by  what  they 
will  fetch.  The  casual  visitor  has  only 
to  wink  his  eye,  rub  his  nose,  yawn, 
sneeze,  or  cough,  and  if  he  will  "  down 
with  his  dust,"  he  is  sure  to  find  him- 
self the  fortunate  purchaser  of  a  pair- 
of  elegant  cut-glass  decanters,  which 
cannot  be  matched — no,  not  even  by 
one  another ;  or  a  dozen  of  table  knives, 
w^hich  could  not  be  injured  by  opening 
oysters. 


The  Waterloo  among:  Auction-Battles. 

The  sale  by  auction  of  the  Duke  of 
Roxburghe's  celebrated  library  is  ac- 
knowledged to  have  been  the  greatest 
auction  contest  that  ever  took  place. 
The  great  passion  and  pursuit  of  the 
Duke's  life  was  the  collection  of  rare 
and  costly  volumes.  There  were  of  it 
some  ten  thousand  separate  "lots,"  as 


526 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


auctioneers  call  tliem,  and  almost  every 
book  was  one  of  rank  and  mark. 

The  most  memorable  event  of  this 
auction  related  to  the  Editio  Pnnceps 
of  Boccaccio^  a  book  printed  in  Yenice 
in  1474,  but  which,  at  the  time  of  its 
being  sought  for  by  the  Duke,  was  so 
extremely  rare  as  to  have  been  obtained 
by  him  only  at  a  cost  of  several  hun- 
dred dollars,  and,  a  thorough  biblio- 
maniac as  he  was,  he  prized  it  beyond 
any  other  volume  in  his  collection. 

When,  therefore,  after  several  weeks 
of  the  sharpest  competition  among  the 
book-hunters  for  the  various  works  al- 
ready offered,  the  auctioneer  arrived  at 
this  volume,  the  climax  of  the  battle 
was  reached.  The  moment  of  sale  ar- 
rived. Evans,  the  knight  of  the  ham- 
mer, prefaced  the  putting  up  of  the 
article  by  an  appropriate  oration,  in 
which  he  expatiated  on  its  extreme 
rarity,  and  concluded  by  informing  the 
company  of  the  regret,  and  even  an- 
guish of  heart,  expressed  by  Mr.  Van 
Praet,  that  such  a  treasure  was  not  to 
be  found  in  the  imperial  collection  at 
Paris.     Silence  followed  this  address. 

The  honor  of  firing  the  first  shot  was 
due  to  a  gentleman  of  Shropshire,  un- 
used to  this  species  of  warfare,  and 
who  seemed  to  recoil  from  the  rever- 
beration of  the  report  himself  had 
made.  "  One  hundred  guineas,"  he 
exclaimed.  Again  a  pause  ensued,  but 
anon  the  biddings  rose  rapidly  to  five 
hundred  guineas.  Hitherto,  however, 
it  was  evident  that  the  firing  was  but 
marked  and  desultory.  At  length  all 
random  shots  ceased,  and  the  cham- 
pions stood  gallantly  up  to  each  other, 
resolving  not  to  flinch  from  a  trial  of 
their  respective  strengths. 

A  thousand  guineas  were  bid  by  Earl 
Spencer — ^to  which  the  Marquess  of 
Blandford  added  tm.  One  could  now 
have  heard  a  pin  drop.  All  eyes  were 
turned — all  breathing  well-nigh  stopped 
— every  sword  was  put  home  within  its 
scabbard — and  not  a  piece  of  steel  was 
seen  to  wave  or  to  glitter,  except  that 


which  each  of  these  champions  bran- 
dished in  his  valorous  hand.  At  last 
the  contest  closed  down.  "  Two  thou- 
sand  two  hundred  and  fifty  'pounds^''  said 
Lord  Spencer.  The  spectators  were  at 
this  absolutely  electrified.  The  Mar- 
quess quietly  adds  his  usual  "  ten^^  and 
so  there  was  an  end. 

Mr.  Evans,  ere  his  hammer  fell,  made 
a  short  pause — and  indeed,  as  if  by 
something  preternatural,  the  ebony  in- 
strument itself  seemed  to  be  charmed 
or  suspended  in  the  mid-air.  However, 
at  last  down  dropped  the  hammer. 
Such  a  result  naturally  created  excite- 
ment in  commercial  as  well  as  book- 
collectors'  circles,  for  here  was  an  ac- 
tual stroke  of  trade  in  which  a  profit 
of  more  than  two  thousand  per  cent, 
had  been  netted.  Eleven  thousand  dol- 
lars for  a  single  volume  f 


New  York  Pawnbroker's  Customer. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  more 
readable  sketch  of  a  man's  feelings  and 
expedients  when  in  a  financial  strait, 
than  that  which  Kimball  gives  of  Par- 
kinson at  the  pawnbroker's.  Here  it 
is :  Up  to  that  time  I  had  never  visited 
a  pawnbroker's  shop.  It  seemed  as  if 
it  were  a  species  of  humiliation  to  en- 
ter one.  Disappointed  of  receiving  a 
small  sum  I  had  that  day  counted  on, 
and  knowing  I  must  not  go  home  with- 
out some  money,  I  determined  to  make 
the  trial.  I  had  in  my  pocket  a  valu- 
able watch,  of  an  approved  maker.  It 
had  cost  me  $200.  I  looked  at  it.  Nev- 
er did  it  seem  so  much  of  a  companion 
as  at  that  moment.  I  strolled  slowly 
along  Nassau  street  till  I  reached  the 
Park,  and  stood  quite  undecided. '  It 
was  here  that  Downer,  on  his  way 
home,  came  up  with  me. 

"  What  are  you  waiting  for  ? " 

I  told  him. 

"It's  of  no  use,"  he  replied,  "to 
pawn  anything.  You  will  lose  it,  that's 
all ;  and  you  will  be  just  as  bad  off  af- 
terward.   If  you  have  anything  to  part 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


62'i 


with,  sell  it ;  for  you  will  keep  on  pay- 
ing twenty -five  per  cent,  per  annum  for 
two  or  three  years,  and  it  goes  in  the 
end." 

"  That  may  be,"  I  said,  "  but  there  is 
no  help  for  it ;  I  must  have  the  money 
to-night." 

"  Hold  on,  Parkinson,"  said  Downer, 
as  I  started  to  cross  the  street;  "let 
me  go ;  I  have  been  through  with  it ; 
just  as  lief  as  not,  I  tell  you." 

I  was  on  the  point  of  assenting,  and 
had  partly  raised  my  hand  to  my  pock- 
et, when  I  looked  in  his  face,  and  saw 
his  harsh,  repulsive  features  betraying 
the  strongest  feeling.  He  seemed  actu- 
ally, as  it  were,  in  pain  on  my  account. 
Had  I  been  a  child,  about  exposing 
myself  to  some  great  peril,  he  could 
not  have  appeared  more  apprehensive 
or  considerate. 

"  No,  my  friend  !  "  I  exclaimed,  "  I 
will  go  through  it  too  ;  better  now  than 
at  any  other  time." 

"Mind,  you  ask  for  as  much  again 
as  you  want,"  he  said. 

I  nodded,  and  crossed  over  to  where 
Simpson  displays  three  golden  balls, 
the  arms  of  the  Lombard  merchants, 
who  were  the  first  in  old  times  to  lend 
money  on  pledge  of  chattel  securities. 

My  heart  beat  violently  as  I  entered. 
I  would  not  thrust  myself  into  one  of  the 
cofiin-like  stalls,  but  walked  straight 
up  to  the  counter,  where  a  man  was  al- 
ready engaged,  attempting  precisely 
what  I  proposed  to  do,  to  wit :  to  get 
a  loan  on  his  watch. 

He  had  just  handed  it  in.  Behind 
the  counter  stood  not  a  black-eyed, 
long-bearded,  sharp-visaged  Jew,  as 
my  imagination  had  pictured,  but  an 
intelligent,  business-like  looking  indi- 
vidual, who  carelessly  opened  one  side 
of  the  watch,  and  shutting  it  again, 
without  the  least  examination,  said  : 

"  How  much  do  you  want  ?  " 

"Twenty-five  dollars,"  replied  the 
man.  "Will  give  you  ten."  "Can't 
you  give  fifteen  ?  "    "  Only  ten." 

It  was  now  my  turn.   My  hand  trem- 


bled as  I  drew  out  my  watch.  The 
fate  of  my  predecessor  argued  poorly 
for  me. 

The  watch  was  speedily  transferred 
to  the  hand  of  the  pawnbroker.  The 
same  careless  examination  was  passed 
—just  a  springing  of  one  of  the  sides, 
as  if  by  habit,  and  then  the  monoto- 
nous "  How  much  do  you  want  ?  "  "I 
must  have  fifty  dollars  on  it."  " 'Tis 
good  for  that,"  was  the  answer,  "  but 
we  are  not  loaning  over  twenty-five 
dollars  on  any  watch.  The  demand  is 
so  great,  and  we  must  give  our  small 
customers  the  preference."  "  I  suppose 
so,  but  really  I  must  have  this  money, 
and  I  beg  you  to  accommodate  me." 
There  was  a  moment's  hesitation ;  then 
he  turned  around,  and  took  up  two 
pieces  of  paper.  What  name  ? "  he  in- 
quired.    "  Parkinson." 

In  just  a  minute  a  ticket  was  handed 
to  me  (the  name  written  on  it  looked 
more  like  Frogson  than  anything  else), 
fifty  dollars  was  placed  in  my  hand, 
and  the  transaction  was  closed.  A  new- 
comer took  my  place,  and  I  marched 
away  triumphant.  I  felt  very  grateful 
to  the  man  behind  the  counter.  I 
hardly  knew  why,  but  I  stepped  out 
on  the  pavement  with  a  happy  appreci- 
ation of  the  institution  of  pawnbrokers, 
since  it  could  thus  so  suddenly  bring 
relief  to  the  suffering.  Just  then  I  cast 
my  eyes  up  at  the  dial  plate  on  the  City 
Hall,  and  was  surprised  that  it  was  so 
late,  and  unconsciously  I  undertook  to 
compare  the  time  with  my  own.  My 
hand  took  its  usual  course  to  my 
watchguard,  but  it  grasped  vacancy ; 
a  slight  pang,  and  it  was  over.  After 
all,  my  friend  of  the  three  balls  had  a 
very  perfect  security,  and  an  excellent 
rate  of  interest. 


Female  Strategry  to  obtain  Bubble 
Stock. 

One  among  the  many  ludicrous  strat- 
agems employed  to  obtain  access  to 
John  Law,  in  order  to  secure  shares  in 
his  Mississippi  scheme — then  the  imi- 


528 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


versal  rage,  and  bearing  a  premium 
many  times  manifolding  the  par  rate — 
was  that  resorted  to  by  a  lady.  She 
had  striven  in  vain,  during  many  long 
and  anxious  days,  so  much  so  as  to  put 
her  in  a  state  of  despair  of  ever  seeing 
him  at  his  own  house ;  she  therefore 
ordered  her  coachman  to  keep  a  strict 
watch  whenever  she  was  out  in  her  car- 
riage, and  if  he  saw  Mr.  Law  coming, 
to  drive  against  a  post  and  upset  her. 
The  coachman  promised  obedience, 
and  for  three  days  the  lady  was  driven 
incessantly  through  the  town,  praying 
inwardly  and  watching  intently  for  the 
opportunity  to  be  overturned.  At  last 
she  espied  Mr.  Law,  and,  pulling  the 
string,  called  out  to  the  coachman, 
"  Upset  us  now  I  for  God's  sake,  upset 
us  now ! "  The  coachman  drove  against 
a  post,  the  lady  screamed  as  only  woman 
can,  the  coach  was  overturned,  and 
Law,  who  had  seen  the  accident,  has- 
tened to  the  spot  to  render  assistance. 
The  cunning  dame  was  led  into  Law's 
Hotel  de  Soissons,  where  she  soon 
thought  it  advisable  to  recover  from 
her  fright,  and,  after  apologizing  to 
Mr.  Law,  confessed  her  stratagem. 
Though  so  honest  a  man.  Law  smiled 
at  the  deception,  and  entered  the  lady 
in  his  books  as  the  purchaser  of  his 
stock. 


Financial  TTse  of  Saints. 

In  Lima,  there  is  a  public  lottery, 
which  the  Government  farms  to  a  pri- 
vate individual,  for  a  considerable  sum. 
The  tickets  are  drawn  weekly,  and  the 
price  of  a  ticket  is  one  real.  The  larg- 
est prize  is  one  thousand  dollars,  and 
from  that  down  to  one  hundred.  A 
lottery  on  a  larger  scale  is  drawn  every 
three  months  ;  the  highest  prize  in  this 
lottery  is  four  thousand  dollars,  and 
the  price  of  the  ticket  is  four  reals.  To 
every  ticket  is  affixed  a  motto,  usually 
consisting  of  an  invocation  to  a  saint, 
and  a  prayer  for  good  luck  ;  and  at  the 
drawing  of  the  lottery,  this  motto  is 


read  aloud,  when  the  number  of  the 
ticket  is  announced.  Few  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Lima  fail  to  buy  at  least 
one  ticket  in  the  weekly  lottery.  The 
negroes  are  particularly  fond  of  trying 
their  luck  in  this  way,  and  in  many  in- 
stances they  have  drawn  large  sums. 


Burlesque  on  Modern  Business 
Utopias. 

Reykolds's  inimitable  burlesque 
of  the  "  Universal  Stone-Expelling 
and  Asphaltum-Substituting  Equitable 
Company"  will  answer  for  all  that 
class  of  trading  Utopias  which  so  won- 
derfully ensnare  both  the  simple  and 
the  wary  alike,  of  the  staid  English 
public. 

To  commence  with  Captain  Walsing- 
ham,  who  appears  to  have  been  the 
projector  of  this  peerless  Company,  and 
who  was  taking  measures  to  give  it  its 
due  prominence  before  the  public,  will 
suffice.  He  began  by  hiring  a  splendid 
suite  of  offices  in  Bartholomew  Lane, 
and  forthwith  purchased  desks,  tables, 
and  chairs,  to  place  in  them.  He  pro- 
cured a  painter,  who  painted  the  words 
"  Public  Office  "  upon  the  door,  "  Wait- 
ing Room  "  upon  another,  "  Committee 
Room"  upon  a  third.  He  then  hired 
three  individuals,  who,  under  the  de- 
nomination of  clerks,  were  to  sit  at  a 
desk  in  the  Public  Office,  chatter  and 
read  the  newspapers  when  they  were 
alone,  and  apply  themselves  like  mad- 
men to  three  great  books  with  clasps, 
when  a  stranger  came  in.  A  servant  in 
blue  livery,  with  white  buttons,  was 
also  engaged,  to  lounge  about  in  the 
passage  outside  the  entrance  door 
which  led  to  the  offices;  and  a  man 
with  printed  prospectuses  to  give  away, 
was  stationed  in  the  street.  A  general 
meeting  of  the  directors  was  then  called 
and  advertised,  to  discuss  the  business 
and  dispose  of  the  capital  of  the  Com- 
pany ;  but  as  there  was  as  yet  no  busi- 
ness to  occupy  their  attention,  they  dis- 
cussed a  capital  luncheon  instead. 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


529 


Burlesque  on  Modern  Business  Utopias. 


In  a  few  days,  a  paragraph  was 
drawn  up  by  the  excellent  chakman 
and  inserted — upon  payment — in  one 
or  two  of  those  accommodating  daily 
papers  which  do  not  put  the  absurd 
word  "  Advertisement "  at  the  begin- 
ning ;  and  this  paragraph  stated  that 
they — the  papers — were  informed  upon 
the  best  authority  that  the  materials 
which  composed  said  Asphaltum  were 
derived  from  Asiatic  sources;  where- 
upon Mr.  SnulTery,  as  treasurer  and 
secretary,  wrote  a  letter  to  all  the  jour- 
nals to  contradict  this  report — and,  as 
Mr.  Snuffery's  letter  was  inserted  for 
nothing,  the  Company  gained  its  aim 
in  obtaining  publicity  at  the  least 
possible  expense. 

Another  paragraph,  tending  to  show 
that  the  Asphaltum  would  never  be 
applied  to  universal  use,  was  then  paid 
for  and  inserted  conspicuously  in  the 
Morning  Teapot ;  at  this,  the  Company 
pretended  to  be  in  the  most  direful 
wrath— so  much  so,  that  Messieurs 
Rumrig  &  Sharp,  the  Company's  soli- 
citors, were  instructed  to  bring  an  ac- 
tion against  the  aforesaid  Morning  Tecu- 
jpot^  which  had  thus  been  used  to  pour 
34 


hot  water  upon  the  heads  of  the  associa- 
tion. But,  after  a  great  deal  of  public 
display,  red-hot  letter  writing,  pamph- 
leteering, fending  and  proving,  that 
eminent  legal  firm  declared  that  it  was 
not  necessary  to  proceed  with  the  suit ; 
and  so  the  whole  business  was  an- 
nounced, to  the  great  relief  of  the  agi- 
tated (!)  public — to  have  been  arranged 
in  the  most  amicable  manner  possible. 

A  few  shares  were  next  issued,  and 
private  friends  were  sent  round  to  pur- 
chase up  these  shares  at  a  premium  ; 
so  that  the  transaction  took  wind,  and 
the  Company  succeeded  in  getting  it- 
self blamed  for  allowing  only  the  ac- 
quaintances and  favorites  of  the  direct- 
ors to  get  any  of  the  stock  and  profit 
by  the  speculation.  The  demand  for 
shares  was  therefore  immediate  and 
great ;  and  when  a  piece  of  the  pave- 
ment fronting  the  house  in  which  the 
offices  of  the  Company  were  situate, 
was  robbed  of  its  stone  and  subjected 
to  the  process  of  the  Asphalte,  the  en- 
thusiasm and  credulity  of  the  public  in 
favor  of  this  great  institution  knew  no 
bounds.  A  grand  dinner  was  given  by 
the  directors  at  the  City  of  London 


630 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Tavern;  and  Mr.  Muggins  was  gene- 
rously permitted  by  the  worthy  chair- 
man to  advance  the  Company  another 
five  hundred  pounds. 


Buying-  his  own  Goods  at  Auction. 

Old  Colonel  "W.,  formerly  one  of  the 
best  known  characters  in  a  certain  east- 
ern city,  was  really  remarkable  for  but 
one  passion  out  of  the  ordinary  range 
of  humanity,  and  that  was  for  buying 
at  auction  any  little  lot  of  trumpery 
W'hich  came  under  the  head  of  "  miscel- 
laneous," for  the  reason  that  it  couldn't 
be  classified.  Though  close-fisted  in 
general,  he  was  continually  throwing 
away  his  money  by  fives  and  tens  upon 
such  trash.  In  this  way  he  had  filled 
all  the  odd  corners  in  his  dwelling  and 
outbuildings  with  a  mass  of  nondescript 
articles,  that  would  have  puzzled  a 
philosopher  to  conjecture  what  they 
were  made  for,  or  to  what  use  they 
could  ever  be  put.  This,  however,  was 
but  a  secondary  consideration  with  the 
Colonel ;  for  he  seldom  troubled  his 
head  about  such  articles  after  they  were 
fairly  housed.  Not  so  with  his  wife, 
however,  who  was  continually  remon- 
strating against  these  purchases,  which 
served  only  to  clutter  up  the  house,  and 
as  food  for  the  mirth  of  the  domestics. 
But  the  Colonel,  though  he  often  sub- 
mitted to  these  remonstrances  of  his 
better  half,  couldn't  resist  bis  passion  ; 
and  so  he  went  on,  adding  from  week 
to  week  to  his  heap  of  miscellanies. 

One  day,  while  sauntering  down  the 
street,  he  heard  the  full,  rich  tones  of 
his  friend  C,  the  well-known  auction- 
eer, and  as  a  matter  of  course  stepped 
in  to  see  what  was  being  sold.  On  the 
floor  he  observed  a  collection  that  look- 
ed as  if  it  might  have  been  purloined 
from  the  garret  of  some  museum,  and 
around  which  a  motley  group  was  as- 
sembled ;  while  on  the  counter  stood 
the  portly  auctioneer,  in  the  very  height 
of  a  mock-indignant  remonstrance  with 
his  audience :  "  Nine  dollars  and  ninety 


cents  ! "  cried  the  auctioneer  ;  "  Gentle- 
men, it  is  a  shame,  it  is  barbarous,  to 
stand  by  and  j)ermit  such  a  sacrifice  of 
property  !  Nine  dol-lars  and  ninety — 
good  morning.  Colonel !  A  magnifi- 
cent lot  of — of^antiques — and  all  go- 
ing for  nine  dollars  and  ninety  cents. 
Gentlemen !  you'll  never  see  another 
such  lot;  and  all  going — going— for 
nine  dollars  and  ninety  cents.  Colonel 
W.,  can  you  permit  such  a  sacrifice  ?  " 
The  Colonel  glanced  his  eye  over  the 
lot,  and  with  a  nod  and  a  wink  assured 
him  that  he  could  not.  The  next  in- 
stant the  hammer  came  down,  and  the 
purchase  was  the  Colonel's,  at  ten 
dollars. 

As  the  articles  were  to  be  paid  for 
and  removed  immediately,  the  Colonel 
lost  no  time  in  getting  a  cart,  and  hav- 
ing seen  everything  packed  up  and  on 
the  way  to  his  house,  he  proceeded  to 
his  own  store,  chuckling  within  him- 
self that  now  at  least  he  had  made  a 
bargain  at  which  even  his  wife  couldn't 
grumble.  In  due  time  he  was  seated  at 
the  dinner  table,  when,  lifting  his  eyes, 
he  observed  a  cloud  upon  his  wife's 
brow.  "  Well,  my  dear  ?  "  said  he,  in- 
quiringly. "  Well ! "  responded  his  wi  fe ; 
"  it  is  not  well,  Mr.  W. ;  I  am  vexed  be- 
yond endurance.  You  know  C,  the 
auctioneer  ?  "  "  Certainly,"  replied  the 
Colonel ;  "  and  a  very  gentlemanly  per- 
son he  is,  too."  "  You  may  think  so," 
rejoined  the  wife,  "  but  /  don''t,  and  I'll 
tell  you  why.  A  few  days  ago  I  ga  h- 
ered  together  all  the  trumpery  with 
w^hich  you  have  been  cluttering  up  the 
house  for  the  last  twelve-month,  and 
sent  it  to  Mr.  C,  with  orders  to  sell 
the  lot  immediately  to  the  highest  bid- 
der, for  cash.  He  assured  me  he  would 
do  so  in  all  this  week,  at  farthest,  and 
pay  over  the  proceeds  to  my  order. 
And  here  I've  been  congratulating  my- 
self on  two  things :  first,  on  having  got 
rid  of  an  intolerable  nuisance— and 
secondly,  on  receiving  money  enough 
therefor  to  purchase  that  new  velvet 
hat  you  promised  me  so    long    a^o. 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


631 


And  now,  what  do  you  think !  This 
morning,  about  an  hour  ago,  the  w?ix)le 
load  came  dach  again^  without  a  word  of 
explanation.  The  Colonel  looked  blank 
for  a  moment,  and  then  proceeded  to 
clear  up  the  mystery.  But  the  good 
wife  wa3  pacified  only  by  the  promise 
of  a  ten-dollar  note  beside  that  in  the 
hands  of  the  auctioneer — on  condition, 
however,  that  she  should  never  mention 
it.     Of  course  she  kept  her  word ! 


Hogrartli's  Plan  of  Selling:  Pictures  by 
Auction. 

Hogarth  supported  himself  by  the 
sale  of  his  prints  :  the  prices,  however, 
of  his  paintings  kept  pace  neither  with 
his  fame  nor  with  his  expectations. 
But  he  knew  the  passion  of  his  coun- 
trymen for  novelty — how  they  love  to 
encourage  whatever  is  strange  and  mys- 
terious ;  and,  hoping  to  profit  by  these 
feelings,  the  artist  determined  to  sell 
his  principal  paintings  by  an  auction 
of  a  very  singular  nature. 

To  this  end,  he  offered  for  sale  the 
six  paintings  of  the  Harlot's  Progress, 
the  eight  paintings  of  the  Rake's  Prog- 
ress, the  four  Times  of  the  Day,  and 
the  Strolling  Actresses,  on  the  follow- 
ing conditions : 

First,  that  every  bidder  shall  have 
an  entire  leaf  numbered  in  the  book  of 
sale,  on  the  top  of  which  will  be  enter- 
ed his  name  and  place  of  abode,  the 
sum  paid  by  him,  the  time  when,  and 
for  what  pictures. 

Second,  that  on  the  day  of  sale,  a 
clock,  striking  every  five  minutes,  shall 
be  placed  in  the  room,  and  when  it  has 
struck  five  minutes  after  twelve,  the 
first  picture  mentioned  in  the  sale  book 
shall  be  deemed  as  sold;  the  second 
picture,  when  the  clock  has  struck  the 
next  five  minutes  after  twelve,  and  so 
on  in  succession,  till  the  nineteen  pic- 
tures are  sold. 

Third,  that  none  advance  anything 
short  of  gold  at  each  bidding. 

Fourth,  no  person  to  bid  on  the  last 


day,  except  those  whose  names  were 
before  entered  in  the  book.  As  Mr. 
Hogarth's  room  is  small,  he  begs  the 
favor  that  no  persons,  except  those 
whose  names  are  entered  on  the  book, 
will  come  to  view  his  paintings,  on  the 
last  day  of  sale. 

This  plan  was  new,  peculiar,  and  un- 
productive. It  was  probal^ly  planned 
to  prevent  biddings  by  proxy,  and  so 
secure  to  the  artist  the  price  which  men 
of  wealth  and  rank  might  be  induced 
to  offer  publicly  for  works  of  genius. 
A  method  so  novel  probably  disgusted 
the  town ;  they  might  not  exactly  un- 
derstand this  tedious  formula  of  enter- 
ing their  names  and  places  "bf  abode  in 
a  book  open  to  indiscriminate  inspec- 
tion;  they  might  wish  to  humble  an 
artist  who,  by  his  proposals,  seemed  to 
consider  that  he  did  the  world  a  favor 
in  suffering  them  to  bid  for  his  works ; 
or  the  rage  for  paintings  might  be  con- 
fined to  the  admirers  of  the  old  mas- 
ters. Be  that  as  it  may,  he  received 
but  little  more  than  two  thousand  dol- 
lars for  his  nineteen  pictures — a  price 
by  no  means  equal  to  their  merit. 


Pirst  Book  Auction  in  Eng-land. 

The  first  book  auction  in  England, 
of  which  there  is  any  record,  is  of  a 
date  as  far  back  as  1676,  when  the  li- 
brary of  Dr.  Seaman  was  brought  to 
the  hammer.  Prefixed  to  the  catalogue 
there  is  an  address,  which  thus  com- 
mences:  "Reader,  it  hath  not  been 
usual  here  in  England  to  make  sale  of 
books  by  way  of  auction,  or  who  will 
give  the  most  for  them  ;  but  it  having 
been  practised  in  other  countries,  to 
the  advantage  of  both  buyer  and  seller, 
it  was  therefore  conceived  (for  the  en- 
couragement of  learning)  to  publish 
the  sale  of  these  books  in  this  manner 
of  way."  _____ 

Bank  Notes  at  Ten  Cents  a  Yard. 
The  failure   of  the  Citizens'  Bank, 
Memphis,  some    years   ago,  naturally 


532 


COMMERCIAL   AND  BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


occasioned  intense  excitement,  as  well 
as  severe  hardship  to  many  of  those 
who  were  the  yictims  of  its  ruinous 
career.  When  the  crowd  gathered 
around,  composed  mostly  of  mechanics 
and  working  men,  with  here  and  there 
a  woman,  and  at  intervals  a  poor  mar- 
ket man,  there  was  observed  one  wiry 
little  fellow,  with  a  wonderfully  exag- 
gerated nose,  who  had  a  package  of 
the  Bowleg's  notes  in  his  hands.  Some 
one  asked  him  how  much  he  had.  He 
said,  "  Those  bills,  amounting  to  $300, 
are  the  profits  of  my  labor  for  the  last 
six  months, — look  at  my  hard  hands, 
and  see  how  I  have  toiled ;  I  have  a 
wife  and  children  for  whom  I  must 
buy  bread,  and  for  whom  I  must  pro- 
vide a  shelter,  and  a  home ;  but,  gen- 
tlemen, it  is  all  gone.  They  may  be 
houseless  wanderers  and  homeless  beg- 
gars, if  I  should  knuckle  to  this  mis- 
fortune. It  is  all  gone."  The  little 
gentleman,  with  the  Slaukenbergius 
nose,  which  Tristram  Shandy  tells 
about,  at  this  point  in  his  speech, 
"  humped  "  himself,  and  began  to  lay 
his  wild-cat  bills  in  a  lineal  row  down 
in  the  centre  of  the  street.  When  they 
were  thus  arranged,  he  turned  to  the 
crowd,  saying,  "  Gentlemen  and  ladies, 

/  will  sell  this infernal  stuff  at  ten 

cents  a  yard^  tape  measurey  The  crowd 
roared,  and  good  humor  was  thus  sub- 
stituted for  the  angry  mutterings  which 
had  become  pretty  audible,  and  which, 
by  any  accident,  might  have  resulted 
in  the  demolition  of  the  bank  building. 


Virtuous  and  Touching:  Appeal. 

"  Here,  ladies  ! "  said  an  auctioneer, 
"  I  have  a  very  interesting  picture  to 
offer  you — a  representation  of  the  mur- 
derer Robinson,  in  the  very  act  of  ap- 
proaching his  victim.  The  head  of 
Miss  Jewett  is  a  portrait,  taken  from  a 
plaster  cast  shortly  after  her  death, 
and  admitted  by  Robinson  himself  to 
be  a  most  astonishing  likeness.  The 
figure  of  Robinson  is  a  fac-simile — as 


hke  him  as  two  peas.  I  have  been  cred- 
ibly informed  that  at  the  trial,  two  re- 
spectable old  gentlemen,  who  had  never 
seen  the  prisoner,  recognised  him  at 
once  from  his  resemblance  to  this  pic- 
ture. And  the  cloak,  ladies  !  the  cloak 
is  the  very  identical  one  which  the 
murderer  wore !  What  shall  I  have 
for  this  valuable  painting  ? " 

"  One  dollar,"— from  an  old  lady. 

"  Thank  you,  ma'am  ;  one  dollar,  one 
dollar — half— two — two  and  a  half- 
three,  three  dollars ;  three  dollars  are 
bid  for  this  invaluable  picture;  only 
three  ;  worth  at  least  ten  !  Three  dol- 
lars, three  dollars — going  at  three  dol- 
lars ! — going,  going  !  Ladies,  this  pic- 
ture is  invaluable  as  a  moral  lesson  as 
w^ell  as  a  work  of  art.  I  would  recom- 
mend it  to  all  mothers  who  have 
grown-up  daughters.  Put  this  picture 
before  them,  and  what  temptation 
could  ever  induce  them  to  leave  the 
paths  of  virtue !  Ladies,  the  owner  of 
this  picture  has  daughters ;  they  have 
grown  up  from  youth  to  womanhood ; 
they  have  never  left  the  paths  of  vir- 
tue ;  and  their  mother  ascribes  it  to 
the  influence  of  this  very  picture  !  " 

This  address  produced  a  manifest  sen- 
sation. There  was  quite  a  stir  among 
the  matrons,  and  one  vixenish-look- 
ing old  maid,  with  a  sharp  face,  hooked 
nose,  and  iron  spectacles,  was  heard  to 
whisper  to  her  neighbor,  that  "  to  be 
sure  it  was  so ;  and  that  if  she  had'nt 
had  just  such  a  pictur,she  did'nt  know 
what  might'nt  have  happened  to  her." 
The  auctioneer  put  up  the  picture  again, 
and  the  good  ladies  now  vied  with  each 
other  in  purchasing  this  invaluable 
safeguard  to  female  virtue;  and  as 
they  were  assured  that  there  was  not 
another  to  be  had  in  the  city  for  love 
or  money,  it  was  finally  knocked  down 
to  Mrs.  Chasteley, — a  faded  dame  wear- 
ing green  goggles — at  three  dollars  and 
a  half;  having  cost  originally,  frame 
included,  the  sum  of  three  shillings. 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


633 


Mr.  Hume's  Anxiety  to  Avoid  a 
Pecuniary  Loss. 

Joseph  Hume  was  a  heavy  invester 
in  the  disastrous  Greek  loan,  which  he 
loudly  advocated  both  in  his  position 
as  a  member  of  the  government  and  as 
a  speculator.  He  had  £10,000  of  the 
loan  assigned  him.  The  price  fell  six- 
teen per  cent.,  and  his  ardor  was  said 
to  have  fallen  in  proportion.  Alarmed 
at  a  loss  so  great,  the  senator  endeav- 
ored to  release  himself  from  the  bur- 
den ;  but  Avlien  he  applied  to  the  depu- 
ties and  contractors,  he  was  met  with 
the  reply,  that,  had  the  stock  risen,  he 
would  not  have  returned  the  gain.  The 
argument  was  sound,  but  the  head  is 
obtuse  when  the  purse  is  endangered ; 
and  Mr.  Hume — clear-headed  generally 
— "  could  not  see  "  the  fairness  of  the 
position. 

After  some  correspondence,  the  depu- 
ties at  last  agreed  to  take  the  scrip  off 
of  Mr.  Hume's  hands,  at  thirteen  instead 
of  sixteen  per  cent,  discount ;  thereby 
saving  Mr.  Hume  £300  out  of  the  loss 
of  £1,600,  which  he  at  first  feared.  In 
time,  the  Greek  cause  grew  prosperous, 
the  stock  rose  to  par,  and  Mr.  Hume, 
with  a  singular  power  of  perception 
compared  with  his  previous  notions, 
claimed  the  £1,300  which  he  had  lost. 
The  surprise  of  the  deputies  may  be 
imagined.  Mr.  Hume,  however,  was 
powerful — he  was  a  senator — and  to 
him  was  accorded  a  privilege  for  which 
others  might  have  looked  in  vain. 

But  a  further  question  arose.  Mr. 
Hume,  remarkable  for  the  closeness  of 
his  calculations,  discovered  that  £54 
was  due  for  interest!  This  also  he 
applied  for,  and  this  too  was  granted. 

The  defence  of  Mr.  Hume  in  this 
transaction  was  comprised  in  the  asser- 
tion, that,  some  of  his  public  or  politi- 
cal actions  having  been  misinterpreted, 
because  he  was  a  proprietor  of  stock, 
he  had  determined  to  part  with  it. 
The  deputies  offered  to  save  the  friend 
of  the  cause  so  great  a  loss ;  and  Mr. 
Hume  thought  the  conclusion  at  which 


they  had  arrived  a  sound  one.  After 
some  correspondence,  they  agreed  to 
take  his  stock  at  thirteen  per  cent, 
discount,  the  market  price  of  sixteen 
per  cent,  being  but  nominal.  Mr.  Hume 
wdshed  to  be  relieved  entirely ;  but 
this  the  deputies  declined.  Shortly 
after  Mr.  Hume  was  definitely  informed 
that  those  gentlemen  would  pay  him 
the  sum  he  was  deficient ;  and,  as  he 
considered  this  but  simply  fair,  and 
not  as  a  favor,  he  also  considered  he 
was  entitled  to  claim  the  interest.  "  The 
worst  that  any  one  can  say  of  me,"  said 
this  cunning  casuist,  "  is,  that  I  may 
have  evinced  an  over-anxiety  to  avoid  a 
pecuniary  lossy 


Marking  a  Lottery  Ticket. 

A  London  merchant,  while  staying 
in  the  country  with  a  friend,  happened 
to  mention  that  he  intended,  the  next 
year,  to  buy  a  ticket  in  the  lottery  ;  his 
friend  desired  that  he  would  buy  one 
for  him  at  the  same  time,  which  of 
course  was  very  wdllingly  agreed  to. 
The  conversation  dropped ;  the  ticket 
never  arrived,  and  the  whole  affair  was 
entirely  forgotten — when,  most  unex- 
pectedly, the  country  gentleman  re- 
ceived information  that  the  ticket  pur- 
chased for  him  by  his  friend  had  come 
up  a  prize  of  twenty  thousand  pounds  ! 
Upon  his  arrival  in  London,  he  inquired 
of  his  friend,  the  merchant,  where  he 
had  kept  the  ticket,  and  why  he  had 
not  informed  him  that  it  was  pur- 
chased. "  I  bought  them  both  the  same 
day,  mine  and  your  ticket,  and  I  flung 
them  both  into  a  drawer  of  my  bureau, 
and  I  never  thought  of  them  afterward." 
"  But  how  do  you  distinguish  one  ticket 
from  the  other?  and  why  am  I  the 
holder  of  the  fortunate  ticket  more  than 
you  ? "  "  Why,  at  the  time  I  put  them 
into  the  drawer,  I  put  a  little  marlc  in 
inJs  upon  the  ticket  which  I  resolved 
should  be  yours ;  and  upon  reopening 
the  drawer,  I  found  that  the  one  so 
marked  was  the  fortunate  ticket." 


634 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Jonathan  Hunt's  Land  Speculations. 

The  late  eccentric  Jonatlian  Hunt, 
of  New  York,  who  accumulated  a  vast 
fortune  South,  was  quite  noted,  a  few 
years  ago,  for  his  dashing  land  specula- 
tions in  New  York,  and  his  relatives 
actually  served  on  him  a  warrant  de 
lunatico  inquirendo,  with  a  view  of  pre- 
venting him  wasting  his  estate.  Sub- 
sequently, however,  it  turned  out  that 
these  incessant  purchases  which  had 
made  him  a  leading  man  at  the  Mer- 
chants' Exchange,  and  an  object  of 
distrust  .to  his  family,  were  splendid 
operations.  Poor  Hunt's  bid  was  sub- 
sequently refused  by  the  auctioneers, 
on  the  score  of  insanity  ;  while  the  lots 
he  bought  on  Madison  avenue  and  else- 
where, were,  in  fact,  as  speculations, 
superior  to  the  operations  of  the  most 
sagacious  speculators. 


Winners  and  Losers  in  Grant's  Bubble. 

Three  hundred  thousand  pounds — 
a  most  prodigious  sum — was  embarked 
by  the  marquis  of  Chandos,  in  "  Grant's 
Bubble,"  and  the  duke  of  Newcastle 
advised  him  to  sell  when  he  could 
make  the  tolerable  profit  of  cent,  per 
cent.  The  marquis  was  greedy — hoped 
to  make  it  half  a  million,  and  the  advice 
was  declined.  The  panic  came,  and  the 
entire  enormous  investment  went  in  the 
shock.  Samuel  Chandler,  the  eminent 
non-conformist  divine,  risked  his  whole 
fortune  in  the  bubble,  lost  it,  and  was 
obliged  to  serve  in  a  bookseller's  shop 
for  a  number  of  years,  while  he  also 
continued  to  perform  ministerial  duty. 
The  elder  Scraggs  gave  Gay  one  thou- 
sand j)ounds  stock,  and,  as  the  poet 
had  been  a  previous  purchaser,  his 
gain  at  one  time  amounted  to  twenty 
thousand  pounds.  He  consulted  Dr. 
Arbuthuot,  who  strongly  advised  him 
to  sell  out.  The  bard  doubted,  hesi- 
tated, and  lost  all.  The  doctor,  who 
gave  such  shrewd  advice,  was  too  irre- 
solute to  act  on  his  own  opinion,  and 


lost  two  thousand  pounds;  but,  with 
an  amiable  philosophy,  comforted  him- 
self by  saying,  it  would  be  only  two 
thousand  more  pairs  of  stall's  to  ascend. 
Thomas  Hudson,  having  been  left  a 
large  fortune,  was  tempted  to  embark 
the  whole  of  it  in  the  scheme.  After 
his  loss,  he  went  to  London,  became 
insane,  and  "  Tom  of  Ten  Thousand  " 
as  he  called  himself,  wandered  through 
the  public  streets,  a  piteous  and  pitiable 
object  of  charity.  One  tradesman,  who 
had  invested  his  entire  resources  in  the 
stock,  came  to  town  to  dispose  of  it, 
when  it  reached  "  one  thousand."  On 
his  arrival,  it  had  fallen  to  nine  hundred, 
and,  as  he  had  decided  to  sell  at  one 
thousand,  he  determined  to  wait.  The 
stock  continued  to  decline  ;  the  trades- 
man continued  to  hold,  and  became,  as 
he  deserved,  a  ruined  man.  Others  were 
more  fortunate,  but  the  great  majority 
were  of  course  involved  in  ruin. 


"Our  Lady  of  Hope." 

In  the  city  of  Barcelona,  Spain,  there 
is  a  peculiar  pawnbroking  establishment 
bearing  the  dainty  name  of  "  Our  Lady  of 
Hope,"  where  loans  are  made  without  in- 
terest to  necessitous  persons,  on  the  depo- 
sit of  any  articles  in  pledge.  Two  thirds 
of  the  value  of  the  deposit  are  at  once 
advanced,  and  the  loan  is  made  for  six 
months  and  a  day  :  but  if,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period,  the  depositor  should 
declare  himself  unable  to  redeem  it, 
another  period  of  six  months  is  allowed. 
At  the  end  of  the  second  six  months 
the  pledges  are  sold,  but  if  they  yield 
more  than  the  amount  advanced,  the 
difference  is  given  to  the  original 
owner.  This  institution  is  very  popu- 
lar. Thousands  are  every  year  suitors 
for  the  favor  thus  afforded  by  "Our 
Lady  of  Hope." 


"  Tattersall's." 

The  name  of  Tattersall's  is  familiar 
and  respected  throughout  Europe,  and 


\ 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


135 


it  is  the  synonym  for  honorable  horse- 
dealing  by  auction  wherever  known. 
The  founder  of  this  great  auction  mart 
was  Richard  Tattersall,  who  was  train- 
ing groom  to  the  second  and  last  Duke 
of  Kingston,  until  his  employer's  death 
in  1773.  He  then  appears  to  have 
opened  his  establishment,  though  the 
foundation  of  his  fortune  was  laid  by 
the  sale  to  him  of  the  race  horse 
'^  Highflyer,"  for  the  enormous  sum  of 
twelve  thousand  dollars ;  and,  it  is 
supposed,  on  credit — an  evidence  of 
the  purchaser's  high  standing  for  in- 
tegrity. His  mart  is  now,  and  has 
been  from  the  outset,  a  place  where 
gentlemen  might  congregate  without 
breathing — or  at  all  events  in  a  greatly 
lessened  degree — the  bad  vapor  that 
usually  surrounds  the  stable ;  where 
men  of  taste  might  enjoy  the  glimpses 
afforded  of  the  most  beautiful  speci- 
mens of  an  exquisitely  beautiful  race, 
without  being  continually  disgusted 
with  the  worst  of  all  contacts — a 
merely  professional  jockey  or  horse 
dealer. 

There  is  an  area  or  tap  room  set  apart 
for  the  throngs  of  grooms,  jockeys, 
and  poorer  horse  dealers  and  horse 
fanciers.  At  another  point  is  the  sub- 
scription room,  fitted  up  in  the  interior 
with  desks,  and  ornamented  with  a 
rare  portrait  of  "  Eclipse."  Here  the 
wealthier  and  more  aristocratic  classes, 
who,  in  a  great  measure,  dispense  law 
and  fashion,  and  opinion  in  all  that 
concerns  horse  breeding,  racing,  and 
betting,  congregate  in  .exclusive  pri- 
vacy. 

The  courtyard  is  the  great  business 
place  of  Tattersall's — renowned  through 
all  the  length  and  breadth  of  horse- 
loving,  horse-breeding,  horse-racing 
Europe,  and  which  from  all  parts 
sends  hither  its  representatives.  There 
is  a  bust  of  George  IV.,  conspicuously 
displayed,  because,  when  he  was  a 
prince,  in  his  eighteenth  year,  he  was 
a  constant  attendant  at  Tattersall's. 
Since  then,  there  is  no  important  name 


in  sporting  annals  but  can  be  found 
among  the  list  of  visitors.  Around 
three  sides  of  the  courtyard  extends 
a  covered  way ;  and  at  the  extremity 
of  one  side  stands  the  auctioneer's  ros- 
trum, overlooking  the  whole  area. 
The  ranges  of  ordinary  stabling  are 
also  admirable  specimens  of  what  has 
been  done  in  modern  times  to  serve 
the  health  and  comfort  of  their  stately 
inhabitants.  The  public  days  are  the 
Mondays  in  each  week,  through  the 
year,  with  the  addition  of  Thursdays 
in  the  height  of  the  season. 

A  more  motley  assemblage  than  the 
buyers  or  lookers  on,  during  sale  days, 
it  would  be  impossible  to  find.  Noble- 
men and  ambitious  peddlers,  bishops 
and  blacklegs,  horse  breeders,  grooms, 
jockeys,  mingling  promiscuously  with 
the  man  of  retired  habits  and  studious 
mind,  fond  of  riding  and  breeding  the 
wherewithal  to  ride,  tradesmen  about 
to  set  up  their  little  pleasure  chaise  or 
business  cart,  and  commercial  travel- 
lers, whose  calling  has  inoculated  them 
with  a  passion  for  dabbling  in  horse 
flesh,  and  who,  in  the  inns  along  their 
routes,  talk  with  great  gusto  and  decis- 
ion of  all  that  pertains  to  Tattersall's, 
on  the  strength  of  some  occasional 
half  hour's  experience  in  the  court- 
vard! 


Last  Word  at  an  Auction  :    a  Lady  in 
the  Case. 

An  auction  affords  a  rare  opportu- 
nity for  the  exercise  of  that  determined 
penchant^  sometimes  ascribed  to  ladies, 
for  having  "  the  last  word."  We  can- 
not tell.  But  here  is  a  stray  example 
of  the  alleged  peculiarity,  as  it  exhib- 
ited itself  at  an  auction  sale  of  a  large 
old-fashioned  chest  of  drawers,  in  the 
offer  of  which  no  one  at  first  seemed  to 
take  the  least  sort  of  interest. 

The  auctioneer  of  course  enlarged  on 
all  its  supposable  excellences,  directed 
attention  to  the  size,  soundness,  and 
durability  of  the  article,  and  eventually 
a  low  voice  from  the  heart  of  the  crowd 


536 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


gave  a  bid,  and  but  little  below  its 
actual  value.  The  orator  now  tried,  as 
usual,  to  get  up  an  opposition,  but  in 
vain;  and  after  repeated  declarations 
that  lie  would  sell  if  there  were  no 
advance,  the  hammer  came  down. 
With  its  descent  came  a  squeak  from 
the  opposite  end  of  the  room,  offering 
two  shillings  more. 

"  Was  ye  in  time,  man  ? "  demanded 
the  auctioneer. 

"  Yes,  and  it's  mine,"  replied  a  shrill 
whisper. 

"Then,  ladies  and  gentlemen,"  he 
continued,  "  this  splendid  article  must 
go  up  again,  for  justice  is  the  motto  of 
the  sale." 

Up  it  went,  and  the  woman's  offer 
was  forthwith  followed  by  a  still  higher 
bid  from  the  man,  who  seemed  deter- 
mined on  having  the  drawers ;  but  she 
was  equally  resolute,  and  advanced 
proportionally.  The  contest  was  left 
to  the  pair,  and  they  continued  to  bid 
against  each  other,  being  mutually  iras- 
cible, till  the  drawers  rose  to  a  price 
considerably  above  that  of  their  pris- 
tine beauty  and  fashion ;  then  the 
deeper  voice  was  silenced,  and  the  lady, 
having  the  last  word,  was  declared  the 
purchaser. 

The  crowd  opened  a  way  to  her 
prize ;  but  as  she  advanced,  a  respect- 
able looking  artizan  fi-om  the  centre 
exclaimed  with  a  most  rueful  tone, 
"Oh,  Maggie,  is  it  ye?  Guid  life,  I 
wud  hae  had  them  an  hour  syne  at 
thirty  shillin'  less  ! " 


Bidding*  on  G-irard's  Old  Chaise. 

In  front  of  an  auction  store  in  Phila- 
delphia, there  was  exposed,  at  high 
noon,  a  personal  souvenir  of  old  Stephen 
Girard,  long  the  great  merchant-mil- 
lionnaire  of  that  city,  in  the  shape  of 
a  strong-built,  antique  chaise,  in  w^hich 
he  used  to  ride  about  in  the  transaction 
of  his  business.  As  a  memento  of  its 
former  renowned  owner,  its  sale  was 
doubtless  expected    to    attract    great 


competition ;  but  no  one  appeared  to 
be  in  sympathy  with  it  or  its  associa- 
tions. Occasionally  a  hasty  glance 
would  be  directed  toward  it  by  a 
feverish  broker,  on  his  way  to  'Change  ; 
and  one  stout  countryman  seated  him- 
self in  it,  and  tried  the  springs.  No 
antiquarians,  no  lovers  of  Girard  or 
Mammon,  no  speculators  appeared  to 
be  present.  As  the  day  advanced, 
however,  and  the  imaginations  of 
people  became  a  little  awakened,  in 
justice  to  the  mortified  vanity  of  the 
chaise,  it  may  be  said  that  considerable 
excitement  was  manifested,  and  it  was 
momentarily  expected  that  a  committee 
of  little  boys  from  the  college,  or  a 
deputation  of  Third-street  brokers,  or 
the  posterity  of  those  whom"  Girard 
might  have  befriended,  would  be  seen 
meeting  on  the  hallowed  ground,  and 
magnanimously  rivalling  each  other 
by  high  bidding,  in  their  eagerness  to 
obtain  the  cherished  "  vehicular."  But 
no ;  the  chaise  was  knocked  down  for 
less  than  half  its  real  value,  the  Girard 
prestige  to  the  contrary  notwithstand- 
ing. There  is  a  lesson  in  this,  for  all 
"  poor-rich  men." 


Wager  between  a  Stock  Broker  and  a 
Capitalist. 

A  STOCK  BROKER,  shortly  before  his 
death,  had  laid  a  wager  on  parole  with 
a  rich  capitalist  at  Paris.  About  two 
months  after  his  decease,  the  latter 
made  his  appearance  at  the  residence 
of  the  widow,  and  informed  her  that 
her  late  husband  had  lost  a  bet  of  six- 
teen thousand  francs.  Upon  his  pro- 
ceeding to  inquire  whether  she  could 
rely  solely  on  her  informant's  assurance 
that  the  transaction  had  taken  place, 
and  fulfil  the  engagement  contracted 
by  the  deceased,  the  widow  without 
hesitation  produced  a  book  from  her 
secretary,  and  proceeded  to  count  bank 
notes  to  the  amount  of  sixteen  thou- 
sand francs  ;  when  she  did  so,  however, 
she  was  immediately  interrupted  by  the 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


537 


capitalist :  "  Madam,"  said  he,  "  as  you 
give  such  convincing  proof  that  you 
consider  the  wager  binding,  I  have  to 
pay  you  sixteen  thousand  francs.  Here 
is  the  sura,  for  I  am  the  loser,  and  not 
your  late  husband." 


Perils  of  Stock  Qamblinff :    "William 
Abbott. 

The  late  William  Abbott,  in  his 
"  Life  and  Times,"  gives  a  specimen  of 
his  stock-broking  experience  when  in 
London.  It  is  a  passage  worth  not- 
ing: 

"  A  friend  of  mine,"  says  Mr.  Abbott, 
"  connected  with  the  stock  exchange, 
on  one  occasion  pointed  out  to  me  the 
great  advantage  of  occasionally  pur- 
chasing five  thousand  consols  on  time, 
knowing  that  I  had  capital  unem- 
ployed ;  the  certain  profits  were  placed 
before  me  in  such  an  agreeable  point 
of  view,  that  I  could  not  resist  the  bait. 
In  the  course  of  two  days,  I  received  a 
check  for  fifty  pounds,  a  sum  by  no 
means  unpleasant,  considering  that  I 
had  not  advanced  one  farthing.  The 
natural  consequence  was  that  I  repeated 
the  dose  with  various  success,  until  I 
was  ultimately  well  plucked.  I  sus- 
tained a  loss  of  a  thousand  pounds.  I 
then  began  to  be  very  uneasy,  until  I 
fortunately  discovered  that  by  one  coup 
I  had  made  two  hundred  pounds.  My 
broker  had  muddled,  of  course,  with- 
out being  able  to  make  up  his  differ- 
ences. The  parties  of  whom  I  had 
purchased,  through  my  agent,  refused 
to  pay  me,  as  they  had  no  knowledge 
of  a  third  person,  and  were  therefore 
considerable  sufferers  by  the  aforesaid 
broker.  I  could  not  understand  the  jus- 
tice of  this  measure,  for  I  always  paid 
my  losses  to  the  moment ;  so  I  walked 
to  Temple  Bar,  pulled  off  my  hat  most 
gracefully  to  that  venerable  arch,  and 
vowed  never  again  to  pass  it  in  the 
pursuit  of  ill-gotten  wealth." 


Auctioneeringr  in  Engrlaud  and  America. 

Auction  sales  of  books  in  London 
are  not  so  numerously  attended  as  in 
the  United  States,  and  there  is  no  noise, 
no  bustle,  and  rarely  any  disputing 
about  who  bids  off  the  books.  A  table, 
some  ten  or  twelve  feet  in  length,  is 
placed  at  the  foot  of  the  auctioneer's 
desk,  around  which  the  buyers  sit  or 
stand  as  they  prefer;  the  books,  as 
they  are  led  out  to  the  sacrifice,  are 
placed  on  the  table  for  inspection,  and 
an  offer  being  made  in  an  ordinary  tone 
of  voice,  the  auctioneer  takes  it  up  in 
the  same  tone,  repeating  the  bids  pretty 
much  in  this  way  :  "  A  pound — a 
guinea  —  two-and-twenty  shillings  — 
three  and  twenty — four  and  twenty — 
shall  I  say  once  more  for  you  ? — five 
and  twenty  shillings;  are  you  all 
done  ? "  etc.,  and  a  tap  with  his  little 
ivory  hammer  gives  notice  that  the 
victim  is  guillotined  ;  and  then  another 
is  brought  to  the  block.  Little  or  noth- 
ing is  said  by  the  auctioneer  in  com- 
mendation of  his  wares ;  he  presumes 
that  the  bystanders  know  what  they 
came  for,  and  allows  them  to  act  for 
themselves.  They  sell  more  rapidly 
than  is  the  case  in  the  United  States. 
In  another  respect,  also,  the  usage  is 
different;  the  bids  are  made  for  the 
lot,  and  not  per  volume ;  and  where  the 
books  are  of  no  peculiar  value,  fifteen 
or  twenty  volumes  are  put  up  in  a  lot 
— but,  whether  valuable  or  not,  they 
are  never  sold  by  the  volume.  It  is 
rare  that  the  bookseller  will  allow  a 
book  to  be  knocked  down  at  less  than 
two  thirds  its  shop  price,  unless  it  is 
one  that  is  wholly  decried. 


Allaying  a  Panic. 

DuKiNG  one  of  the  panics  which 
overtook  the  trading  community  of  the 
city  of  London,  a  committee  of  bankers, 
headed  by  Lord  Overstone — but  then 
plain  Mr.  Lloyd — waited  upon  the 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  and  re- 


638 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


quested  liim  to  authorize  the  Bank  of 
England  to  issue  a  few  millions  more 
bank  notes,  such  notes,  as  is  well 
known,  being  regarded  by  the  British 
public  as  the  absolute  equivalent  of 
specie.  They  urged  that  such  an  issue 
would  at  once  have  the  effect  of  allay- 
ing the  panic,  and  that,  without  it,  most 
of  the  mercantile  firms  must  fail. 

The  Chancellor,  a  man  of  experience, 
replied :  "  No,  gentlemen  ;  the  mer- 
chants and  private  bankers  must  take 
care  of  themselves."  "  Very  well,  my 
lord,"  replied  ]\Ir.  Lloyd,  "  we  shall 
take  care  of  ourselves.  Be  so  good  as 
to  examine  that  memorandum.  You 
will  there  perceive  that  our  balances  in 
the  Bank  of  England  exceed  the  bal- 
ance to  the  credit  of  the  banking  de- 
partment by  several  hundred  thousand 
pounds.  "We  shall  draw  them  out 
bright  and  early  to-morrpw  morning, 
and  before  night  the  bank  will  fail. 
My  lord,  I  have  the  honor  to  wish  you 
a  very  good  morning." 

Lord  John  Russell  happened  to  be 
in  the  room,  and  he  begged  the  depu- 
tation to  wait  a  few  moments,  while  he 
withdrew  to  consult  with  the  Chancel- 
lor. Mr.  Lloyd  waited.  In  five  min- 
utes the  Chancellor  stepped  forward 
with  a  grim  smile,  and  said  :  "  Gentle- 
men, the  order  in  council  will  issue  to- 
morrow morning,  and  the  bank  will  be 
authorized  to  make  the  extra  issue  you 
demand." 

The  deputation  left ;  the  promise  of 
the  Chancellor  was  kept ;  the  order  in 
council  appeared,  and  the  panic  was 
allayed  at  once.  Strange  to  say,  it  was 
not  necessary  to  issite  one  of  the  notes  au- 
tJiorked.  Confidence  was  restored,  and 
business  went  on  as  usual. 


Selling-  a  Dying-  Horse  under  the 
Hamzner. 

An  auctioneer,  who  kept  a  celebrated 
hqrse  bazaar,  and  at  which  place  he 
held  regular  weekly  sales  of  said  ani- 
mals, was  accosted  by  a  thorough-bred 


Green  Mountain  Yankee  one  day,  about 
fifteen  minutes  before  the  commence- 
ment of  a  sale,  in  the  following  manner : 
"  You  !  "  says  the  Yankee,  "  how  do 
you  sell  horses  now  ?  "  "  How  do  I 
sell  horses  now  ?  What  do  you  mean  ? " 
"  'Cause  I've  got  an  almiglity  smart 
cretur  I  should  like  to  sell  at  auction  ; 
but  I  shouldn't  like  to  hove  him  away." 
"  Well,  my  friend,  you  bring  your  ani- 
mal along;  I  won't  give  him  away. 
What  do  you  expect  to  get  for  your 
animal  ?  "  "  Well,  if  I  should  put  him 
up  to  auction,  I  should  calkelate  to 
limit  him  at  fifteen  dollars,  but  you 
might  sell  him  for  five."  "  For  five 
dollars  !  sell  him  lor  five  !  Why  what 
kind  of  an  animal  is  he  ?  Is  he  sound  ? " 
"  Sound  as  a  dollar  (whispering  up  to 
his  ear)— I  shouldn't  like  to  warrant 
him."  "Well,  well,  my  friend,  bring 
your  horse  along,  and  I'll  see  what  I 
can  get  for  him." 

Accordingly,  when  the  fellow's  horse 
was  put  up,  the  greatest  hid  the  auc- 
tioneer had  on  him  was  one  dollar  and 
a  half.  Thinking  it  too  bad  to  sell  the 
animal  for  less  than  five  dollars,  at 
which  price  he  was  limited,  he  stooped 
down  to  the  Yankee  owner,  who  was 
fidgeting  at  his  elbow  all  the  time,  and 
said  to  him  :  "  Friend,  do  you  wish  to 
sell  this  animal  for  only  one  dollar  and 
a  half?"  (In  the  auctioneer's  ear:) 
"  Sell  him,  sir,  he's  dying  !  " 

He  had  not  been  knocked  down  more 
than  fifteen  minutes  before  they  led 
him  a  few  yards,  and  he  fell  down 
dead. 

After  the  sale,  the  Yankee  came  to 
the  auctioneer,  saying :  "  Well,  rather 
bad  business,  that  cretur's  dying  so. 
Well,  now  you've  got  the  money  for 
him,  take  out  your  fees,  and  I'll  take 
the  balance."  "Oh,  no!"  says  the 
auctioneer,  "  it  will  take  all  the  money 
he  brought  to  eat  up  the  charges." 
"  Well,  I  guess  I  got  off  pretty  cheap— 
I  couldn't  gke  him  away,  last  Tewsday." 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


539 


•'  Going:— Going:— Gone  I  " 

The  difference  between  a  person's 
main  body  and  a  person's  mere  ear, 
when  tliey  are  respectively  arrested, 
may  be  said  to  be  tliis :  that,  whereas 
the  former  is  immediately  seized  with 
a  violent  desire  to  run,  the  latter  is  only 
taken  with  agreeable  curiosity  to  stop. 

Accordingly,  the  above  sounds  of 
"  Going— going— gone,"  no  sooner  beat 
upon  the  drum  of  a  city  pedestrian's 
ear,  than  he  suddenly  pauses  and  looks 
about  to  see  where  the  blow  has  come 
from,  for  it  is  but  natural  to  turn  round 
on  receiving  a  blow— at  least  to  see 
whom  it  is  has  been  dealt  to  you  by. 

The  dealer,  on  these  occasions,  is  an 
auctioneer,  and  his  dealings  are  so  open 
to  the  scrutiny  of  the  world  that  he 
plies  his  honest  vocation  in  a  shop,  the 
front  of  which  seems  to  have  flown 
away.  Indeed,  there  is  such  an  air  of 
openness  about  him  and  his  business, 
that  you  involuntarily  walk  in.  The 
greatest  respect  is  shown  to  you  as  you 
enter.  Dark-looking  gentlemen  creep 
backward  to  make  room  for  you,  and 
the  auctioneer  at  once  appeals  to  your 
judgment,  in  the  case  in  hand,  in  the 
most  flattering  manner.  The  boy  with 
the  dirty  apron  and  bags  of  sleeves, 


that  look  as  if  they  had  been  black 
leaded,  is  sharply  directed  to  "  hand 
the  tray  to  the  gentleman  for  his  in- 
spection." 

Every  little  article,  from  a  boot  jack 
downward,  is  held  up  admiringly  un- 
der your  nose,  as  if  they  were  bouquets 
that  only  required  to  be  sniffed  to  be 
appreciated  ;  and  the  bidding,  which, 
on  your  entrance,  was  only  carried  on 
in  timid  and  fictitious  whispers,  breaks 
out  now  into  that  big,  confident  tone, 
which  can  only  be  inspired  by  some 
fresh  source  of  encouragement.  The 
auctioneer's  manner  grows  twice  as 
big — his  hammer  knocks  twice  as  loud. 
You  know  this  is  all  done  in  honor  of 
yourself,  and  you  feel  called  upon  to 
do  something  to  deserve  it.  A  silver 
cruet  stand  is  being  eagerly  disputed 
for  (apparently)  among  the  quack  mil- 
lionnaire  purchasers  present.  It  is 
only  twenty  dollars.  How  remarkably 
cheap  !  It  is  true  you  do  not  want  it, 
and  you  have  a  long  fight  within  your- 
self whether  you  shall  buy  it.  But  the 
worthy  auctioneer  sees  your  distress, 
and  relieves  your  embarrassment  by 
knocking  down  the  cruet  stand  to  you, 
congratulating  you,  moreover,  in  the 
kindness  of  his  heart,  upon  "  the  very 
great  bargain  you   have  got."      You 


540 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSIXESS  ANECDOTES. 


take  it  home  covetously,  but  only  to 
discover,  alas  !  that  your  "  bargain  " 
would  be  dear  at  five  shillings. 

One  can  scarcely  pass  one  of  these 
mock-auction  establishments,  that  only 
keep  open  house  that  they  may  the 
easier  "  take  in  "  visitors,  and  not  walk 
in  for  five  minutes  purposely  to  enjoy 
the  popular  farce  of  Raising  the  Wind 
that  is  being  acted  inside  in  the  broad 
daylight.  The  company  is  invariably 
the  same,  having  a  large  dash  of  Jews ; 
and  the  Jews  one  meets  at  these  auc- 
tions are  allowed  by  their  own  race  to 
be  seldom  particularly  handsome.  It 
would  almost  seem,  indeed,  as  if  their 
physiognomy,  from  attending  such 
places,  had  been  made  especially /or- 
Mdding 

■♦ 

Very  Hopeful  Investment. 

The  wit  who  put  this  leaf  into  Har- 
pers' "Drawer"  deserves  a  pension, 
and  a  good  long  life  to  enjoy  it : 

"  Can  you  give  me  specie  for  this  ? " 

"No." 

"  What  can  you  give  me  ? " 

"  Nothing." 

"  Nothing  !     Why  ?  " 

"  You  are  making  *  a  run '  upon  our 
institution — a  run,  sir.  This  species 
of  presentation  we  are  bound  to  resist. 
Ton  are  trying  to  break  us,  sir— to 
make  us  stop  payment,  sir.  But  you 
can't  do  it,  sir." 

"But  hamn't  joM  stopped  payment, 
when  you  refuse  to  redeem  ?  " 

"  No,  sir.  Ours  is  a  stock  institution. 
Your  ultimate  security,  sir,  is  deposited 
with  the  auditor.  We  can't  'break,' 
sir — we  can't  stop  payment." 

"  But  have  you  no  specie  on  hand  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir,  and  we  are  bound  to  keep 
it  on  hand ;  the  law  obliges  us  to  keep 
twelve  and  one  half  of  specie  on  hand. 
If  we  paid  it  out  every  time  one  of  you 
fellows  calls,  how,  sir,  could  we  '  keep 
it  on  hand,'  according  to  law  ?  We 
should  be  in  a  'pretty  box." 


"  Then  I  shall  proceed  to  have  the 
note  protested." 

"  Very  well,  sir,  you  will  find  a  no- 
tary public  at ,  provided  he  is  at 

home.  He  lives  about  one  hundred 
and  forty  miles  from  here.  But  you'd 
better  go  home,  sir,  and  rely  upon  your 
ultimate  security.  We  canH  pay  specie ; 
find  it  won't  do— but  you  are  ultimate- 
ly secure." 

The  "  ultimate  security  "  is  disregard- 
ed, the  note  is  protested,  "  without  re- 
gard to  expense,^''  and  the  notary  direct- 
ed to  prosecute  the  "  Squash  Bank  at 
Lost  Prairie,"  to  collection  as  soon  as 
possible.  "How  long,  by  the  way," 
asks  the  holder,  "  will  it  be  before  I 
can  expect  to  realize  upon  the  ultimate 
security  of  the  institution?  Thirty 
days,  is  it  not  ?  " 

"  Not  quite  so  soon  as  that,  sir.  I 
shall  forthwith  give  notice  to  the  offi- 
cers of  the  Squash  Bank.  If  they  pay 
no  attention  to  it,  I  shall  offer  its  se- 
curities in  my  hands  for  sale ;  but  in 
discharging  my  necessary  duty  to  all 
the  creditors  of  the  institution,  I  shall 
not  proceed  to  offer  any  of  its  assets  in 
this  market  until  after  at  least  ninety 
days'  notice  in  New  York,  London,  and 
Paris,  so  as  to  insure  the  largest  and 
best  prices  for  the  securities — and  not 
even  then,  if,  in  my  opinion,  the  ulti- 
mate interests  of  all  concerned  will  be 
promoted  by  a  further  extension  I 
Hem ! " 

"  But,  my  dear  sir,  how  long  will  it 
be  before  I  shall  be  able  to  actually 
realize  upon  my  demand  ? " 

To  this  pregnant  question  the  notary 
replies,  that "  he  couldn't  say,  indeed  ; 
it  depends  something  on  the  fate  of  the 
war  in  Europe— even  now  more  doubt- 
ful than  ever.  Still,  you  can  rely  upon 
your  ultimate  security." 

"  Ultimate  security — but  I — I  want 
my  money  !  " 

"  Oh,  ay,  ah !  that's  a  different  thing ! " 

This  was  what  might  be  termed  a 
very  "  hopeful "  investment. 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


541 


Puror  for  Chartered  Companies. 

The  following  are  some  among  the 
many  companies  which  applied  for 
charters,  during  the  mercantile  stock- 
jobbing excitement  which  possessed 
the  minds  of  the  English  during  the 
fore  part  of  the  last  century,  and  which 
involved  so  many  in  the  crash  of  finan- 
cial ruin  which  followed  soon  after: 
For  supplying  London  with  sea  coal — 
capital,  £3,000,000  ;  erecting  salt  works 
in  Holy  Island,  £2,000,000;  paving 
streets  of  London,  £2,000,000  ;  buying 
and  selling  lands  and  lending  money, 
£5,000,000  ;  carrying  on  the  royal  fish- 
ery, £10,000,000 ;  erecting  loan  offices, 
£2,000,000 ;  improving  leasable  lands, 
£4,000,000 ;  exporting  woollens,  £4,000,- 
000 ;  for  a  grand  dispensary,  £3,000,- 
000 ;  purchasing  lead  mines,  £2,000,000 ; 
importing  walnut  trees  from  Virginia, 
£2,000,00^0;  dealing  in  lace,  holland, 
etc.,  £2,000,000;  trading  in  produce, 
£3,000,000 ;  making  looking  glasses, 
etc.,  £2,000,000  ;  paying  pensions, 
£2,000,000 ;  improving  malt  liquors, 
£4,000,000  ;  purchasing  fenny  lands  in 
Lincolnshire,  £2,000,000  ;  insuring  mas- 
ters and  mistresses  all  losses  by  servants, 
£3,000,000  ;  importing  tobacco,  £4,000,- 
000 ;  furnishing  the  cities  of  London 
and  Westmmster  with  hay  and  straw, 
£3,000,000  ;  erecting  hospitals  for  ille- 
gitimate children,  £2,000,000 ;  import- 
ing beaver  fur,  £2,000,000. 


Chronicles  of  the   "Black  Day"  in 
Xiondon. 

The  terrible  and  long-to-be-remem- 
bered panic  in  London,  of  1835,  grow- 
ing out  of  the  foreign  loan  speculations, 
commenced  on  the  21st  of  May.  Every 
one  grew  alarmed,  and  those  who  had 
bought  as  a  permanent  investment 
parted  with  all  their  interest  at  a  mere 
song.  Private  gentlemen,  who  had 
been  tempted  to  invest,  hurried  with 
heavy  hearts  to  their  brokers,  and,  to 
add  to  the  distress,  the  greatest  holder 
turned  "  bear." 


At  the  close  of  the  market  in  the 
evening  the  confusion  was  indescrib- 
able. Some  were  rejoicing  at  their 
deliverance,  though  suffering  a  large 
loss,  while  others  were  absolutely 
ruined.  In  many  panics  there  had 
been  hope.  They  were  known  to  be 
clamors  which  time  would  rectify  ;  but 
there  was  no  hope  for  the  holder  of  the 
Spanish  and  Portuguese  stock,  which 
had  ridden  over  everything  else  in  the 
market,  and  now  engulfed  so  many  for- 
tunes— it  was  hopeless,  beyond  any  fu- 
ture redemption.  Every  one  felt  as- 
sured that  no  dividend  could  ever  be 
paid  upon  it;  and  when  this  was  re- 
membered, men  cursed  the  fatuity 
which  had  led  them  to  buy  waste  pa- 
per, and  execrated  the  greediness  which 
had  lured  them  to  ruin.  Those  who 
the  week  before  possessed  "  securities  " 
which  would  have  realized  hundreds 
of  thousands,  found  themselves  reduced 
to  utter  bankruptcy.  Brokers  who 
had  kept  to  their  legitimate  business 
were  defaulters ;  most  who  had  bought 
for  time  were  unable  to  pay  their  dif- 
ferences ;  while  sedate  and  respectable 
men,  who  had  laughed  at  speculation, 
and  thought  themselves  too  sagacious 
to  be  taken  in  by  companies,  had  ven- 
tured their  all  on  the  faith  of  foreign 
Governments. 

Establishments  w^ere  reduced,  fami- 
lies were  ruined  and  scattered,  delicate- 
ly nurtured  women  were  compelled  to 
earn  their  bread.  Death  ensued  to  some 
from  the  shock,  gaunt  misery  was  the 
lot  of  others,  and  frantic  confusion 
marked  the  money-dealers'  haunts  of 
business.  Almost  every  third  man  was 
a  defaulter.  All  foreign  securities  were 
without  a  price;  the  bankers — those 
who  yet  stood  on  their  legs — refused  to 
advance  money ;  the  brokers'  checks 
were  first  doubted,  and  then  rejected — 
nothing  but  bank  notes  would  be 
taken ;  and,  with  a  desperation  which 
will  never  be  forgotten,  the  jobbers 
closed  their  books,  refused  to  transact 
any  business,  and  waited  the  result  in 


542 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


almost  abject  despair.  The  various 
stocks  bore  no  price,  the  brokers  ceased 
to  issue  their  lists,  and  the  blackboard 
was  found  inadequate  to  contain  the 
names.  It  was  not  the  dark,  but  the 
Hack  day  of  the  London  Exchange. 


Atkinson,  the  Eccentric  Speculator. 

At  the  close  of  the  last  century  there 
flourished  in  England  an  adventurous 
but  successful  speculator,  and  whose 
fortune,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  amount- 
ed to  half  a  million  pounds.  A  curious, 
and  not  at  all  a  parsimonious  man,  he 
occasionally  performed  eccentric  ac- 
tions, but  never  to  any  one's  hurt.  One 
day,  during  one  of  the  brief  pauses  in 
a  dinner  conversation,  he  suddenly 
turned  to  a  lady  by  whom  he  was  sit- 
ting, and  said :  "  If  you,  madam,  will 
trust  me  with  one  thousand  pounds,  for 
three  years,  I  will  employ  it  advantage- 
ously." The  speculating  but  success- 
ful character  of  the  speaker  was  famil- 
iarly known  ;  the  offer  so  frankly  made 
was  as  frankly  accepted ;  and  in  three 
years,  to  the  very  day,  Mr.  Atkinson 
waited  on  the  lady  with  ten  thousand 
pounds,  to  which  amount  his  speculat- 
ing sagacity  had  enabled  him  to  in- 
crease the  sum  intrusted  to  him. 


Our  American  Iiand  Fever. 

The  years  1835  and  1836  will  long 
be  remembered  by  the  Western  settler 
— and  by  not  a  few  people  at  the  East 
too — as  the  period  when  the  madness 
of  speculation  in  lands  had  reached  a 
point  to  which  no  historian  of  the  time 
will  ever  be  able  to  do  justice.  A  faith- 
ful picture  of  those  red-hot  days — the 
first  gigantic  babble  from  which  our 
country  has  suffered — would  subject 
the  most  veracious  chronicler  to  the 
charge  of  exaggeration.  The  whirl, 
the  fervor,  the  flutter,  the  rapidity  of 
step,  the  sparkling  of  eyes,  the  beating 
of  hearts,  the  striking  of  hands,  the  utter 
abandon  of  the  hour  !  The  "  man  of  one 


idea  "  was  visible  everywhere  ;  no  man 
had  two.  He  who  had  no  money  beg- 
ged, borrowed,  or  stole  it ;  he  who  had, 
thought  he  made  a  generous  sacrifice 
if  he  lent  it  at  cent  per  cent.  The 
tradesman  forsook  his  shop  ;  the  farmer 
his  plough  ;  the  merchant  his  counter ; 
the  lawyer  his  oflace ;  the  clergyman 
his  study — to  join  the  general  chase. 
The  man  with  one  leg,  or  he  that  had 
none,  could  at  least  get  on  board  a 
steamer,  and  make  for  Chicago  or  Mil- 
waukie  ;  the  strong,  the  able,  but  above 
all,  the  "  enterprising,"  set  out  with  his 
pocket  map  and  his  pocket  compass,  to 
thread  the  dim  woods,  and  see  w^ith  his 
own  eyes.  Who  would  waste  time  in 
planting,  in  building,  in  hammering 
iron,  in  making  shoes — in  commerce,  in 
stocks — when  the  path  of  wealth  lay 
wide  and  flowery  before  him  ? 

A  ditcher  was  hired  by  the  job  to  do 
a  certain  piece  of  work  in  his  line. 
"  Well,  John,  did  you  make  anything  ?  " 
"  Pretty  well ;  I  cleared  about  ten  dol- 
lars a  day,  but  I  could  have  made  more 
by  standing  round  " — i.  e.,  watching  the 
land  market  for  bargains. 

The  host  of  travellers  on  their  West- 
ern speculating  tours  met  with  many 
difficulties,  as  might  be  supposed.  a 
Such  searching  of  trees  for  town  lines  !  "]■ 
Such  ransacking  of  the  woods  for  sec- 
tion corners,  ranges,  and  base  lines ! 
Such  anxious  care  in  identifying  spots 
possessing  particular  advantages  !  And 
then,  alas  I  after  all,  such  precious 
blunders.  These  blunders  called  into 
action  another  class  of  operators,  who 
became  popularly  known  as  "land 
lookers."  These  were  plentiful  at  every 
turn,  ready  to  furnish  "  water  power," 
"  pine  lots,"  or  anything  else,  at  a  mo- 
ment's notice.  It  was  impossible  to 
mention  any  part  of  the  country  which 
they^  had  not  "  personally  surveyed." 
They  would  tell  you,  with  the  gravity 
of  astrologers,  what  sort  of  timber  pre- 
dominated on  any  given  tract,  draw- 
ing sage  deductions  as  to  the  capabili- 
ties of  the  soil !    Did  you  incline  to  city 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


543 


property  ?  Lo  !  a  splendid  chart,  set- 
ting forth  the  advantages  of  some  un- 
equalled site,  and  your  confidential 
friend,  the  land  looker,  able  to  tell  you 
more  than  all  about  it,  or  to  accom- 
pany you  to  the  happy  spot — though 
tJiat  he  "would  not  admire,"  on  ac- 
count of  bad  roads,  nothing  fit  to  eat, 
etc. — all  from  a  purely  disinterested 
solicitude  for  your  welfare. 


Mr.  Barker's  Auction  Watch,  and 
wliat  it  broug-ht  him. 

When  Jacob  Barker  was  quite  young, 
he  visited  New  York  for  the  purj)ose 
of  obtaining  a  situation  in  some  com- 
mercial house,  through  the  efforts  of 
his  brother  Abraham.  While  thus 
waiting,  he  attended  street  auctions 
and  other  places  of  novelty  to  him.  At 
one  of  those  auctions,  regardless  of  the 
admonition  often  heard  from  his  se- 
niors, to  avoid  dealing  in  old  watches 
and  old  horses,  he  was  tempted  to  bid 
twenty  dollars  for  a  gold  watch  ;  it  was 
immediately  struck  off  to  him,  when  he 
supposed  he  had  been  taken  in.  It 
proved  otherwise ;  for  he  parted  with 
it  at  a  smart  profit,  shortly  after  enter- 
ing the  counting  house  of  Mr.  Hicks. 
The  circumstances  of  this  trade  with  an 
auction-bought  watch  were  as  follows  : 

One  day,  Jacob  was  sent  to  Meszrs. 
James  &  Samuel  Watson,  an  extensive 
commission  house  on  Front  street,  by 
Mr.  Hicks,  for  a  note  for  sperm  can- 
dles sold  them.  Those  extensive  mer- 
chants playfully  proposed  to  this  small 
boy  a  sale  of  shipbread,  saying  that 
his  fellow  clerk,  Mr.  Samuel  Hicks, 
often  purchased  the  article  of  them  in 
exchange  for  liver  oil,  for  which  article 
they  frequently  had  orders  from  Vir- 
ginia, and  with  which  bread  he  sup- 
plied the  ships  consigned  to  Mr.  Hicks 
to  profit.  Jacob  replied  that  he  had 
not  any  money  wherewith  to  pay  for 
bread ;  they  proposed  to  give  him 
credit — a  confidence  doubtless  arising 
from  his  being  in  the  employ  of  Mr. 


Hicks.  He  thanked  them,  saying  he 
dared  not  incur  a  debt — a  squeaniishness 
which  did  not  last  long— adding  that 
he  had  not  any  liver  oil,  indeed  notliing 
but  a  gold  watch,  which  he  should  like 
to  barter  for  bread.  They  asked  to  see 
the  watch,  which  being  exhibited,  and 
the  price  named,  payable  in  shipbread, 
they  proposed  to  have  it  left,  and  they 
would  decide  in  the  morning,  if  he 
would  call  when  he  went  to  the  post 
office  for  letters;  to  this  he  assented, 
saying,  "  You  wish  to  have  it  examined 
by  a  watchmaker ;  I  have  had  that 
service  performed,  and  know  the  watch 
to  be  good." 

He  called  in  the  morning,  when  the 
Messrs.  Watson  agreed  to  keep  the 
watch  on  the  terms  proposed  by  the 
boy  from  Nantucket.  And  now  the 
next  object  with  Jacob  was  to  find  a 
market  for  his  bread.  He  was  sent  by 
his  employer  to  collect  a  note  for  cod- 
fish sold  Thomas  Knox,  a  merchant 
doing  business  on  Wall  street.  Inquiry 
was  made  of  Mr.  Knox  if  he  did  not 
w^ish  to  purchase  some  shipbread  as 
stores  for  the  vessel  on  board  which  the 
fish  had  been  sent ;  the  reply  was,  that 
the  stores  were  all  on  board,  but  that 
he  had  an  order  for  three  hundred  bar- 
rels of  bread  for  a  ship  which  was  un- 
dergoing repairs  at  the  shipyard,  which 
would  be  wanted  in  about  three  weeks, 
and  inquired  of  the  lad  at  what  price 
he  would  furnish  that  quantity.  He 
had  but  ten  barrels  ;  his  reply  was,  that 
he  would  go  for  and  immediately  bring 
a  sample,  with  the  information  re- 
quired, for  which  he  repaired  to  the 
store  of  the  Messrs.  Watson.  They  ex- 
pressed a  great  disposition  to  sell ;  said 
it  was  a  consignment  which  had  been 
long  on  hand,  therefore  they  would 
sell  cheap.  A  conditional  bargain  was 
made,  they  to  take  Mr.  Knox's  note  at 
four  months,  without  Barker's  endorse- 
ment, if  he  could  not  get  it  at  a  shorter 
period. 

A  sample  of  the  bread  was  taken  to 
Mr.  Knox,  the  price  named  on  a  credit 


544 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


of  sixty  days ;  an  answer  vpas  promised 
the  next  morning,  for  which  Barker 
was  punctual  to  call,  when  he  was  in- 
formed that  John  Hyslop,  an  extensive 
baker,  asked  the  same  price  for  the 
same  quality  of  bread,  on  a  credit  of 
ninety  days,  Mr.  Knox  remarking,  "  You 
are  a  pleasant  little  fellow,  and  if  you 
will  allow  the  same  credit,  I  will  take 
the  bread  of  you."  This  being  agreed 
to,  Barker  observed  that  he  "should 
like  to  have  a  memorandum  to  that 
effect."  Knox  smiled,  gave  the  memo- 
randum of  the  agreement,  taking  an  or- 
der on  the  Messrs.  Watson  for  the 
bread ;  when  delivered,  a  note  was 
drawn  for  the  amount  due  them,  and, 
as  a  matter  of  accommodation,  Mr. 
Knox  paid  the  balance  in  cash. 

Barker  thus  turned  his  watch  into 
more  money  than  he  gave  for  it,  and 
made  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dol- 
lars profit  on  the  bread.  When  the 
sickly  season  came  on,  he  had  leave  of 
absence,  visited  Ballston,  purchased  a 
horse,  on  which  he  travelled  to  New 
Bedford,  swapped  the  horse  for  crude 
sperm  oil,  had  the  oil  refined  and  sent 
to  New  York,  where  it  yielded  double 
the  cost  of  the  horse — which  termi- 
nated Jacob's  auction  traffic  in  old 
horses  and  old  watches. 


Selling-  the  Gem  of  the  Collection. 

"  Gentlemen,  I  most  particularly 
call  your  attention  to  this  lot,  which 
cost  my  employer  an  immense  sum. 
He  alvv^ays  esteemed  it  the  gem  of  his 
collection.  A  finer  work  of  this  great 
master  cannot  be  seen,  and  in  such  a 
state  of  purity  ;  often  and  often  has  he 
refused  five  hundred  guineas  for  this 
masterpiece,  which  I  am  now  submit- 
ting entirely  to  your  hands ;  you  will 
have  it  at  yoar  own  price — there  is  no 
reserve.  Gentlemen,  give  me  a  bid- 
ding; shall  I  begin  at  four  hundred 
guineas  ? " 

No  answer — a  pause.  "  Well  I  am 
astonished.    Gentlemen,  do  look  again ! 


I  shall  be  ashamed  to  give  an  account 
of  this  to  my  employer.  I  fully  ex- 
pected for  such  a  treasure  of  art  to 
obtain  a  great  sum.  Say  two  hundred 
guineas — one  hundred  guineas — well, 
anything  you  please:  I  am  in  your 
hands,  there  is  no  reserve  !  " 

Upon  this,  the  real  owner  of  the  pic- 
ture, who  is  a  dealer,  left  his  seat,  took 
out  his  eyeglass,  advanced  to  the  easel 
upon  which  the  picture  was  placed, 
and  bended  down  on  one  knee  the 
more  closely  to  scrutinize  his  own 
property.  The  auction  room,  in  wiiich 
this  scene  took  place,  has  a  low  ceiling, 
and  but  indifferent  light.  The  owner 
played  this  art  of  attitudinizing  and 
viewing  with  wondi'ous  dramatic  effect ; 
and,  in  a  voice  pregnant  with  affect- 
ed suqjrise  and  anxiety,  he  bid  thirty 
guineas.  The  auctioneer  already  had 
his  cue.  "  Well,  I  am  astonished ! 
thirty  guineas  for  such  a  recTierche  gem  ! 
You  must  be  joking  with  me,  gentle- 
men! — you  canH  be  serious."  Forty 
guineas  are  now  offered  by  a  confed- 
erate, which  in  turn  is  eagerly  bid  on 
by  the  owner  at  forty-five  guineas. 
This  dalliance  was  carried  on  by  the 
auctioneer,  the  owner,  and  the  confed- 
erate, interspersed  with  a  deal  of  by 
play  and  mysterious  nods  and  whisper- 
ings, until  a  stranger  present  was  be- 
guiled into  an  offer  of  seventy  guineas, 
when  the  owner  of  the  picture  shut  up 
his  eyeglass  and  coolly  turned  his  back 
to  the  auctioneer— a  telegraphic  signal 
understood  by  the  wdiole  party  that 
the  right  victim  was  entrapped. 

As  the  picture  in  question  w^as  thus, 
of  course,  knocked  down  to  a  pur- 
chaser, it  may  be  of  interest  to  state, 
that  it  was  bought  by  the  dealer  some 
time  before,  at  a  sale  of  imported  rub- 
bish, for  twenty-five  shillings;  was 
lined,  the  dirt  rubbed  off,  one  unsatis- 
factory figure  obliterated,  and  the  heads 
of  the  figures  altered.  A  poor  but 
cleverish  artist  did  all  this  for  the  pit- 
tance of  thirty  shillings. 

That  night,  the  health  of  said  pur- 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


545 


chaser  of  "  masterpieces "  was  gayly 
toasted — a  few  bottle  of  extra  "  Pine 
Apple  "  brand  being  broken  on  the  oc- 
casion. 


South  Sea  Schemes. 

The  South  Sea  delusion  had  its  date 
in  1720,  and,  were  it  not,  in  its  conse- 
quences, so  full  of  the  materials  that 
make  tragedy,  it  might  have  been  rep- 
resented on  the  stage  as  an  admirable 
farce.  It  was  commenced  in  1710,  and 
was  remarkable  for  the  wild  excitement 
which  attended  its  operations.  The 
pretence  for  the  scheme  was  to  dis- 
charge the  national  debt  by  reducing 
all  the  funds  into  one.  It  was  favored 
by  the  Government,  and  large  pre- 
miums were  paid  for  the  refusal  of  the 
stock  at  high  prices.  Some  of  the  di- 
rectors were  created  baronets  for  "  their 
great  services,"  and  all  kinds  of  artifice 
and  exaggeration  were  resorted  to,  to 
maintain  the  inflation  of  prices.  Fifty 
per  cent,  was  confidently  predicted ; 
inestimable  markets  and  valuable  ac- 
quisitions in  the  South  Seas  were  prom- 
ised ;  and  mines  of  hidden  treasure 
mysteriously  alluded  to  by  the  agents 
of  the  scheme.  'Change  Alley  was 
crowded  with  peers  of  the  realm,  who 
forgot  their  pride  ;  country  gentlemen, 
who  forsook  their  homes ;  clergymen, 
who  disregarded  the  sobriety  of  their 
calling;  and  ladies,  who  forgot  their 
natural  timidity,  in  the  hope  of  making 
money.  The  monarch  was  said  to  have 
profited  by  it.  His  ill-favored  German 
mistresses  made  great  fortunes  and  sent 
them  over  to  Hanover.  One  of  the 
journals  of  that  time  says  :  "  Our  South 
Sea  equipages  increase  eveiy  day ;  the 
city  ladies  buy  South  Sea  jewels,  hire 
South  Sea  maids,  take  new  country 
South  Sea  horses;  the  gentlemen  set 
up  South  Sea  coaches,  and  buy  South 
Sea  estates — they  neither  examine  the 
situation,  the  nature  or  quality  of  the 
soil,  or  price  of  the  purchase,  only  the 
annual  rent  and  the  title — for  the  rest, 
35 


they  take  all  by  the  lump,  and  pay 
forty  or  fifty  years'  purchase."  All  the 
anticipations  indulged  in  respecting 
this  scheme,  were  in  spite  of  the  fact 
that  it  promised  no  commercial  advan- 
tages of  importance,  and  was  buoyed 
up  by  nothing  but  the  folly  and  rapaci- 
ty of  individuals. 


Stock-Jobbing:  Bubbles— Commercial 
Lunacy. 

Such  was  the  absurd  enthusiasm  in 
speculation  in  England,  in  the  early 
part  of  the  last  century,  that  new 
*'  companies "  started  up  almost  every 
day.  One  of  the  London  papers  thus 
alludes  to  these  events :  "  The  hurry 
of  our  stock-jobbing  bubblers  has  been 
so  great  this  week  that  it  has  exceeded 
all  that  was  ever  known.  There  has 
been  nothing  but  running  about  from 
one  coffee  house  to  another,  and  from 
one  tavern  to  another,  to  subscribe^  with- 
out examining  what  the  proposals  were. 
The  general  cry  has  been,  '  For  G — '5 
saTce^  let  us  hut  subscribe  to  something  ;  we 
don't  care  what  it  is?  So  that,  in  short, 
many  have  taken  them  at  their  words, 
and  entered  them  adventurers  in  some 
of  the  greatest  cheats  and  improbable 
undertakings  that  ever  the  world  heard 
of." 

Among  these,  was  a  "  company  for 
carrying  on  an  undertaking  of  great 
advantage,  but  nobody  to  know  what 
it  is ;  every  subscriber  who  deposits 
two  pounds  per  share  to  be  entitled 
to  one  hundred  pounds  per  annum." 
Even  this  insolently  audacious  attempt 
on  the  credulity  of  the  nation  succeed- 
ed ;  and,  when  the  arch  rogue  opened 
his  shop,  the  house  was  besieged  with 
applicants.  In  five  hours,  two  thou- 
sand pounds  were  deposited  in  the 
hands  of  the  projector,  and  from  that 
day  he  ceased  to  be  discoverable  in 
England.  Projects  like  these  enlisted 
the  lowest  with  the  highest.  On  some 
sixpence,  and  on  others  one  shilling 
per  cent,  was  paid ;  and,  as  no  capital 


546 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


was  thus  required,  the  comparative 
beggar  might  indulge  in  the  same  ad- 
venturous gambling,  and  enjoy  the 
same  bright  castles  in  the  air  which 
marked  the  dreams  of  the  rich  and  the 
great.  Some  came  so  low  as  to  ask 
only  one  shilling  deposit  on  every  thou- 
sand pounds.  Persons  of  quality,  of 
both  sexes,  were  engaged  in  these. 
Avarice  triumphed  over  all  social  dis- 
tinctions ;  gentlemen  met  their  brokers 
at  taverns — ladies  at  their  milliners' 
shops.  The  perquisites  of  the  projectors 
were  so  great  that  they  wore  dresses  of 
gold  and  lace,  and  answered,  when  re- 
monstrated with,  that  "  if  they  did  not 
put  gold  on  their  clothes,  they  could 
not  make  away  with  half  their  earn- 
ings." __^_ 


Peruvian  Loan  Infatuation. 

The  desire  to  invest  in  foreign  loans, 
on  the  part  of  English  capitalists,  has 
sometimes  amounted  to  a  mania.  The 
way  in  which  the  Peruvian  loan  was 
arranged,  together  with  the  circum- 
stances which  attended  it,  is  a  fa- 
mous illustration  in  point.  No  sooner 
was  it  understood  that  the  State  of 
Peru  had  consented  to  borrow,  than  the 
utmost  anxiety  prevailed  to  lend.  The 
ostensible  contractor  was  overwhelmed 
with  applications.  The  reply  was,  that 
he  would  dispose  of  the  scrip  in  the 
open  market.  At  the  time  appointed, 
a  crowd  of  speculators  surrounded  him, 
begging  to  know  terms,  and  pressing 
for  an  early  delivery.  All  voices  were 
lost  in  the  confusion,  and  the  agent 
calmly  waited  the  bidding  of  the  eager 
multitude. 

Various  prices  were  vociferated,  but 
the  contractor  maintained  a  reserved  si- 
lence. By  this  it  was  understood  that  the 
point  desired  was  not  reached.  After  a 
pause,  eighty-eight  was  named  by  him. 
This  was  known  to  be  a  premium  of  eight 
per  cent,  on  the  contracting  price,  and 
a  storm  of  indignation  arose  at  the 
idea  of  any  one,  but  the  assembly, 
making   so   large   a   profit.     "  Shame, 


shame  !  "  "  Gross  extortion  ! "  met  the 
contractor's  ears.  Still  there  was  an 
eager  pressure  to  get  near  him,  and 
those  who  could  approach  sufficiently 
close  considered  themselves  fortunate 
in  taking  sums  vai7ing  from  five  thou- 
sand to  ten  thousand  pounds.  The 
practical  reception  of  his  terms  ap- 
peared so  satisfactory  that  the  contrac- 
tor soon  advanced  the  price  to  eighty- 
nine,  on  which  he  was  once  more  met 
with  the  same  expressive  language. 
Again,  however,  his  acuteness  proved 
correct,  and  some  of  the  scrip  was 
taken  at  the  increased  rate.  The  noise 
became  so  great,  and  the  confusion  so 
excessive,  that  few  could  be  supplied ; 
and  though  many  applications  were 
made,  there  was  no  answer.  The  at- 
tention of  the  crowd  was  soon  diverted 
by  the  offer  of  a  broker  to  supply  the 
scrip  at  eighty-eight. 

The  speculator  w^as  taken  at  his 
word,  and  very  large  amounts  were 
sold.  By  this  time  the  news  had  reach- 
ed the  Stock  Exchange  ;  and  in  a  short 
period  a  considerable  number  of  the 
members  had  assembled,  and,  pressing 
round  the  contractor  with  great  indig- 
nation, moved  him  and  his  agents  from 
one  part  of  the  edifice  to  another.  The 
crowd  soon  became  so  exasperated,  that 
they  forced  them  out  of  the  building. 
A  desperate  struggle  followed,  and  at 
last  they  were  allowed  to  reenter.  Be- 
ing tumultuously  called  upon  to  name 
a  price,  one  of  them  mentioned  ninety 
as  the  minimum.  Soon  after  this  they 
left;  with  their  departure  the  mania 
appeared  to  subside  ;  and  many  of  the 
purchasers,  fancying  their  bargains 
were  imprudent,  actually  sold  on  the 
spot  at  a  lower  price  than  they  had 
given.  Such  was  the  anxiety  to  obtain 
a  portion  of  the  loan  to  Peru,  a  loan 
which  now  bears  no  interest  whatever. 


Satire  on  Speculation.     , 
In  a  satirical  novel,  the  writer  pro- 
poses the  prospectus  of  a  company  to 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


547 


drain  the  Red  Sea  in  search  of  the 
gold  and  jewels  left  by  the  Egyptians 
in  their  passage  after  the  Israelites. 
Another  bubble  to  be  projected  is  call- 
ed "  The  Gold,  Wine,  and  Olive  Joint- 
Stock  Company,"  one  of  the  characters 
of  which  is  represented  as  saying  to 
some  honest  verdant :  "  Why,  you  talk 
as  if  we  had  any  real  business  to  trans- 
act. All  we  have  to  do  is  to  puff  our 
shares  up  to  a  premium,  humbug  the 
public  into  buying  them,  and  then  let 
the  whole  concern  go  to  ruin." 


Paterson  and  His  Darien  Expedition. 

William  Paterson,  the  merchant 
statesman,  was  the  soul  of  the  renown- 
ed Darien  Expedition.  On  visiting  the 
West  India  Islands,  he  made  himself 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  capa- 
bilities of  the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  better 
known  as  the  Isthmus  of  Panama. 
This  place,  which  is  between  Mexico 
and  Peru,  is  within  six  weeks'  sail  of 
most  parts  of  Europe,  the  East  Indies, 
and  a  part  of  China — one  of  the  best 
situations  for  a  colony  from  a  trading 
and  manufacturing  country  on  the  face 
of  the  earth.  He  first  proposed  the 
plan  to  the  English,  and  then  to  other 
European  people,  all  unsuccessfully. 
Finally,  taking  advantage  of  the  hatred 
between  England  and  Scotland,  he 
brought  it  plausibly  before  the  latter, 
the  people  of  which  country,  anxious 
to  participate  in  advantages  similar  to 
those  enjoyed  by  the  East  India  Com- 
pany of  England,  warmly  countenanced 
the  project.  Indeed,  the  prospect  of 
sharing  in  the  profits  of  another  East 
India  Company  stirred  all  the  accu- 
mulative propensities  of  human  na- 
ture ;  and  the  every  thought  of  a  nation 
remarkable  for  an  absence  of  undue 
speculation,  seemed  now  embarked  in 
a  scheme  which  promised  universal 
riches. 

The  frenzy  of  the  Scotch  nation  to 
sign  "  the  solemn  league  and  covenant," 
never  exceeded  the  rapidity  with  which 


they  ran  to  subscribe  to  the  Darien 
Company.  The  nobility,  the  gentry, 
the  merchants,  the  people,  the  royal 
burghs,  without  the  exception  of  one, 
and  most  of  the  other  public  bodies, 
subscribed.  Young  women  threw  their 
little  fortunes  into  the  stock ;  widows 
sold  their  jointures  to  get  command  of 
money  for  the  same  purpose.  Four 
hundred  thousand  pounds — half  the 
cash  in  Scotland — was  subscribed,  and 
to  this,  England  added  three  hundred 
thousand,  and  Hamburg  and  Holland 
two  hundred  thousand  more.  Twelve 
hundred  persons  sailed  in  five  vessels 
from  Leith  ;  and  those  who  had  been 
refused  for  want  of  room,  hid  them-  i 
selves  in  the  ships,  and  clung  to  the 
ropes  and  timbers,  imploring  the  liber- 
ty to  go.  They  set  sail  in  July  and  ar- 
rived at  their  destination  in  September, 
where  they  purchased  land  of  the  In- 
dian possessors,  proclaimed  freedom  of 
faith  and  trade  to  all ;  built  a  fort,  es- 
tablished a  station,  and  commenced 
labor  in  earnest.  Upon  many  a  fair 
summer's  eve  did  the  companions  of 
Paterson  find  themselves  on  the  sum- 
mit of  the  loftiest  peak,  gazing  through 
the  clear  air  of  that  fine  climate  to- 
ward the  bleak  mountains  of  their 
northern  home.  In  the  watch  tower 
which  they  had  built  upon  a  mountain 
a  mile  above  the  surface  of  the  sea, 
they  often  sat,  enjoying  the  beautiful 
air  and  speculating  upon  their  future 
prospects. 

The  first  letters  written  from  the 
colony  were  fired  with  enthusiasm — the 
wealth,  fruitfulness,  etc.,  of  the  situa- 
tion— the  abundant  resources  of  hunt- 
ing, fowling,  fishing — these  were  the 
themes.  One  river  was  named  the 
Golden  River ;  another  place  was  called 
the  Golden  Island.  But,  unhappily, 
by  and  by  their  stock  of  provisions 
ran  low,  making  them  dependent  on 
Indian  hospitality  for  their  necessities. 
Summer  brought  disease;  provisions 
grew  scarcer ;  the  other  colonists  were 
forbidden  to  trade  with  them.    Thus, 


548 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


with  their  numbers  daily  diminishing 
beneath  the  tropical  sun,  the  bold  Scots 
began  to  shrink  from  the  dangers  they 
had  dared.  The  fort  -was  soon  after 
attacked  by  the  Spaniards  and  com- 
pelled to  surrender,  and  thus,  his  colony 
■weakened  and  famished,  Paterson  saw, 
with  anguish  almost  inexpressible,  the 
failure  of  his  cherished  scheme  and  the 
call  for  a  speedy  departure.  Thirty 
only  of  those  who  left  the  pier  of  Leith 
with  such  bounding  ambition,  again 
set  foot  on  their  native  soil.  The  pro- 
jector, though  seized  with  derange- 
ment on  the  voyage,  and  more  like  a 
skeleton  than  a  man,  was  one  of  them. 
Not  a  family  in  Scotland  escaped.  In 
cash  or  kindred  all  suffered.  It  was  a 
national  calamity,  which  fell  alike  on 
peer  and  peasant.  That  it  was  not  the 
mere  dream  of  a  speculative  enthusiast, 
is  certain  from  the  interest  taken  in 
discouraging  it.  That  it  was  eminent- 
ly practical,  is  almost  proved  from  a 
people  so  cautious  as  the  Scotch  ad- 
venturing so  freely.  The  mere  fact  that 
Paterson  embarked  in  it,  if  not  a  direct 
evidence  in  its  favor,  is  at  least  a  direct 
proof  of  his  faith  in  its  practicability. 
Paterson  survived  many  years  in  Scot- 
land, pitied,  respected,  but  neglected. 


"Old  Dig-by"  at  an  Auction  Sale. 

"  Old  Digby  "  was  an  English  mil- 
lionnaire,  noted  for  his  extreme  penury 
combined  with  unaffected  kindness  of 
manner  in  dealing,  so  that  he  never  ad- 
vanced his  rents,  no  matter  how  easy 
the  opportunity.  He  was  frequently  to 
be  seen  dressing  scabbed  sheep,  pick- 
ing up  sticks,  locks  of  wool,  cabbage 
leaves,  etc. ;  and  when  he  died  there 
was  found  a  heap  of  stones,  or  coggles, 
upon  his  premises,  which  are  said  to 
have  been  carried  there,  by  a  few  at  a 
time,  in  his  own  pockets — a  part  of  his 
"  gains." 

It  happened,  on  a  certain  time,  that 
a  very  considerable  estate  was  to  be 
sold  at  auction,  in  the  southern  part  of 


the  kingdom.  Mr.  Digby  attended  the 
sale,  in  a  dress  of  ludicrously  small  val- 
ue, and  the  auction  room  was  crowded 
with  persons  of  the  first  distinction ; 
of  course  such  a  curious-looking  stran- 
ger caused  many  side  looks  and  sneer- 
ing whispers,  and  some,  supposing  the 
old  Hunks  could  have  but  little  busi- 
ness there,  teasingly  asked  him  if  he 
knew  the  conditions  of  sale  ?  He,  not 
at  all  put  by  at  such  treatment,  said 
he  should  be  glad  to  hear  them  read — 
they  were  read,  and  business  proceeded 
with. 

Mr.  Digby  was  silent  until  the  estate 
got  up  to  forty  thousand  pounds ;  he 
then  bid !  and  the  whole  assembly 
stared  with  amazement.  The  biddings 
went  on  briskly  for  a  time ;  but  his 
competitors  imagining,  perhaps,  that 
he  could  not  make  good  the  engage- 
ment, and  that  there  would  be  a  re- 
sale, dropped  the  contest,  and  the  estate 
was  knocked  down  to  Mr.  D.  at  forty- 
five  thousand  pounds.  Being  directly 
called  upon  for  the  deposit,  he  said: 
"  You  shall  have  it,  gentlemen,  imme- 
diately, and  the  money  for  the  whole 
estate  to-morrow,  if  you  can  make  it 
safely  over  to  me  at  that  time."  He 
then  took  out  his  pocket  book  and 
gave  a  draft  at  sight  on  his  banker  for 
the  sum  required.  Mr.  Digby  died 
worth  one  million  dollars. 


Scenes  at  a  Turkish  Auction. 

The  Turkish  auctioneer  is  by  no 
means  so  august  and  consequential  a 
person  as  in  America.  Sometimes  before 
one  has  time  to  sit  down  and  light  a 
cigar,  he  will  have  returned  three  times 
from  a  sally  to  sell  the  same  cracked 
pipkin,  and  three  times  have  been 
thrust  back  by  the  scuff  of  the  neck 
for  not  having  obtained  a  reasonable 
offer  for  it.  Somebody  in  the  auction 
shed  bids  for  it  at  last,  and  the  de- 
lighted auctioneer,  with  a  most  villan- 
ous  wink,  is  preparing  to  hand  over  his 
unsalable  pipkin  to  the  somebody  in 


CHANCE   DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


549 


question,  when,  whack !  the  same  re- 
morseless knuckles,  as  usual,  are  thrust 
between  the  collar  of  his  shirt  and  the 
nape  of  his  neck.  Thus  goaded,  he 
makes  another  excited  bolt  out  of  the 
shed,  and,  next  moment,  is  heard  shout- 
ing the  praises  of  the  cracked  pipkin 
again,  in  the  same  furious  manner  as  be- 
fore. The  somebody  who  was  disposed 
to  purchase — one  not  broken  in  at  auc- 
tion— looks  rather  disconcerted  ;  but 
nobody  else  pays  any  further  attention 
to  the  proceedings  for  the  present.  In 
fact,  all  seem  to  be  rather  glad  than 
otherwise,  to  have  got  rid  of  the  auc- 
tioneer, probably  in  the  hope  that  the 
festive  occasion  may  be  prolonged  until 
a  later  hour.  So  they  sit  down,  light 
their  cigars,  and  talk  over  the  news. 
Presently  the  auctioneer  returns.  While 
the  majority  of  his  customers  are  wran- 
gling, he  has  slyly  disposed  of  the  pip- 
kin to  the  somebody  who  first  bid  for 
it — his  roguish  wink  to  the  purchaser 
rather  signifying  that  he  should  expect 
a  con-si-de-ra-tion  for  himself  at  a  con- 
venient season.  After  this  sale  of  the 
pipkin — the  only  thing  thus  far  dis- 
posed of— the  auctioneer  desires  a  little 
rejjose,  and,  squatting  eross-legged  on 
the  bankrupt's  counter,  joins  in  the 
general  discourse.  The  whole  com- 
pany heedlessly  forget  why  they  as- 
sembled together,  and  idle  away  their 
time  until  it  is  necessary  to  disperse, 
and  the  auction  continues  at  some  fu- 
ture day. 


Trade  between  Flywheel  and 
Singecat. 

Flywheel  was  an  acute  trader — so, 
at  least,  he  thought  himself — whose 
forte  was  dealing  in  patent  rights.  Af- 
ter some  years  of  itinerant  vending,  he 
conceived  the  design  of  exchanging 
the  remainder  of  his  "  inventions  "  for 
a  nice  little  farm,  on  which  he  might 
crown  a  youth  of  labor  with  an  age  of 
ease ;  and,  when  not  busy  expatiating 
upon  the  merits  of  improved  boot  jacks 
or  baby  jumpers,  he  would  often,  by 


anticipation,    enjoy    the    comforts    of 
such  a  possession. 

One  day  he  met  with  an  innocent- 
looking  farmer  from  New  Hampshire, 
who  intimated  his  willingness  to  change 
his  occupation,  if  he  could  obtain  an 
equivalent  for  his  farm,  which  he  de- 
scribed as  high  land  in  a  wholesome 
locality,  with  other  apparently  attract- 
ive qualities.  "  In  short,"  said  Mr. 
Singecat,  the  owner,  "  a  man  might 
raise  anything  on  it." 

Now,  thought  Flywheel,  if  I  can  only 
induce  my  friend  to  go  into  the  patent 
line,  and  get  him  to  take  my  stock  of 
documents  and  models  in  exchange  for 
his  place,  it  will  be  a  glorious  trade. 
So,  suggesting  the  subject  in  his  most 
j^ersuasive  manner,  dwelling  strongly 
upon  "  the  profits  of  the  business  to  a 
thorough-going  man,  which,"  said  he, 
insinuatingly,  "  I  perceive  you  are,  Mr. 
Singecat,"  and  earnestly  declaring  that 
nothing  but  a  desire  to  retire  to  a  coun- 
try life  would  tempt  him  to  propose 
such  a  sacrifice  of  his  own  articles— his 
talk  and  chat,  after  considerable  chaf- 
fering about  "  boot,"  etc.,  were  effect- 
ive, and  a  barter  was  concluded. 

Now,  Flywheel  valued  himself  as  an 
infallible  physiognomist,  and  knew  he 
could  tell  an  honest  man  at  first  sight ; 
therefore,  waiving  the  delay  necessary 
for  an  examination  of  the  title  and 
property,  the  respective  transfers  were 
immediately  made,  when,  pocketing 
his  deed,  he  went  home  well  pleased  at 
having  done  such  a  "  good  thing."  Of 
course,  he  told  a  few  friendly  neighbors 
all  about  it,  not  omitting  some  self- 
complacent  remarks  relative  to  the  cut- 
ting of  eye  teeth,  concerning  a  man  be- 
ing posted,  and  so  forth.  By  and  by 
he  set  out  to  see  his  new  homestead  ; 
but  soon  returned  with,  it  was  observ- 
ed, a  diminished  fiow  of  spirits.  Time 
passed ;  and  as  he  had  not  moved  to  his 
"  country  seat,"  but  had,  instead,  quite 
subsided  upon  the  topic  of  agriculture, 
which  had  hitljerto  been  his  special 
theme,  his  friends  began  to  ask  the  rea- 


550 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


son  why.  At  last  he  yielded  to  their 
importunity,  and  thus  confessed  : 

"  Well,  gentlemen,  I  hired  a  guide  to 
point  it  out  to  me,  and  went  to  look  at 
my  '  estate.'  The  approach  to  the 
premises  was  rather  rough,  but  roman- 
tic. At  length  we  reached  a  spot  com- 
prising less  than  a  hundred  acres  of 
barren  heights,  almost  inaccessible  to  a 
goat — and  this  was  the  farm  !  Nearly 
a  perpendicular  one,  sirs.  Egad,  I 
needed  a  long  ladder  with  which  to 
get  on  my  own  ground  ! 

"  After  dolefully  viewing  the  '  crops  ' 
— of  stone,  alas !  which  completely 
clothed  the  prolific  soil — slightly  mor- 
alizing upon  the  folly  of  buying  '  a  pig 
in  a  poke,'  and  estimating  the  money 
value  of  what  I  had  given  for  this  ele- 
vated tract,  I  recalled  Singecat's  say- 
ing, when,  with  seeming  reluctance,  he 
agreed  to  a  trade,  that  '  a  man  might 
raise  anything  on  it ! '  And,  upon  re- 
flection, I  had  to  admit  that,  even  sup- 
posing superphosphates  were  power- 
less, and  Archimedes'  lever  unattain- 
able, still  a  man  might,  at  least  upon  a 
pinch,  if  his  talent  were  only  fair,  as  he 
himself  had  done,  cunningly  '  raise  the 
wind  ! ' " 

The  moral  of  Flywheel's  experience 
is,  that  we  should  never  be  too  anxious 
to  "  go  it  blind  "  in  any  transaction. 


Mock-Auction  *'  Capitalists." 

Among  the  very  select  company  pe- 
culiar to  a  mock-auction  establishment, 
there  is  one  character  that  always  takes 
the  leading  business,  and  remarkably 
well  he  performs  it.  He  may  be  called 
the  capitalist  of  the  concern,  and 
though  he  spends  hundreds  every  busi- 
ness day,  he  is  not  known  ever  to  ar- 
rive at  the  end  of  his  capital.  The 
amount  that  prodigal  man  must  spend 
every  year  would  infallibly  drive  Roths- 
child into  the  workhouse. 

Nothing  is  too  good  or  too  common 
— too  expensive  or  too  cheap^for  him. 
One  minute  he  will  buy  "  silver  "  can- 


delabra, the  next  a  "gold"  thimble. 
In  the  morning  he  will  add  a  five-hun- 
dred-dollar dressing  case  to  his  enor- 
mous property,  and  in  the  afternoon 
amuse  himself  by  bidding  a  shilling  for 
a  little  trumpery  penknife.  He  must 
thus  have  somewhere  between  forty- 
nine  and  fifty  million  penknives,  for 
one  article  alone ! 

But  the  articles  he  has  the  greatest 
hankering  for  are  evidently  razors,  and 
yet,  to  look  at  his  unshorn  beard,  no 
one  would  imagine  that  he  ever 
"shaved,"  from  one  month  to  another. 
The  hairs  stick  out  on  his  chin  like  the 
wires  in  a  musical  snufi'-box.  It  is  most 
amusing  to  watch  him  when  the  razors 
are  handed  round.  He  will  snatch  one 
off  the  tray,  draw  the  edge  across  his 
nail,  breathe  upon  it,  then  hold  it  up 
to  the  light,  and,  after  wiping  it  in  the 
gentlest  manner  upon  the  cuff  of  his 
coat,  bid  for  it  as  ravenously  as  though 
he  had  seen  it  only  a  thousand  times 
before,  and  as  if  he  would  not  lose  the 
rare  article  for  all  the  wealth  of  the 
Indus.  He  has  clearly  a  mania  for  the 
article  that  works  the  keenest  "  shave." 

What  he  does  with  all  the  wares  he 
buys  it  would  be  difficult  to  tell — cer- 
tainly no  one  place  would  be  large 
enough  to  contain  all  the  rubbish  of 
which  he  has  been  the  "  purchaser  "  for 
years  past.  His  collection  of  bureaus 
alone  would  cover  a  Western  prairie, 
and  he  must  possess  by  this  time  more 
dumb  waiters  than  there  are  real  wait- 
ers in  the  whole  country.  The  number 
of  bootjacks,  too,  which  he  must  have 
"  upon  his  hands,"  would  have  crushed 
any  other  man  long  ago. 


Good  Speculation  Lost  in  Chicagro 
Liands. 

In  the  summer  of  1839,  happening  to 
be  in  Chicago,  111.,  Dr.  Humphrey,  of 
Amherst,  Mass.,  bought  two  small  lots 
of  land,  at  the  going  rate,  and  sold 
them  seven  or  eight  years  after,  for 
twenty-five  hundred  dollars,  which  was 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND   VENTURES. 


551 


thought  to  be  a  fair  price.  "Now," 
said  the  doctor,  writing  of  his  experi- 
ence in  the  matter,  "  the  New  Rich- 
mond Hotel,  one  of  the  first  in  Chica- 
go, stands  on  the  same  ground,  which 
I  am  assured  would,  if  I  had  kept  it  to 
this  time,  have  brought  me  eighty- 
thousand  dollars.  So  you  see  how  nar- 
rowly I  escaped  being  a  rich  man,  and 
rearing  my  boys,  had  they  been  young, 
to  rely  upon  my  fortune,  and  not  upon 
their  own  industry,  economy,  and  good 
behavior.  I  slept  upon  the  premises 
last  night,  at  a  fair  hotel  charge,  and 
without  being  kept  awake  one  moment 
in  thinking  of  what  I  had  lost.  I  had  ex- 
cellent accommodations,  and  what  could 
I  ask  for  more  ?  If  the  children  of  the 
proprietor,  who  bought  the  land  of  me 
(if  he  has  any),  escape  with  the  great 
fortune  as  safely  as  mine  have  done 
without  it,  it  will  be  an  exception  to 
the  general  experience  of  wealthy  fam- 
ilies." 

Caricature  of  Comraercial  Speculation. 

There  is  presented  in  a  French  work 
— "  Memoires  de  la  Regence  " — a  fac- 
simile of  an  ancient  caricature  of  com- 
mercial speculation,  representing  the 
"  Goddess  of  Shares  "  in  her  triumphal 
car,  driven  by  the  "  Goddess  of  Folly." 
Those  who  are  drawing  the  car  are  im- 
personations of  the  Mississippi,  with 
his  wooden  leg,  the  South  Sea,  the  Bank 
of  England,  the  Company  of  the  West 
of  Senegal,  and  of  various  assurance 
schemes.  Lest  this  car  should  not  roll 
fast  enough,  the  agents  of  these  com- 
panies, known  by  their  long  foxtails 
and  their  cunning  looks,  turn  round 
the  spokes  of  the  wheels,  upon  which 
are  marked  the  names  of  the  several 
stocks  and  their  value,  sometimes  high 
and  sometimes  low,  according  to  the 
turns  of  the  wheel.  Upon  the  ground 
are  the  merchandise,  day  books  and 
ledgers  of  legitimate  commerce,  crushed 
under  the  chariot  of  Folly.  Behind  is 
an  immense  crowd  of  persons,  of  all 


ages,  sexes,  and  conditions,  clamoring 
after  Fortune,  and  fighting  with  each 
other  to  get  a  portion  of  the  shares 
which  she  distributes  so  bountifully 
among  them.  In  the  clouds  sits  a 
demon,  blowing  bubbles  of  soap,  which 
are  also  the  objects  of  the  admiration 
and  cupidity  of  the  crowd,  who  jump 
upon  one  another's  backs,  to  reach 
them  ere  they  burst.  Right  in  the 
pathway  of  the  car,  and  blocking  up 
the  passage,  stands  a  large  building, 
with  three  doors,  through  one  of  which 
it  must  pass,  if  it  proceeds  farther,  and 
all  the  crowd  along  with  it.  Over  the 
first  door  are  the  words  "  Hopital  dea 
Foux  ; "  over  the  second,  "  Hopital  des 
Malades  ;  "  and  over  the  third,  "  Hopi 
tal  des  Gueux." 


Dutchman's  Gold  in  a  Safe  Place  at 
Last. 

Everybody  will  remember  the  star- 
tling money  panic  they  had  at  San 
Francisco  some  years  ago,  and  the 
story  "  John  Phoenix  "  used  to  tell  of 
its  eflFects — individually  illustrated.  Be- 
fore the  fright,  an  old  Dutchman,  by 
dint  of  hard  labor,  had  accumulated 
some  five  hundred  dollars,  which  he 
cautiously  deposited  in  one  of  the 
banking  houses  for  safe  keeping.  Ru- 
mor soon  came  to  his  ears  that  they 
were  not  very  safe — some  said  that  they 
had  "  broke."  Next  morning  he  trem- 
blingly drew  his  balance,  and  put  the 
shining  gold  into  his  pocket.  He 
breathed  decidedly  freer,  but  here  was 
a  dilemma.  What  should  he  do  with 
it  ?  He  did  not  dare  to  keep  it  in  his 
shanty — and  as  for  carrying  it  about 
with  him,  'twas  too  precious  heavy. 
So,  after  a  sleepless  night  or  two,  in 
constant  apprehension  of  burglars,  he 
deposited  it  in  another  "  banking 
office."  Another  day — the  panic  in- 
creased— there  was  a  run  on  his  bank 
—he  pushed  in— drew  his  gold — and 
felt  easier  once  more.  Another  anxious 
day  and  night  for  his  "  monish,"  and 
again  it  was  deposited  in  a  mfe  bank. 


652 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


This  time  lie  felt  safer  than  ever  before, 
and  went  quietly  to  his  work.  But  the 
panic  reached  that  bank,  and  anxious 
depositors  besieged  the  doors.  Myn- 
heer heard  the  news,  and  put  post 
haste,  book  in  hand,  for  the  scene  of 
action — jammed  in  with  the  crowd — 
drew  his  gold,  new  and  bright — put  it 
safe  in  his  corduroys — and  was  happy 
once  more ;  but  here  was  the  dilemma 
fresh  again — where  to  put  it !  He  had 
gone  pretty  much  the  rounds  of  the 
banks,  and  having  had  such  narrow  es- 
capes, couldn't  and  wouldn't  trust  them 
any  more.  He  sat  down  on  a  curb 
stone,  and  soliloquized  thus :  "  I  put 
mine  monish  in  von  bank,  ven  he 
preak;  I  put  him  in  de  oder  bank, 
ven  he  preak  too  ;  I  draw  him  out ;  I 
can  no  keep  him  home  ;  I  put  him  into 
dis  bank,  now  dis  one  preak;  vat  te 
tuvil  shall  I  do  ?  I  now  take  him  home 
and  sew  him  up  in  my  frow's  petticoat, 
and  if  she  preakes,  I  preakes — her 
head  I" 


Bidding-  and  Winking  at  Auctions. 

Smith,  the  auctioneer,  is  a  popular 
man,  a  wit,  and  a  gentleman.  No  per- 
son is  offended  at  what  he  says,  and 
many  a  hearty  laugh  has  he  provoked 
by  his  humorous  sayings.  He  was  re- 
cently engaged  in  a  sale  of  venerable 
household  furniture  and  "  fixings."  He 
had  just  got  to  "  going,  and  half,  a 
half,  going ! "  when  he  saw  a  smiling 
countenance,  upon  agricultural  shoul- 
ders, wink  at  him.  A  wink  is  always 
as  good  as  a  nod  to  a  blind  horse  or 
a  keen-sighted  auctioneer;  so  Smith 
winked,  and  they  kept  "  going,  going, 
going ! "  with  a  lot  of  glassware,  stove 
pipes,  carpets,  pots,  and  perfumery,  and 
finally  this  lot  was  knocked  down. 
"  To — whom  ?  "  said  Smith,  gazing  at 
the  smiling  stranger.  "  Who  ?  heigh  !  " 
said  the  stranger,  "  I  don't  know  who." 
"  Why,  you,  sir,"  said  Smith.  "  Who  ? 
me  ? "  "  Yes,  yes ;  you  bid  on  the  lot," 
said  Smith.     "  Me  ?  hang  me  if  I  did," 


insisted  the  stranger.  "  Why,  did  you 
not  wink  and  keep  winking  ? "  "  Wink- 
ing !  well,  I  did,  and  so  did  you  at  me. 
I  thought  you  were  v/inking  as  much 
as  to  say,  '  Keep  dark,  I'll  stick  some- 
body into  that  lot  of  stuff;'  and  I 
winked,  as  much  as  to  say,  '  I'll  be 
hanged  if  you  don't,  mister.'  " 


"Candle"  Auctions. 

The  Romans  gave  to  this  kind  of 
trading  the  descriptive  name  of  audio 
— an  increase,  because  the  property  was 
publicly  sold  to  him  who  would  offer 
most  for  it.  In  modern  times,  a  differ- 
ent method  of  sale  has  been  sometimes 
adopted,  which  is  called  a  Dutch  auc- 
tion, thus  indicating  the  local  origin 
of  the  practice.  It  consists  in  the  pub- 
lic offer  of  property  at  a  price  beyond 
its  value,  and  then  gradually  lowering 
or  diminishing  that  price,  until  some 
one  consents  to  become  the  purchaser. 
In  England,  persons  are  now  sometimes 
invited  to  a  "  sale  by  the  candle,"  or 
by  the  "  inch  of  candle."  The  origin 
of  this  expression  seems  to  have  been 
the  employment  of  candles  as  the  means 
of  measuring  time,  it  being  declared 
that  no  one  lot  of  goods  should  con- 
tinue to  be  offered  to  the  biddings  of 
the  persons  who  were  present  for  a 
longer  period  than  would  suffice  for 
the  burning  of  an  inch  of  candle :  as 
soon  as  the  candle  had  wasted  to  that 
extent,  the  then  highest  bidder  was  de- 
clared to  be  the  purchaser. 


Earliest  American  Sale  of  Books  by 
Catalogue  at  Auction. 

The  first  sale  of  books  by  catalogue 
at  auction  in  this  country  was  in  Bos- 
ton, in  1717,  and  had  the  following 
title : 

"  A  Catalogue  of  Curious  and  Valu- 
able Books  Belonging  to  the  late  Reve- 
rend &  Learned  Mr.  Ebenezer  Pember- 
ton,  consisting  of  Divinity,  Philosophy, 
History,    Poetry,    &c.,    generally    well 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


653' 


bound;  To  be  Sold  by  Auction,  at 
the  Crown  Coffee-House  in  Boston,  the 
Second  Day  of  July,  1717,  Beginning 
at  Three  o'  Clock  afternoon,  and  so  De 
Die  ill  Diem,  until  the  whole  be  sold. 

"Also  a  Valuable  Collection  of 
Pamphlets  will  then  be  exposed  to 
sale. 

"The  Books  may  be  viewed  from 
the  25th  Day  of  June  until  the  Day  of 
Sale,  at  the  House  of  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Pemberton,  where  attendance  wdll  be 
given." 

The  first  bookseller's  catalogue  was 
issued  by  Benjamin  Franklin,  in  1744, 
in  Philadelphia. 


Stray  Leaf  from  a  Speculator's  History. 

Along  with  an  undue  expansion  of 
his  regular  business,  Mr.  Beers  had  ven- 
tured largely  in  one  of  the  most  bril- 
liant and  promising  speculations  of  the 
day.  These  were  the  foundations  on 
v/hich  he  had  latterly  essayed  to  build 
the  temple .  of  his  fortune,  and  he  now 
felt  them  swelling  and  sinking  beneath 
his  feet,  while  the  edifice  itself,  totter- 
ing to  its  fall,  threatened  every  moment 
to  crush  him. 

Far  and  wide,  over  land  and  sea,  to 
the  east  and  west,  to  the  north  and 
south,  the  chain  of  his  correspondence 
extended,  and  his  semi-annual  importa- 
tions flew  from  his  warehouses,  as  it 
were,  on  the  wings  of  the  wind.  Heavy 
discounts  and  long  credits,  rendered 
easy  and  general  by  the  fatal  facilities 
which  the  banks  afforded,  sustained  for 
a  long  time  the  bright  delusion,  and  all 
hearts  beat  high,  and  all  tongues  were 
eloquent  with  the  hope  of  splendid  for- 
tunes, realized  almost  by  the  toss  of  a 
copper.  But  by  and  by,  alas  !  the  so- 
ber certainty  of  protested  notes,  and 
extensive  country  failures,  startled  men 
into  suspicion  and  reflection.  In  pro- 
portion as  facilities  were  withdrawn, 
the  fall  of  the  million  jobbers,  scattered 
"  thick  as  leaves  "  everywhere  over  the 
land,  became  accelerated.     Then  com- 


menced the  crash  in  the  distant  cities 
— then  in  those  more  near — then  the 
metropolis  itself  began  to  ring  with 
harsh,  iron-tongued  rumors  of  her 
proudest  houses ;  confidence  gave  way 
to  universal  caution  and  distrust,  and 
the  dark  leaden  clouds  rolled  heavily 
over  the  firmament,  charged  wdth  the 
black  and  sulphurous  artillery  of  the 
coming  tempest.  Black,  indeed, — al- 
most rayless,  was  the  firmament  which, 
for  a  short  period,  had  hung  over  Ju- 
lian Beers.  A  bolt  or  two  had  already 
scathed  the  greenness  of  his  fortune ; 
every  moment  might  bring  the  unmiti- 
gated fury  and  the  overthrow.  Had 
his  adventures  run  only  in  the  regular 
channel  of  his  business,  he  might,  per- 
haps, have  defied  the  storm;  he  now 
felt,  at  least,  that  in  that  case  there 
was  a  possibility  that  all  his  engage- 
ments might  have  been  protected.  But 
that  speculation  ! 

The  originators  of  it — many  of  them, 
at  least — had  secured  themselves ;  some 
of  them  had  realized  fortunes  by  it. 
But  Mr.  Beers,  deceived  by  its  unusual 
popularity,  had  entered  into  it  as  it  ap- 
proached the  crisis.  That  crisis  soon 
came.  It  was  as  destructive  as  it  was 
unlooked  for  in  its  movements,  and  he 
now  stood  among  the  vanishing  bub- 
bles of  the  exploded  air-castle.  To  him 
this  was  the  finishing  blow,  and  he  felt 
it  to  be  so. 

In  the  presence  of  his  difficulties,  be- 
fore he  could  realize  the  probability  of 
others  still  more  severe,  he  had  been 
led  to  adopt  expedients  which,  in  the 
ordinary  course  of  business,  he  would 
have  repudiated.  In  the  protracted 
agony  of  his  situation,  he  went  on,  day 
after  day,  making  the  most  serious 
sacrifices  in  order  to  sustain  himself. 
But  such  sacrifices  generally  render  the 
evaded  ruin  only  the  more  certain  and 
deadly.  And  such  the  sacrifice  proved 
to  be  in  his  case. 

The  fatal  crisis  having  spent  itself 
upon  him,  he  sat  for  a  long  time  ab- 
sorbed in  the  study  of  the  documents 


554 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


before  him,  and  when  he  arose  it  was 
with  a  cheek  and  brow  of  deadly  pale- 
ness. He  paced  the  floor,  at  first  with 
a  step  somewhat  languid,  then  rapidly, 
and  with  some  show  of  agitation.  He 
sat  down  again,  and  smote  the  paper 
with  his  open  hand,  exclaiming,  ^^AU, 
ALL  scattered  to  the  winds  of  heaven  ! 
Great  God !  can  I  be  calm — can  I  live 
under  a  state  of  things  so  dreadful — I, 
Julian  Beers,  with  the  cold  civility,  the 
sneer  of  the  world  before  me?  And 
for  this  I  have  toiled — for  this — pover- 
ty, want,  and  wretchedness,  with  my 
helpless,  miserable  family  !  "  His  feel- 
ings became  too  strong  for  words.  He 
leaned  upon  his  clenched  hands,  and — 
it  may  not  be  said  he  wept,  for  the 
manhood  of  Julian  Beers  was  strong— 
but  the  convulsive  movement  of  the 
chest,  and  the  workings  of  the  counte- 
nance, told  that. even  tears  might  be  a 
relief.  But  there  was  no  help  for  it. 
Ruin  was  upon  him,  "  as  a  strong  man 
armed."  , 

Syrian  Auctioneers—"  Harag-e  I 
Harag-e!  Harag-e!" 

Before  mounting  for  action,  the 
Syrian  auctioneer  opens  the  "lot" 
which  he  is  to  dispose  of,  and  selects 
the  most  attractive  articles.  Thus  pre- 
pared, he  jumps  upon  the  bale,  and, 
unsheathing  a  formidable  looTcivg  dagger^ 
flourishes  the  weapon  over  his  head, 
making  imaginary  thrusts  and  stabs 
in  every  direction,  and  halloing  out 
"  Harage !  "  (which  signifies  "  auction  " 
in  Arabic,)  with  stentorian  lungs. 

The  auctioneer  seizes  upon  a  hand- 
some piece  of  Tripoli  silk  shawling, 
for  instance,  and,  cutting  away  the 
binding,  flings  it  at  full  length  over 
the  heads  of  the  surrounding  crowd, 
so  that  they  may  at  once  appreciate 
its  size  and  beauty.  Whilst  comment- 
ing upon  the  superlative  excellence  of 
the  article,  a  dirty  little  camel-driver's 
son  will  very  likely  c'u^ch  the  costly 
article  in  his  dirty  hands  for  closer 
inspection.      The  antics   of    the  auc- 


tioneer ati  this — the  savage  and  mena- 
cing dance  he  performs — the  fearful 
threats  hurled  by  him  at  the  juvenile 
offender — are  past  all  description.  The 
small  delinquent,  however,  terrified  by 
these  demonstrations  of  displeasure, 
takes  to  his  heels,  and  cautiously,  if 
ever,  shoAvs  his  head  again  in  that 
neighborhood. 

The  auction  proceeds.  There  are 
Hebrews,  with  flowing  beards  and 
dusky  robes,  amongst  the  bidders ; 
there  are  camel-drivers,  just  like  the 
pictures  one  sees  of  Eleazar  the  Syrian 
at  the  well ;  there  are  Persians  in  their 
queer-shaped  caps ;  dervishes,  with 
their  characteristic  attire ;  muftis,  ule- 
mas,  soldiers,  sailors,  tinkers  and  tail- 
ors ;  Greeks,  Armenians,  Turks,  Druses, 
Syrians,  Arabs,  Copts,  Egyptians,  Swiss, 
Swedes,  Americans,  English,  French, 
Italians,  Austrians,  etc.,  etc.,  and  fore- 
most amongst  this  motley  gathering, 
boldly  stands  forth  Captain  John 
Brown,  of  the  British  schooner  "  Tear- 
away,"  who,  the  weather  being  oppres- 
sive, has  landed  for  convenience'  sake 
in  his  shirt  sleeves  and  a  straw  hat. 
The  captain  mumbles  something  about 
"  Dolly  and  the  little  uns,"  from  which 
is  inferred  his  resolve  to  purchase  some 
of  the  rarest  articles,  as  gifts  for  those 
whom  he  loves  at  home. 

"  Harage  !  Harage  !  Harage  ! " — he 
of  the  hammer  (or  rather  of  the  dag- 
ger) is  a  bit  of  a  linguist ;  that  is  to 
say,  he  can  count  in  almost  every 
tongue.  Captain  Brown,  for  example, 
bids  fifty  piastres;  to  make  the  bid 
intelligible  to  every  one  present,  the 
auctioneer  translates  the  bid  rapidly 
into  every  tongue  that  he  is  master  of : 
"  Fifty  piastre," — "  cinquanta  piastree," 
— "  cinquanta  piastree,"  —  "  Humseen 
grosh," — "Elli  croosh."  No  one  bids 
higher,  and  so  the  shawl  is  knocked 
down  to  John  Brown,  master  of  the 
British  schooner  "  Tearaway."  To 
make  things  ship-shape  and  secure, 
the  captain  carries  off  his  prize,  and 
goes  straight  on  board  with  it ;  but 


THE  SYEIAN  AUCTIONEER. 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


655 


even  after  it  has  been  locked  up  in  the 
cabin,  and  be  is  lolling  musingly  over 
tbe  bulwarks,  smoking  bis  afternoon 
pipe,  be  can  still  bear  tbe  auctioneer 
at  work,  as  tbe  land  breeze,  amidst  a 
babel  of  otber  sounds,  wafts  oflf  tbe 
piercing  shriek  of  "  Harage  I  "  "Ha- 
rare!" "Harase!" 


A  Trade,  and  a  Wagrer  Won. 

"  I  RECKON  I  could'nt  drive  a  trade 
with  you  to-day.  Square,"  said  a  "  gin- 
ooine  "  specimen  of  a  Yankee  peddler, 
as  he  stood  at  the  door  of  a  merchant 
in  St.  Louis. 

"  I  reckon  you  calculate  about  right, 
for  you  cavbtj''  was  the  sneering  reply. 

"  Well,  I  guess  you  need'nt  git  huffy 
'beout  it.  Now  here's  a  dozen  ginooine 
razor-strops — worth  $3.50 ;  you  may 
have  'em  for  $2.00. 

"  I  tell  you  I  don't  want  any  of  your 
traps — so  you  may  as  well  be  going 
along." 

"  Wal,  now  look  here.  Square,  I'll 
bet  you  five  dollars,  that  if  you  make 
me  an  offer  for  them  'ere  strops,  we'll 
have  a  trade  yet." 

"  Done ! "  replied  the  merchant, 
placing  the  money  in  the  bauds  of 
a  bystander.  The  Yankee  deposited 
a  like  sum. 

"Now,"  said  the  merchant,  "I'll 
give  you  a  picayune  (sixpence)  for  the 
strops." 

"  They're  your'n  ! "  said  the  Yankee 
as  he  quietly  pocketed  the  stakes. 

"But,"  said  be,  after  a  little  re- 
flection, .  and  with  great  apparent 
honesty,  "  I  calculate  a  joke's  a  joke ; 
and  if  you  don't  want  them  strops,  I'll 
trade  back." 

The  merchant's  countenance  bright- 
ened. 

"  You  are  not  so  bad  a  chap,  after 
all,"  said  he ;  "  here  are  your  strops, 
give  me  the  money." 

"  There  it  is,"  said  the  Yankee,  as 
he  received  the  strops  and  passed  over 
tbe  sixpence.      "  A  trade  is  a  trade ; 


anrl,  now  you  are  wide  awake,  the 
next  time  you  trade  with  that  'ere 
sixpence,  you'll  do  a  little  better  than 
to  buy  razor  strops." 

And  away  walked  the  peddler  with 
bis  strops  and  bis  wager,  amidst  the 
shouts  of  the  laughing  crowd. 


Jolin  Law's  Notorious  Bubble. 

Law's  Bubble  was  the  most  ruinous 
speculation  of  modern  times.  The  pro- 
jector, John  Law,  of  Edinburgh,  raised 
himself  to  the  dignity  of  comptroller- 
general  of  the  finances  of  Europe,  upon 
the  strength  of  a  scheme  for  establish- 
ing a  bank,  an  East  India  and  a  Missis- 
sippi Company,  by  the  profits  of  which 
the  national  debt  of  France  was  to  be 
paid  off.  He  first  offered  his  plan  to 
Victor  Amadous,  King  of  Sardinia, 
who  told  him  be  was  not  powerful 
enough  to  ruin  himself.  The  French 
ministry  accepted  of  it  in  1710  ;  and  in 
1716  be  opened  a  bank  in  his  own 
name  under  the  protection  of  the  Duke 
of  Orleans,  regent  of  France, — and  most 
of  the  people  of  property  of  every  rank 
in  that  kingdom,  seduced  by  the  pros- 
pects of  immense  gains,  subscribed 
both  in  the  bank  and  in  tbe  compa- 
nies. In  1718,  Law's  was  declared  a 
royal  bank,  and  the  shares  rose  to  up- 
ward of  twenty-fold  the  original  value, 
so  that  in  1719  they  were  worth  more 
than  eighty  times  the  amount  of  all  the 
current  specie  in  France.  But  tJie  fol- 
lowing year  this  great  fabric  of  false 
credit  fell  to  the  ground,  and  almost 
overthrew  the  French  government,  ruin- 
ing tens  of  thousands  of  families.  It  is 
remarkable  that  the  same  desperate 
game  was  played  by  the  South  Sea 
directors  in  England  in  the  same  fatal 
year. 

Law  was  a  genius  from  the  start. 
Born  in  Edinburgh,  he  resided  for 
several  years  abroad,  and  was  noted 
for  the  facility  with  which  he  solved 
the  most  intricate  problems  in  arith- 
metic and  geometry.    He  resided  first 


556 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


at  Paris,  where  he  acquired  great 
dexterity  in  all  games  of  chance,  and 
afterward  at  Genoa  and  Venice.  One 
cause  assigned  for  leaving  Paris,  was 
his  eloping  with  Lady  Catharine,  third 
daughter  of  Nicholas,  Lord  Banbury, 
and  wife  of  Mr.  Senor,  or  Semour.  His 
success  in  play  was  so  great,  that  he  is 
said  to  have  acquired  twenty  thousand 
pounds.  The  favorite  maxim  incul- 
cated by  Law,  and  upon  which  his 
whole  fabric  of  the  Mississippi  scheme 
was  reared,  was,  that  the  power  and 
prosperity  of  a  nation  increase  in  pro- 
portion to  the  quantity  of  money  circu- 
lating therein,  and  that,  as  the  richest 
nations  have  not  specie  sufficient  to 
afford  full  employment  to  their  inhabi- 
tants, this  defect  may  be  supj^lied  by 
paper  credit. 

It  is  not  true,  however,  that  Law  built 
solely  on  a  speculation  concerning  the 
Mississippi;  he  added  the  East  India 
trade,  he  added  the  African  trade,  he 
added  the  farms  of  all  the  farmed 
revenue  of  France ;  but  all  these  un- 
questionably could  not  support  the 
structure  which  the  public  enthusiasm 
— not  he — chose  to  build  on  these 
bases.  He  laid  the  best  foundation 
that  he  could,  perhaps  the  best  which, 
in  the  circumstances,  it  was  possible  to 
lay ;  but  the  nation  went  suddenly  mad, 
an  event  which  he  could  scarcely  have 
foreseen ;  the  Company  was  hurried  on- 
ward by  the  general  frenzy  ;  and  when 
the  delirium  had  reached  its  height, 
the  regent  was  advised  to  issue  the 
fatal  edict  which  levelled  the  whole 
fabric  to  the  dust. 


Meinorable  Auction  Sale  in  New 
Orleans. 

There  once  stepped  into  the  office 
of  an  old  auctioneer  on  St.  Louis  street, 
New  Orleans,  no  less  an  individual  than 
the  rich  and  elegant  American  mer- 
chant, John  McDonogh.  It  was  the 
day  after  the  marriage  of  Miss  Almo- 
nastre — McDonogh's  flame — to   young 


Pontalba ;  a  disappointment  to  the 
merchant  which  changed  the  whole 
habit,  aim,  and  destiny  of  his  life; 
and  the  welfare  and  destiny  of  very 
many  besides. 

"  Sir,"  remarked  the  merchant  to 
the  auctioneer,  at  the  same  time  hand- 
ing him  a  voluminous  roll  of  paper, 
"  there  is  the  inventory  of  my  furniture, 
carriages,  horses,  liquors,  stores,  plate, 
and  all  that  pertains  to  my  establish- 
ment in  Chartres  street.  I  desire  you 
to  sell  them  all  for  cash,  immediately." 
Accordingly  in  three  days  the  extensive 
establishment  of  Mr.  McDonogh  was 
all  converted  into  money,  to  the  great 
surprise  and  deep  regret  of  his  many 
friends  and  guests.  "With  the  proceeds 
of  this  memorable  auction,  he  purchased 
a  small,  lonely  house,  on  the  opposite 
bank  of  the  river,  where,  with  scarcely 
furniture  enough  to  satisfy  the  most  ordi- 
nary use  and  demands  of  humble  life, 
he  immured  himself  in  perfect  seclusion. 
From  that  ]3eriod  until  his  death — forty 
long  years  —he  ceased,  to  have  any  con- 
nection or  association  with  the  world 
except  in  the  course  of  business.  He 
would  neither  dispense  hospitality  him- 
self, nor  share  that  of  others.  Purchas- 
ing all  the  land  around  him,  he  placed 
himself  beyond  the  curiosity  and  an- 
noyance of  near  neighbors.  His  negro 
servants  alone  were  permitted  to  reside 
in  his  house ;  they  were  the  deposita- 
ries of  the  secrets  of  his  household,  and 
acted  as  his  clerks  and  agents  in  all 
his  transactions  with  the  outside  world. 
Whilst  thus  socially  secluded  and 
morose,  Mr.  McDonogh  continued  to 
prosecute  his  acquisition  of  projDerty 
with  augmented  vigor  and  ardor.  It 
was  about  this  time  his  passion  for 
accumulating  vast  acres  of  waste  and 
suburban  land  began  to  manifest  itself. 
All  his  views  regarded  the  distant 
future.  The  present  value  and  pro- 
ductiveness of  land  were  but  little 
regarded  by  him.  His  only  recreation 
and  pleasure  were  in  estimating  the 
value  of  his  swamp  and  waste  land 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


557 


fifty,  a  hundred,  and  even  a  thousand 
years  to  come. 


Character  displayed  in  Auction 
Dealing-s. 

The  maxim  "  Take  care  of  the  pen- 
nies and  the  pounds  will  take  care  of 
themselves  "  should  ever  walk  arm-in- 
arm with  that  more  sensible  one, 
"  Do'nt  save  at  the  spigot  and  lose  at  the 
bung."  A  few  five-cent  pieces  penu- 
riously  cherished,  in  following  out  the 
first-named  maxim,  may  cause  many  a 
heartburn  in  the  end,  and  he  who 
adopts  il  as  a  rule  of  conduct  runs  a 
risk  of  earning  the  application  of 
Bishop  Earle's  remark — "  He  will  re- 
deem a  penny  with  his  reputation,  and 
lose  all  his  friends  to  boot ;  and  his 
reason  is,  '  he  will  not  be  undone.' " 

The  advocate  of  the  penny-wise  sen- 
timent is  very  likely  to  be  in  his  element 
when  chaffering  and  higgling  with  a 
strawberry  woman  ;  there's  a  fine  "  I'm 
not  to  be  swindled  "  look  about  him  as 
he  worries  the  poor  worn-down  creature 
from  his  richly-draped  parlor  window 
into  parting  with  five  sixpenny  baskets 
for  two  shillings  ;  but  to  see  him  in  his 
glorij^  follow  him  into  an  auction  room, 
and  observe  him  there,  if  not  too  much 
hidden  by  the  dust  from  that  second- 
hand carpel  which  he  is  so  slowly 
examining  with  a  view  to  purchasing 
"  if  it  do'nt  go  too  high.'*  That  specu- 
lative look  which  he  is  now  putting  on 
is  caused  by  a  measurement  in  his 
mind  of  the  third  story  back  room  of  • 
his  palace  in  Waverley  Place,  and  not 
from  any  misgivings  as  to  smallpox ; 
but  his  calculations  are  to  no  purpose 
— the  woman  in  the  rusty  black  dress 
will  bid  over  Mm — God  help  her !  she 
has  no  "  pounds  to  take  care  of  them- 
selves ! " 


Keen  Auction  Dod^e  "by  Rembrandt. 

Being  at  one  time  in  great  want  of 
money,  and  finding  his  work  went  off 


heavy,  the  celebrated  Rembrandt  put 
into  the  newspaper  that  he  was  dead, 
and  advertised  an  auction  sale  of  the 
finished  and  unfinished  paintings  in 
his  house. 

Crowds  flocked  to  the  auction,  eager 
to  possess  one  of  the  last  efibrts  of  so 
great  a  master.  The  merest  sketch  sold 
at  a  price  which  entire  pictures  had 
never  brought  before.  After  collecting 
the  proceeds,  Rembrandt  came  to  life 
again ;  but  the  Dutch,  who  resent  im- 
probity even  in  genius,  never  would  em- 
ploy him  after  his  resurrection. 


Parisian  Auction— How  Conducted. 

The  French  mode  of  conducting 
auctions  is  curious.  In  sales  of  im- 
portance, such  as  of  land,  houses,  etc., 
the  aflFair  is  placed  in  the  hands  of  a 
notary,  who,  for  the  time  being,  be- 
comes an  auctioneer.  The  property, 
whatever  be  its  nature,  is  visually  first 
examined  by  competent  judges,  who 
fix  upon  it  a  price,  considerably  less 
than  its  value,  but  always  sufficient  to 
prevent  any  ruinous  loss  by  a  concerted 
plan  or  combination  of  bidders.  The 
property  is  then  offered,  conformably 
to  previous  notice,  with  this  fixed  valu- 
ation stated.  The  notary-auctioneer  is 
provided  with  a  number  of  small  wax 
tapers,  each  capable  of  burning  three 
or  five  minutes.  As  soon  as  a  bid  is 
made  one  of  these  tapers  is  placed  in 
view  of  all  the  interested  parties  and 
lighted.  If,  before  it  expires,  another 
bid  is  offered  it  is  immediately  extin- 
guished and  a  fresh  taper  placed  in  its 
stead,  and  so  on  until  one  flickers  and 
dies  of  itself,  when  the  last  bid  becomes 
irrevocable.  This  simple  plan  prevents 
all  contention  among  rival  bidders, 
and  affords  each  a  reasonable  time  for 
reflection  before  making  a  higher  offer 
than  his  predecessor.  By  this  means, 
too,  the  auctioneer  is  prevented  from 
exercising  undue  influence  upon  the 
bidders,  or  hastily  accepting  the  bid 
of  a  favorite.    It  also  saves  him  from 


658' 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


deciding  between  two  parties,  eacli 
protesting  himself  to  be  the  first — as 
it  must  become  evident  before  the  taper 
expires,  who  the  proposed  purchaser 
really  is. 

——4 

Tonti's  Money-Raising  Projects. 

The  word  "  Tontine  "  is  often  met 
with,  and  has  a  curious  commercial  his- 
tory. It  is  known  that  the  reign  of 
King  "William  was  productive  of  all 
conceivable  modes  and  methods  of  bor- 
rowing money.  Short  and  long  annui- 
ties, annuities  for  lives,  tontines,  and 
lotteries,  alike  occupied  his  attention. 
The  former  are  still  in  existence,  the 
latter  have  fallen  into  oblivion.  To  the 
brain  of  a  Neapolitan,  and  the  city  of 
Paris,  the  tontine  is  due. 

Lorenzo  Tonti,  in  the  middle  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  with  the  hope  of 
making  the  people  of  France  forget 
their  discontents  in  the  excitement  of 
gambling,  suggested  to  Cardinal  Maza- 
rin  the  idea  of  annuities  with  the  ben- 
efit to  the  survivors  of  those  incomes 
■which  fell  by  death.  The  idea  was  ap- 
proved by  the  cardinal  and  allowed  by 
the  court.  The  English  Parliament, 
however,  refused  to  register  the  decree 
and  the  scheme  failed.  Tonti  again 
endeavored  to  establish  a  society  on 
this  plan,  and  to  build  by  its  means  a 
bridge  over  the  Seine ;  but  the  invent- 
or christened  it,  unfortunately,  "  Ton- 
tine,''^  and  not  a  man  in  Paris  would 
trust  his  money  to  a  project  with  an 
Italian  title.  A  complete  enthusiast, 
he  allowed  Paris  no  rest  on  his  favorite 
theme,  and  proposed  to  raise  money  for 
the  benefit  of  the  clergy  in  the  same  way. 
The  assembly  reported  on  the  scheme, 
and  the  report  contained  all  that  could 
flatter  the  projector's  vanity,  but  refused 
a  permission  to  act  on  it ;  and  again  it 
was  abandoned.  The  idea,  however, 
which  could  not  be  carried  out  for  the 
people,  which  was  refused  for  the  ben- 
efit of  the  city,  and  not  allowed  for  the 
clergy,  was  claimed  as  a  right  for  the 


crown,  and  Louis  XIV.  created  the  first 
tontine  to  meet  his  great  expenses — an 
example  which  was  soon  imitated  by 
other  monarchs. 


Lord  Castlereagrh  and  the  Ruined 
Broker. 

When  the  war  of  Napoleon  was 
raging  on  the  Continent,  a  blunt  and 
honest  stock  speculator,  who  had  an 
immense  stake  depending  on  the  re- 
sults of  the  conflict,  having  heard  a  ru- 
mor that  a  certain  battle  had  taken 
place  of  immense  importance  financially 
as  well  as  politically,  but  not  knowing 
whether  the  intelligence  was  true  or 
merely  trumped  up  by  interested  sche- 
mers, determined  on  waiting  personally 
on  Lord  Castlereagh,  the  foreign  minis- 
ter, with  the  view  of  endeavoring  to  get 
at  the  truth.  He  sent  up  his  name  to 
his  lordship,  with  a  note,  stating  the 
liberty  he  had  taken,  in  consequence 
of  the  amount  he  had  at  stake,  and 
begging,  as  a  favor,  to  be  informed 
whether  the  news  of  the  battle  in  ques- 
tion was  true.  The  noble  lord  desired 
the  gentleman  to  be  sent  up  stairs.  He 
was  shown  into  his  lordship's  room. 

"  Well,  'sir,"  said  his  lordship,  "  I  am 
happy  to  inform  j^outhat  it  is  perfectly 
true  this  great  battle  has  been  fought, 
and  that  the  British  troops  have  been 
again  victorious." 

"I  am  exceedingly  obliged  to  your 
lordship  for  your  kindness  in  giving 
me  the  information ;  I  am  a  ruined 
•man,"  said  the  stock  speculator,  stun- 
ned at  the  tidings,  making  a  low  bow 
and  withdrawing. 

He  had  calculated  on  the  triumph, 
at  the  next  conflict,  of  Napoleon's 
army.  He  had  speculated  accordingly ; 
a  contrary  issue  at  once  rendered  him  a 

beggar. 

♦ 

Early  Stock  Jobbing  and  liOtteriea, 

It  was  something  less  than  two  hun- 
dred years  ago  that  the  word  stock 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


559 


jobber  was  heard  in  London.  But  in 
the  short  space  of  four  years  a  crowd 
of  companies,  every  one  of  which  held 
out  to  subscribers  the  hope  of  immense 
gains,  sprang  into  existence — the  In- 
surance Company,  the  Lutestring  Com- 
pany, the  Pearl  Fishery  Company,  the 
Glass  Bottle  Company,  the  Alum  Com- 
pany, the  Blythe  Coal  Company,  the 
Sword  Blade  Company.  There  was  a 
Tapestry  Company,  which  would  soon 
furnish  pretty  hangings  for  all  the  par- 
lors of  the  middle  classes,  and  for  all 
the  bed  chambers  of  the  higher.  There 
was  a  Copper  Company,  which  pro- 
posed to  explore  the  mines  of  England, 
and  held  out  a  hope  that  they  would 
prove  not  less  valuable  than  those  of 
Potosi.  There  was  a  Diving  Company, 
which  undertook  to  bring  up  precious 
effects  from  shipwrecked  vessels,  and 
which  announced  that  it  had  laid  in  a 
stock  of  wonderful  machines  resembling 
complete  suits  of  armor  ;  in  front  of  the 
helmet  was  a  huge  glass  eye  like  that 
of  a  cyclop,  and  out  of  the  crest  went 
a  pipe  throrugh  which  the  air  was  to  be 
admitted.  This  process  was  exhibited 
on  the  Thames;  fine  gentlemen  and 
fine  ladies  were  invited  to  the  show, 
were  hospitably  regaled,  and  were  de- 
lighted by  seeing  the  divers  in  their 
panoply  descend  into  the  river,  and  re- 
turn laden  with  old  iron  and  ships' 
tackle.  There  was,  too,  a  Tanning 
Company,  which  promised  to  furnish 
leather  superior  to  the  best  brought 
from  Turkey  or  Russia. 

Besides  the  above,  there  was  a  fa- 
mous society  which  undertook  the 
business  of  giving  gentlemen  a  liberal 
education  on  low  terms,  and  which  as- 
sumed the  sounding  name  of  the  Royal 
Acadamies'  Company.  In  a  pompous 
advertisement  it  was  announced  that 
the  Directors  of  the  Royal  Academies' 
Company  had  engaged  the  best  masters 
in  every  branch  of  knowledge,  and 
were  about  to  issue  twenty  thousand 
tickets  at  twenty  shillings  each,  to  be 
conducted  as  follows : 


There  was  to  be  a  lottery  ;  two  thou- 
sand prizes  were  to  be  drawn,  and  the 
fortunate  holders  of  the  prizes  were  to 
be  taught,  at  the  charge  of  the  Com- 
pany, Latin,  Greek,  Hebrew,  French, 
Spanish,  conic  sections,  trigonometry, 
heraldry,  japanning,  fortification,  book- 
keeping and  the  art  of  playing  on  the 
theorobo.  Some  of  these  companies 
took  large  mansions,  and  printed 
their  advertisements  in  gilded  letters. 
Others,  less  ostentatious,  were  content 
with  ink,  and  met  at  coffee  houses  in 
the  neighborhood  of  money  dealers. 
Jonathan's  and  Garraway's  were  in  a 
constant  ferment  with  brokers,  buyers, 
sellers,  meetings  of  directors,  meetings 
of  proprietors.  Time  bargains  soon 
came  into  fashion.  Extensive  combi- 
nations were  formed,  and  monstrous 
fables  were  circulated,  for  the  purpose 
of  raising  or  depressing  the  price  of 
shares. 


Lottery  Vagaries  in  the  Sixteenth 
Century. 

The  first  lottery  on  record  in  Eng- 
land was  drawn  in  London,  in  1569 — 
the  proceeds  being  devoted  to  public 
purposes.  The  prizes  were  partly  in 
money  and  partly  in  silver  plate  ;  four 
hundred  thousand  lots  were  drawn, 
and  the  people  were  kept  in  a  state  of 
excitement,  day  and  night,  for  nearly 
four  months.  The  grim,  grotesque  de- 
spair of  the  losers,  and  the  eager  delight 
of  the  gainers,  was  for  the  time  the 
great  entertainment  of  the  town.  It 
was  not  long  before  the  people  in  their 
individual  capacity  and  for  individual 
ends,  followed  the  example  set  by  the 
Government.  Thus,  lottery  magazine 
proprietors,  lottery  tailors,  lottery  stay 
makers,  lottery  glovers,  lottery  hat 
makers,  lottery  tea  ^merchants,  lottery 
snuff  and  tobacco  merchants,  lottery 
barbers — where  a  man,  for  being  shaved 
and  paying  threepence,  stood  a  chance 
of  receiving  £10 — lottery  shoeblacks, 
lottery  eating  houses — where,  for  six- 
pence,   a    plate    of    meat    and    the 


560 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


chance  of  sixty  guineas  were  given — 
lottery  oyster  stalls,  where  threepence 
gave  a  supply  of  oysters  and  a  remote 
chance  of  five  guineas, — all  these  were 
plentiful ;  and  to  complete  a  catalogue 
■which  speaks  volumes,  at  a  sausage 
stall  in  a  narrow  alley  was  the  impor- 
tant intimation  written  up,  that  for 
one  farthing's  w^orth  of  sausages,  the 
fortunate  purchaser  might  realize  a  capi- 
tal of  five  shillings ! 


Grand  United  Gold  and  Diamond  Dust 
Company. 

The  eagerly  expected  prospectus  has 
at  last  appeared  of  the  "  Grand  United 
Gold  and  Diamond  Dust  Company." 
The  act  is  already  in  existence— the  in- 
solvent act — to  limit  the  liability  of  the 
shareholders. 

To  show  the  confidence  felt  in  the 
undertaking  on  the  spot,  it  is  respect- 
fully announced  that  fifty  thousand 
shares  are  reserved  for  the  locality 
^  where  the  dust  exists,  or,  in  other 
words,  for  the  dust  hole. 

This  company  is  formed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  working  the  rich  deposits  sup- 
posed to  be  imbedded  in  the  various 
banks  of  an  extensive  district.  The 
directors  are  in  treaty  for  the  lease  of 
an  extensive  river  in  the  Brazils,  the 
tide  of  which  is  supposed  to  lead  on 
to  fortune. 

They  hope,  by  getting  into  the  right 
current,  to  be  able  to  stir  up  the  sources 
of  wealth  already  alluded  to,  when  they 
may  anticipate  that  the  numerous 
"  flats  "  OQ  all  sides  will  yield  an  abun- 
dance of  the  precious  ore  they  are  in 
search  of.  Should  these  means  of  profit 
become  exhausted,  the  directors  have 
the  satisfaction  of  feeling  that  the  ad- 
jacent plantations  will  enable  them  to 
take  advantage  of  the  numerous  plants, 
and  thus,  the  gold  being  used  up,  they 
can  cut  their  sticks  immediately. 

It  is  proposed  by  the  directors  to 
take  further  powers  for  pocket  smelt- 
ing, and  otherwise  reducing  the  quan- 


tities of  auriferous  matters  that  remain 
unappropriated,  on  account  of  the  im- 
perfect manner  in  which  the  process 
of  extracting  gold  from  any  place  in 
which  it  exists,  has  been  hitherto  car- 
ried on. 

Notwithstanding  the  numerous  arts 
that  have  been  employed,  the  directors 
flatter  themselves  that  they  are  in  pos- 
session of  a  machinery  by  which  gold 
can  be  squeezed  out  from  "quarters" 
where  it  has,  until  now,  remained  so 
tightly  held  as  to  have  been  regarded 
as  utterly  unattainable.  The  process 
is  one  of  refinement,  but  it  would  be 
obviously  imprudent  to  say  more  on 
this  point  in  a  public  advertisement. 

The  directors  hope  that  enough 
money  for  their  purpose  will  be  ob- 
tained at  once,  and  they  anticipate  no 
further  calls,  but  the  subscribers  will 
have  the  right  of  making  as  many  calls 
as  they  please — for  the  recovery  of 
their  money — at  the  office  of  the  com- 
pany, should  the  undertaking  be  un- 
remunerative  to  the  shareholders. 

Applications  for  shares,  in  the  usual 
form,  may  be  made  forthwith  to  the 
secretary  ^ro  tem.^  who  will  be  happy  to 
throw  liberal  samples  of  the  dust  im- 
mediately into  the  eye  of  any  appli- 
cant. 


Bacon  fcy  the  Shilling's  Worth. 

Keese,  an  apostle  of  the  hammer, 
was  once  selling  a  fine  copy  of  Bacon. 
"  How  much  for  this  Bacon  ! "  said  he ; 
"  give  us  a  bid ;  start  it,  gentlemen — 
how  much  ? "  "A  shilling  ! "  exclaim- 
ed a  moderate  bidder.  "  Oh,  no  ! "  re- 
sponded the  auctioneer;  "here's  'too 
much  pork  for  a  shilling.'  " 


Origin  of  Auctions. 

The  name  "  auction,"  as  well  as  the 
thing,  comes  originally  from  the  Ro- 
mans, who,  during  their  warlike  pros- 
perities, established  the  custom  of  sell- 
ing military  spoils,  with  no  more  cere- 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


561 


ChriBtie's  Auction  Room. 


mony  than  that  of  merely  sticking  a 
spear  in  the  ground,  under  which  the 
sales  immediately  took  place;  and  as 
each  bidder  increased  his  bidding  on 
the  one  before  him,  the  descriptive  ap- 
pellation of  auction^  an  increase,  was 
given  to  them.  The  late  celebrated 
London  auctioneer,  James  Christie,  en- 
joyed a  reputation  all  throughout  Eu- 
rope, for  his  singular  tact  in  his  profes- 
sion, and  no  auction  house  has,  prob- 
ably, ever  obtained  a  loftier  position  in 
the  mercantile  world  than  his.  Gar- 
raway's  is  now,  with  one  exception — 
the  Mart — the  place  where  the  greatest 
number  of  important  sales  occur  in 
London.  The  Mart  is  an  immense 
building,  built  expressly  for  auctioneers, 
and  owned  in  shares,  the  directors 
being  among  the  most  eminent  of  the 
London  auctioneers. 


86 


Lessons  of  an  Auctioneer's  Hammer. 

The  hammer  of  the  auctioneer  tells 
many  a  sad  story  of  ruined  fortunes, 
blasted  hopes,  and  of  death,  that  scat- 
ters the  much  cherished  and  hard  earn- 
ed property  to  the  four  winds.  Each 
tap  of  the  ivory  ball  consigns  some 
treasured  memento,  to  which  affection 
has  clung  for  many  long  years,  into  the 
hands  of  a  stranger,  to  whom  it  comes 
divested  of  its  charm  and  the  hold  it 
had  upon  the  human  heart — a  mere  ob- 
ject of  curiosity,  perhaps,  to  its  new 
possessor,  or  it  may  be  to  gratify  a  pas- 
sion for  display.  The  venerable  man- 
sion, that  has  witnessed  the  loves  and 
the  hopes,  the  joys  and  the  sorrows  of 
more  than  one  generation,  passes  under 
the  hammer  of  the  auctioneer  to  entire 
strangers — mere  bargain  hunters  and 
speculators  perhaps — to  whom  no  room, 


562 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


or  chambers,  or  fireplace  is  crowded 
with  associations  of  happy  childhood, 
youth,  manhood,  old  age — sickness, 
birth,  marriage,  death.  The  new  owner 
sees  only  timber,  bricks,  and  mortar, 
and  forthwith  commences  the  work  of 
demolition,  or  of  alteration  and  repair. 
The  auctioneer's  books,  too,  tell  a  sad 
story  of  ruinous  speculation,  bankrupt- 
cy in  trade,  unfortunate  investments, 
ships  cast  away,  splendid  misery,  fraud, 
misfortune,  and  death. 


Warranty  of  Perfect  Soundness. 

Colonel  T.,  of  Boston,  now  deceased, 
was  a  man  of  rare  tact  and  ability,  and 
by  no  means  devoid  of  wit,  in  his  pro- 
fession as  an  auctioneer.  On  one  occa- 
sion, while  engaged  in  the  sale  of  a  ves- 
sel, he  was  abruptly  interrupted  by  a 
Mr.  A.,  who,  with  a  nasal  sound  char- 
acteristic of  him,  inquired  if  the  vessel 
was  sound  ?  The  reply  was  "  Yes." 
While  the  sale  was  progressing,  and 
another  half  a  thousand  was  being  tried 
for  by  the  man  of  the  hammer,  the 
same  Mr.  A.  burst  out  again  :  "  Colonel, 
do  I  understand  you  to  say  that  this 
vessel  is  perfectly  sound  ?  "  The  Colo- 
nel paused,  and  drew  up  his  portly 
frame  to  its  full  measure  ;  then  looking 
Mr.  A.  full  in  the  face,  thus  addressed 
him :  "  Mr.  A.,  if  a  man  should  ask 
me  if  Mr.  A.  is  a  gentleman,  my  answer 
would  be,  'Yes.'  But  if  he  should 
ask  me  if  he  is  a  perfect  gentleman 
— ^lialf!  half!  am  I  offered  another 
half?"  It  is  doubtful  whether  old 
Christie  himself  in  his  palmiest  days, 
as  the  head  of  the  auctioneer  fraternity 
in  London,  ever  equalled  this  instance 
of  professional  wit. 


English  Railway  Mania  of  1845. 

The  history  of  the  railway  mania  in 
England,  in  1845,  is  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  among  the  business  phe- 
nomena of  modern  times,  and.  was  prob- 
ably due,  in  great  part,  to  the  plentiful 


supply  of  money  at  that  period.  The 
diiectors  of  the  railways  were  formed 
of  all  classes,  and  all  conditions.  Long 
lists  of  provisional  committee  men, 
with  their  residences  and  professions, 
were  paraded  in  papers.  The  journals 
were  increased  in  size  to  contain  the 
numerous  advertisements.  The  heat 
of  India  was  no  objection.  The  cold 
of  Canada  no  preventive.  Men  who 
had  mingled  in  the  bubbles  of  1825 ; 
men  who  were  known  and  recognized 
as  adventurous  swindlers,  but  who  had 
disappeared  when  no  money  was  to  be 
obtained,  reappeared,  to  exercise  their 
customary  vocation. 

The  environs  of  the  stock  exchange 
were  crowded.  The  countess  came 
down  in  her  carriage,  and  hovered  in 
a  state  of  excitement  round  the  doors 
of  her  broker.  Grave  and  sober  men 
dabbled  in  scrip.  The  literary  man 
and  the  artist  risked  their  well-earned 
money  to  procure  a  share  in  the  profitF'. 
The  youth  of  the  land  sought  to  grati- 
fy expensive  habits.  The  old  man 
sought  to  indulge  his  avarice.  The 
clergyman  traded  in  "  undeniable  se- 
curities." The  physician  murmured  of 
the  broad  and  narrow  gauge.  The 
lawyer  forsook  his  fee ;  the  lady  jeop- 
ardized her  soft  and  gentle  influences ; 
the  matron  forgot  her  children,  and  the 
maiden  her  embroidery,  in  one  uni- 
versal pursuit.  The  railways  formed 
the  current  theme  of  the  time.  Pre- 
miums and  discounts  were  the  topics 
at  breakfast,  dinner  and  supper,  and 
everything  wore  the  same  smiling  ap- 
pearance which,  twenty  years  before, 
lured  the  people  to  destruction,  and,  as 
then,  almost  everything  came  out  at  a 
profit.  If  they  went  to  a  discount,  the 
company  was  abandoned,  the  whole  of 
the  expenses  deducted  from  the  few  de- 
posits which  were  paid,  the  directors 
liberally  rewarded,  and  the  small  re- 
maining dividend  returned.  The  names 
of  the  clergy  on  the  lists  of  directors 
produced  an  opinion  from  the  Bishop 
of  Exeter,  that  for  a  clergyman  to  specu- 


CHANCE  DEALINGS   AND  VENTURES. 


563 


late  in  railways  came  under  the  denomi- 
nation of  "  dealing  for  gain  or  profit," 
and  this  was  against  the  statute.  "  As 
the  statute  only  mentions  dealing,"  re- 
marked a  writer  in  their  defence,  "  and 
railway  speculation  involves  shuffling, 
some  of  the  reverend  gentlemen  main- 
tain that  they  do  not  violate  the  act  of 
Parliament." 

The  following  is  undoubtedly  a  faith- 
ful picture  of  the  way  in  which  many 
railways  were  "  established  : "  A  young 
gentleman  need  only  look  to  a  half-crown 
railway  map,  and  search  for  a  district 
tolerably  clear  of  the  rail.  Taking  two 
of  the  towns  that  form  that  open  space, 
he  draws  a  diagonal  with  his  pencil, 
and  thus  creates  a  direct  line.  He  then 
writes  down  the  name  of  the  company, 
his  own  name  as  "  promoter,"  either 
alone,  or  with  the  names  of  as  many 
friends  as  he  can  venture  to  take  that 
liberty  with,  or  with  any  names,  real  or 
fictitious  ;  his  own  occupation,  whether 
gentleman  or  esquire,  engineer,  artist, 
or  solicitor,  or  clerk  or  perfumer,  or 
tailor,  or  M.A.,  or  M.D. ;  his  place  of 
business,  if  he  has  one ;  his  place  of 
residence  also,  whether  it  be  castle  or 
hall,  or  in  Berkeley  Square,  or  in 
rooms  in  Gray's  Inn,  or  lodging  in  the 
borough.  In  the  course  of  his  walk  to 
the  ofiSce  in  Sergeants"  Inn,  he  may,  if  he 
please,  remodel  his  company,  changing 
every  name  in  it,  whether  of  place  or 
person,  including  himself.  Arrived  at 
the  office,  he  invests  a  few  sovereigns, 
begged,  borrowed,  or  stolen,  in  fees,  and 
enters  his  company.  Advertisements 
and  letters  of  allotment  do  the  rest.  It 
may,  for  anything  the  registrar  knows 
or  cares,  be  straight  across  a  mountain 
a  mile  high,  or  straight  across  an  arm 
of  the  sea  ten  miles  broad.  It  would  be 
his  duty  to  register  a  tunnel  under  the 
Atlantic,  and  he  would  hardly  have  the 
option  of  refusing  a  railroad  to  Jupiter, 
with  extension  to  the  other  planets,  and 
a  short  branch  to  the  moon. 


Rival  Blacking:  Companies. 

The  Morning  Advertiser^  London,  of 
November  25,  1807,  contained  the  fol- 
lowing— which  would  have  been  more 
appropriately  placed  in  its  columns  of 
entertainments,  than  in  those  devoted 
to  business : — 

Anthony  Varnish  in  the  chair,  Sir 
John  Blackwell,  Knight,  being  indis- 
posed ;  Jacob  Brushwell,  Secretary. 

The  chairman  reported  that  Mr.  Tim- 
othy Lightfoot,  the  treasurer,  had 
brushed  off  with  the  old  fund,  and  that 
the  deputation  who  had  waited  on  Mr. 
Fawcett,  the  proprietor  of  the  Brilliant 
Fluid  Blacking,  at  No.  76  Hounds- 
ditch,  could  not  prevail  on  him  to  dis- 
pose of  his  right  thereto  in  favor  of  the 
company,  although  they  made  him  the 
most  liberal  offers.    It  was  then 

Resolved :  That  this  meeting  being 
fully  sensible  that  any  attempt  to  es- 
tablish a  rival  blacking  would  totally 
fail  of  success,  from  the  high  estima- 
tion in  which  the  above  popular  article 
is  held,  and  the  mishap  of  the  treasurer 
having  damped  the  ardor  of  the  under- 
taking, that  this  design  be  altogether 
abandoned. 

Resolved :  That  the  character  of  this 
Company  ought  not  to  be  blackened  in 
public  esteem,  as  there  is  no  direct 
proof  of  their  having  shared  the  spoils 
with  the  treasurer. 

J.  Brushwell,  Sec'y. 


One  of  the  Sufferers. 

HooKE,  the  historian  of  Rome,  was  a 
severe  sufferer  by  the  South  Sea  Bub- 
ble. He  thus  addressed  Lord  Oxford, 
in  a  letter  dated  soon  after  the  great 
explosion  :  "  I  cannot  be  said  at  present 
to  be  in  any  form  of  life,  but  rather  to 
live  extempore.  The  late  epidemical 
(South  Sea)  distemper  seized  me.  I 
endeavored  to  be  rich,  imagined  for  a 
while  that  I  was,  and  am  in  some 
measure  happy  to  find  myself  at  this 
instant  but  just  worth  nothing.   If  your 


564 


COMMERCIAL   AND   BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


lordship,  or  any  of  your  Di^merous 
friends,  have  need  of  a  servant,  with 
the  bare  qualifications  of  being  able  to 
read  and  write,  and  to  be  honest,  I  shall 
gladly  undertake  any  employments 
your  lordship  shall  not  think  me  un- 
worthy of." 

Proposed  Ice  Speculation. 

Sm  Peter  Laurie  has  conceived 
a  plan  by  which  he  anticipates  to  real- 
ize a  large  sum  of  money.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  Captain  Ross,  the 
Arctic  explorer,  discovered  a  tract  of 
ice  somewhere  in  the  immediate  neigh- 
borhood of  the  north  pole,  which,  with 
a  prodigality  only  found  in  a  true 
sailor,  he  presented  to  his  friend  Sir 
Felix,  and  named  it  Boothia.  Laurie 
has  therefore  proposed  to  purchase  this 
valuable  lot  of  floating  capital,  and 
should  his  offer  be  accepted  will  im- 
mediately despatch  some  steamers  to 
tow  it  home,  as  he  says  it  will  form  a 
cool  watering  place  during  the  dog 
days,  and  may  then  be  let  out  in  square 
acres  to  enterprising  confectioners,  to 
grow  their  raspberry  and  strawberry 
ices.  Sir  Peter  has  always  been  known 
as  a  long-eared  man,  but,  until  this 
promising  commercial  project,  was 
never  considered  to  be  especially  long 
headed — at  least,  not  beyond  the  aver- 
age of  mercantile  speculators. 


Pancy  Hen  Fever. 

The  fever  for  "fancy"  hen  stock 
broke  out  at  a  time  when  money  was 
plenty,  and  when  there  was  no  other 
speculation  rife  in  which  every  one,  al- 
most, could  easily  participate.  The 
prices  for  fowls  increased  with  aston- 
ishing rapidity.  The  whole  community 
rushed  into  the  breeding  of  poultry, 
without  the  slightest  consideration,  and 
the  mania  was  by  no  means  confined  to 
any  particular  class  of  individuals — 
though  there  was  not  a  little  shyness 
among  certain  circles  who  were  attack- 


ed at  first ;  but  this  feeling  soon  gave 
way,  and  men  of  the  highest  standing, 
at  home  and  abroad,  were  soon  deeply 
and  riotously  engaged  in  the  subject  of 
henology. 

Meantime,  in  England  they  were  do- 
ing up  the  matter  somewhat  more  ear- 
nestly than  on  this  side  of  the  water. 
To  learn  how  even  the  nobility  never 
"  put  their  hand  to  the  plough  and  look 
back,"  when  anything  in  this  line  is  to 
come  off,  and  the  better  to  realize  how 
fully  the  poultry  interests  were  looked 
after  in  England,  it  is  only  necessary  to 
read  the  names  of  those  who,  from  1849 
to  1855,  patronized  the  London  and 
Birmingham  associations  for  the  im- 
provement of  domestic  poultry.  The 
Great  Annual  Show,  at  Bingley  Hall, 
was  got  up  under  the  sanction  of  his 
Royal  Highness  Prince  Albert,  the 
Duchess  of  Sutherland,  Lady  Charlotte 
Gough,  the  Countess  of  Bradford,  Rt. 
Hon.  Countess  Littlefield,  Lady  Cliet- 
wynd,  Hon.  Viscountess  Hill,  Lady 
Littleton,  Hon.  Mrs.  Percy,  Lady  Scott, 
and  a  host  of  other  noble  lords  and  la- 
dies, whose  names  are  well  known 
among  the  English  aristocracy. 

But,  as  time  advanced,  the  star  of 
Shanghae-ism  began  to  wane.  The 
nobility  tired  of  the  excitement,  and 
the  people  both  of  England  and  of  the 
United  States  began  to  ascertain  that 
there  was  absolutely  nothing  in  this 
"  hum  "  save  what  the  *'  im.porters  and 
breeders"  had  made,  through  the  in- 
fluence of  the  newspapers ;  and  while  a 
few  of  the  last  men  were  examining  the 
thickness  of  the  shell,  cautiously  and 
warily,  the  long-inflated  bubble  burst ! 


Gold-Making-  and  Silver-Mining 
Companies. 

Among  the  share  or  joint-stock  com- 
panies, which  once  played  a  prominent 
part  on  the  public  credulity  in  Eng- 
land, was  one  to  make  gold ;  and  suc- 
cess was  declared  to  be  undoubted. 
The  shares  were  all  greedily  taken; 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


565 


and  it  was  then  advertised  that,  as  the 
expense  of  producing  an  ounce  of  gold 
would  be  double  the  value  of  the  prod- 
uce, the  company  would  be  dissolved, 
and  the  deposits  kept  to  pay  expenses. 
The  capital  of  another  company — for 
mining  silver — was  divided  between 
fifty  proprietors;  the  advertisements 
and  puffs  resorted  to  were  disgraceful. 
The  meanest  utensils  of  the  peasantry 
in  this  mining  region  were  boldly  de- 
clared to  be  silver ;  and,  although  there 
w^ere  but  ninety-nine  mines  of  any  kind 
in  the  whole  district,  the  company  pro- 
fessed to  have  purchased  three  hundred 
and  sixty.  In  a  place  containing  five 
thousand  inhabitants,  it  was  affirmed 
the  projectors  possessed  three  thousand 
mines ;  and,  although  they  had  been 
previously  abandoned  after  a  loss  of 
£170,000,  they  were  purchased  at  a 
high  price,  and  pufied  to  an  enormous 
premium. 

Jacob  Keen  of  Wall  Street. 

One  of  the  New  York  "  money  char- 
acters "  is  thus  dressed  up,  for  a  savory 
public  dish,  by  that  all-spicy  humorist, 
Hammett.  Let  us  spread  our  napkin, 
and  enj©y  the  feast : 

In  one  of  the  numerous  dens  of  Wall 
street  lives  and  flourishes,  and  has  lived 
and  flourished,  for  many  a  squally  year, 
a  man  whose  name,  in  the  Wall  street 
roll  of  fame,  stands  next  to  that  of  the 
father  of  American  financiering — Jacob 
Barker.  It  is  not  meant  by  "  lived  and 
flourished  "  that  Jacob  the  second— for 
he  is  a  Jacob — had  not  experienced 
many  an  up  and  down,  in  fact,  enough 
of  them  to  upset  and  shelve  any  one 
but  a  man  of  his  peculiarly  India-rub- 
ber constitution. 

He  is  the  greatest  of  all  men  for  a 
"  corner,"  and  has  a  wonderful  fancy 
for  the  fancies ;  only  the  worst  of  it  is, 
that  you  never  know  when  you  have 
him ;  and  his  best  friends  and  co- 
workers, when  engaged  with  him  in 
some  desperate  scheme,  with  only  their 


noses  above  water,  are  not  perfectly 
sure  but  that  he  may  be  leading  them 
on,  and  is  perhaps  doubly  interested  in 
putting  down  the  identical  "  fancy " 
that  he  seems  to  be  sustaining  with 
the  weight  of  an  Atlas. 

No  one,  in  fact,  can  tell  for  a  certain- 
ty whether  Jacob  Keen  is  a  bull  or  a 
bear. 

Quite  a  number  of  years  since,  not 
before  his  "smartness"  was  fully  de- 
veloped, but  ere  the  full  power  and  ex- 
tent of  it  w^ere  known  and  had  been 
experienced,  Jacob  went  into  what — in 
the  vernacular  of  brokers — is  termed 
"  an  operation." 

Now,  a  Wall  street  operation  has 
nothing  to  do  with  the  effects  of  a  ca- 
thartic drug,  although  it  often  pro- 
duces a  very  cathartic  efiect  upon  the 
pockets  of  operators  and  operatees. 
Neither  does  it  bear  any  relation  to  the 
legitimate  employment  of  the  surgeon's 
knife,  and  yet  no  "  sharper  "  steel  can 
eat  more  surely  or  more  fatally. 

Jacob,  as  has  been  said,  entered  into 
an  operation,  and  thus  it  was : 

Among  the  very  lightest  of  the  fan- 
cies— blown  about  by  every  wind  that 
swept  the  street — was  the  celebrated 
Hardscrabble-Soap-Mining  Company, 
which  Jacob  had  long  regarded  with  a 
loving  eye,  as  offering  peculiar  facilities 
for  a  sly  stroke  of  genius.  The  capital 
stock  of  the  company  was  represented 
by  an  upright  figure — the  only  one,  by 
the  way,  connected  with  it — and  six 
ciphers,  thus:  1,000,000.  The  real 
value  of  the  shares,  in  the  aggregate, 
was  considerably  less  than  nothing, 
but,  at  a  particular  time,  they  were  sell- 
ing for  about  $5  each. 

As  it  did  not  suit  Jacob's  purpose  to 
work  this  mine  alone,  he  proposed  to 
a  Boston  firm — Messrs.  Coggins  and 
Scroggins — to  take  hold  of  the  rope 
with  him.  They  consented,  and  fell  to 
work  with  right  good  will,  on  the  fol- 
lowing terms : 

The  contracting  parties  were  to  pur- 
chase— the  one  in  New  York,  and  the 


566 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


other  in  Boston — every  share  that  they 
could  buy  on  time,  or  deliverable  ahead, 
until  the  stock  began  to  feel  the  effects, 
and  then  to  commence  purchasing  for 
cash,  until  the  price  should  be  carried 
up  to  $50  per  share.  When  this  point 
should  be  reached,  neither  party  should 
allow  the  price  to  decline,  but  both 
were  bound  to  purchase  every  share 
offered  at  that  price,  in  their  market, 
until,  having  cleared  their  decks  for  a 
fall,  each  should  agree  to  "  let  go  all." 

In  this  there  was  no  copartnership  or 
division  of  profits,  but  each  worked  for 
their  own  interests. 

Everything  prospered  for  a  while, 
and  men  who  had  sold  for  five  and  ten 
were  forced  to  come  in  and  pay  up 
heavy  deficiencies.  But  Jacob  soon 
found  that  when  the  magic  price  of 
"  50 "  was  attained,  the  stock  flowed 
in  rather  too  freely  for  him.  All  this 
he  had  anticipated  and  prepared  for, 
so  that  when  his  pockets  exhibited 
symptoms  of  exhaustion,  a  shrewd 
broker  was  despatched  to  Boston, 
through  whose  hands  he  pressed  his 
stock  upon  that  market,  thus  forcing 
his  colaborers  to  buy  up  his  own  stock. 

The  Boston  house  was  a  "  warm " 
one,  and  warm  work  they  had  of  it  for 
a  time.  But  there  is  an  end  to  all 
things — except  perhaps,  a  ring — and 
our  friend  Jacob  was  not  much  sur- 
prised, one  fine  morning,  by  the  re- 
ceipt of  the  following  epistle  : 

"Dear  Keen:  We  cannot  hold  on 
any  longer.  Let  go,  and  get  out  as 
well  as  you  can. 

"  Your  fellow  sufferers, 

"  COGGINS  &  SCROGGmS." 

They,  however,  were  considerably 
more  astonished  than  delighted  by  the 
reply : 

"  Dear  Coggins  &  Scroggins  :  Sell 
away,  I  haven't  a  share. 

"  Yours,  very  truly, 

"  J.  Keen. 
"  P.S.— I  have  another  capital  opera- 
tion in  view.  J.  K." 


As  Messrs.  C.  &  S.  probably  consid- 
ered that  the  new  operation  in  xiew 
might  perhaps  be  what  is  vulgarly 
termed  "  all  in  their  eye,"  it  is  said 
they  declined  it. 


Lotteries  Vindicated  by  Scripture. 

The  early  advocates  of  lotteries, 
when  their  trade  was  threatened  with 
legal  demolishment,  were  accustomed 
to  defend  it  somewhat  ingeniously  by 
quotations  from  Scripture.  As  the 
Bible  was  turned  upside  and  down, 
and  shaken  and  winnowed,  by  the  sup- 
porters of  the  slave  trade,  so  was  it 
scrutinized  to  prove  the  antiquity  and 
sanctity  of  lotteries.  "  By  lot,"  it  was 
said,  "  it  was  determined  which  of  the 
goats  should  be  offered  to  Aaron.  By 
lot  the  land  of  Canaan  was  divided. 
By  lot  Saul  was  marked  out  for  the 
kingdom.  By  lot  Jonah  was  discov- 
ered to  be  the  cause  of  the  storm.  By 
lot  it  was  decided  to  whom  Christ's 
vesture  should  belong,  instead  of  rend- 
ing it.  By  lot  the  place  left  vacant  by 
the  treachery  of  Judas  was  filled  by 
the  apostles,"  &c.,  &c. 


Getting  up  a  Money  Panic. 

In  May,  1832,  a  run  upon  the  Bank 
of  England  was  produced  by  the  walls 
of  London  being  placarded  with  the 
emphatic  words  :  "  Stop  tlie  Duke  I  Qo 
for  gold  !  " — advice  which  was  follow- 
ed as  soon  as  given,  to  a  prodigious 
extent.  The  Duke  of  Wellmgton  was 
then  very  unpopular ;  and  on  Monday, 
the  14th  of  May,  it  being  currently  be- 
lieved that  the  Duke  had  formed  a 
cabinet,  the  panic  became  universal, 
and  the  run  upon  the  Bank  of  England 
for  coin  was  so  incessant,  that  in  a  few 
hours  upward  of  half  a  million  was  car- 
ried off.  It  was  afterward  ascertained 
that  the  placards  in  question  were  the 
device  of  four  gentlemen,  two  of  whom 
had  been  elected  members  of  the  Re- 
formed Parliament.     Each  put  down 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


5G7 


one  hundred  dollars,  and  the  sum  thus 
clubbed  was  expended  in  printing 
thousands  of  those  terrible  missives, 
which  were  eagerly  circulated,  and 
were  speedily  seen  upon  every  wall  in 
London.  The  effect  is  hardly  to  be  de- 
scribed.   It  was  electric. 


Bargain-Hunters  at  Pawnbrokers'  and 
Auctions. 

You  will  perhaps  be  surprised  (we 
quote  from  LacMngtorCs  Memoirs)^  that 
there  are  in  London,  and  probably  in 
other  populous  places,  persons  who 
purchase  every  article  which  they  have 
occasion  for— and  also  many  articles 
which  they  have  no  occasion  for,  nor 
ever  will — at  stalls,  beggarly  shops, 
pawnbrokers',  etc.,  under  the  idea  of 
buying  cheaper  than  they  could  at  re- 
spectable shops,  and  of  men  of  property. 

A  considerable  number  of  these  cus- 
tomers I  had  in  the  beginning,  who  for- 
sook my  shop  as  soon  as  I  began  to 
appear  more  respectable,  by  introdu- 
cing better  order,  possessing  more  val- 
uable books,  and  having  acquired  a 
better  judgment,  etc.  Notwithstand- 
ing which,  I  declare  to  you  upon  my 
honor,  that  these  very  bargain-hunters 
have  given  me  double  the  price  that  I 
now  charge  for  thousands  and  tens  of 
thousands  of  volumes.  For,  as  a 
tradesman  increases  in  respectability 
and  opulence,  his  opportunities  of  pur- 
chasing increase  proportionally,  and 
the  more  he  buys  and  sells  the  more  he 
becomes  a  judge  of  the  real  value  of 
his  goods.  It  was  for  want  of  the  ex- 
perience and  judgment,  stock,  etc.,  that 
for  several  years  I  was  in  the  habit  of 
charging  more  than  double  the  price  I 
now  do  for  many  thousand  articles. 
But  professed  bargain-hunters  purchase 
old  locks  at  the  stalls  in  Moorfields 
when  half  the  wards  are  rusted  off,  or 
taken  out,  and  give  more  for  them  than 
they  would  have  paid  for  new  ones  to 
any  reputable  ironmonger. 

And  what  numerous  instances  of  this 


infatuation  do  we  meet  with  daily  at 
sales  by  auction  not  of  books  only,  but 
of  many  other  articles,  of  which  I  could 
here  adduce  a  variety  of  glaring  in- 
stances. At  the  sale  of  Mr.  Rigby's 
books  at  Mr.  Christie's,  Martin's  Dic- 
tionary of  Natural  History  sold  for  fif- 
teen guineas,  which  then  stood  in  my 
catalogue  at  four  pounds  fifteen  shil- 
lings ;  Pilkington's  Dictionary  of  Paint- 
ers at  seven  guineas,  usually  sold  at 
three ;  Francis's  Horace^  two  pounds 
eleven  shillings  ;  and  many  others  in 
the  same  manner.  At  Sir  George  Col- 
brook's  sale  the  octavo  edition  of  the 
Tatler  sold  for  two  guineas  and  a  half. 
At  a  sale  a  few  weeks  since,  Rapin's 
History  in  folio,  the  two  first  volumes 
only  (instead  of  five),  sold  for  upward 
of  five  pounds  I  I  charge  for  the  same 
from  ten  shillings  and  sixpence  to  one 
pound  ten  shillings.  I  sell  great  num- 
bers of  books  to  pawnbrokers,  who  sell 
them  out  of  their  windows  at  much 
higher  prices,  the  purchasers  believing 
that  they  were  buying  bargains,  and 
that  such  articles  have  been  pawned. 
And  it  is  not  only  books  that  pawn- 
brokers purchase,  but  various  other 
matters,  and  they  always  purchase  the 
worst  kind  of  every  article  they  sell.  I 
will  even  add,  that  many  shops  which 
are  called  pawnbrokers'  never  take  in 
any  pawn,  yet  can  live  by  selling  things 
which  are  supposed  to  be  kept  overtime. 


Q,uite  Professional. 

Aisr  auctioneer,  speaking  to  a  horse- 
dealer  about  the  situation  of  an  estate 
he  was  going  to  sell,  in  a  level  neigh- 
borhood, said:  "The  country  is  ex- 
ceedingly beautiful,  and  I  do  so  admire 
a  rich  flat ! '''' 

"  So  do  I,  sir,"  replied  the  grinning 
jockey 

♦ 

Dutch  Tulip  Mania  of  the  Seventeenth 
Century 

Perhaps  the  earliest  existence  of 
that  fatal  love  of  speculation  so  ruinous 


568 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


to  the  credit  and  fortune  of  all  who 
press  it  to  hazardous  extent,  occurred 
in  1634,  viz.,  the  Tulip  Mania— one 
of  the  most  astonishing  of  commercial 
phenomena. 

In  the  year  named,  the  chief  cities 
of  the  Netherlands  engaged  in  a  traffic 
which  destroyed  commerce  and  encour- 
aged gambling,  which  enlisted  the 
greediness  of  the  rich  and  the  desire  of 
the  poor,  which  raised  the  value  of  a 
flower  to  infinitely  more  than  its  weight 
in  gold,  and  which  ended,  as  all  such 
concerns  have  ended,  in  wild  and 
wretched  despair.  The  many  were 
ruined;  the  few  were  enriched.  Bar- 
gains were  made  for  the  deliveiy  of 
autumn  roots,  and  when,  as  in  one 
case,  there  were  but  two  in  the  market, 
lordship  and  land,  horses  and  oxen, 
were  sold  to  pay  the  deficiency.  Con- 
tracts were  made,  and  thousands  of 
florins  paid  for  tulips  which  were  never 
seen  by  broker,  by  buyer,  or  by  seller. 
For  a  time,  as  usual,  all  won,  and  no 
one  lost.  Poor  persons  became  wealthy. 
High  and  low  traded  in  flowers ;  sump- 
tuous entertainments  confirmed  their 
bargains  ;  notaries  grew  rich  ;  and  even 
the  unimaginative  Hollander  fancied 
he  saw  a  sure  and  certain  prosperity 
before  him. 

People  of  all  professions  turned  their 
property  into  cash;  houses  and  furni- 
ture were  oflfered  at  ruinous  prices ;  the 
idea  spread  throughout  the  country 
that  the  passion  for  tulips  would  last 
forever ;  and  when  it  was  known  that 
foreigners  were  seized  with  the  fever,  it 
was  believed  that  the  wealth  of  the 
world  would  concentrate  on  the  shores 
of  the  Zuyder  Zee,  and  that  poverty 
would  become  a  tradition  in  Holland. 
That  they  were  honest  in  their  belief  is 
proved  by  the  price  they  paid.  Goods 
to  the  value  of  thousands  of  florins 
were  given  for  one  root ;  another  spe- 
cies commonly  fetched  two  thousand 
florins;  a  third  was  valued  at  a  new 
carriage,  two  gray  horses,  and  a  com- 
plete harness;    twelve   acres  of  land 


were  paid  for  a  fourth,  and  sixty  thou- 
sand florins  were  made  by  one  dealer 
in  a  few  weeks. 

Merchants  possessed  a  vast  or  limit- 
ed capital,  in  proportion  to  the  magni- 
tude or  insignificance  of  their  tulip 
roots.  Daughters  were  portioned  with 
a  few  ounces  magnificently,  and  noble- 
men of  the  highest  consideration  and 
family  importance  vested  their  posses- 
sions in  a  i^erishable  vegetable  that 
could  be  carried  in  a  teacup.  When 
the  bubble  burst,  and  the  roots  sud- 
denly fell  in  public  estimation,  abject 
poverty  stared  the  nation  in  the  face. 

The  panic  did  come  at  last.  Confi- 
dence vanished;  contracts  were  void, 
defaulters  were  announced  in  every 
town  of  Holland;  dreams  of  wealth 
were  dissipated  ;  and  they  who,  a  week 
before,  rejoiced  in  the  possession  of  a 
few  tulips  which  would  have  realized 
a  princely  fortune,  looked  stupefied  and 
aghast  on  the  miserable  bulbs  before 
them,  valueless  in  themselves,  and  un- 
salable at  any  price.  To  parry  the 
blow,  the  tulip  merchants  held  public 
meetings,  and  made  pompous  speeches, 
in  which  they  proved  that  their  goods 
were  worth  as  much  as  ever,  and  that 
a  panic  was  absurd  and  unjust.  The 
si3eeches  produced  the  greatest  ap- 
plause, but  the  bulb  continued  value- 
less ;  and  though  actions  for  breach  of 
contract  were  threatened,  the  law  re- 
fused to  take  cognizance  of  gambling 
transactions. 


Merino-Slieep  Bubble. 

The  Sheep  Bubble  had  its  commence- 
ment in  the  year  1815  or  1816,  after 
the  treaty  of  Ghent,  and  at  a  period 
when  thousands  of  the  American  peo- 
ple were  actually  "  wool-mad  "  in  refer- 
ence to  the  huge  profits  that  were  then 
apparent,  prospectively,  in  manufactur- 
ing enterprises. 

In  the  summer  of  the  last-named  year 
(as  nearly  as  can  be  fixed  upon),  a  gen- 
tleman in  Boston  first  imported  some 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTUREa 


569 


half  a  dozen  slieep  from  one  of  the 
southern  provinces  of  Spain,  whose 
fleeces  were  of  the  finest  texture,  as  it 
was  said  ;  and  such,  undoubtedly,  was 
the  fact,  though  the  sheep  were  so 
thoroughly  and  completely  imbedded 
in  tar,  and  every  other  ofiensive  article, 
upon  their  arrival  in  America,  that  it 
would  have  been  very  difficult  to  have 
proved  this  statement.  But  the  very 
offensive  appearance  of  the  sheep  seem- 
ed to  imbue  them  with  a  mysterious 
value,  that  rendered  them  doubly  at- 
tractive. 

It  was  contended  that  the  introduc- 
tion of  these  sheep  into  the  United  States 
would  enable  our  manufactories,  then 
in  their  infancy,  to  produce  broadcloths 
and  other  woollen  fabrics,  of  a  texture 
that  would  compete  with  England  and 
Europe.  Even  Mr.  Clay  was  consulted 
with  reference  to  the  sheep  ;  and  he  at 
once  decided  that  they  were  exactly 
the  animals  that  were  wanted — some 
of  them  subsequently  finding  their  way 
to  Ashland. 

The  first  merino  sheep  sold  for  fifty 
dollars  the  head.  They  cost  just  one  dol- 
lar each  in  Andalusia  !  The  speculation 
was  too  profitable  to  stop  here;  and, 
before  a  long  period  had  elapsed,  a 
small  fleet  sailed  on  a  sheep  adventure 
to  the  Mediterranean.  By  the  end  of 
the  year  1816  there  were  probably  one 
thousand  merino  sheep  in  the  Union, 
and  they  had  advanced  to  twelve  hun- 
dred dollars  the  head. 

Before  the  winter  of  that  year  had 
passed  away,  they  sold  for  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars  the  head  ;  and  a  lusty  and 
good-looking  buck  would  command  two 
thousand  dollars  at  sight.  Of  course, 
the  natural  Yankee  spirit  of  enterprise, 
and  the. love  of  the  "  almighty  dollar," 
were  equal  to  such  an  emergency  as 
this,  and  hundreds  of  "  merino  sheep  " 
soon  accumulated  in  the  Eastern 
States 

But,  in  the  course  of  the  year  1817, 
the  speculation,  in  consequence  of  the 
surplus  importation,  began  to  decline ; 


yet  it  steadily  and  rapidly  advanced 
throughout  the  western  country,  while 
Kentucky,  in  consequence  of  the  influ- 
ence of  Mr.  Clay's  opinions,  was  especi- 
ally benefited 

In  the  fall  of  1817,  what  was  then 
deemed  a  very  fine  merino  buck  and 
ewe  were  sold  to  a  gentleman  in  the 
western  country  for  the  sum  of  eight 
thousand  dollars;  and  even  that  was 
deemed  a  very  small  price  for  the  ani- 
mals !  They  were  purchased  by  a  Mr. 
Samuel  Long,  a  house-builder  and  con- 
tractor, who  fancied  he  had  by  the 
transaction  secured  an  immense  for- 
tune. Mr.  Long  had  become,  in  fact, 
really  raUd  with  the  merino  mania,  as 
the  following  authentic  anecdote  will 
show : 

There  resided,  at  this  time,  in  Lex- 
ington, Ky.,  and  but  a  short  distance 
from  Mr.  Clay's  villa  of  Ashland,  a 
wealthy  gentleman,  named  Samuel 
Trotter,  who  was,  in  fact,  the  money- 
king  of  Kentucky,  and  who,  to  a  very 
great  extent,  at  that  time,  controlled 
the  branch  of  the  Bank  of  the  United 
States.  He  had  two  sheep — a  buck  and 
an  ewe — and  Mr.  Long  was  very  anx- 
ious to  possess  them.  Mr.  L.  repeated- 
ly bantered  and  importuned  Mr.  Trot- 
ter, to  obtain  this  pair  of  sheep  from 
him,  but  without  success.  One  day, 
however,  the  latter  said  to  the  former : 

"  If  you  will  build  me  such  a  house, 
on  a  certain  lot  of  land,  as  I  shall  de- 
scribe, you  shall  have  the  merinos." 

"  Draw  your  plans  for  the  buildings," 
replied  Long,  instantly,  "  and  let  me 
see  them ;  T  will  then  decide." 

The  plans  were  soon  after  submitted 
to  him,  and  Long  eagerly  accepted  the 
proposal,  and  forthwith  engaged  in  the 
undertaking.  He  built  for  Trotter  a 
four-story  brick  house,  about  fifty  feet 
by  seventy,  on  the  middle  of  an  acre  of 
land ;  he  finished  it  in  the  most  ap- 
proved modern  style,  inclosed  it  with  a 
costly  fence,  and  finally  handed  it  over 
to  Trotter,  for  the  two  merino  sheep. 
The  establishment  must  have  cost,  at 


670 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


the  very  least,  fifteen  thousand  dollars. 
But,  alas !  A  long  while  before  this 
beautiful  and  costly  estate  was  fully 
completed,  the  price  of  merinos  de- 
clined gradually ;  and  six  months  had 
not  passed  away  before  they  would  not 
command  twenty  dollars  each,  even  in 
Kentucky.  Mr.  Long  was  thereafter  a 
wiser  but  a  poorer  man.  He  held  on 
to  this  pair  until  their  price  reached 
the  par  value  only  of  any  other  sheep  ; 
and  then  he  absolutely  killed  this  buck 
and  ewe,  made  a  princely  barbecue, 
called  all  his  friends  to  the  feast,  and 
while  "the  goblet  went  its  giddy 
rounds,"  he,  like  the  ruined  Venetian, 
thanked  God  that,  at  that  moment,  he 
was  not  worth  a  ducat  I 


Globe  Permits. 

"  Globe  permits  "  were  among  the 
most  famous,  or  infamous,  of  the  proli- 
fic crop  of  financial  schemes  of  the 
"  Mushroom  Era."  This  fictitious  com- 
pany had  its  location  in  London,  and 
the  permits  which  it  issued  came  at 
last  to  be  currently  sold  for  sixty 
guineas  and  upward — though  they  were 
only  square  bits  of  card,  on  which  was 
the  impression  of  a  seal  in  wax,  having 
the  sign  of  the  Globe  Tavern.  A  bur- 
lesque upon  this  acme  of  madness  ap- 
peared as  an  advertisement  in  one  of 
the  journals  of  the  day,  in  which  it  was 
set  forth,  that  at  a  certain  fictitious 
place  on  the  following  Tuesday,  books 
would  be  opened  for  a  subscription  of 
two  millions,  for  the  invention  of  melt- 
ing down  sawdust  and  chips,  and  cast- 
ing them  into  clean  deal  boards  with- 
out knots.  From  morning  till  evening 
there  were  crowds  of  purchasers  for 
these  permits ;  and  such  was  the  wild 
confusion  of  the  multitude,  that  the 
permits  were  known  to  have  been  sold, 
at  the  same  moment,  ten  per  cent, 
higher  at  one  end  of  the  street  than 
the  other.  The  project  at  last  burst, 
and  left  lut  a  wreck  behind  ! 


Universal  Bed  and  Bolster  Mart. 

The  attention  of  all  persons  about 
to  marry— and  that  of  purchasers  in 
general— is  respectfully  directed  to  the 
"  Immense  stock  of  the  Universal  Bed 
and  Bolster  Mart,"  where  every  article 
is  warranted  for  three  weeks,  and  the 
money  returned  if  had  back  again. 
Houses  furnished  and  families  settled 
at  a  few  hours'  notice.  The  dining  ta- 
bles of  the  Bolster  Mart  are  especially 
adapted  to  the  cabins  of  ships,  for 
when  placed  near  a  fire  they  assume  a 
graceful  curl — sloping  from  the  side  to 
the  centre,  and  preventing  the  proba- 
bility of  plates  slipping  off  from  them. 
Captains  and  others  going  abroad,  and 
not  likely  to  come  back  again,  are  par- 
ticularly invited  to  purchase.  Every 
article  bought  at  the  great  bolster  con- 
cern is  invariably  warranted  to  stand 
until  the  legs  fall  off^in  any  climate. 
Persons  desirous  of  furniture  for  tem- 
porary purposes,  cannot  do  better  than 
to  resort  to  the  cheap  mart,  for  all  the 
goods  sold  there  are  particularly  adapt- 
ed to  those  who  have  an  idea  of  their 
establishments  being  broken  up  within 
a  short  period. 

Auction  Sale  of  old  Furniture,  etc., 

Extraordinary. 
An  auction  sale  of  very  old  and  rare 
furniture  is  stated  to  have  come  off 
lately  in  London,  including  several  ar- 
ticles which  every  one  supposed  would 
always  remain  as  heir-looms  in  the  na- 
tional family.  Among  the  articles  thus 
disposed  of  was  the  "  seat "  of  war. 
This  seat  had  been  very  much  knocked 
about,  and  had  scarcely  a  leg  to  stand 
upon.  With  a  little  money,  however, 
judiciously  laid  out,  it  could  have 
been  put  into  repair  and  made  fit  for 
immediate  use.  It  was  offered  to  the 
French  Government  as  a  seat  the  best 
adapted  for  the  standing  army  in  Al- 
giers ;  and  with  a  little  French  polish, 
and  turning  the  seat  into  Morocco,  the 
article  would  last  for  years. 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


571 


The  Glass  of  Fashion — which  had 
lost  some  of  its  brilliancy  from  having 
been  so  frequently  looked  into — was 
also  "  put  up."  It  is  best  calculated 
for  those  persons  whose  evening's 
amusements  will  bear  the  morning's 
reflection,  as  every  object  viewed 
through  it  is  seen  in  a  new  light.  Old 
beaux  and  young  ladies,  residing  on 
the  shady  side  of  forty,  find  their  sil- 
ver well  laid  out  in  buying  the  glass 
of  fashion. 

The  identical  tapis  upon  which  have 
come  all  the  marriages  in  high  life  for 
the  last  fifty  years,  was  also  disposed 
of. 

It  was  hoped  that  the  pipe  of  peace 
would  likewise  be  ofiered,  but  it  was 
withheld  on  account  of  its  being 
smoked  just  at  that  time  by  two  well- 
known  parties. 

A  parcel  of  silver  spoons  which  had 
been  in  the  mouths  of  certain  individ- 
uals of  renown  when  they  were  born, 
were  put  up,  and  excited  considerable 
competition  on  the  part  of  antiqua- 
rians, fortune-tellers,  and  the  like. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  cele- 
brated rod  of  iron  which  was  formerly 
used  in  England,  was  sent  over  from 
Ireland  expressly  for  this  sale,  and  the 
rule  which  Britannia  uses  in  ruling  the 
waves,  was  kindly  lent — not  disposed 
of — for  this  occasion. 


Old  Martin,  the  Scotch.  Auctioneer, 
aniong:  the  Lang-uaires. 

Old  William  Martin  was  for  a  Ions: 
time  the  most  noted  aucticmeer  in 
Edinburgh,  Scotland.  "While  in  his 
auction  rooms,  Martin  was  full  of  anec- 
dote and  humor,  but  somewhat  fond 
of  laughing  at  his  own  jokes.  Being 
of  humble  origin,  he  was  rather  illiter- 
ate—at least  he  was  no  classical  scholar 
— and  perhaps  in  the  course  of  his  busi- 
ness he  frequently  sufiered  by  his  igno- 
rance of  the  dead  languages.  If  the 
book  he  was  about  to  sell  happened  to 
be  Greek,  his  usual  introduction  was, 


"  Here  comes  crawtaes^  or  whatever  else 
you  like  to  call  it,''  and  on  other  occa- 
sions,  if  the  volume  happened  to  be  in 
a  more  modern  language,  but  the  title 
of  which  he  was  as  little  able  to  read,  he 
would  say  to  the  company,  after  a 
blundering  attempt,  "  Gentlemen,  I  am 
rather  rusty  in  my  French,  but  were  it 
Hebrew,  ye  Icen  I  would  be  quite  at 
hame ! " 

Martin,  however,  was  certainly  more 
"  at  hame  "  in  some  instances  than  he 
was  either  in  French,  Latin,  Greek,  or 
Hebrew.  On  one  occasion,  at  the  time 
Manfredo  was  performing  in  Edinburgh, 
Martin,  in  the  course  of  his  night's  la 
bor,  came  across  the  "  Life  of  Robinson 
Crusoe."  Holding  up  the  volume,  and 
pointing  to  the  picture  of  Robinson's 
man,  Friday,  he  exclaims,  "  Weel,  gen- 
tlemen, what  will  ye  gie  me  for  my 
Man-Fredo? — worth  a  dozen  of  the 
Italian  land-louper."  Manfredo,  who 
happened  to  be  present,  became  ex- 
ceedingly wroth  at  this  allusion  to 
him.  "Yat  do  you  say  about  Man- 
fredo !  Call  me  de  land-loupeur ! " 
Nothing  disconcerted  by  this  unex- 
pected attack,  Martin,  again  holding 
up  the  picture,  cried,  "  I'll  refer  to  the 
company,  if  my  Man-Fredo  is  no  worth 
a  dizen  o'  him  !  "  The  Italian  fumed 
and  fretted,  but,  amid  the  general 
laughter,  was  obliged  to  retire. 

Owing  to  ignorance,  he  sold  many 
valuable  Greek  and  Latin  books  for 
mere  trifles.  Sometimes,  when  at  a 
loss  to  read  the  title  of  a  Latin  or 
French  book,  he  would,  if  he  could 
find  a  young  student  near  him,  thrust 
the  book  before  him,  saying,  "  Read 
that,  my  man  ;  it's  sae  lang  since  I  was 
at  the  college,  I  hae  forgotten  a'  my 
Latin."  Having  one  night  made  even 
a  more  blundering  attempt  than  usual 
to  unriddle  the  title  of  a  French  book, 
a  young  dandy,  wishing  to  have  an- 
other laugh  at  Martin's  expense,  de- 
sired him  to  read  the  title  of  the  book 
again,  as  he  did  not  know  what  it  was 
about.      "Why,"    said    Martin,    "it's 


512 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


something  about  inanners^  and  that's 
what  neither  you  nor  me  has  owre 
muckle  o'." 


"Crack  Horses"  at  Auction. 

When  Mr.  Tattersall  has  any  very 
superior  horses  "  intrusted  to  his  care," 
especially  if  he  sees  some  of  the  noble- 
men or  other  gentry  of  the  realm 
around  him,  who  are  likely  to  "  bite," 
he  deviates  a  leetle  from  his  usual  disre- 
gard of  the  oily  vernacular  of  the  ham- 
mer, and  tries  his  hand  at  a  little  flat- 
tery of  those  persons,  trusting  to  the 
potent  effects  of  that  commodity  in 
procuring  some  better  "  biddings."  He 
knows  how  to  graciously  "  suit  the 
bridle  to  the  horse." 

"There,  my  lords  and  gentlemen," 
he  will  exclaim  in  such  cases,  "  there  is 
a  chance  for  you.  You'll  never  get 
such  a  chance  again.  My  lord  duke,  I 
know  your  stud  is  unrivalled ;  but  this 
beautiful,  this  unequalled  mare  would 
be  an  honor  and  an  ornament  to  it. 
Do  you  say  three  hundred  and  fefty 
(he  always  substitutes  the  e  for  the  i  in 
pronouncing  the  words  '  fifty,'  *  thirty,' 
etc),  guineas  for  her  ? "  Three  hundred 
and  fifty  guineas  are  bid. 

"  Thank  you,  my  lord  duke,  I  admire 
your  taste.  She  possesses  rare  blood ; 
just  only  look  at  the  symmetry  of  her 
form  ;  she  is  perfection  itself.  I  could, 
but  I  will  not,  dwell  on  her  matchless 
beauties — they  are  not  to  be  described. 
Only  three  hundred  and  fsfty  guineas 
bid  for  her.  Hj  lord  duke,  she  will  be 
yours,  if  some  one  else  does  not — three 
hundred  and  sexty  guineas  are  bid  for 
her;  I  know  that  she  is  too  great  a 
prize  to  be  suffered  to  escape  at  such  a 
price.  Eeally,  ray  lord  duke,  with  your 
lordship's  known  taste  and  skill  in 
horse-flesh,  I  should  be  sorry  if  you  al- 
lowed such  an  opportunity  of  proving 
that  you  possess  this  taste,  to  pass. 
Three  hundred  and  eighty  guineas  bid 
for  her;  thank  you  again,  my  lord 
duke ;  I'm  sure  you'll  not  repent  your 


bargain.  Does  any  one  say  more  for 
her  ?  Three  hundred  and  nenty  guineas 
are  bid.  You  see,  my  lord  duke,  your 
admiration  of  this  beautiful  and  excel- 
lent mare  is  not  peculiar.  She  will, 
positively,  adorn  your  stud,  as  she  did 
that  of  royalty,  when  she  belonged  to 
it.  Who  says  the  four  hundred  guineas  ? 
She's  just  a  going.  One  moment  long- 
er, and  off  she  goes.  Her  action,  my 
lord  duke,  is  beyond  all  praise ;  she 
has  no  vice ;  she  is  a  perfect  paragon 
in  every  way  you  can  take  her.  I  must 
knock  her  down,  my  lord  duke  ;  but  I 
would  really  be  sorry  to  see  you  lose  so 
noble  and  charming  a  creature  for  the 
sake  of  ten  paltry  guineas.  Just  say  the 
four  hundred  guineas,  and  she  is  yours." 
"  Four  hundred^  "  Thank  you  !  my 
lord  duke,  for  adopting  my  advice. 
I'm  sure  you'll  never  repent  your  bar- 
gain. Going — gone.  She  is  yours,  my 
lord  duke." 


Pleasantries  of  Keese,  the  Book 
Auctioneer. 

The  question  has  been  propounded, 
"  Who  has  made  a  jest  in  a  New  York 
auction  room  since  the  hammer  of  John 
Keese  fell  for  the  last  time  ? "  Keese  is 
remembered  by  the  trade  with  affec- 
tion. He  was  a  bright,  intelligent 
man,  and  an  estimable  member  of  so- 
ciety. Of  an  old  New  York  family,  he 
was  brought  up  to  the  book  trade  by 
one  of  the  Quaker  fraternity— the  Col- 
lins's — and  it  was  only  in  middle  life, 
after  various  experiments  in  business, 
that  he  became  an  auctioneer.  He  be- 
gan somewhere  about  the  year  1845 
with  a  sale  to  the  trade  in  a  large  back 
building  in  Broadway  near  Cortlandt 
street.  He  certainly  opened  proceed- 
ings with  an  excellent  entertainment 
of  oysters  and  champagne.  He  was  the 
life  of  the  company,  and  was  called 
upon,  of  course,  for  a  speech,  probably 
for  half  a  dozen.  One  of  his  good 
things,  toward  the  close,  is  worth  re- 
membering. It  particularly  pleased  the 
trade  at  the  time.    "  Gentlemen,"  said 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


673 


he,  in  allusion  to  the  entertainment, 
"  we  are  scattering  our  bread  upon  the 
waters,  and  we  expect  to  find  it  after 
many  days — buttered  ! " 

It  was  in  retail  sales,  however,  in  the 
small  change  of  the  auction  room,  that 
his  wit  appeared  to  the  most  advantage. 
No  catalogue  could  be  too  dull  for  his 
vivacity.  He  was  always  rapid,  and 
an  unwary  customer  would  be  decapi- 
tated by  his  quick  electric  jest  before 
he  felt  the  stroke.  The  following, 
among  other  things  of  the  kind  attrib- 
uted to  him,  will  give  some  notion  of 
his  pleasantries : 

"Js  that  binding  calf?"  asked  a  sus- 
picious customer.  "  Come  up,  my  good 
sir,  put  your  band  on  it,  and  see  if  there 
is  any  fellow  feeling,"  was  the  ready 
rej)ly.  A  person  one  evening  had  a 
copy  of  "  Watts's  Hymns "  knocked 
down  to  him  for  a  trifle,  and  interrupt- 
ed the  business  of  the  clerk  by  calling 
for  its  "  delivery."  Keese,  finding  out 
the  cause  of  the  interference,  exclaim- 
ed, "  Oh,  give  the  gentleman  the  book. 
He  wants  to  learn  and  sing  one  of  the 
hymns  before  he  goes  to  bed  to- 
night ! "  Apropos  of  this  time-honor- 
ed book,  in  selling  a  copy  on  another 
occasion,  when  there  was  some  rivalry 
in  the  profession,  he  turned  off  a  par- 
ody as  he  knocked  it  down : 

Blest  is  the  man  who  shuns  the  place 

Where  other  auctions  be  ; 
And  has  his  money  in  his  fist, 

And  buys  his  books  of  me. 

His  puns  were  usually  happy,  and 
slipped  in  adroitly.  Offering  one  of 
the  Kev.  Dr.  Hawks's  books,  he  added, 
in  an  explanatory  way,  "A  bird  of 
prey."  "  Going— going — gentlemen — 
one  shilling  for  Caroline  Fry — why,  it 
isn't  the  price  of  a  siew."  Selling  a 
book  labelled  "  History  of  the  Tatars," 
he  was  asked,  "  Isn't  that  Tartars ! " 
*'  No  ! "  he  replied  :  "  their  wives  were 
the  Tartars  ! "  "  This,"  said  he  hold- 
ing up  a  volume  of  a  well-known  type 


to  critics,  "  is  a  book  by  a  poor  and 
pious  girl,  of  poor  and  pious  poems." 

No  one  could  better  introduce  a 
quotation.  Some  women  one  day 
found  their  way  into  the  auction  room 
to  a  miscellaneous  sale  of  furniture. 
They  were  excited  to  an  emulous  con- 
tention for  a  saucepan,  or  something  of 
the  sort.  Keese  gave  them  a  fair  chance 
with  a  final  appeal — "  Going,  going — 
'  the  woman  who  deliberates  is  lost ' — 
gone ! " 

■Weathering-  the  Storm  of  1828. 

For  a  long  series  of  years,  Samuel 
Slater,  of  Pawtucket,  experienced  un- 
interrupted   prosperity    in    his    great 
manufacturing  enterprises,  his  posses- 
sions increasing  in  number  and  value 
with  incredible  rapidity.     The  war  of 
1813  placed  the  seal  upon  his  high 
destiny.     By  that  time  he  had  got  so 
far  under  way,   and  his  preparations 
were    so    complete,    others    stood    no 
chance    for    competition    with    him. 
Cotton  cloth  then  sold  for  forty  cents 
the  yard,  and  the    demand    had    no 
limits.     The  opinion  became  prevalent, 
that  such  was  his  wealth,  such  was  his 
general  prudence    and    sagacity,  and 
especially  that  such  were  his  talents  as 
a  financier,  no  business  disaster  could 
reach    him.      However,  in    the    great 
revulsion    of    1828,    among    manufac- 
turers, it  was  made  manifest  that  he 
was  the  sole  endorser  of  three  or  four 
large  establishments  among  the  unfortu- 
nate.    Now,  for  the  first  time,  he  was 
known  to  make  his  own  business  a 
subject  of  conversation.      He  became 
seriously  alarmed  and  distressed ;  not 
that  two  or  three  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  under  ordinary  circumstances, 
would  ruin  or  essentially  injure  him — 
but,  such  was  the  general  panic  in  the 
community,  and  among  the  moneyed 
institutions    of   the    country,    that    a 
man's    solvency    was    estimated    in  a 
ratio  transverse  to  the  amount  of  his 
property  connected  with  manufactur- 


574 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


ing.  But,  as  usual,  the  storm  subsided. 
The  frantic  delirium  of  the  occasion 
passed  off,  and  thousands  wondered 
how  they  could  have  been  such  fools 
as  to  have  participated  in  the  excite- 
ment. And  the  financial  ability  of  Mr. 
Slater  was  not  like  the  seamanship  of 
the  mariner  who  simply  makes  a  quick 
voyage  on  a  calm  ocean,  but  is  unable 
to  navigate  his  ship  in  a  violent  tem- 
pest ;  it  had  long  been  distinguished  for 
the  former,  and  was  now  proved  emi- 
nently sufficient  for  the  latter  exigency. 
Instead  of  experiencing  any  ultimate 
injury,  it  is  believed  he  was  greatly 
enriched  by  the  occasion. 


Scraps  of  Auction  Wit. 

It  is  rarely  that  even  that  intrepid 
class  of  men,  short-hand  writers,  under- 
take to  jot  down  an  auctioneer's  run  of 
words — especially  one  so  witty  as  was 
the  late  John  Keese.  Somebody,  how- 
ever, appears  to  have  performed  this 
feat,  and  has  rendered  the  readers  of 
Harper  the  peculiar  favor  of  serving 
up  a  few  samples  of  Keese's  inimitable 
spirit  when  under  the  inspiration  of 
"  the  hammer  "  : 

"  N'alf,  n'alf,  n'alf ;  three,  do  I  have  ? 
three,  three;  quarter,  did  you  say? 
Never  let  me  hear  an  Irishman  cry 
quarter.  N'alf,  n'alf;  knocked  down 
to  Maguire  at  three  dollars  and  a  half. 
Now,  gentleman,  give  me  a  bid  for 
'  Byron's  Works,'  London  edition,  full 
of  illustrations.  Two  dollars,  two, 
two ;  an  eighth,  eighth,  eighth ;  quar- 
ter, quarter,  quarter — the  man  that 
deliberates  is  lost.  Moffat,  at  two  dol- 
lars and  a  quarter.  The  next  thing, 
gentlemen,  is  '  The  Four  Last  Things, 
by  Dr.  Bates.'  Fifty  cents,  fifty— TTAa^ 
are  they?  Bid  away,  gentlemen,  the 
book'll  tell  you  exactly  what  they  are  : 
five  eighths,  five  eighths ;  five  and  six, 
five  and  six.  Chase  has  it,  at  five  and 
six.  '  8top !  thafs  my  lid.''  Too 
late.  Sir,  all  booked  to  Chase;  had 
such  a  confounded    short  name,   got 


it  right  down.  Start,  if  you  please, 
gentlemen,  on  '  Protestant  Discussions, 
by  Dr.  Cummings,'  an  original  D.  D., — • 
none  of  your  modem  fiddle-dee-dees : 
three  quarters,  quarters  ;  seven  eighths ; 
do  I  have  seven  eighths  ? — yes,  it  is  all 
complete  ;  a  perfect  book,  gentlemen ; 
wants  nothing  but  a  reader.  Dollar; 
dollar,  n'eighth,  n'eighth.  Black  has 
it,  at  one  and  one  eighth.  Black  has  it, 
at  (me  and  one  eighth.  Now,  gentlemen, 
I  offer  you  a  superb  'Prayer  Book,' 
Appleton's  edition,  best  morocco,  gilt 
all  over,  like  the  sinner ;  three  quar- 
ters, three  quarters,  quarters,  quarters — 
look  at  it,  gentlemen.  Here,  Sirj  let 
me  show  it  up  to  this  goodly  com- 
pany ;  you've  looked  at  it  many  a  time 
with  more  care  than  profit:  seven 
eighths;  dollar;  n'eighth;  quarter, 
quarter — large  print,  gentlemen;  good 
for  those  whose  eyes  are  weak  and 
whose  faith  is  strong;  remember 
your  grandmothers,  gentlemen — three 
eighths,  three  eighths.  Brown  has  it, 
at  one  and  three  eighths.  Now,  gen- 
tlemen, I  come  to  a  line  of  splendid 
illustrated  English  books.  Be  so 
kind  as  to  bid  for  '  Finden's  Beauties 
of  Moore,'  cloth  extra,  full  of  superb 
illustrations,  and  I've  how  much  bid 
for  this  ?  Start,  if  you  please  ;  go  on. 
Two  dollars ;  and  a  half,  n'alf,  n'alf; 
three,  three;  n'alf,  n'alf;  four,  four, 
four.  These  are  all  English  books, 
printed  in  England,  bound  in  England, 
and  sacrificed  in  America  ;  and  I  have 
only  four  dollars  for  this  superb  book — 
quarter,  quarter,  quarter,  and  this  goes 
to  the  great  Maguire  [at  that  time  Kos- 
suth was  being  called  everywhere  the 
great  Magyar],  at  four  dollars  and  a 
quarter.  'The  Gems  of  Beauty'  is 
the  next  book,  gentlemen.  This  is  a 
glowing  book,  beautiful  as  Venus,  and 
bound  by  Vulcan  in  his  best  days,  red 
morocco,  well  read  outside,  gentlemen, 
and  what  do  I  hear  for  that  ?  Fifty 
cents— horrible  !  Two  dollars,  by  some 
gentleman  whose  feelings  are  outraged  ; 
quarter,   quarter;    half,   shall    I    say? 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


575 


Cash  has  it,  at  two  dollars  and  a  half. 
Now,  gentlemen,  for  the  '  Philosophical 
Works  of  John  Locke,'  best  edition, 
opened  by  John  Keese ;  start,  if  you 
please — go  on.  Dollar;  n'alf,  n'alf; 
three  quarters.  '  Bound  in  muslin  f  ' 
Yes,  Sir  ;  don't  you  respect  the  cloth  ? 
Seven  eighths,  seven  eighths ;  two, 
two,  two  ;  quarter,  quarter — brought 
three  dollars  tlie  other  day.  '  No,  it 
didn't!''  Well,  one  just  like  it  did, 
Moffat  takes  it,  at  two  dollars  and  a 
quarter.  Now  for  a  beautiful  Annual, 
gentlemen,  '  The  Ladies'  Diadem,' 
splendid  steel  engravings,  and  no  date, 
may  be  1855,  6,  7,  or  8.  Can't  tell ; 
they  publish  them  so  much  in  advance 
nowadays.  What  do  I  hear  ?  seventy- 
five,  seventy-five  ;  new  book,  jpublished 
in  England  ;  dollar,  dollar ;  eighth,  do 
I  hear  ?  eighth  ;  quarter ;  three  eighths, 
three  eighths  —  down.  What's  the 
name  ?  whose  bid  is  that  ?  Well,  just 
as  you  please  ;  quarter,  quarter — that's 
your  bid,  Sir ;  'gainst  you  out  there ; 
three  eighths,  that's  yours.  Sir ;  what's 
the  name  ?  '  Pll  take  it ;  you  seem  to 
te  tjery  anxious  to  sell  it?  No,  Sir,  I'm 
not  on  the  anxious  bench ;  those  are 
the  anxious  seats  where  you  are.  I 
take  a  decided  stand  on  that ;  I  face 
the  whole  congregation.  Go  on,  if 
you  please.  The  next  book,  '  Kirke 
White's  Remains,'  London  edition, 
with  splendid  portrait,  taken  from 
some  old  daguerreotype;  dollar,  dol- 
lar, dollar,  and  down  it  goes.  Who'll 
have  it  ?  Well,  start  it,  gentlemen. 
What  do  I  hear?  seventy-five  cents; 
seven  eighths,  seven  eighths  ;  dollar  by 
all  the  house  ;  n'eighth,  n'eighth.  Cash 
has  it,  at  a  dollar  and  one  eighth ; 
horrible !  I've  been  the  high  priest  of 
many  a  sacrifice.  Now,  gentlemen, 
who  wants  '  Ross's  last  Expedition  ; ' 
went  to  the  poles,  and,  no  doubt,  voted 
twice.  Start,  if  you  please — go  on ; 
dollar,  did  you  say  ?  quarter,  quarter, 
quarter;  bidder  here,  half,  half" — and 
so  on  through  the  catalogue. 


Virtue   of  One-Po-und   Notes   in 
Stopping-  a  Bank  Hun. 

In  1825  that  vast  corporation,  the 
Bank  of  England,  narrowly  saved  it- 
self from  a  ci'ash  that  would  have  been 
to  it  and  all  concerned  the  "  crack  of 
doom."  Mr.  Alexander  Baring  states 
that  the  gold  of  the  bank  was  drained 
to  within  a  very  few  thousand  pounds, 
— for,  although  the  published  returns 
showed  a  result  rather  less  scandalous, 
a  certain  Saturday  night  closed  with 
nothing  worth  mentioning  remaining  f 
Gold  was  expected,  but  its  receipt  was 
subject  to  the  winds  and  the  waves. 
The  mercantile  barometer  was  at  the 
fever  point,  and  there  was  intense  anx- 
iety for  money. 

The  day  for  eflecting  discounts  at 
the  bank  on  London  bills  was  one  full 
of  dramatic  scenes.  It  is  customary 
to  leave  them  the  day  before,  and  the 
answer  is  returned  on  Thursday.  The 
decision  is  usually  given  before  one 
o'clock,  at  the  latest.  Long  before 
that  hour  had  struck,  the  place  was 
besieged  ;  and  when  at  last  the  expect- 
ed time  came,  notice  was  given  that 
the  answers  could  not  be  announced 
before  two.  Two  o'clock  arrived,  and 
the  anxiety  of  those  who  waited  was 
at  the  highest  pitch  ;  and  then  another 
notice  was  given,  stating  that  a  further 
delay  must  take  place  till  half-past  two. 
During  the  whole  of  this  period  the 
directors  were  in  close  deliberation  in 
the  bank  parlor.  By  this  time  the 
assembly  was  immense ;  and,  when 
intimation  was  made  that  the  arrange- 
ments were  complete,  a  rush,  similar  to 
that  at  a  theatre,  was  made,  to  gain 
access  to  the  window  at  which  answers 
were  to  be  given.  The  confusion  was 
so  great  that  when  four  o'clock  arrived 
the  crowd  had  not  dispersed,  and  it 
actually  could  not  be  ascertained 
whether  the  bills  were  discounted,  or 
part  discounted,  or  rejected.  During 
the  ministration  of  the  clerk  at  the 
window  he  was  frequently  called  away 


576 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


to  receive  fresh  instructions.  So  great 
was  the  emergency,  that  the  principals 
of  some  of  the  first  mercantile  firms 
waited  in  person,  in  anxious  expectation, 
to  hear  their  fate.  The  directors  did 
all  in  their  power,  but  that  power  was 
limited.  The  confusion  spread.  The 
distress  continued  to  increase.  Trade 
was  at  a  stand.  The  labor  displayed 
in  the  bank  parlor  was  unceasing,  and 
the  labor  of  the  clerks  in  the  discount 
office  was  trebled.  The  counters  were 
besieged ;  the  drain  of  notes  and  specie 
for  the  country  was  prodigious.  The 
bank  determined  to  pay  their  last 
guinea.  Fortunately,  on  the  last  day 
of  the  week,  the  tide  turned.  Reeling 
with  fatigue  and  exhaustion,  the  officers 
of  the  bank  were  able  to  call  out,  at 
last,  "  All  is  well." 

The  incidental  mention  to  one  of  the 
directors  that  there  was  a  lox  of  one- 
pound  notes  ready  for  issue,  turned  the 
attention  of  the  authorities  to  the 
propriety  of  attempting  to  circulate 
them ;  and  the  memorable  declaration 
of  Mr.  Thornton,  in  1797,  probably  was 
called  to  mind,  that  it  was  the  want 
of  small  change,  not  a  necessity  for 
gold,  that  was  felt,  and  as  the  pressure 
on  the  country  banks  arose  from  the 
holders  of  the  small  notes,  it  was  sug- 
gested to  the  Government  that  the  pub- 
lic might,  perhaps,  receive  one-pound 
notes  in  place  of  sovereigns.  The 
Government  approved  of  the  idea,  and 
the  eflfect  was  electrical.  The  delight 
with  which  they  were  received  in  the 
country,  proved  that  the  want  of  a 
secure  small  currency  alone  was  felt ; 
and  that  the  notes  of  the  bank  were 
considered  eminently  safe,  is  proved 
from  the  fact  of  the  run  suddenly  stop- 
ping after  the  introduction  of  these 
small  bills.  In  Norwich,  the  Messrs. 
Gurney  staid  the  plague  by  merely 
placing  a  thick  pile  of  one-pound 
notes  of  the  Bank  of  England  on  the 
counter. 

It  has  frequently  been  stated,  that 
by  a  mere  accident  the  box  of  one- 


pound  notes  was  discovered.  But  such 
was  not  the  case.  It  was  not  recol- 
lected by  the  officials  that  there  were 
any  one-pound  notes ;  they  were  put 
by.  It  was  the  casual  observation  that 
there  were  such  things  in  the  house, 
which  suggested  to  the  directors  that 
it  would  be  possible  to  use  them — with 
what  result  was  soon  seen. 


Last  Kesort  for  Petroleum  Companies. 

Some  time  ago  a  number  of  parties, 
being  attacked  with  the  oleaginous 
fever,  resolved  to  associate  themselves 
together  and  dig  for  oil  in  the  petro- 
leum country.  They  selected  a  site  in 
the  woods,  which  had  been  "  prospect- 
ed "  and  highly  recommended  by  one 
of  their  number  (about  six  miles  from 
a  railroad  station  laid  down  on  the 
map,  but  not  yet  built),  and  having 
organized,  agreed  to  have  the  first  of  a 
series  of  proposed  wells  dug,  not  by 
contract,  as  was  usual,  but  by  day's 
work.  Having  procured  the  necessary 
tools,  including  a  compass  for  guidance 
in  the  woods,  the  work  was  duly  pro- 
ceeded with,  and  progress  from  time  to 
time  reported.  Calls  for  the  "  sioews  " 
were  also  made,  and  promptly  met,  un- 
til the  well  was  said  to  be  down  over 
one  hundred  feet,  with  a  good  show  for 
oil.  This  was  about  the  time  of  the 
"  Annual  Meeting,"  and  more  money 
being  called  for,  it  was  deemed  advisa- 
ble to  have  the  well  remeasured  and 
reported  on.  Judge  of  the  surprise  of 
the  stockholders  when,  to  use  the  lan- 
guage of  one  of  the  patriarchs  in  oil, 
the  force  of  tTie  oil  from  Mow  had  sJioved 
the  hole  up  to  eighty-six  feet !  Here  was 
a  stunner,  and  as  the  well  had  cost 
something  like  $400,  and  the  resources 
of  the  company  w^ere  limited,  matters 
have  ever  since  remained  in  statu  quo. 

The  latest,  and  probably  the  most 
feasible  proposal,  is  to  have  the  balance 
of  the  hole  talcen  up  and  cut  into  lengths 
for  pump  logs  ! 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


577 


Cigars  at  Public  Sale. 

There  was  a  public  sale  of  cigars  at 
the  auction  house  of  Messrs.  Flint,  in 
Front  street.  The  auctioneer  was  dwell- 
ing on  one  of  the  finest  lots  of  "  im- 
ported," and  according  to  custom  was 
passing  a  brand  among  the  company  to 
allow  those  who  saw  proper  to  judge 
of  the  quality  by  smoking.  Says  the 
narrator  of  this  :  A  man  near  me,  with 
a  florid  complexion,  curved  nose,  bright 
black  eyes,  and  withal  rather  a  respect- 
able representation  of  the  used-up  man 
of  the  world  who  bad  not  abused  him- 
self much,  took  two  of  tbe  last  three; 
the  remaining  one  being  handed  to  me. 
With  the  greatest  care  he  wrapped 
them  in  a  piece  of  paper,  and  placed 
them  in  the  watch  pocket  of  his  vest. 
I  inspected  the  one  I  took,  cut  off  the 
end,  and  was  about  reaching  for  a  light, 
when  a  hand  tapped  me  lightly  on  the 
shoulder.  Turning,  I  beheld  my  red- 
faced  friend  smiling  very  graciously, 
and,  holding  out  his  hand,  he  asked, 
with  the  utmost  politeness  : 

"  Will  you  allow  me  to  looTc  at  that 
cigar,  sir  ? " 

"  Certainly,  sir,"  I  replied,  handing 
it  to  him.  He  examined  it  very  mi- 
nutely, turning  it  over  and  over,  and 
placing  it  occasionally  to  his  nasal 
organ  by  way  of  variety.  When  my 
patience  was  nearly  exhausted,  and  I 
was  about  demanding  it  of  him,  he 
reached  for  a  candle,  placed  the  cigar 
complacently  between  his  lips,  and 
commenced  to  light  and  smoke  it  with 
the  greatest  expression  of  satisfaction  I 
ever  saw  pictured  on  a  countenance.  I 
must  confess  I  felt  somewhat  ruffled ; 
but  determined  to  show  him  that  I  did 
not  appreciate  his  "  good  joke,"  I  turn- 
ed my  back  to  him,  and  endeavored  to 
devote  my  attention  to  the  sale.  To 
my  astonishment  my  pleasant  neigh- 
bor again  touched  me  on  the  shoulder. 
I  met  his  gaze  with  anything  but  pleas- 
ure depicted  on  my  countenance. 

"  Sir  ! "  said  I. 
37 


He  smiled,  and,  looking  me  full  in 
the  face  all  the  time,  remarked,  with  a 
patronizing  air  that  made  me  almost 
feel  as  if  I  was  guilty  of  rudeness  to- 
ward him  : 

"  A  veiy  fine  cigar,  sir.  I  haven't 
smoked  a  cigar  like  that  in  a  twelve- 
month, sir.  See  what  a  beautiful  ash  ! 
If  I  was  luying  cigars,  that  would  be 
the  brand  for  me,  sir." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  I,  completely  floored. 
And  touching  his  hat  with  a  "  G-o-o-d 
morning,  sir,"  he  departed.  I  hastily 
inquired  of  several  who  he  was,  but 
none  knew  him  ;  and  as  we  cannot  tell 
how  soon  any  of  us  may  be  "  short "  in 
these  war  times,  I  forgive  him. 


Share  Sellers  and  Hope  Dancers. 

In  the  early  age  of  English  commer- 
cial manias,  some  of  the  most  unscrupu- 
lous and  most  successful  of  that  race 
of  stock  gamesters  were  men  in  sad- 
colored  clothes  and  lank  hair,  men  who 
called  cards  the  Devil's  books,  men 
who  thought  it  a  sin  and  a  scandal  to 
win  or  to  lose  twopence  over  a  back- 
gammon board.  It  was  in  the  last 
drama  of  the  famous  Shadwell  that 
the  hypocrisy  and  knavery  of  these 
speculators  were,  for  the  first  time,  ex- 
posed to  public  ridicule.  He  died  in 
November,  1692,  just  before  the  stock- 
jobbers came  upon  the  stage  ;  and  the 
epilogue  was  spoken  by  an  actor  dress- 
ed in  deep  mourning.  '  The  best  scene 
is  that  in  which  four  or  five  stern  non- 
conformists, clad  in  the  full  Puritan 
costume,  after  discussing  the  prospects 
of  the  Mousetrap  Company  and  the 
Fleakilling  Company,  examine  the  ques- 
tion whether  the  godly  may  lawfully 
hold  stock  in  a  company  for  bringing 
over  Chinese  rope-dancers. 

"  Considerable  men  have  shares,"  says 
one  austere  person  in  cropped  hair  and 
bands  ;  "  but  verily  I  question  whether 
it  be  lawful  or  not." 

These  doubts  are  removed  by  a 
stout  old  Roundhead  colonel,  who  had 


578 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


fought  at  Marston  Moor,  and  who  re- 
minds his  weaker  brother  that  the 
saints  need  not  see  the  rope-dancing, 
and  that,  in  all  probability,  there  will 
be  no  rope-dancing  to  see. 

"  The  thing,"  he  says,  "  is  likely  to 
take;  the  shares  will  sell  well;  and 
then  we  shall  not  care  whether  the 
dancers  come  over  or  no." 


Bed  Herrings  and  Dutch  Onions. 

A  STORY  is  told  by  an  English  travel- 
ler, in  the  times  of  the  Dutch  tulip 
mania,  which  is  scarcely  less  ludicrous 
than  that  of  the  sailor  who,  taking  a 
walk  in  the  beautiful  garden  of  a  specu- 
lator in  bulbs,  took  his  knife  to  the  pro- 
prietor's chief  treasure  in  the  shape  of 
a  tulip  root.  In  this  case,  the  proprie- 
tor was  a  merchant,  who  received  upon 
one  occasion  a  very  valuable  consign- 
ment of  merchandise  from  the  Levant. 
Intelligence  of  its  arrival  was  brought 
him  by  a  sailor,  who  presented  himself 
for  that  purpose  in  the  counting  house, 
among  bales  of  goods  of  every  descrip- 
tion. The  merchant,  to  reward  him  for 
his  news,  munificently  made  him  a 
present  of  a  fine  red  herring  for  his 
breakfast.  The  sailor  had,  it  appears, 
the  usual  partiality  of  that  class  for 
herrings,  and  seeing  a  bulb  very  like 
an  onion  lying  upon  the  counter  of 
this  liberal  trader,  and  thinking  it,  no 
doubt,  very  much  out  of  its  place  among 
silks  and  velvets,  he  slyly  seized  an  op- 
portunity and  slipped  it  into  his  pock- 
et, as  a  relish  for  his  herring.  He  got 
clear  off  with  his  prize,  and  proceeded 
to  the  quay  to  eat  his  breakfast.  Hard- 
ly was  his  back  turned  when  the  mer- 
chant missed  his  valuable  Semper  Au- 
gustus^ worth  three  thousand  florins,  or 
nearly  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  The 
whole  establishment  was  instantly  in 
an  uproar;  search  was  everywhere 
made  for  the  precious  root,  but  it  was 
not  to  be  found.  At  last  some  one 
thought  of  the  sailor. 

The  unhappy  merchant  sprang  into 


the  street  at  the  bare  suggestion.  His 
alarmed  household  followed  him.  The 
sailor,  simple  soul !  had  not  thought 
of  concealment.  He  was  found  quietly 
sitting  on  a  coil  of  ropes,  masticating 
the  last  morsel  of  his  "  onion."  Little 
did  he  dream  that  he  had  been  eating 
a  breakfast  whose  cost  might  have  re- 
galed a  whole  ship's  crew  sumptuously 
for  a  twelvemonth  ;  or,  as  the  plunder- 
ed merchant  himself  expressed  it, 
"  might  have  sumptuously  feasted  the 
Prince  of  Orange  and  the  whole  court 
of  the  Stadtholder."  Cleopatra  caused 
pearls  to  be  dissolved  in  wine  to  drink 
the  health  of  Antony;  Sir  Richard 
Whittington  was  as  foolishly  magnifi- 
cent in  an  entertainment  to  King  Hen- 
ry the  Fifth  ;  and  Sir  Thomas  Gresham 
drank  a  diamond,  dissolved  in  wine, 
to  the  health  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  when 
she  opened  the  Royal  Exchange;  but 
the  breakfast  of  this  roguish  Dutchman 
was  as  splendid  as  either.  He  had  an 
advantage,  too,  over  his  wasteful  prede- 
cessors ;  their  gems  did  not  improve  the 
taste  or  the  wholesomeness  of  their 
wine,  while  his  tulip  was  quite  delicious 
with  his  red  herring.  The  most  unfor- 
tunate part  of  the  business  for  him 
was,  that  he  remained  in  prison  some 
months,  on  a  charge  of  felony,  preferred 
against  him  by  the  merchant. 


Reasons  given  by  Thomas  H.  Perkins 
for  Declining  a  Proposed  Coffee 
Speculation. 

An  instance  of  the  readiness  with 
which  that  eminent  merchant,  the  late 
Thomas  H.  Perkins,  of  Boston,  could 
sometimes  decide  on  the  advantages  to 
be  reasonably  expected  from  commer- 
cial operations  when  proposed,  will 
serve  to  show  the  extent  of  his  infor- 
mation, and  the  value  of  such  informa- 
tion in  enabling  those  who  engage  in 
commerce  to  act  with  clear  discern- 
ment, instead  of  trusting  to  blind  luck 
or  chance  in  speculation. 

The  particular  instance  referred  to 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


579 


was  tWs :  At  a  certain  period  the  price 
of  coffee,  which  for  a  long  time  pre- 
viously had  been  as  high  as  twenty-five 
cents,  had  declined  to  fifteen  cents  per 
pound,  and  Mr.  Perkins  being  in  New 
York  for  a  day  or  two,  a  wish  was  ex- 
pressed by  a  certain  party  to  have  it 
suggested  to  him  that  the  temporary 
depression  having  made  it  a  fit  subject 
for  speculation,  there  was  an  oppor- 
tunity— should  he  be  disposed  to  en- 
gage in  it  on  the  extended  scale  of 
trade  to  which  he  was  accustomed — to 
secure  a  large  quantity  on  even  more 
advantageous  terms.  As  coffee  was  an 
article  out  of  the  line  of  his  usual  op- 
erations, and  not  likely  to  attract  his 
particular  attention,  the  subject  was 
mentioned  to  him  rather  for  entertain- 
ment, in  conversing  upon  the  occur- 
rences of  the  time  and  the  news  of  the 
day,  than  in  the  belief  that  he  would 
give  it  a  serious  thought. 

Without  hesitation,  and  with  the 
ease  and  precision  of  an  able  lawyer  or 
surgeon  in  giving  an  opinion  on  any 
case  presented  to  either  of  them  pro- 
fessionally, he  answered  to  this  effect : 
"  The  depression  in  coffee  is  not '  tem- 
porary.' Whoever  makes  purchases  now 
at  fourteen,  or  even  at  thirteen  cents, 
will  find  that  he  has  made  a  mistake, 
unless  he  means  to  take  advantage  of 
any  transient  demand  to  dispose  of  it 
speedily.  There  are  more  coffee  trees 
now  in  bearing  than  are  sufficient  to 
supply  the  whole  world,  by  a  propor- 
tion that  I  could  state  with  some  pre- 
cision if  necessary.  The  decline  in 
price  is  owing  to  accumulation,  which 
will  be  found  to  increase,  particularly 
as  there  are  new  plantations  yet  to 
come  forward.  Coffee  will  eventually 
fall  to  ten  cents,  and  probably  telow 
that,  and  will  remain  depressed  for 
some  years.  The  culture  of  it  will  be 
diminished.  Old  plantations  will  be 
suffered  to  die  out,  and  others  will,  in 
some  cases,  be  grubbed  up  that  the 
land  may  be  converted  to  new  uses. 
At  length,  the  plantations  will  be  found 


inadequate  to  the  supply  of  the  world. 
But  it  requires  five  or  six  years  for  the 
coffee  tree  to  reach  its  full  bearing. 
Time,  of  course,  will  be  required  for  the 
necessary  increase,  and  the  stocks  on 
hand  will  be  diminishing  in  the  mean 
time.  A  rise  must  follow.  Whoever  buys 
coffee  twelve  or  fifteen  years  hence  at  the 
market  price,  whatever  it  may  be,  will 
probably  find  it  rising  on  his  hands,  and 
fortunes  may  be  made,  unless  specula- 
tive movements  should  have  disturbed 
the  regular  course  of  events." 

With  so. clear  an  outline  for  the  fu- 
ture, it  was  interesting  to  observe  what 
followed.  Coffee  did  fall,  gradually,  to 
less  than  ten  cents,  and  remained  low. 
One  consequence,  usual  in  such  cases, 
ensued.  The  consumption  increased. 
Misled,  perhaps,  by  this,  and  an  im- 
patient desire  to  be  foremost  in  secur- 
ing advantages  which  by  that  time 
were  generally  foreseen,  parties  began 
to  move  in  a  speculative  spirit  about 
five  years  before  the  time  thus  indi- 
cated. They  made  great  purchases, 
and  large  quantities  were  held  in  ex- 
pectation of  profit.  Coffee  rose  con- 
siderably. Some  of  them  secured  a 
moderate  profit  while  they  could. 
Others  argued  that  as  coffee  had  been 
at  twenty-five  cents,  there  was  no  rea- 
son why  it  should  not  attain  that  price 
again,  and  determined  to  wait  for 
greater  profits.  The  stimulant  given 
to  the  demand  by  withholding  large 
quantities  from  sale  developed  larger 
stocks  than  were  supposed  to  exist ;  the 
movement  was  found  to  be  premature, 
and  coffee  fell  again  in  price.  Immense 
sums  were  lost.  Bankruptcy  followed, 
with  many  a  heartache  that  might  have 
been  prevented  had  the  same  reasoning 
guided  the  action  of  those  thus  concern- 
ed as  that  which  governed  the  judgment 

of  Mr.  Perkins. 

— « 

Rise  and  Reminiscences  of  the  Trade- 
Sales. 

The  first  trade  sale  of  books  in  New 
York  was  held  at  the  old  Tontine  Cof- 


580 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


fee  House,  about  the  year  1805.  Ma- 
tliew  Carey  and  other  leading  publish- 
ers of  the  day  had  borrowed  money  on 
the  security  of  some  of  their  surplus 
stock,  and,  not  being  able  to  meet  their 
obligations  on  maturity,  they  had  the 
books  sold  at  auction  by  one  Robert 
McMenamy.  The  trade  were  invited  by 
circular  to  be  present,  and  some  ac- 
tually came.  After  the  sale  there  was  a 
dinner,  at  which  there  was  much  wine- 
drinking  and  speech-making,  and  the 
auctioneer  received  his  notes  from  the 
buyers.  It  is  said  that  not  more  than 
half  of  them  were  ever  paid,  and  the 
unlucky  auctioneer  was  forced  to  fail. 
At  intervals  until  1826  similar  book 
auctions  were  held,  but  in  that  year 
P.  W.  Johnson  held  the  first  formal 
trade  sale  in  New  York,  in  a  house 
which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present 
United  States  Hotel  in  Fulton  street, 
fronting  the  ferry.  The  whole  cata- 
logue w^as  printed  on  a  sheet  of  letter 
paper,  and  the  sale  lasted  from  ten 
A.  M.  until  six  p.  M. 

Johnson  held  his  trade  sales  for  three 
or  four  years  subsequently  at  the  old 
Panorama  Sales  Rooms,  No.  157  Broad- 
way. The  rival  house  of  Wiggins  & 
Pearson  were  doing  business  at  No. 
169  Broadway,  and  held  a  trade  sale, 
the  catalogue  of  which  was  printed  on 
an  imperial  folio  sheet,  folded  in  12mo. 
But  Johnson  failed,  and  was  succeeded 
by  John  Doyle,  and  the  rival  concern 
followed  suit,  and  the  new  house  of 
Pearson  &  Gurley  hung  out  its  sign. 
Doyle  had  a  short  reign,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Peasley  &  Cowperthwaite. 
At  about  the  same  time,  G.  W.  Lord 
was  holding  trade  sales  on  his  own  ac- 
count ;  so  that  there  were  actually  thre^ 
concerns  in  the  field  at  once.  In  the 
spring  of  1832  came  the  cholera,  and 
with  its  panic  a  crash  among  the  auc- 
tioneers. All  three  houses  failed,  but 
in  September  of  that  year,  J.  E.  Cooley 
held  a  trade  sale,  which  he  repeated 
annually  in  his  own  name  until  1838, 
when  he  retired,  and  placed  the  busi- 


ness in  the  hands  of  his  clerks,  who 
formed  a  copartnership  under  the  style 
of  Bangs,  Richards  &  Piatt.  Mr.  Cooley 
went  to  Europe  for  several  years,  but  in 
1847  formed  the  house  of  Cooley,  Keese 
&  Hill,  with  which  he  remained  until 
1850,  when  he  retired  from  business 
altogether.  Two  trade  sales  w^ere  held 
simultaneously  in  tlie  city  from  1847  to 
1855,  when  trouble  arose  among  the 
trade  with  reference  to  the  practice  of 
duplicating  lots  over  and  above  the 
amount  offered  in  the  catalogue.  Bangs 
&  Company  were  then  the  official  auc- 
tioneers, but  the  controversy  waxed  so 
warm  between  the  Harpers  and  other 
leading  publishers,  that  the  American 
Publishers'  Association  was  formed,  the 
new  house  of  Geo.  A.  Leavitt  &  Com- 
pany was  organized  (the  principal 
partner  in  which  was  a  son-in-law  of 
Mr.  Cooley),  and  Bangs  &  Company 
were  deserted  by  all  except  Messrs.  Har- 
pfers  and  a  few  others.  The  result  was 
that  the  Harpere  sold  about  sixty  thou- 
sand dollars  of  their  own  publications 
at  Bangs's  sale,  while  the  young  house 
was  flooded  with  business.  In  the 
spring  and  fall  of  1856  they  are  said  to 
have  sold  nearly  four  million  three  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars'  worth  of  books. 


Bold  but  Calamitous  Speculation  of 
John  Guest. 

In  1800,  Mr.  John  Guest,  one  of  the 
most  upright  and  enterprising  mer- 
chants ever  resident  in  Philadelphia, 
established  the  largest  American  house 
in  Europe,  locating  the  chief  house  in 
London,  under  the  firm  of  John  Guest 
&  Co. ;  with  a  branch  in  Philadelphia, 
under  the  firm  of  Guest  &  Bancker; 
one  at  Baltimore,  under  the  firm  of 
Guest,  Atterbury  &  Co. ;  besides  others 
at  Charleston,  New  York,  Pitts- 
burg, &c. 

All  these  houses  became  embarrassed 
about  the  year  1810,  owing  to  a  bold 
and  laudable  speculation,  founded 
upon    information   derived    from    the 


CHANCE  DEALINGS  AND  VENTURES. 


681 


American  minister,  Mr.  Pinckney,  then 
residing  in  London.  In  anticipation 
of  a  war  between  America  and  Eng- 
land, Mr.  Guest  made  large  purchases 
of  drygoods  in  England,  Ireland,  and 
Scotland,  and  shipped  the  chief  part 
of  them  to  the  house  in  Philadelphia, 
when,  very  unexpectedly,  the  aflfairs 
between  England  and  America  took  a 
favorable,  pacific  turn,  and  the  news 
was  received  at  Annapolis  by  the  arri- 
val of  a  British  vessel  called  the  Bram- 
ble, stating  the  fact,  and  causing  all 
European  goods  to  fall,  even  below 
their  real  value  and  cost  of  importa- 
tion. A  large  portion  of  these  im- 
mense importations  were  hypothecated, 
and  placed  in  the  stores  of  Willing  & 
Francis,  as  the  agents  of  David  Par- 
rish,  and  a  slight  effort  made  to  sustain 
the  London  house ;  goods  still  fell  in 
price,  and  were  greatly  sacrificed  as  the 
time  for  their  redemption  arrived.  All 
hopes  of  upholding  the  concern  were 
now  abandoned,  and  the  several  firms 
closed,  yieldiDg  up  to  the  London 
house  enough  to  pay  the  English  cred- 
itors something  less  than  a  dividend  of 
tw^enty-five  per  cent.  The  partner  in 
Philadelphia  had  taken  care  to  pay  all 
the  American  creditors  in  full. 

But  the  predicted  war  did  take  place, 
soon  after — in  1813 — and  all  that  Mr. 
Pinckney  promised  was  fulfilled.  Dur- 
ing the  embargo  between  the  two  coun- 
tries goods  advanced,  but  now  they 
rose  to  extreme  high  prices ;  and  if  all 
the  goods  sacrificed  by  the  different 
firms  could  have  been  retained  until 
the  period  in  question,  it  is  believed 
that,  after  securing  the  payment  of  the 
interest  to  the  English  loan  creditors 
(there  were  no  others),  John  Guest  & 
Co.  would  have  realized,  after  paying 
twenty  shillings  on  the  pound  to  all 
their  creditors,  almost  millions  of  dol- 
lars, to  be  distributed  among  the  differ- 
ent co-partners. 

Mr.  Guest  was  one  of  the  great  pio- 
neers of  the  trade  of  Philadelphia  ;  his 
enterprise  and  perseverance  paved  the 


way,  half  a  century  since,  for  the  great 
business  she  now  enjoys.  No  other 
American,  in  his  time,  obtained  so  ex- 
tensive a  credit  in  England;  and  no 
other  commercial  house  ever  carried  on 
business  upon  so  large  a  scale.  His 
failure  to  reach  the  highest  pinnacle  of 
commercial  success  was  owing  simply 
to  a  difference  in  a  few  months  of  time, 
founded  upon  an  almost  certain  con- 
catenation of  events,  which  did  take 
place,  as  his  friend,  Mr.  Pinckney,  had 
predicted. 

Missing  a  Good  Chance. 

A  SINGLE  act  of  a  man's  life  may 
make  him  remarkable,  if  not  eminent, 
and  may  tend  to  complete  the  history 
of  a  country  and  people  in  their  rapid 
strides  of  improvement.  The  follow- 
ing anecdote  will  illustrate  the  prin- 
ciple : 

Anthony  Duch6,  a  French  refugee, 
came  over  with  his  wife  to  Pennsylva- 
nia, in  the  same  ship  with  William 
Penn,  who  had  borrowed  the  small 
sum  of  about  thirty  pounds  from  him. 
After  the  arrival,  Penn  offered  him,  in 
lieu  of  the  return  of  the  money,  "  a 
good  bargain,"  as  he  said — a  square  of 
ground  between  Third  and  Fourth 
streets,  Philadelphia,  with  only  the 
exception  of  the  burial  ground  occu- 
pied by  Friends  on  Mulberry  and 
Fourth  street.  It  was  first  offered  to 
Thomas  Lloyd,  whose  wife  was  the  first 
person  buried  there.  The  proprietor, 
Mr.  Penn,  observing  that  he  knew  the 
lot  was  cheap,  but  that  he  had  a  mind 
to  favor  him,  in  return  for  his  kind- 
ness, Mr.  Duche  replied, 

"  You  are  very  good,  Mr.  Penn,  and 
the  offer  might  prove  advantageous, 
but  the  money  would  suit  me  better." 

"  Blockhead  !  "  rejoined  the  proprie- 
tor, provoked  at  such  an  intended 
benefit  being  overlooked ;  "  Well,  well, 
thou  shalt  have  thy  money ;  but  canst 
thou  not  see  that  this  will  be  a  great 
city  in  a  very  short  time  ? " 


582 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"  So  I  was  paid,"  said  Duche,  who 
told  the  story,  "  and  have  ever  since 
repented  my  own  folly." 


Foundation  of  tlie  Friendship  between 
Coates  and  Girard. 

Samuel  Coates,  of  Philadelphia, 
reckoned  three  remarkable  men  among 
his  particular  friends — Dr.  Rush,  Ste- 
phen Girard,  and  Dr.  Physick.  With 
JMr.  Girard  his  friendship  was  some- 
what peculiar,  Girard  being,  at  the 
time  of  its  commencement,  a  very  ac- 
tive philanthropist,  in  connection  with 
the  yellow  fever  and  the  hospital.  It 
was  easy  for  those  who  could  afford  it, 
to  give  money  to  the  distressed  and 
forsaken ;  but  a  much  more  formidable 
difficulty  was  to  obtain  competent  per- 
sons, or,  in  fact,  any  persons  at  all,  to 
risk,  as  it  was  then  universally  be- 
lieved, their  lives.  Many  of  the  sick 
suffered  most  shockingly  by  neglect, 
from  the  dread  of  contagion ;  and  the 
feeling  in  regard  to  service  in  wards  of 
yellow  fever  patients,  amounted  to  hor- 
ror. Stephen  Girard  and  John  Connel- 
ly were,  at  some  intervals,  the  only 
nurses  in  the  calamitous  yellow  fever 


hospital  of  1793.  They  spent  their 
whole  time  in  the  building,  attended 
the  sick  personally,  fed  them,  adminis- 
tered medicine  to  them,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  gave  all  practicable  assist- 
ance and  advice — and  this  was  much — 
to  the  external  members  of  the  commit- 
tee of  public  safety,  who  were  obliged 
to  volunteer  on  this  melancholy  service. 
In  tlie  frequent  intercourse  thus  occa- 
sioned between  them,  near  the  beds  of 
their  sick  and  dying  neighbors,  their 
friendship  was  first  cemented.  At  a 
later  period,  the  attention  of  the  great 
merchant  could  not  be  withheld  from  a 
director  of  the  Bank  of  the  United 
States;  and  the  probity  with  which 
both  that  institution,  and  the  private 
affairs  of  his  new  friend  were  conduct- 
ed, was  exactly  adapted,  as  is  well 
known,  to  confirm  the  respect  and  es- 
teem of  such  a  man  as  Girard.  The 
Pennsylvania  hospital  was  in  want  of 
funds;  and  Girard,  who  had  freely 
exposed  his  life  to  what  was  deemed 
the  most  imminent  and  appalling  dan- 
ger, now  contributed  liberally  in  money 
also.  The  conversations  which  took 
place  on  the  occasions  when  these  aids 
were  solicited,  gave  rise  to  many  inci- 
dents and  scenes  of  humor. 


PART  ELEVENTH. 


Anecdotes  of  CuRiom  Trades  and  Objects  of 

Traffic 


PAET   ELEVENTH. 

Anecdotes  of  Curious  Trades  and  Objects  of  Traffic. 

NOVEL    BUSINESS   TRANSACTIONS ;     BUYING,    SELLING,    BARTERING,  AND    SIIOPKEEPING,  CHARAC- 
TERISTIC   OF   DIFFERENT   COUNTRIES;     RUSES,    JEUX   d'eSPRITS,    AND   DROLLERIES. 


There  is  no  man  who  ia  rot  in  some  degree  a  merchant ;  who  has  rot  Bomething  to  buy  or  some- 
thing to  sell. — Samuel  Johnson. 

"Without  moui  ting  by  degrees,  a  man  cannot  attain  to  high  things.— Sidney. 

A  eiijgle  farthing  is  the  semlna  of  wealth— the  seed  of  a  golden  progeny. — Anon, 
Then  let  us  beat  this  ample  field, 
Try  what  the  opei.',  wliat  the  covert,  yield.— Pope. 

How  many  things  there  are  in  this  world,  of  which  D  ogems  bath  no  need  ! — Izaak  "Walton. 
In  gospel  phrase,  t1  eir  chapmen  th(  y  bitray. 
Their  shops  are  dens,  the  buyer  is  their  prey. — Dryden. 


Before  and  Behind  the  Connter. 

Every  object  or  article  purchased  in 
a  Roman  shop,  by  an  English  or  Amer- 
ican customer,  is  rated  at  very  nearly 
double  its  value;  and  the  universal 
custom  there,  even  among  the  people 
themselves,  is  to  carry  on  a  haggling 
market  of  aggression  on  the  part  of  the 
purchaser,  and  defence  on  that  of  the 
vender,  which  is  often  as  comical  as  it 
is  disgusting. 

In  Nataletti's  shop,  a  scene,  is  de- 
scribed as  having  some  time  since  oc- 
curred between  the  salesman  and  a  lady 
purchaser,  which  would  doubtless  have 
amazed  the  parties  behind  and  before 
the  counters  of  Howell  &  James,  Stew- 
art, etc.  The  lady,  after  choosing  her 
stuff  and  the  quantity  she  required, 
was  observed  to  begin  a  regular  attack 
upon  the  shopman ;  it  was  mezza  voce, 
indeed,  but  continuous,  eager,  vehe- 
ment, pressing,  overpowering,  to  a 
degree  indescribable— and  the  luckless 
man  having  come  for  a  moment  from 


behind  the  shelter  of  his  long  table,  the 
lady  smartly  seized  him  by  the  arm, 
and  holding  him  fast,  argued  her  point 
with  increasing  warmth.  She  next 
caught  hold  of  the  breast  of  his  coat, 
her  face  within  a  few  inches  of  his, 
and  the  amazonian  stream  still  pouring 
forth.  Her  husband  meanwhile  stood 
by  and  smiled  approvingly  at  the  thrif- 
ty and  eloquent  vocabulary  of  his  wife. 
The  shopman  looked  disgusted. 

Going  into  Gayiati's,  in  the  Corso — 
the  great  omnium  gatherum,  or  variety 
store — for  a  morning's  shopping,  an 
English  visitor  says  that  he  noticed 
first  an  attempt  to  cheat  a  lady,  in 
giving  change  for  gold.  Looking  at 
some  fans  which  were  being  shown  to 
an  Italian  purchaser  at  the  same  time, 
the  visitor  took  up  one,  which  the 
shopkeeper  said  was  worth  eighteen 
scudi — the  Roman  buyer  took  up  an- 
other, which  had  been  shown  the  Eng- 
lish visitor  at  the  same  price,  and  with 
sundry  "  nods  and  becks  and  wreathed 
smiles"  at    the  shopman,  said  in  an 


586 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


under  tone,  "  Dunque  quindici  ? "  The 
latter  nodded,  returned  the  significant 
pantt)mine,  and  added,  "  Eh  I  capite." 


Traits  of  the  Shop  in  Havana. 

The  stores  in  Havana  are  designated 
by  different  names,  which,  however, 
have  no  reference  to  their  contents — 
as,  "  The  Bomb,"  a  favorite  one ;  "  The 
Stranger;"  "Virtue;"  etc.,  but  the 
name  of  the  owner  never  appears  on 
the  signboard.  The  principal  com- 
mercial houses  have  neither  sign  nor 
name,  and  can  only  be  distinguised 
from  the  larger  private  dwellings,  by 
the  bales  of  goods,  or  boxes  of  sugar 
and  bags  of  coffee,  that  are  piled  up  in 
their  lower  stories ;  the  merchant  and 
his  family,  and  clerks,  living  in  the  up- 
per part. 

Nearly  all  the  retail  shops  are  owned 
by  Spaniards ;  and,  with  very  few  ex- 
ceptions, none  but  men  are  seen  behind 
the  counters.  The  Parisian  shop  girl, 
so  celebrated  for  her  skill  in  selling, 
might,  however,  here  learn  a  lesson,  not 
only  in  overcharging,  but  also  in  that 
assiduity  in  serving,  that  will  scarcely 
permit  the  visitor  to  leave  without  pur- 
chasing something.  Let  the  novice 
take  care'  how  he  offers  one  half  the 
price  asked  for  an  article,  if  he  does 
not  wish  it,  for  that,  not  unfrequently, 
is  its  real  one ;  in  almost  every  case, 
one  fourth  will  be  deducted. 

"  How  much  for  this  xippee-xappee 
(hippe  happe,)  ? "  inquires  a  customer 
at  the  hat  merchant's.  "  Twelve  dol- 
lars." "  I  will  give  you  six."  "  Say 
eight  ? "  "  Only  six."  "  It  is  a  very 
fine  one,  sefior,  take  it  for  seven ; "  and 
finding  that  to  be  about  its  value,  the 
bargain  is  closed.  "You  shall  have 
this  cane  for  a  dollar,"  said  a  Catalan 
to  a  gentleman  who  was  examining  his 
various  articles  spread  out  under  one 
of  the  arcades ;  the  gentleman  not  wish- 
ing to  buy  it,  offered  two  rials,  and  it 
was  handed  to  him,  the  latter  giving 
the  trader  two  reales  sevillanas,  but  he 


insisted  on  fuertes^  and  the  cane  wa3 
bought  for  one  fourth  the  price  asked. 
The  ladies,  in  shopping,  do  not,  in 
general,  leave  their  volantes,  but  have 
the  goods  brought  to  them, — the  strict- 
ness of  Spanish  etiquette  forbidding 
such  dainty  mortals  to  deal  with  a 
shopman  ;  and  it  is  only  when  the  seller 
of  goods  happens  to  be  of  their  own 
sex,  that  they  venture  into  a  store. 


Bad  Operation  in  Leather. 

Deacon  Johnson  was  in  the  shoe 
business  in  a  certain  village,  and  on 
one  occasion  he  bought  a  large  lot  of 
leather  of  a  dealer,  larger  than  he  need- 
ed, and  more  than  be  would  have 
bought  but  for  the  fact  that  the  seller 
was  hard  pressed,  and  let  him  have  it 
at  a  little  reduction.  The  deacon 
stored  it  in  his  barn,  and  "  calculated  " 
that  the  price  would  rise  and  that  he 
should  make  a  good  spec  out  of  it. 
But  just  then  the  panic  and  the  hard 
times  came  on,  and  leather,  like  every- 
thing else,  went  down  flat.  After  a 
while,  the  deacon  came  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  he  should  have  to  wait  a  long 
time  for  the  price  to  come  up  so  as  to 
enable  him  to  get  his  money  back. 
One  night  his  wife  waked  him  out  of 
a  sound  sleep,  and  told  him  that  she 
heard  a  noise  in  the  bam,  and  she  was 
sure  that  thieves  were  there,  stealing 
his  leather.  It  took  her  some  time  to 
rouse  him  enough  to  understand  what 
was  to  pay ;  and  when  he  did,  he 
growled  out :  "  Well,  if  it  falls  on  their 
hands  as  it  has  on  mine,  they'll  wish 
they  had  let  it  alone." 


Mengrin,  the  French  Pencil  Seller. 

The  most  celebrated  and  the  most 
successful  charlatan  of  Paris  was  Men- 
gin,  the  itinerant  pencil  seller.  He 
lately  died,  leaving  behind  him  a  for- 
tune of  some  four  hundred  thousand 
dollars. 

No  one  can  have  passed  many  days 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND  OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


587 


in  Paris,  within  the  last  ten  years,  with- 
out having  observed,  on  the  Place  de  la 
Bourse,  the  Place  du  Chatelet,  or  some 
other  open  space,  the  conspicuous  fig- 
ure of  a  tall,  handsome  man,  with  a 
brass  helmet  and  plumes,  and  a  beard 
— the  very  model  of  that  of  Hudibras, 
"  in  shape  and  hue  most  like  a  tile  " — 
standing  on  the  box  of  a  light  cart,  and 
haranguing  a  crowd.  He  wore  a  costly 
mantle  of  green  velvet  embroidered 
with  gold,  and  on  the  fingers  of  his 
white  hands  were  many  rings  of  great 
price.  Behind  him  was  a  squire,  who 
from  time  to  time  blew  a  trumpet 
to  attract  public  attention,  and  whose 
garments  were  only  less  splendid  than 
those  of  his  master.  The  only  end  or 
aim  of  all  this  pomp  and  circumstance 
was  the  sale  of  lead  pencils  at  two  sous 
apiece. 

Mengin  possessed  in  a  high  degree 
the  art  of  commanding  the  attention 
of  his  audience.  The  laughs  he  raised 
were  rare,  but  his  face  was  full  of  prom- 
ise of  something  good  coming,  and 
thus  he  kept  alive  curiosity. 

Though  his  speeches  occupied  a  con- 
siderable time  in  the  delivery,  he  was 
essentially  a  man  of  few  words.  He 
made  long  pauses,  which  were  filled  up 
by  pantomime,  and  making  grotesque 
sketches  on  a  slate,  to  exhibit  to  his 
audience  the  superior  quality  of^  his 
pencils. 

The  substance  of  every  one  of  his 
discourses  was,  that  he  had  originally 
set  up  in  a  quiet  shop,  but  finding  that 
he  could  not  get  a  living  in  it,  he  had 
resolved  to  become  a  quack,  and  that 
from  the  hour  of  his  taking  that  reso- 
lution he  had  done  well. 

"  Why,"  he  would  say,  "  do  I  rig  my- 
self up  in  this  ludicrous  costume?  I 
will  tell  you  candidly.  Because,  going 
about  in  this  dress  I  sell  a  great  many 
pencils ;  and  if  I  staid  at  home  in  a 
warehouse  coat,  I  should  sell  very  few. 
I  am  a  quack,  I  admit,  but  I  am  an 
honest  one,  for  I  sell  a  good  article ; 
and  if  you  want  a   pencil,  I  doubt 


whether  you  will  get  as  good  a  one 
anywhere  else  for  the  money." 

The  speech  was  always  followed  by 
numerous  demands,  which  he  supplied 
from  cases  packed  in  the  cart.  In 
course  of  time  he  was  wont  to  speak 
of  the  large  fortune  he  had  made,  and 
he  v/ould  not  unfrequently  turn  out  the 
contents  of  several  rouleaux  of  gold,  and 
count  them  in  the  public  view. 


Portuguese  Diamond  Mercliant's  Bar- 
gain with  Philip  the  Second. 

A  Portuguese  merchant  brought 
an  exceedingly  brilliant  diamond  to 
court  one  day,  about  which  all  the 
courtiers  were  in  ecstasies,  but  which 
the  king,  being  accustomed  to  rare 
things,  did  not  so  much  extol.  "  Well," 
said  his  majesty,  addressing  the  mer- 
chant, "  what  would  you  ask  a  gentle- 
man for  this  diamond,  if  one  took  a 
fancy  to  it  ? "  "  Sire,"  answered  the 
dealer,  "  seventy  thousand  ducats,  the 
price  which  I  gave  for  this  offspring  of 
the  sun."  "  Why  did  you  give  so  much 
money  ?  who  did  you  suppose  would 
purchase  it  ? "  inquired  the  king.  "  I 
knew,"  replied  the  shrewd  merchant, 
"  that  there  was  a  Philip  the  Second  in 
the  world."  The  reply  of  the  flatterer 
pleased  King  Philip  more  than  the 
beauty  of  the  diamond,  and  he  imme- 
diately ordered  that  great  sum  to  be 
paid  the  merchant,  with  a  royal  gift  in 
addition. 


English  Idol  Manufacturers. 

It  is  a  curious  and  not  very  flattering 
fact  that  Christian  manufacturers,  in  the 
foremost  Christian  land,  should  be  en- 
gaged in  producing  objects  of  idolatry 
with  which  to  supply  heathen  coun- 
tries. Alluding  to  this  description  of 
English  trade,  the  editor  of  Punch  has 
a  few  telling  paragraphs — not  "  found- 
ed upon,"  but  all  fact :  Having  learned 
from  the  "  Record  "  (says  Punch,)  that 
a  very  brisk  manufacture  of  Hindoo 


588 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


idols  is  carried  on  by  a  most  respect- 
able and  orthodox  house  at  Birming- 
ham, we  have,  though,  we  confess  it, 
with  some  difficulty,  obtained  a  list  of 
the  articles.  The  bill  we  have  had 
duly  translated  from  Hindostanee  : 

Yamen — Oocl  of  Death :  In  fine  cop- 
per ;  very  tasteful. 

ISTiBOND — King  of  the  Demons:  In 
great  variety.  The  giant  he  rides  is 
of  the  boldest  design,  and  his  sabre  of 
the  present  style. 

Varonnin — God  of  the  Sun:  Very 
spirited.  Crocodile  in  brass,  and  whip 
in  silver. 

Canberen— G^o<^  of  Wealth:  This 
god  is  of  the  most  exquisite  workman- 
ship ;  having  stimulated  the  best  pow- 
ers of  the  manufacturers. 

Smaller  Demi-Gods  and  Minor 
Demons  in  evert  variety. 

No  Credit ;  and  Dicounts  allowed  for 
Beady  Money. 


Eastern  Trade  in  Ostrich  and  Bird-of- 
Paradise  Feathers. 

Leghorn,  after  the  decline  of  its 
commerce  with  the  Levant,  remained 
the  great  entrepot  of  ostrich  feathers, 
and  did  business  in  that  article  to  the 
amount  of  about  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars  annually.  Now,  however,  Lon- 
don is  the  principal  centre  of  that 
curious  trade.  Seven  eighths  of  the  os- 
trich feathers  which  Leghorn  receives 
come  from  Egypt,  and  the  rest  from 
Tripoli  and  Aleppo.  About  three 
fourths  of  the  whole  are  sent  to  Paris, 
and  the  other  one  fourth  to  England. 

White  feathers  are  worth  from  five 
to  twenty  times  more  than  the  black 
ones.  All  feathers,  white  and  black, 
are  sold  by  weight,  except  however, 
the  very  finest  sorts,  which  are  disposed 
of  according  to  quality.  The  price  of 
white  feathers  varies  from  one  hundred 
and  fifty  to  three  hundred  francs  the 
Tuscan  pound — nearly  twelve  ounces  ; 
and  of  black,  from  thirty  to  eighty-five 
francs. 


This  trade  in  ostrich  feathers  requires 
a  good  deal  of  experience,  as  it  is  easy 
to  be  deceived  in  the  quality  when 
they  are  not  prepared.  Four  or  five 
houses  alone  are  engaged  in  the  trade 
at  Leghorn,  and  their  profits  are  large. 
The  dealers  at  Paris  are  beginning  to 
obtain  from  London  the  ostrich  feathers 
which  the  latter  get  from  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope.  They  already  procure 
from  that  city  marabout  and  bird-of- 
paradise  feathers  which  come  from  Cal- 
cutta, and  vulture  and  heron  feathers 
which  come  from  Brazil. 


Traffic  in  Beautiful  Circassian  Girls. 

The  traffic  in  Circassian  girls,  in 
Turkey,  has  long  been  a  regular  trade. 
Perceiving  that  when  the  Russians 
shall  have  reoccupied  the  Caucasus, 
this  traffic  in  girls  would  be  over,  the 
Circassian  dealers  redoubled  their  ef- 
forts to  introduce  into  Turkey  the 
greatest  possible  number  of  them,  while 
the  opportunity  lasted.  Such  success 
attended  this  movement,  that  the  "  ar- 
ticle "  was  greatly  reduced  in  price,  be- 
yond any  former  period.  So  extensive 
was  the  supply,  and  such  a  glut  in  the 
market,  that  dealers  were  obliged  to 
throw  away  or  part  company  with 
their  "  goods."  In  former  times,  a  fair 
and  comely  Circassian  girl  was  thought 
very  cheap  at  five  hundred  dollars,  but 
this  became  reduced  to  less  than  one 
twentieth  that  sum. 


Viper  Merchants. 

Snakes  and  serpents  furnish  quite 
an  article  of  trade  among  the  Chinese 
— used  pharmaceutlcally— and  the  mer- 
chants engaged  in  this  kind  of  trafilc 
in  that  country  are  numerous.  The 
viper,  more  particularly,  is  exposed  for 
sale,  either  alive  in  small  baskets  of 
twisted  bamboo,  or  dead  and  reduced 
to  soup,  or  pickled  and  preserved  with 
various  seasonings  in  jars  or  barrels. 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND   OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


589 


These  dealers  generally  exhibit  a 
board,  inscribed,  in  due  business  shape, 
with  the  quality  and  value  of  the  rep- 
tiles they  have  for  sale.  In  this  respect 
they  are  the  same  as  the  shopkeepers, 
who  make  it  a  practice  to  exhibit  a 
long  and  flaming  list  of  the  different 
sorts  of  snakes  they  have  on  hand.  It 
is  also  the  practice  of  these  traders  to 
write  up,  after  or  under  their  names  on 
the  signboard,  the  words  "  Pu  hu," 
which  may  be  translated,  "  No  cheating 
here  ; "  but,  alas  !  corroborative  evi- 
dence is  much  wanting  to  substantiate 
the  truth  of  the  declaration. 


CMffonniers,  or  "  Rag*  Merchants,"  of 
Paris. 

The  rag  gatherers,  or  chiffonniers,  of 
Paris,  are  a  peculiar  class,  and  once  in 
a  while  they  have  a  grand  banquet. 
One  of  the  most  notable  of  these  took 
place  in  Paris,  at  a  public  house  called 
the  Pot  Trincolore,  near  the  Barriere 
de  Fontainebleau,  which  is  frequented 
by  the  rag-gathering  fraternity.  In 
this  house  there  are  three  rooms,  each 
of  which  is  specially  devoted  to  the  use 
of  different  classes  of  rag  gatherers : 
one,  the  least  dirty,  is  called  the 
"  Chamber  of  Peers,"  and  is  occupied 
by  the  first  class — that  is,  those  who 
possess  a  basket  in  a  good  state  and  a 
crook  ornamented  with  copper ;  the 
second,  called  the  "  Chamber  of  Depu- 
ties," belonging  to  the  second  class,  is 
much  less  comfortable,  and  those  who 
attend  it  have  baskets  and  crooks,  not 
of  the  first-rate  quality  ;  the  third  room 
is  in  a  dilapidated  condition,  and  is 
frequented  by  the  lowest  order  of  rag 
gatherers,  who  have  no  basket  or  crook, 
and  who  place  what  they  find  in  the 
streets  in  a  piece  of  sackcloth,  as  a  re- 
ceptacle— this  being  their  only  "  stock 
in  trade." 

This  fraternity  call  themselves  the 
"  Reunion  des  Vrais  Proletaires."  The 
name  of  each  room  is  written  in  chalk 
above  the  door,   and    generally  such 


strict  etiquette  is  observed  among  the 
rag  gatherers  that  no  one  goes  into  an 
apartment  not  occupied  by  his  own 
class. 

At  the  "  banquet,"  however,  all  "  dis- 
tinctions of  rank"  are  set  aside,  and 
delegates  of  each  class  unite  as  a  broth- 
erhood. The  President  is  the  oldest 
rag  gatherer  in  Paris ;  his  age  is  eighty- 
eight,  and  he  is  called  the  Emperor. 
The  banquet  consists  of  a  sort  of  ollapo- 
drida,  which  the  master  of  the  establish- 
ment pompously  calls  a  gilelotte,  though 
of  what  animal  it  is  mainly  comj)osed 
is  beyond  one's  knowledge.  It  is 
served  up  in  huge  earthen  dishes,  and, 
before  it  is  allowed  to  be  touched,  pay- 
ment is  demanded  and  obtained.  The 
other  articles  are  also  paid  for  as  soon 
as  brought  in,  and  a  deposit  is  exacted 
as  security  for  the  plates,  knives,  and 
forks.  The  wine,  or  what  does  duty 
as  such,  is  contained  in  an  earthen  pot„ 
called  the  Petit  Pere  Noir,  and  is  filled 
from  a  gigantic  vessel  named  Le  Mori- 
caud.  The  dinner  is  concluded  by  each 
guest  taking  a  glass  of  brandy.  Busi- 
ness is  then  proceeded  to.  It  consists 
in  the  reading  and  adoption  of  the 
statutes  of  the  association,  followed  by 
the  drinking  of  numerous  toasts  to  the 
president,  to  the  prosperity  of  rag  gath- 
ering, to  the  union  of  rag  gatherers, 
etc.  A  collection  is  then  taken  up  in 
aid  of  the  sick  members  of  the  fra- 
ternity. 


Barnum  Buying-  the  American  Museum 
with  Brass. 

In  1841,  says  Mr.  Barnum,  I  pur- 
chased the  American  Museum  in  New 
York,  without  a  dollar,  for  I  was  not 
worth  a  dollar  in  the  world.  But  I 
was  never  disheartened ;  I  always  felt 
that  I  could  make  money  fast  enough, 
if  I  only  set  my  mind  to  it.  I  remem- 
ber meeting  a  friend  in  Broadway  a  few 
weeks  before  I  came  in  possession  of 
the  Museum. 

"  Well,"  says  I,  "  Mr.  A.,  I  am  going 
to  buy  the  American  Museum." 


590 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"  Buy  it  ? "  says  he,  for  he  knew  I 
had  no  property.  "  What  do  you  in- 
tend buying  it  with  ?  " 

"  Brass,"  I  replied,  "  for  '  silver  and 
gold  I  have  none.'  " 

It  was  even  so.  Everybody  who  has 
had  any  connection  with  theatrical, 
circus,  or  exliibition  business,  from  Ed- 
mund Simpson,  manager  of  the  Old 
Park  Theatre,  or  William  Niblo,  down 
to  the  most  humble  puppet-show  man 
of  the  day,  knew  me  perfectly  well. 
Mr.  Francis  Olmsted,  the  owner  of  the 
Museum  building,  a  noble,  whole-souled 
man  as  one  often  meets  with,  having 
consulted  my  references,  who  all  con- 
curred in  telling  him  that  I  was  "a 
good  showman,  and  would  do  as  I 
agreed,"  accepted  my  proposition  to 
give  security  for  me  in  the  purchase  of 
the  Museum  collection,  he  appointing 
a  money  taker  at  the  door,  and  credit- 
ing me,  toward  the  purchase,  with  all 
the  money  received,  after  paying  ex- 
penses, allowing  me  fifty  dollars  per 
month,  on  which  to  support  my  family, 
consisting  of  a  wife  and  three  chil- 
dren. 

This  was  my  own  proposition,  as  I  was 
determined  so  to  live  that  six  hundred 
dollars  per  annum  should  defray  all  the 
expenses  of  my  family,  until  I  had  paid 
for  the  Museum  ;  and  my  treasure  of  a 
wife  (for  such  a  wife  *5  a  "  treasure  ") 
gladly  assented  to  the  arrangement, 
and  expressed  her  willingness  to  cut 
the  expenses  down  to  four  hundred 
dollars  per  annum,  if  necessary. 

One  day,  some  six  months  after  I 
had  purchased  the  Museum,  my  friend, 
Mr.  Olmsted,  happened  in  at  my  ticket 
office,  at  about  twelve  o'clock,  and 
found  me  alone,  eating  my  dinner, 
which  consisted  of  a  few  slices  of  corn- 
ed beef  and  bread  that  1  had  brought 
from  home  in  the  morning. 

"  Is  this  the  way  you  eat  your  din- 
ner ? "  he  inquired. 

"  I  have  not  eaten  a  warm  dinner 
since  I  bought  the  Museum,  except  on 
the  Sabbath,"  I  replied,  "  and  I  intend 


never  to  eat  another  on  a  week  day 
until  I  get  out  of  debt." 

"  Ah  !  you  are  safe,  and  will  pay  for 
the  Museum  before  the  year  is  out,"  he 
replied,  slapping  me  familiarly  on  the 
shoulders  ;  and  he  was  right,  for  in  less 
than  a  year  from  that  period  I  was  in 
full  possession  of  the  Museum,  as  my 
own  property,  every  cent  paid  out  of 
the  profits  of  the  establishment. 


Coleridgre  and  the  "  Ogh  Clo' "  Man. 

CoLEHiDGE  says  :  I  have  had  a  good 
deal  to  do  with  Jews,  in  the  course  of 
my  life,  though  I  never  borrowed  any 
money  of  thera.  The  other  day  I  was 
what  you  may  call  floored  by  a  Jew. 
He  passed  me  several  times,  crying  for 
old  clothes  in  the  most  nasal  and  extra- 
ordinary tone  I  ever  heard.  At  last,  I 
was  so  provoked,  that  I  said  to  him : 
"  Pray,  why  can't  you  say '  old  clothes' 
in  a  plain  way,  as  I  do  now  ? "  The 
Jew  stopped,  and  looking  very  gravely 
at  me,  said,  in  a  clear  and  even  fine  ac- 
cent, "  Sir,  I  can  say  '  old  clothes '  as 
well  as  you  can  ;  but  if  you  had  to  say 
so  ten  times  a  minute,  or  an  hour  to- 
gether, jou  would  say  '  ogTi  do' '  as  I  do 
now  " — and  so  he  marched  off.  I  was  so 
confounded  with  the  justice  of  his  re- 
tort, that  I  followed  him  and  gave  him 
a  shilling,  the  only  one  I  had. 


Boy  Traders  in  Moscow. 

The  Russian  youth  are  said  to  show 
an  address  and  dexterity  in  business 
dealings  such  as  are  displayed  only  by 
long-practised  traders  in  most  other 
countries.  M.  Kohl,  the  traveller  and 
author,  says  that  when  in  Moscow  he 
went  one  day  into  a  wax-chandler's 
shop  on  the  invitation  of  a  manikin  of 
seven  years  of  age  only — adroit,  cun- 
ning, and  too  clever  by  half. 

Dressed  in  his  little  blue  caftan  of 
precisely  the  same  cut  as  that  worn  by 
men,  the  infant  merchant  entreated  him 
to  enter  his  shop,  bowing  in  the  same 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND  OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


591 


obsequious  fashion  as  his  elders ;  and 
when  told  by  M.  Kohl  that  he  was  not 
going  to  buy,  but  only  wanted  to  look 
at  his  wares,  he  answered,  as  com- 
plaisantly  as  his  pa'  could  have  done, 
"  Pray,  oblige  me  by  looking  at  what- 
ever you  please." 

He  showed  me  all  his  stock,  opened 
every  press  with  a  dexterous  willing- 
ness which  could  not  but  be  admired ; 
knew  not  only  the  price  of  every  sort 
of  candle,  but  the  whole  capital  invest- 
ed in  the  stock ;  the  yearly  returns,  the 
wholesale  price,  the  profit  at  so  much 
per  cent. — in  a  word,  he  had  in  every 
respect  the  demeanor  of  an  experienced 
trader.  Just  such  children  as  these  are 
often  found  at  the  money-broker's  ta- 
ble ;  and  at  an  age  when,  in  other  na- 
tions, they  would  hardly  be  trusted 
with  a  few  cents,  a  considerable  capital 
will  be  committed  to  their  care.  Many 
similar  millionnaires  in  embryo  peddle 
small  wares  in  the  streets,  jingling  their 
money  and  handling  their  reckoning 
boards  with  so  much  address,  that  it  is 
easy  to  comprehend  how  so  many  opu- 
lent individuals  issue  from  their  ranks. 
There  are,  in  Russia,  a  great  number  of 
wealthy  merchants  who  look  back  to 
the  streets  and  peddlers'  booths  for  their 
youthful  reminiscences,  when  all  their 
merchandise  consisted  of  picture  books, 
kwas,  or  wax  tapers. 


Day  &  Martin's  Precursors. 

The  shoeblacks  of  Dublin  were  a 
numerous  and  pretty  formidable  body 
— the  precursors  of  Day  &  Martin,  till 
the  superior  merits  of  the  latter  put  an 
end  to  their  trade.  The  polish  they 
used  was  lampblack  and  eggs,  for 
which  they  purchased  all  the  rotten 
ones  in  the  markets.  Their  imple- 
ments consisted  of  a  three-legged  stool, 
a  basket  containing  a  blunt  knife  which 
they  called  a  spudd,  a  painter's  brush, 
and  an  old  wig.  A  gentleman  usually 
"vrent  out  m  the  morning  with  dirty 
boots  or  shoes,  sure  to  find  a  shoe- 


black sitting  on  his  stool  at  the  corner 
of  the  street.  He  laid  his  foot  on  his 
lap  without  ceremony,  where  the  "  ar- 
tist "  scraped  it  with  his  spudd,  wiped 
it  with  his  wig,  and  then  laid  on  his 
composition  as  thick  as  black  paint 
with  his  painter's  brush.  The  stuff 
dried  with  a  rich  polish,  requiring  no 
friction,  and  really  but  little  inferior  to 
the  elaborated  modern  fluids,  save  only 
the  intolerable  odors  exhaled  from  eggs 
in  a  high  state  of  putridity,  and  which 
filled  any  house  which  was  entered  be- 
fore the  composition  was  quite  dry — 
sometimes  even  tainting  the  au*  of  fash- 
ionable drawing  rooms.  At  present, 
the  shoeblacks  who  ply  their  trade  so 
industriously  in  all  the  various  cities 
of  considerable  size  in  Europe  and 
America,  are  boys  of  from  eight  to 
eighteen  years  of  age,  and  the  price 
obtained  for  a  job  by  these  urchins 
varies  all  the  way  from  three  or  five 
cents  up  to  a  shilling,  according  to  the 
whim  of  the  customer.  They  are  a 
bright,  sharp  set,  only  excelled  in  these 
respects  by  the  newsboys — the  latter, 
however,  being  looked  upon  as  a  j)eg 
above  the  shoeblacks,  in  a  "  business 
point  of  view." 


Italian  Marriage  Brokers. 

In  Genoa  there  are  regular  marriage 
brokers,  who  have  pocket  books  filled 
with  the  names  of  the  marriageable 
girls  of  the  different  classes,  with  notes 
of  their  figures,  personal  attractions,  for- 
tunes, and  other  circumstances.  These 
brokers  go  about  endeavoring  to  ar- 
range connections,  in  the  same  off-hand, 
mercantile  manner  which  they  would 
bring  to  bear  upon  a  merchandise  tran- 
saction; and  when  they  succeed,  they 
get  a  commission  of  two  or  three  per 
cent,  upon  the  portion,  with  such  ex- 
tras or  bonuses  as  may  be  voluntarily 
bestowed  by  the  party  benefited.  Mar- 
riage at  Genoa  is  thus  oftentimes  sim- 
ply a  matter  of  business  calculation, 
generally  settled  by  the  parents  or  rela- 


592 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


tions,  who  often  draw  up  the  contract 
before  the  parties  have  seen  one  an- 
other ;  and  it  is  only  when  everything 
else  is  arranged,  and  a  few  days  previ- 
ous to  the  marriage  ceremony,  that  the 
future  husband  is  introduced  to  his  in- 
tended partner  for  life.  Should  he  find 
fault  with  her  manners  or  appearance, 
he  may  annul  the  contract,  on  condi- 
tion of  defraying  the  brokerage,  and 
any  other  expenses  incurred. 


Egryptian  Mummy  Trade. 

The  most  lucrative  business  in  which 
the  Egyptian  Jews  were  engaged,  ceased 
in  the  seventeenth  century.  For  a  long 
time,  "  mummy  "  was  an  article  of  great 
value  in  the  practice  of  medicine.  It 
was  found  in  all  the  drug  shops  of  Eu- 
rope, and,  even  to  this  day,  mummy 
powder,  mixed  with  camel's-milk  but- 
ter, is  regarded  by  the  Arabs  as  a 
sovereign  remedy  for  bruises.  "  Make 
mummy  of  my  flesh,  and  sell  me  to  the 
apothecaries,"  was  not  a  mere  figure  of 
speech.  The  repulsive  drug  was  pre- 
scribed by  the  physicians  of  the  six- 
teenth century,  for  fractures,  concus- 
sions, palpitation  of  the  heart,  and  the 
like ;  while  even  Lord  Bacon  says, 
"  Mummy  hath  great  force  in  staunch- 
ing of  blood." 

Many  speculators  embarked  in  the 
trade,  and  vast  sums  were  expended  in 
purchasing  mummies,  principally  from 
the  Jews  in  Egypt.  Tombs  and  cata- 
combs were  searched ;  and  when  the 
Government  forbade  the  transportation 
of  the  bodies  from  their  sepulchral 
habitation,  the  Jews  had  recourse  to 
fraud  and  imposition.  In  order  to 
supply  the  great  demand  for  mummy, 
they  embalmed  dead  bodies,  and  after- 
ward sold  them.  In  like  manner,  the 
bodies  of  slaves,  of  executed  criminals, 
of  unclaimed  strangers,  and  even  the 
dried  and  withered  corpses  of  travel- 
lers buried  in  the  sands  of  the  desert, 
were  by  the  Jews  transmuted  into 
gold. 


De  la  Fontaine,  physician  to  the  king 
of  Navarre,  when  travelling  in  Egypt, 
made  some  inquiries  respecting  the 
supply  of  mummy  as  a  drug.  The 
Jewish  dealers,  to  whom  he  applied 
for  information,  showed  him  thirty  or 
forty  mummies  in  a  single  pile.  The 
physician  was  anxious  to  know  where 
the  bodies  had  been  obtained,  and 
whether  the  accounts  given  by  the  an- 
cients relative  to  the  treatment  of  the 
dead,  and  their  mode  of  sepulture, 
could  be  confirmed.  The  Jew  laughed, 
and  informed  him  that  the  mummies 
before  him  were  all  of  his  own  manu- 
facture !  A  ghastly  trade,  surely,  but 
by  no  means  confined  to  the  children 
of  Abraham  or  the  land  of  the  pyra- 
mids. 


Chartier,  the  Leech  Merchant. 

Henri  Chartier,  the  leech  mer- 
chant, has  long  been  an  important 
character  among  those  engaged  in  the 
trade  of  which  he  is  the  acknowledged 
head — his  arrival  makes  quite  a  fete, 
for  all  are  eager  to  greet  him.  If  ever 
you  pass  through  La  Brenne,  France, 
you  will  see  a  man,  pale  and  straight- 
haired,  with  a  woollen  cap  on  his  head, 
and  his  legs  and  arms  naked  ;  he  walks 
along  the  borders  of  a  marsh,  among 
the  spots  left  dry  by  the  surrounding 
waters,  but  particularly  wherever  the 
vegetation  seems  to  preserve  the  subja- 
cent soil  undisturbed ;  this  man  is  a 
leech  fisher — a  horrid  trade,  in  which- 
ever way  it  is  carried  on.  To  see  him 
from  a  distance — his  woe-begone  aspect 
—his  hollow  eyes — his  livid  lips — his 
singular  gestures — ^lie  might  easily  be 
mistaken  for  a  patient  who  had  left  his 
sickbed  in  a  fit  of  delirium.  If  you 
observe  him  every  now  and  then  rais- 
ing his  legs  and  examining  them  one 
after  the  other,  you  might  suppose  him 
a  fool ;  but  no  ;  he  is  bright  and  intel- 
ligent in  his  way.  The  leeches  attach 
themselves  to  his  legs  and  feet  as  he 
moves  among  their    haunts,  he  feels 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND  OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


693 


tlieir  presence  from  their  bite,  and 
gathers  them  as  they  ckister  about  the 
roots  of  the  bulrushes  and  seaweeds, 
or  beneath  the  stones  covered  with 
green  and  gluey  moss.  Some  repose 
on  the  mud,  while  others  swim  about, 
but  so  slowly  that  they  are  easily  gath- 
ered with  the  hand.  Sometimes  the 
leech  gatherer  will  be  seen  armed  with 
a  kind  of  spear  or  harpoon  ;  with  this 
he  deposits  pieces  of  decayed  animal 
matter  in  places  frequented  by  the 
leeches,  which  soon  gather  around  the 
prey,  and  are  presently  themselves  gath- 
ered into  a  vessel  half  full  of  water.  In 
summer  the  leech  retires  into  deep  wa- 
ter ;  and  the  fishers  have  then  to  strip 
naked,  and  walk  immersed  up  to  the 
chin.  One  of  the  traders — what  with 
his  own  fishing  and  ^  that  of  his  chil- 
dren, and  what  with  his  acquisitions 
from  the  carriers,  who  sell  quantities 
at  second  hand — ^has  been  enabled  to 
hoard  up  nearly  eighteen  thousand 
leeches  in  the  course  of  a  few  months. 


Poor  Kind  of  Ice. 

An  American  gentleman  living  in 
London  in  1851,  had  frequently  noticed 
at  his  fishmonger's,  sundry  signs  of 
"  American  Ice,"  "  Norway  Ice,"  and 
"  English  Ice,"  posted  up.  One  day  he 
asked,  "  Which  ice  do  you  esteem  the 
best  ? — the  American,  I  suppose  ?  " 
"  No,  sir,  not  at  all,"  replied  the  fish- 
monger ;  "  the  English  ice  is  the  best, 
and  next  the  Norway.  The  fact  is, 
that  American  ice  is  nothing  more  than 
water  congealed  /  "  A  novelty  in  nature, 
surely,  this  trader  dealt  in  I 


Commercial  Value  of  Insects. 

The  importance  of  insects  to  com- 
merce IS  but  little  known  or  appreciat- 
ed. Great  Britain  does  not  pay  less 
than  a  million  of  dollars  annually  for 
the  dried  carcasses  of  a  tiny  insect,  the 
cochineal.  A  million  and  a  half  of  hu- 
man beings  derive  their  sole  support 
38 


from  the  culture  and  manufacture  of 
silk,  and  the  little  silkworm  alone  cre- 
ates an  annual  circulating  medium  of 
hundred  millions  of  dollars.  Honey 
and  beeswax,  the  product  of  the  beCy 
create  a  large  trade,  of  great  commer- 
cial importance,  every  year.  Then  there 
is  the  Spanish  Jly,  or  cantharides,  the 
value  of  which  is  well  known.  Coral 
is  another  insect  product  of  much  ac- 
count. 

Bugs  have  long  been  a  considerable 
article  in  the  Rio  Janeiro  trade.  Their 
wings  are  made  into  artificial  flowers, 
and  some  of  the  more  brilliant  varieties 
are  worn  as  ornaments  in  ladies'  hair. 
One  man  manages  to  earn  quite  a  liv- 
ing by  selling  curious  specimens  of  in- 
sects to  the  strangers  who  visit  that 
port.  He  keeps  twelve  slaves  constant- 
ly employed  in  finding  the  bugs — also 
serpents  and  shells — which  are  most  in 
demand.  The  nearest  approach  to  this 
curious  business  in  other  parts  of  the 
world,  is  that  of  the  trade  in  fireflies 
at  Havana;  the  insect  being  caught, 
and  carefully  fed  on  the  sugar  cane,  is 
used  as  an  ornament  for  ladies'  dresses, 
giving  to  the  latter,  when  tastefully  ar- 
ranged, a  very  pleasing  appearance. 
Being  twice  the  size  of  the  American 
firefly,  it  is  very  brilliant  at  night. 
The  Creoles  catch  them  on  the  planta- 
tions and  sell  them  to  the  city  belles, 
some  of  whom  carry  them  in  tiny  silver 
cages  attached  to  their  bracelets— mak- 
ing a  sparkling  display  in  the  evening. 


Old  Women's  Trades  in  London. 

In  London  there  are  a  large  number 
of  old  women  who  carry  on  a  trade  pe- 
culiar to  themselves — not  rag  pickers 
simply,  but  snappers  up  of  trifles  of 
every  kind— and  by  means  of  which 
some  come  into  possession  of  pretty 
considerable  gains.  They  are  known 
by  their  peculiar  and  grotesque  ap- 
pearance. Some  wear  a  hat,  but  cover 
their  shoulders  with  a  gown.  Some  are 
crowned  with  an  old  bonnet,  but,  as  if 


594 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Street  Merchants. 


to  keep  up  the  mystery,  button  a  shab- 
by dress  coat  tightly  around  their  per- 
son. In  fact,  the  sex  to  which  they  be- 
long might  puzzle  the  most  expert  in 
matters  of  gender.  They  are  draggle- 
skirt-looking  creatures,  and  some  are 
not  unlike  the  hags  in  Macbeth.  They 
keep  their  eyes  constantly  on  the 
ground,  glancing  along  the  gutters  of 
the  street  with  amazing  rapidity  ;  and, 
considering  how  old  they  are,  it  is  sur- 
prising how  quickly  they  discern  the 
objects  of  their  search.  They  usually 
carry  a  coarse  dirty  bag,  into  which 
they  put  up  promiscuously  every  little 
bit  of  linen  or  woollen  rag,  string,  bone, 
or  iron,  which  they  may  be  fortunate 
enough  to  discover  in  the  mud  and 
filth.  .  The  little  heaps  of  dust  swept 
out  by  shopboys  from  behind  the  coun- 
ters, are  constant  mines  of  treasure — 
they  are  sure  to  find  among  them  some- 
thing to  reward  their  pains.  All  the 
things  thus  gathered  have  their  appro- 
priate value  in  the  finder's  classifica- 
tion, and  these  are  the  persons  who 
know  how  to  assort,  prepare,  and  dis- 
pose of  them  at  the  proper  places. 


Street  Merchants. 

Some  facile  writer  has  set  off,  in 
good  lines,  that  numerous  but  general- 
ly overlooked  class  of  "  merchants," 
consisting  of  street  retailers  of  small 
goods,  wares,  and  merchandise  :  "  Ap- 
ples, two  or  three  cents — peanuts,  three 
cents  a  ha'  pint — lozenges,  two  cents  a 
roll,"  is  the  cry  of  many  poor  old  ap- 
ple women,  who  are  daily  found  on  the 
corners  of  the  streets  and  wharves, 
clothed  in  old  dilapidated  apparel,  pre- 
senting an  outside  appearance  of  pov- 
erty, and  offering  for  sale  at  retail  a 
few  apples,  half  a  peck  of  peanuts,  a 
box  of  lozenges,  a  dozen  sticks  of  can- 
dy, &c.  Appearances  are  sometimes 
deceitful,  however,  and  although  many 
of  these  women  are  undoubtedly  poor, 
others  have  accumulated  quite  a  com- 
petence. The  same  may  be  said  of 
some  of  the  male  peddlers.  Not  a  few 
of  both  sexes  of  this  class  have  money 
hoarded  in  the  savings  banks,  or  in- 
vested in  real  estate,  stocks,  &c.,  and 
occasionally  one  is  found  living  at  the 
expense  of  the  city,  during  the  winter 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND   OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


595 


season,  at  one  of  the  commodious  pub- 
lic institutions,  being  too  miserly,  lazy, 
or  indolent  to  continue  the  "  apple, 
nut,  and  lozenge  trade,"  in  cold  weath- 
er. As  an  instance  of  how  these  people 
accumulate  the  coppers,  it  is  related 
that  a  pew  in  one  of  the  Catholic 
churches  of  Boston  was  at  one  time  bid 
oflf  by  a  woman  for  $450.  As  the  suc- 
cessful bidder  had  not  the  appearance 
of  being  one  who  would  be  likely  to 
pay  so  high  a  price  for  a  pew  for  her 
own  accommodation,  some  of  the  by- 
standers intimated  that  she  could  not 
pay  for  it.  On  being  asked  by  the  auc- 
tioneer when  she  would  settle  the  bill, 
she  replied,  "  This  afternoon,  or  as  soon 
as  I  can  draw  the  money."  This  she 
did,  and  met  her  agreement.  The 
woman  in  question  was  for  many  years 
known  as  an  apple  seller  on  Long 
Wharf,  in  that  city.  And  what  is  true 
of  Boston,  is  equally  true  of  other  cit- 
ies, in  respect  to  the  thrift  of  some  of 
these  "  street  merchants.'  Their  endur- 
ance of  heat  and  cold,  and  of  the  vari- 
ous changes  in  the  weather  to  which 
they  are  necessarily  exposed,  is  truly 
surprising. 


National  Characteristics  of  Money  Get- 
ters :  Prench,  Irish,  Scotch,  German. 

The  Frenchman  is  a  very  witty, 
mercurial,  light-heeled  gentleman,  and 
is,  it  must  be  acknowledged,  the  dancer, 
and  the  cook,  without  a  peer ;  but  then 
the  palm  of  money  getting  cannot  be 
yielded  to  him,  while  there  are  such 
beings  in  existence  as  the  Irishman,  the 
Scotchman,  and  the  German.  In  this 
free  and  enlightened  country  they  are 
all  admitted  without  duty — there  is  no 
tariff  on  their  national  or  personal  char- 
acters, these  characteristics,  considered 
from  a  business  point  of  view,  being 
about  as  follows  : 

The  Frenchman,  in  ordinary  "  cases," 
imports  nothing  but  politesse  and  ro- 
mancing. 

The  Irishman — the  "  broth  of  a  boy  " 


— has  a   "  stock "   of   dash  and  blar- 
ney. 

The  Scotchman — pride  (of  the  right 
sort,  being  founded  not  so  much  upon 
self-esteem  as  self-respect),  and  an  in- 
exhaustible "  capital "  of  perseverance. 

The  German  has  many  points  in  com- 
mon with  the  Scotchman ;  but,  unfor- 
tunately, he  is  more  devoted  to  the 
metaphysical  than  the  mathematical, 
the  visionary  than  the  substantial,  and 
has,  therefore,  almost  always  a  whim,  a 
crotchet,  or  a  mystery,  in  his  otherwise 
clever  brain,  that  frequently  stands  in 
the  way  of  his  business  promotion  :  "  I 
haf  a  broject  vitch  sail  zurbrise  de 
vorld— but  it's  a  zegret.  Ven  I  vill 
gommunigate  it,  you  sail  be  asdonish- 
ed — zo  zimple,  you  sail  vonder  as  it 
nefer  endered  beoples'  prains  !  "  As  he 
rarely  can  find  any  one  to  "  buy  a  pig 
in  a  poke,"  and  he  refuses  to  go  the 
"  whole  hog  "  by  imparting  his  "  ze- 
gret," he  eventually  drops  down  from 
his  elevation  to  whatever  comes  upper- 
most; for  he  is  naturally  an  honest 
man,  and  abhors  both  poverty  and 
crime. 

The  Frenchman  turns  cook,  or 
dancing  master,  or  a  teacher  of  lan- 
guages, unless  he  has  mercantile  or 
trading  auspices ;  if  he  has  travelled, 
he  will  also  teach  the  Spanish  and 
Italian  languages — and  he  gets  money. 
In  regard  to  the  Spanish  and  Italian, 
however,  his  accent  will  very  likely 
render  his  "  method  "  somewhat  akin 
to  "teaching  English  with  an  Irish 
brogue." 

The  Irishman,  who  in  all  cases  is  a 
"  born  gentleman,"  despises  drudgery, 
as  he  terms  everything  that  requires  a 
steady  application,  and  frequently  turns 
his  undeniable  talents  to  reporting  for 
the  press,  or — marries  an  heiress. 

To  turn  again  to  the  Scotchman: 
He  thinks  nothing  beneath  his  dignity 
that  is  honest,  and  boldly  and  confi- 
dently places  his  foot  on  the  lowest 
round  of  the  ladder  of  promotion,  rely- 
ing upon  his  zeal  and  ability  to  enable 


596 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


liim  to  reach  the  top,  which  is  almost 
infallibly  the  case ;  for  he  is  cool  and 
collected,  and  never  misses  the  oppor- 
tunity— ^for  which  he  is  continually  on 
the  watch — to  push  his  interest.  If  he 
engages  with  a  firm,  however  wealthy, 
even  as  a  junior  clerk,  he  merely  re- 
gards it  as  the  preliminary  to  a  part- 
nership. 

♦ 

Shipments  of  Butcher  Birds. 

'Many  years  ago,  when  rice  was  dear 
in  Eastern  China,  efforts  were  made  to 
bring  it  from  Luzon,  where  it  was 
abundant.  At  Manilla  there  was,  how- 
ever, a  singular  law,  to  the  effect  that 
no  vessel  for  China  should  be  allowed 
to  load  with  rice,  unless  it  brought  to 
Manilla  a  certain  number  of  cages  full 
of  the  little  "butcher  birds,"  well 
known  for  their  usefulness.  The  rea- 
son for  this  most  eccentric  commercial 
regulation  simply  was  that  the  rice  in 
Luzon  suffered  much  from  locusts,  and 
these  locusts  were  destroyed  in  great 
numbers  by  butcher  birds.  Sparrows 
are  also  imported  from  England  to 
K'ew  Zealand,  for  the  destruction  of 
caterpillars,  and  sell  at  a  good  price  to 

the  shipper. 

♦ — 

"Cheap"  and  "Dear." 

Without  the  privilege  of  the  shop 
windows,  the  London  lounger's  occupa- 
tion would  be  "  gone."  Without  their 
aid,  and  the  auction  rooms,  how,  in 
the  name  of  laziness,  would  the  wretch- 
ed member  of  a  West  End  club  contrive 
to  annihilate  the  time  between  break- 
fast and  dinner  ? 

Let  a  man  walk  leisurely,  in  London, 
from  Oxford  street,  down  Regent  street, 
along  the  Strand,  Fleet  street.  Cheap- 
side,  to  the  India  House  ;  let  him  stop 
and  introduce  himself  to  the  outsides 
of  individual  shops ;  let  him  enter  into 
conversation  with  them,  and  hear  what 
they  have  to  say,  and  he  will  return  to 
his  chamber  with  more  weird  ideas  of 


the  tremendous  wealth,  importance,  and 
enterprise  of  that  mighty  metroj)olis, 
than  ever  he  had  before. 

When  a  shop  is  once  established  in 
London,  it  is  no  longer  a  shop ;  it  is, 
in  point  of  fact,  an  estate^  from  which 
the  posssesor  can  quietly  retire,  receiv- 
ing his  rents,  through  the  hands  of  his 
shopkeeping  representative,  wdth  the 
same  certainty  as  if  his  property  were 
in  lands,  funds,  or  houses. 

There  are  what  may  be  termed  the 
dear  shops  and  the  cheap  shops  in  Lon- 
don. Here  is  a  shop,  for  instance,  with 
wide  mouth,  bleared  eyes,  and  dusky 
features — a  shop  that  a  poor  man  would 
no  more  think  of  entering  than  he 
would  of  intruding  into  a  duke's  par- 
lor ;  a  shop  that  says,  as  plain  as  it  can 
speak,  "  I  care  not,  I,  for  chance  cus- 
tomers ;  I  am  a  shop  of  high  connec- 
tions and  good  family."  The  employes 
of  such  a  shop  as  this  are  more  like 
clergymen  than  shopmen — bald-head- 
ed, confidential,  black-coated,  long- 
service  shopmen — men  of  good  salaries 
and  manner,  grave  and  independent  in 
their  deportment,  who  have  been  in  the 
establishment  nine  and  twenty  years 
come  next  lord-mayor's  day,  and  intend 
to  be  there  the  remainder  of  their  re- 
spectable lives.  These  old-established 
shops  stare  at  a  chance  customer ;  they 
are  civil,  but  cool  in  serving  him,  and 
take  care  to  charge  a  little  higher  than 
they  do  to  their  own  connections ;  they 
do  not  condescend  to  enter  into  any 
conversation  with  him ;  and  if  any  ob- 
jection be  made  to  the  price  or  quality 
of  any  article,  they  return  the  money 
with  great  indifference  and  solemnity. 
Such  is  called  a  "  dear  "  store ;  but  it 
is  simply  a  high  price  for  a  good  arti- 
cle, and  money  is  well  spent  that  is 
spent  there. 

In  strong  contrast  is  one  of  those 
ticket  shops,  or  pretended  cheap  shops, 
a  lying,  Jeremy  Diddler  concern,  that 
assumes  to  be  always  selling  off  at  a 
great  sacrifice,  as  if  with  the  sole  ambi- 
tion to  ruin  itself  for  the  benefit  of  a 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND   OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


597 


discerning  public.  There  are  no  shop- 
men in  these  places,  but  only  some- 
thing between  young  men  and  boys 
— raw  twenty-pounds-a-year  counter 
jumpers,  in  sallow,  half-starched  cra- 
vats, and  seedy,  second-hand-looking 
coats  ;  there  is  great  bustle  and  appear- 
ance of  business,  which  is  seldom  no- 
ticed in  shops  that  enjoy  the  reality. 
The  shopboys  have  a  servile,  insolent 
manner,  and  an  open,  undisguised  de- 
sire of  cheating  and  taking  you  in. 
"Whatever  you  are  wheedled  or  bullied 
into  buying  at  the  pretended  cheap 
shops,  is  sure  to  be  dear,  or,  what 
amounts  to  the  same  thing  in  the  end, 
of  inferior  quality  ;  you  never  quit  the 
counter  without  the  sensation — always 
unpleasant — of  having  been  taken  in, 
or  at  least  of  having  been  dealing  with 
people  whose  trade  is  to  take  people 
in. 


Remarkable  Customs  of  Oriental 
Shopkeepers. 

The  Armenians,  who  divide  with  the 
Greeks  and  Jews  the  entire  mercantile 
traffic  of  Western  Asia,  are  accustomed 
to  sit  down  and  weep  bitterly  when 
they  have  sold  any  article  of  value,  de- 
claring that  the  purchaser  has  ruined 
them.  The  Jews,  on  similar  occasions, 
rend  their  garments  (which,  by  the 
way,  are  said  to  be  worn  purposely  for 
such  sacrifice)  with  still  louder  protest- 
ations of  ruin. 

The  Greek  shopkeepers,  in  most  of 
the  Turkish  towns,  send  a  crier  through 
the  city  to  proclaim  the  arrival  of  new 
goods  and  their  prices,  every  announce- 
ment being  regularly  concluded  with  a 
declaration  that  his  employer  is  ruin- 
ing himself,  but  must  sell. 

In  Asiatic  Russia,  the  shopkeepers 
consider  it  incumbent  on  them  to  abso- 
lutely refuse  selling  their  goods  to  any 
customer,  and  the  latter  is  expected  to 
employ  himself  at  least  an  hour  in  per- 
suading the  merchant  to  deal  with 
him. 

But  the  most  extraordinary  custom 


is  that  which  prevails  among  the  mer- 
chants of  Thibet,  a  regular  stand-up  fight 
being  required  to  take  place  between 
the  seller  and  the  purchaser,  on  the  dis- 
posal of  any  considerable  quantity  of 
goods,  the  former  obstinately  rejecting 
the  price  to  which  he  has  already  once 
agreed,  and  the  latter  as  resolutely  for- 
cing it  upon  him.  It  is  not  considered 
business-like  to  settle  matters  till  a  few 
blows  have  been  exchanged  on  both 
sides,  after  which  they  peaceably  shake 
hands,  and  the  bargain  is  concluded. 


Scale  of  Prices  for  London  Civilities. 

One  of  the  English  magazine  writers 
furnishes  the  following  scale  of  metro- 
politan civilities,  and  the  orthodox 
rates  of  payment,  by  means  of  which 
many  persons  eke  out  a  livelihood  in 
that  over-populous  city : 

Holding  a  horse  for  a  few  minutes, 
twopence;  if  with  extra  politeness, 
fourpence. 

Directions  in  topography,  or  street 
seeking,  twopence;  with  personal  at- 
tendance, threepence. 

Picking  up  a  handkerchief,  one  pen- 
ny to  boys,  twopence  to  men. 

Shutting  a  cab  door,  to  the  water- 
man, one  penny  :  Where  does  your  hon- 
or want  to  go  ? — twopence. 

Assistance  in  case  of  accident — varies 
from  sixpence  to  a  shilling. 

And  so  on.  He  who  would  be  so  fool- 
hardy as  to  refuse  these  "  regular  rates," 
while  his  bravery  might  be  extolled, 
would  incur  the  odium  of  every  pro- 
fessional bystander,  and  might  think 
himself  fortunate  if  he  escaped  the 
open  execrations  of  the  disappointed 
benefactor. 


Wig's  "by  the  Cargo. 

It  is  related  that  one  La  Rose,  first 
'valet-de-chamlyre  to  the  French  ambas- 
sador at  Constantinople,  in  1690,  was 
persuaded  by  some  one  in  Paris  to  lay 
out  his  savings  in  wigs,  as  a  good  spec- 


698 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


ulation  for  the  Turkish  market.  Find- 
ing, on  reaching  Constantinople,  that 
his  stock  remained  on  hand,  and  that 
he  had  been  duped,  he  fell  into  low 
spirits,  and  had  nigh  died  of  despond- 
ency. The  ambassador,  seeing  this, 
bethought  himself  of  applying  to  the 
grand  vizier,  to  see  if  he  could  not  de- 
vise some  plan  of  getting  rid  of  the 
cargo.  "  Nothing  can  be  more  easy," 
replied  the  sultan;  "leave  the  matter 
to  me."  On  the  following  day,  a  fir- 
man was  issued  and  read  in  the  Jewish 
synagogues,  commanding  all  Jews  to 
wear  wigs.  Terrible  was  the  confu- 
sion and  running  to  and  fro  among 
the  bewildered  Israelites.  Few  knew 
even  the  meaning  of  "  wigs ; "  none 
knew  where  to  find  them.  This  hav- 
ing quickly  reached  La  Rose's  ears,  he 
joyously  delivered  his  stock  to  a  bro- 
ker, who  disposed  of  the  whole  in  a 
few  hours,  the  result  being  a  rich  har- 
vest to  La  *Rose,  not  taking  into  ac- 
count the  grotesque  appearance  of 
"Abraham's  seed"  thus  caparisoned. 
The  speculator  was,  however,  directed 
by  his  master  not  to  renew  the  venture. 


Paying  by  the  Clock  instead  of  the 
Thing-. 

"You  have  charged  me  for  a  full- 
priced  breakfast,"  said  a  complaining 
guest,  looking  at  his  bill ;  "  and  all  I 
had  was  a  cup  of  milk  and  a  chip  of 
toast."  "  You  might  have  had  coffee 
and  eggs  for  the  same  money,"  replied 
the  waiter.  "Ah!"  cried  the  guest, 
"then  it  seems  you  charge  according 
to  the  clock  ;  and  if  a  man  was  to  eat 
only  eggs  at  dinner  time,  I  suppose  he'd 
have  to  pay  for  full-grown  turkeys." 


Realizing  a  Profit. 

A  RIGHT  smart  business  woman 
(there  are  not  a  few  such)  was  "  come 
up  to  "  on  this  wise  by  her  promising 
son.  She  kept  a  small  store  and  a  sort 
of  tavern  on  a  public  thoroughfare  be- 


tween two  seaport  towns — ^now  digni- 
fied by  the  title  of  cities — and  had  a 
most  successful  way  of  "  realizing  a 
profit."  The  said  son,  a  jolly  sailor 
lad,  w^ho  had  just  returned  from  a  voy- 
age, was  one  day  left  by  his  mother  in 
charge  of  the  shop  for  a  short  time, 
while  she  w^ent  out  to  keep  her  place 
good  in  the  village  gossip  society.  Jack 
"took  the  helm,"  and  told  the  old 
woman  not  to  hurry,  and  he  would 
keep  a  sharp  look  out.  During  her 
absence  an  old  soldier,  worn  and  scored 
in  his  country's  service,  came  along,  and 
halted  a  moment  to  rest  and  refresh 
himself.  Jack  "  put  his  foot "  into  his 
new  vocation  by  asking  the  "  customer  " 
if  he  would  like  something  to  eat — 
though  in  every  place  where  he  thought 
there  was  a  likelihood  of  anything  eat- 
able being  stowed  away,  all  he  could 
find  was  the  remnants  of  the  dinner  of 
the  day  before.  This  he  placed  before 
the  hero,  and  bade  him  "  fall  to,"  which 
he  did  quite  readily.  When  he  had 
finished  and  gone  on  his  way,  there  re- 
mained of  what  Jack  had  set  before 
him  only  a  few  well-picked  bones.  On 
his  mother  returning,  he  related  the 
fact  of  his  customer's  visit,  and  asked 
her  what  it  was  worth  to  pick  those 
old  bones.  "  Well,  Jack,"  she  replied, 
quite  elated  at  what  she  supposed  was 
the  shrewdness  of  the  lad,  "a  shil- 
ling would  be  about  right."  "So  I 
thought,"  said  Jack,  "  and  that  is  what 

I  gave  him." 

— *- — 

American  Customer  at  a  Turkish 

Bazaar. 

An  American  traveller  was  once 
wandering  through  the  trading  bazaars 
of  Turkey,  and  wished  to  buy  an  em- 
broidered handkerchief  of  one  of  the 
shopkeepers.  He  asked  the  price.' 
"Seventy-five  piasters."  "No,"  said 
the  customer— aware  that  it  is  usual 
among  all  traders,  whatever  their  creed, 
to  ask  at  first  more  than  the  value— 
"that  is  too  much,  I  will  give  you 
seventy  ; "  and  as  the  dealer  seemed  to 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND   OBJECTS   OF  TRAFFIC. 


599 


nod  assent,  tie  counted  out  the  money. 
But  his  surprise  was  great,  when  the 
rough-bearded  Osmanli,  gravely  push- 
ing back  to  him  twenty  piasters,  ob- 
served :  "  This  is  more  than  the  just 
price.  It  is  always  the  custom  here  to 
bargain  over  a  thing  down  to  its  fair 
value,  and  as  fifty  piasters  is  my  fair 
price,  these  twenty  belong  to  you." 


Matrimonial  Export. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  Virginia, 
when  the  adventurers  were  principally 
unmarried  men,  it  was  deemed  neces- 
sary to  export  such  women  as  could  be 
prevailed  upon  to  quit  England,  as 
wives  for  the  planters.  A  letter  accom- 
panying one  of  these  matrimonial  ship- 
ments, dated  London,  August  13,  1631, 
says : 

"  We  send  you,  in  the  ship,  one  wid- 
ow and  eleven  maids,  as  wives  for  the 
people  of  Virginia;  there  hath  been 
especial  care  had  in  the  choice  of  them, 
for  there  hath  not  one  of  them  been  re- 
ceived but  upon  good  recommenda- 
tions. There  are  nearly  fifty  more  that 
are  ready  to  come.  For  the  reimburs- 
ing of  charges,  it  is  ordered  that  every 
man  that  marries  them,  give  one  hun- 
dred pounds  of  best  leaf  tobacco  for 
each  of  them." 


Peculiarities  of  the  Northwest  Fur 
Traders. 

The  character  of  the  hunters  and 
trappers  engaged  in  the  fur  trade 
throughout  the  extreme  northwest  is 
peculiar  and  original.  The  trade  is  not 
carried  on  now,  as  in  former  times,  by 
means  of  bateaux  and  canoes,  which, 
imder  the  old  French  and  English  sys- 
tems, enlivened  the  rivers  and  lakes  of 
our  old  northwestern  territory.  The 
fur-bearing  animals  have  been  driven 
from  a  great  portion  of  the  borders  by 
the  advance  of  emigration,  and  their 
shores  have  become,  to  a  great  extent, 
the  sites  of  subtantial  farmhouses  and 
prosperous  settlements.    The  canoe  has 


given  place  to  the  steamboat,  the  trad- 
ing post  to  the  city.  The  great  bulk 
of  the  trade  has  been  transferred  to  the 
region  oi  the  mountains,  whose  wild 
recesses  contain  no  lakes  where  they 
can  disport  their  canoes,  no  streams 
which  can  float  their  furs  to  market. 
These  traders  and  trappers  transport 
their  goods  or  furs  upon  pack  horses, 
or  carry  them  on  their  own  backs  to  a 
navigable  stream.  They  move  from 
place  to  place  on  horseback,  sometimes 
conveying  their  traps  upon  their  shoul- 
ders through  deep  ravines,  up  steep 
precipices,  inaccessible  to  the  hoi?se,  in 
search  of  places  which  contain  their 
favorite  game.  The  life  of  one  thus  en- 
gaged becomes,  therefore,  a  scene  of 
toil  and  privation,  and  yet  of  passion- 
ate excitement.  His  views  are  exag- 
gerated, his  habits  unsettled,  his  senti- 
ments, generally,  noble  and  generous, 
like  those  of  a  sailor — for  the  causes 
which  act  upon  him  arc  similar  in  their 
character — and,  like  the  sailor,  he  is 
nowhere  contented  except  when  leading 
a  life  of  danger  and  excitement. 


Snow  Trade  of  Sicily. 

The  principal  export  from  Catania 
is  snow,  in  which  a  very  lucrative  trade 
is  carried  on  with  Malta,  and  some 
parts  of  the  South  of  Italy.  It  is  col- 
lected during  the  winter  in  pits  and 
hollows  on  the  mountain,  and  covered 
with  the  scoriae  and  ashes,  to  prevent  its 
thawing.  It  is  brought  down  on  mules 
to  the  coast  at  night,  in  panniers  cov- 
ered with  leaves.  The  revenue  derived 
from  this  source  is  immense,  and  ren- 
ders the  Prince  of  Paterno  one  of  the 
richest  men  in  Sicily.  Snow  is  the  uni- 
versal luxury,  from  the  highest  to  the 
lowest  ranks.  It  is  sold  at  about  the 
rate  of  four  cents  a  rotolo,  or  thirty 
ounces  ;  and  the  poorest  cobbler  would 
sooner  deprive  himself  of  his  dinner 
than  of  his  glass  of  "  acqua  gelata."  It 
is  also,  of  course,  extensively  used  in 
the  hospitals:    and  a  scarcity  of  it 


600 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


would  be  considered  as  great  a  misfor- 
tune as  a  famine,  or  any  other  national 
visitation,  and  would  more  infallibly 
occasion  popular  tumults.  To  guard 
against  any  such  accidents,  the  Govern- 
ment at  Naples  have  made  the  providing 
it  a  monopoly,  the  contractor  being  re- 
quired to  give  security  to  the  amount 
of  sixty  thousand  ducats,  which  sum 
is  forfeited  if  it  can  be  proved  that  for 
one  hour  the  supply  was  not  equal  to 
the  demand. 


French  Toads  an  Article  of  Commerce. 

A  siNGULAE  feature  in  the  commerce 
between  England  and  France  is  the 
toad  trade.  It  is  well  known  that  on 
some  of  the  choice  market  gardens  near 
London,  as  many  as  five  crops  are  raised 
in  one  year,  the  principal  object  being, 
however,  to  grow  the  finest  possible 
specimens  for  high  prices.  Under  such 
a  system  of  culture,  slugs  and  other  in- 
sects are  very  formidable  foes,  and  to 
destroy  them,  toads  have  been  found  so 
useful  as  to  be  purchased  at  high  prices. 
As  much  as  a  dollar  and  a  half  per 
dozen  is  given  for  full-grown  lively 
toads,  which  are  generally  imported 
from  France,  where  they  have  also  been 
in  use  for  a  long  time  in  this  same  way. 


Mike  Schnapps,  the  Fiddle  Dealer. 

Mike  Schnapps  is  well  known  in 
the  trade  as  a  ravenous  fiddle  ogre, 
who  buys  and  sells  everything  that 
bears  the  fiddle  shape,  from  a  double- 
double  bass  to  a  dancing  master's 
pocketable  kit.  His  house  is  one  vast 
musical  collectanea — with  fiddles  on 
the  walls,  fiddles  on  the  staircases,  and 
fiddles  hanging  like  stalactites  from 
the  ceilings.  He  and  his  establishment 
have  never  been  dramatized,  but  that 
there  is  material  in  either  for  a  "  clever 
comedy  in  traflBc,"  the  following  will 
show: 

"You  vant  to  py  a  pfeedel,"  says 
Schnapps.  "  I  sail  sell  you  de  pest — dat 


ish,  de  pest  for  de  money.  Vat  you  sail 
give  for  him  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  can  go  as  far  as  ten  guineas," 
says  the  customer. 

"  Ten  kinnis  is  goot  for  one  goot 
pfeedel;  bote  besser  is  twenty,  tirty, 
feefty  kinnis,  or  von  hunder,  look  you ; 
bote  ten  kinnis  is  goot — you  sail  see." 

Schnapps  is  all  simplicity  and  candor 
in  his  dealings.  The  probability  is, 
however,  that  his  ten-guinea  fiddle 
would  be  fairly  purchased  at  five,  and 
that  the  customer  might  have  been 
treated  to  the  same  article  had  he 
named  thirty  or  forty  guineas  instead 
of  ten. 

Schnapps  was  once  asked  if  he  knew 
wherein  lay  the  excellence  of  the  old 
Italian  instruments. 

"  Mein  Gott ! "  said  he,  "  if  I  don't, 
who  de  teifil  does  ? " 

Then  he  went  on  to  say,  that  it  did 
not  lie  in  any  peculiarity  in  the  model, 
though  there  was  something  in  that; 
nor  in  the  wood  of  the  back,  though 
there  was  something  in  that;  nor  in 
the  fine  and  regular  grain  of  the  pine, 
though  there  was  something  in  that ; 
nor  in  the  position  of  the  grain,  run- 
ning precisely  parallel  with  the  strings, 
though  there  was  something  in  that 
too  ;  nor  in  the  sides,  nor  in  the  finger 
board,  nor  in  the  linings,  nor  in  the 
bridge,  nor  in  the  strings,  nor  in  the 
waist,  though  there  was  something  in 
all  of  them,  nor  yet  in  the  putting 
together,  though  there  was  much  in 
that. 

"  Where  does  it  lie  then,  Mr. 
Schnapps  ? " 

"  Ah,  der  henker !  hang  if  I  know." 

"  Has  age  much  to  do  with  it,  think 
you  ? " 

'  Not  moshe.  Dere  is  pad  pfeedels 
two  hunder  years  ole  as  veil  as  goot 
vons  ;  and  dere  is  goot  pfeedels  of  pad 
models,  vitch  is  very  pad,  and  pad 
pfeedels  of  de  fery  pest  models,  and 
peautiful  make  as  you  sail  vish  to  see." 

This  is  the  sum  total  of  the  informa- 
tion to  be  got  out  of  Schnapps  on  this 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND  OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


601 


mysterious  subject,  but  of  wMch  Mike's 
head  is  the  very  lexicon  ! 


Queer  Bartering  in  Northern  Africa. 

At  Temenhint,  in  Northern  Africa, 
the  inhabitants  have  a  curious  mode 
of  barter.  The  person  who  has  any 
goods  to  sell,  mentions  what  he  wishes 
in  exchange  for  certain  commodities, 
whether  oil,  liquid  butter,  or  shahm, 
which  latter  is  a  kind  of  salted  fat, 
much  resembling  bad  tallow  in  taste 
and  smell.  If  liquids,  he  pours  water 
into  a  pot,  in  proportion  to  the  quan- 
tity of  oil  or  butter  he  requires;  if 
solids,  he  brings  a  stone  of  the  size  of 
the  shahm,  or  other  article  demanded. 
The  buyer  pours  out  water,  or  sends 
for  smaller  stones,  until  he  thinks  a  fair 
equivalent  is  offered.  The  quantities 
then  agreed  for  are  made  up  to  the  size 
of  the  stone  or  the  depth  of  the  water. 


Adam  and  Eve  Ijeadingr  on  in  Trade. 

The  first  "  bargain  "  may  be  said  to 
have  been  made  in  Paradise,  and  it  was 
a  bargain  to  gratify  the  eye  and  taste, 
but  it  was  a  ruinous  speculation,  in 
many  of  its  aspects.  Cain,  and  Lamech, 
and  Tubal  Cain,  and  the  builders  of 
cities,  and  the  workers  in  metals,  how- 
ever, were  not  deterred  from  trading 
with  Nimrod  for  skins  and  furs. 

The  first  trading  after  the  flood  was 
between  the  mothers  and  daughters  of 
Noah's  three  sons,  when  they  were 
packing  up  to  come  out  of  the  ark, 
and  no  doubt  it  was  then  found  that 
those  who  had  been  the  neatest,  and 
had  preserved  the  best  order  in  their 
part  of  the  vessel,  were  able  to  make 
the  best  bargain,  and  there  is  but  very 
little  doubt  that  Shem's  family  were  the 
best  traders. 

The  Midianites,  who  traded  in  Egypt, 
in  spices,  balm,  and  myrrh,  to  whom 
Joseph  was  sold,  were  travelling  mer- 
chants. What  may  be  called  the  first 
actual  commercial  transaction,  recorded 


in  the  oldest  book  in  the  world,  took 
place  seventeen  hundred  years  before 
the  Christian  era,  long  before  Homer  or 
Hesiod  was  bom,  or  the  Greeks  and 
Romans,  or  even  the  Medes  and  Per- 
sians were  dreamed  of.  "  And  behold 
a  company  of  Ishmaelites  came  from 
Gilead,  with  their  camels,  bearing 
spicery,  and  balm,  and  myrrh,  going  to 
carry  it  down  to  Egypt ;  and  they  drew 
and  lifted  up  Joseph  out  of  the  pit, 
and  sold  Joseph  to  the  Ishmaelites  for 
twenty  pieces  of  silver;  and  they 
brought  Joseph  to  Egypt." 


Dealing  in  "  Orrd  Things." 

In  one  of  the  small  streets  of  Edin- 
burgh, called  Niddries  Wynd,  some 
time  ago  there  lived  an  eccentric  char- 
acter, named  Willie  Tamson.  He  ex- 
hibited a  sign  bearing  this  singular  in- 
scription :  "  Orrd  Things  Bought  and 
Sold  Here," — which  signified  that  he 
dealt  in  odd  articles,  such  as  a  single 
shoe  buckle,  one  of  a  pair  of  skates,  a 
right-hand  or  left-hand  glove,  a  teapot 
wanting  a  lid,  or  perhaps  as  often  a  lid 
without  a  teapot.  By  this  craft,  how- 
ever, this  curious  mortal  contrived  to 
earn  a  decent  living ;  for  it  is  a  trait  in 
human  nature,  that  when  a  store  or 
person  gets  the  reputation  for  selling 
cheap,  every  one  takes  it  for  granted 
that  it  must  be  so — the  same  principle, 
or  crotchet,  which  leads  persons  to  flock 
to  the  shop  where  damaged  goods  are 
advertised  for  sale  cheap,  but  where 
customers  often  pay  several  cents  per 
yard  more  for  the  damaged  article  than 
they  would  have  got  it  for,  dry  and  un- 
soiled,  in  another  store.  So  it  was  by 
this  craft  that  "old  Willie"  thrived, 
for  every  housewife  that  had  an  odd 
shoe,  or  an  odd  glove,  or  an  odd  part 
of  a  pair  of  scissors,  or  of  a  pair  of 
tongs  and  snuffers,  a  knife  without  a 
handle,  or  a  handle  without  the  blade, 
went  to  Willie  Tamson  to  get  them 
paired ;  in  short,  he  was  perhaps  the 
greatest  matdi-makei  in  Europe. 


602 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Exportation  of  Scotch  Periwinkles. 
It  would  hardly  be  supposed  that  so 
trifling  an  article  in  itself  as  the  peri- 
winkle could  form  a  matter  of  extensive 
traffic ;  but  so  it  is.  Sometimes  as 
many  as  fifty  or  sixty  tons  of  these  lit- 
tle shells  are  brought  at  a  time  to  Glas- 
gow, Scotland,  from  the  island  of  Ker- 
vera,  opposite  Oban,  where  they  abound, 
and  are  gathered  by  the  poor  people, 
who  get  sixpence  a  bushel  for  collect- 
ing them.  From  this  they  are  shipped 
to  Liverpool,  and  thence  by  rail  to 
London,  to  satisfy  the  insatiable  maw 
of  the  modern  Babylonians.  Very  few 
are  consumed  in  Scotland,  as  the  popu- 
lar taste  for  "  whilks  and  buckles  "  is 
not  so  strongly  marked  in  that  country, 
and  better  profits  are  consequently  ob- 
tained in  London,  even  after  paying  so 
much  sea  and  land  carriage. 


Tea  Shops  in  China. 
The  Chinese  tea  shops  are  very  much 
resorted  to,  and  a  brisk  business  is  done 
in  their  own  favorite  beverage.  The 
charge  is  ridiculously  small.  For  half 
a  penny,  a  customer  may  have  what 
they  call  a  sumptuous  meal — "  three 
cash  "  being  the  price  of  a  cup  of  tea, 
fifteen  hundred  cash  going  to  the  dol- 
lar. Their  mode  of  making  tea  is  very 
dififerent  from  ours.  They  put  the  tea 
into  the  cups,  and  then  take  them  to  im- 
mense copper  kettles  with  furnaces  in- 
side ;  filling  each  cup  with  boiling 
water,  they  put  on  its  little  cover,  and 
allow  it  to  stand  for  a  few  minutes, 
then,  pushing  the  cover  just  within  the 
rim  of  the  cup,  so  as  to  prevent  the 
leaves  making  their  escape,  they  drink 
it,  without  sugar  or  milk.  The  shop- 
keeper will  refill  the  cups  for  the  same 
money,  but  if  more  is  wanted,  a  second 
payment  must  be  made. 


Turkish  Fez  Shops:    Stationers, 

Tailors,  and  Jewellers. 
The  fez  shops  are  very  numerous  in 
the  "  sick  man's  city,"  for  turbans  de- 


crease, though  slowly.  They  are  of  a 
deep  crimson,  and  have  at  the  top  a 
little  red  stalk,  to  which  the  heavy 
blue  tassel  is  tied,  and  which  always, 
to  prevent  entanglement,  is  kept  in 
stock  with  a  sort  of  ornament  of  paper 
cut  into  a  lace  pattern  round  it.  The 
blocks,  too,  for  fezes  to  be  kej^t  on,  are 
sold  in  distinct  shops.  They  may  be 
seen  round  as  cheeses,  ranged  in  front 
of  a  Turk,  who  watches  them  as  if  ex- 
pecting them  to  grow.  Sometimes  one 
can  hardly  help  thinking  them  to  be 
pork  pies,  but  for  the  bare-legged  boy 
in  the  background,  who,  pushing  the 
block  with  the  flexible  sole  of  his  foot, 
keeps  it  even  upon  the  lathe. 

Stationers  and  booksellers  hardly 
show  at  all  in  Stamboul,  but  in  the  ba- 
zaar, and  there  in  a  very  limited  way 
— and  in  a  way,  too,  that  makes  an 
Englishman  or  American  wish  he  were 
away  altogether. 

The  tailor,  too,  does  not  figure 
largely,  though  the  Turks  are  seen  busy 
in  their  shops  sewing  at  quilted  gowns 
and  coverlets  stuffed  with  down ;  and 
one  can  seldom  pass  down  a  street 
without  seeing  a  man  with  a  bow,  bow- 
ing cotton,  with  the  twang  and  flutter 
peculiar  to  that  occupation,  the  slave 
behind  half  buried  in  flock,  or  emerg- 
ing from  a  swansdown  sea  of  loose 
white  feathers. 

The  jewellers — frequently  Jews — are 
chiefly  in  the  bazaars,  both  for  safety 
and  convenience.  There  they  sit,  sort- 
ing great  heaps  of  seed  pearl,  like  so 
much  rice,  squinting  through  lumps  of 
emerald,  or  weighing  filigree  earrings, 
with  veiled  ladies  looking  on,  and 
black  duennas  in  yellow  boots  in  wait- 
ing ;  but  still  there  are  a  few  outsiders 
who  sell  coarse  European  watches  with 
unseemly  French  cases,  and  large  bossy 
silver  cases  for  rose  water,  or  some  such 
frivolous  use,  shaped  like  huge  melons, 
and  crusted  with  patterning. 

It  is  not  possible  to  go  up  a  Turk- 
ish street,  if  it  contain  any  shops,  with- 
out also  findinor  among  them  a  furni- 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND   OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


603 


ture  shop,  where  Chinese-looking  stools 
and  large  chests  are  sold,  their  whole 
surface  diced  over  with  squares  of 
mother-of-pearl,  frequently  dry  and 
loose  with  extreme  age. 


Settling:  a  Question  of  Trade. 

The  crew  of  a  vessel  was  taken  by  a 
Barbary  corsair.  When  they  were 
brought  before  the  dey,  he  inquired 
their  several  occupations.  The  rig- 
gers, and  blacksmiths,  and  carpenters, 
were  all  sent  off  to  the  dockyard.  The 
sailors  had  a  comfortable  berth  pro- 
vided for  them ;  and  even  the  officers 
were  turned  to  account  one  way  or 
another. 

At  last  his  highness  came  to  a  literary 
man — a  passenger  and  a  poet.  What  to 
do  with  him,  for  a  long  while,  his  high- 
ness could  not,  for  the  life  of  him,  say  ; 
till  at  last,  learning  that  the  prisoner 
was  a  man  of  sedentary  occupations, 
and  having  the  peculiarity  of  the 
habits  of  such  a  one  explained  to  him 
somewhat  by  the  interpreter,  he  ordered 
the  poet  a  pair  of  feather  breeches,  and 
set  him  to  hatching  chickens. 


Bargraining-  by  Pantomime— Trade  in 
Camels. 

The  Blue  Town,  Tartary,  is  noted 
for  its  great  trade  in  camels.  The  camel 
market  is  a  large  square  in  the  centre 
of  the  town.  The  animals  are  ranged 
here  in  long  rows,  their  front  feet  raised 
upon  a  mud  elevation  constructed  for 
that  purpose,  the  object  being  to  show 
off  the  size  and  height  of  the  creatures. 
The  uproar  and  confusion  of  this 
market  are  tremendous,  with  the  in- 
cessant bavvling  of  the  buyers  and 
sellers  as  they  dispute,  their  chattering 
after  they  have  agreed,  and  the  horri- 
ble shrieking  of  the  animals  at  having 
their  noses  pulled,  for  the  purpose  of 
making  them  show  their  agility  in 
kneeling  and  rising. 

In  order  to  test  the  strength  of  the 


camel,  and  the  burden  it  is  capable  of 
bearing,  they  make  it  kneel,  and  then 
pile  one  thing  aft^er  another  upon  its 
back,  causing  it  to  rise  under  each 
addition,  until  it  can  rise  no  longer. 
They  sometimes  use  the  following  ex- 
pedient :  While  the  camel  is  kneeling, 
a  man  gets  upon  his  hind  heels,  and 
holds  on  by  the  long  hair  of  its  hump 
— if  a  camel  can  rise  then,  it  is  consid- 
ered an  animal  of  superior  strength. 

The  trade  in  camels  is  entirely  by 
proxy — the  seller  and  the  buyer  never 
settle  the  matter  between  themselves. 
They  select  indifferent  persons  to  sell 
their  goods,  who  propose,  discuss,  and 
fix  the  price ;  the  one  looking  to  the 
interests  of  the  seller,  the  other  to 
those  of  the  purchaser.  These  "  sale 
speakers  "  exercise  no  other  trade ;  they 
go  from  market  to  market,  to  promote 
business,  as  they  say.  They  have  gener- 
ally a  great  knowledge  of  cattle,  have 
much  fluency  of  tongue,  and  are,  above 
all,  endowed  with  a  knavery  beyond  all 
shame.  They  dispute  by  turns,  furious- 
ly and  argumentatively,  as  to  the  merits 
and  defects  of  the  animal ;  but  as  soon 
as  it  comes  to  a  question  of  price,  the 
tongue  is  laid  aside  as  a  medium,  and 
the  conversation  proceeds  altogether  in 
signs.  They  seize  each  other  by  the 
wrist,  and  beneath  the  long,  wide 
sleeve  of  their  jackets  indicate  with 
their  fingers  the  progress  of  the  bar- 
gain. After  the  affair  is  concluded, 
they  partake  of  the  dinner,  which  is 
always  given  by  the  purchaser,  and 
then  receive  a  certain  number  of  sa- 
peks,  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
different  places. 


Mercantile  Agency  Management 
Illustrated. 

A  REPRESENTATIVE  of  One  of  the 
mercantile  agency  establishments  in 
New  York  once  called  on  a  merchant 
in  Broad  street  (we  quote  from  Mr. 
Barrett's  racy  volume  on  the  "  Old 
Merchants"),  and  asked  him  to  become 


604 


COMMERCIAL   AXD   BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


*a  subscriber.  He  explained  its  advan- 
tages. The  merchant  hesitated — at  last 
he  says,  "  Tell  me  all  about  '  James 
Samson,'  and  I  will  subscribe."  "  The 
name  is  not  on  the  agency  books,  but 
give  me  two  days,  and  I  will  find  out 
all  about  him."  The  clerk  got  the 
name  correctly,  and  said,  "  111  find  out 
all  about  him  if  he  is  in  the  United 
States."  A  week  elapsed.  The  clerk 
of  the  agency  called,  and  reported  as 
follows  :  "  James  Samson  is  a  peddler, 
aged  thirty;  he  comes  to  Albany  to 
buy  his  goods,  and  then  peddles  them 
out  along  the  canal  from  Albany  to 
Buffalo.  He  is  worth  two  thousand 
dollars ;  owns  a  wooden  house  in 
Lockport  in  his  own  name  ;  his  family 
reside  in  it ;  has  a  wife  and  three  chil- 
dren, two  boys  and  one  girl ;  boys 
named  Henry  and  Charles,  aged  four 
and  six  years,  girl  named  Margaret,  two 
years  old;  no  judgment  out  or  mort- 
gage on  property;  drinks  two  glasses 
cider  brandy,  plain,  morning  and  eve- 
ning— never  more;  drinks  water  after 
each;  chews  fine-cut;  never  smokes; 
good  teeth  generally ;  has  lost  a  large 
double  tooth  on  lower  jaw,  back, 
second  from  throat  on  left  side ;  has 
a  scar  an  inch  long  on  his  left  leg  knee- 
pan  ;  cause,  cut  himself  with  a  hatchet 
when  only  three  years  old;  can  be 
found  when  in  Albany  at  Pete  Mason's, 
83  State  street;  purchases  principally 
jewelry  and  fancy  articles ;  belongs  to 
the  Shoe."  This  is  evidence  of  how 
systematically  the  system  is  carried  on. 
The  report  was  conclusive.  It  satisfied 
the  Broad  street  merchant.  The  event 
was  fifteen  years  ago.  The  merchant 
subscribed  one  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars, and  has  paid  it  yearly  ever  since. 


Funny  Commercial  Transaction  All 
Round. 

An  old  fellow  living  at  Frankfort-on- 
the-Maine,  sent  to  a  business  corres- 
pondent at  Frankfort-on-the-Oder,  a 
large  consignment  of  cotton  stockings. 


and,  at  the  same  time,  to  another  cor- 
respondent at  the  same  place,  an  equal- 
ly large  consignment  of  cotton  night- 
caps, the  product  of  his  own  manufac- 
ture. He  wrote  to  each  the  price  at 
which  they  were  to  sell,  but  the  sum 
designated  was  found  to  be  too  large, 
of  which  fact  they  took  the  liberty  to 
inform  him. 

He  yielded  a  little  in  his  demands, 
but  still  there  was  no  offer  for  his 
fabrics.  Again  he  writes,  in  reply  to 
other  letters  of  his  correspondents, 
naming  a  yet  smaller  amount ;  but 
weeks  elapse,  and  yet  no  sales.  At 
length  he  writes  to  each  correspondent 
to  make  some  disposition  of  his  manu- 
factures; if  they  can't  get  money  for 
them,  at  least  to  exchange  them,  no 
matter  at  what  reasonable  sacrifice,  for 
any  other  goods. 

Under  these  instructions,  the  stock- 
ing factor  calls  upon  the  nightcap 
agent,  both  unknown  to  each  other  in 
connection  with  their  principal,  and 
"  names  his  views ;  "  he  wishes  to  ex- 
change a  lot  of  superior  stockings  for 
some  other  goods— he  is  not  particular 
what  kind,  as  the  transaction  is  for  a 
friend,  who  is  desirous  of  "  closing  his 
stock."  The  man  at  first  can  think  of 
nothing  which  he  would  like  to  ex- 
change for  so  large  a  supply  of  stock- 
ings, but  at  length  a  bright  thought 
strikes  him.  "  I  have,"  said  he,  "  a 
consignment  of  cotton  nightcaps  from 
an  old  correspondent,  which  I  shall 
not  object  to  exchange  for  your  stock- 
ings." The  bargain  was  soon  closed. 
The  stocking  factor  wrote  back  at  once, 
that  he  had  at  length  been  enabled  to 
comply  with  the  instructions  of  his 
principal.  He  had  exchanged  his 
stockings  for  "  a  superior  article  of 
nightcap,"  in  an  equal  quantity,  which 
he  was  assured  were  likely  to  be  much 
in  demand  before  a  great  while.  The 
next  day  came  a  letter  from  the  night- 
cap agent,  announcing  his  success,  and 
appended  to  the  letter  was  a  big  bill 
for    commissions!       As    Yellowplush 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND  OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


605 


would  say,  "  Fanzy  that  gentleman's 
feelinks." 


liOgran,  the  Fan  Painter. 

Logan,  so  famous  in  England  for  Ms 
marvellous  skill  as  a  painter  of  fans, 
at  Tun  bridge,  was  an  odd,  diminutive 
figure,  but  a  most  sensible,  honest,  and 
ingenious  man.  For  some  years  he 
kept  a  shop  at  the  extreme  end  of  the 
parade  ground.  From  this  point  he 
could  see  the  whole  military  body,  and 
constantly  delineated  any  particular 
character  among  them,  on  his  fans,  so 
as  to  be  immediately  known  by  their 
forms ;  these  he  introduced  in  his 
views  of  the  parade — the  cold  bath — 
the  fish  ponds,  etc.,  and  which  gave 
him  constant  employ.  But  his  origi- 
nality of  character,  his  quaint  good 
sense,  jokes,  and  trenchant  repartees, 
for  which  he  was  so  distinguished,  are 
IDrobably  better  remembered  than  his 
mechanic  skill. 


Jolly  Sign-Painters :  Bich  Professional 
Tragedy. 

In  the  western  part  of  a  certain  city, 
live  and  flourish  two  jolly  young  fel- 
lows who  follow  sign-painting  for  a 
livelihood,  and  who  are  sometimes  in 
the  habit  of  cutting  up  what  are  called 
"  high  shines."     We  shall  see. 

It  so  occurred  that  one  of  the  painters 
had  some  out-door  business  to  attend 
to,  and  left  the  shop  in  charge  of  his 
partner  and  a  little  boy  who  was  em- 
ployed to  grind  paints.  During  his 
absence,  the  partner  remaining  went 
to  work  and  painted  the  boy's  neck 
so  as  to  represent  a  large  gash,  and  a 
cut  over  the  eye.  He  then  took  red 
paiht,  bespattered  it  over  the  floor,  and 
clotted  the  boy's  hair,  and  made  him 
lie  down  in  a  corner.  He  then  painted 
a  great  gash  on  his  own  cheek,  bared 
his  bosom,  disordered  his  dress,  dipped 
a  long-bladed  knife  in  the  red  paint 
pot,  and  patiently  awaited  the  coming 
of  his  partner. 


Directly  afterwards  he  heard  him  at 
the  door,  and  the  performance  com- 
menced. The  partner  stuck  his  head 
into  the  room  door;  one  glance  was 
sufficient — the  boy  was  prostrate  on 
the  floor,  with  his  throat  cut,  groaning 
and  crying  murder;  chairs,  tables, 
benches,  jugs,  and  paint  pots,  were 
strewed  around  the  room  in  dire  con- 
fusion, while  the  murderous  looking 
partner,  with  the  bloody  knife  uplifted 
in  his  hand,  was  running  through  the 
room  and  uttering  wild  and  incoherent 
expressions. 

It  was  evident  to  the  partner  at  the 
door  that  his  partner  had  killed  the 
boy. 

The  thought  was  horrid.  Swift  as 
lightning,  he  flew  to  his  father,  and  in- 
formed him  of  the  circumstances.  A 
number  of  friends  were  mustered,  who 
repaired  forthwith  to  the  tragical  scene. 
The  crowd  augmented  as  it  neared  the 
shop,  and  in  hastened  the  whole  posse 
with  suspended  breath ;  but  what  was 
their  astonishment  to  find  the  boy, 
without  a  mark  of  any  kind,  the  room 
in  perfect  order,  no  marks  of  blood 
perceptible,  and  the  partner  engaged 
in  lettering  a  sign !  and  utter  igno- 
rance of  any  transaction  of  the  kind 
avowed  by  both  him  and  the  boy,  to 
the  other  partner's  great  mortification 
— more  especially  as  the  persons  he 
brought  there  hinted  to  one  another 
that  during  his  absence  from  the  shop 
he  might  have  indiilged  too  freely  in 
"  fire  water." 


The  Miller  and  his  Portrait. 

A  WORTHY  miller,  wishing  for  a  por- 
trait of  himself,  applied  to  a  painter  to 
have  it  accomplished.  "  But,"  said  he, 
"  as  I  am  a  very  industrious  man,  I 
wish  to  be  painted  as  looldng  out  of  the 
window  of  my  mill ;  but  when  any  one 
looks  at  me,  I  wish  to  jDop  my  head  m, 
so  as  not  to  be  thought  lazy,  or  as 
spending  too  much  time  at  the  win- 
dow." 


606 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"Very  well,"  said  the  painter,  "it 
shall  be  clone  so."  He  painted  the  mill 
and  the  mill  window.  The  miller 
looked  at  it  and  inquired,  "  Where  is 
myself  looking  out  ? "  "  Oh,"  said  the 
painter,  "  whenever  one  looks  at  the 
mill,  as  you  and  I  are  doing  now,  you 
know  you  pop  in  your  head  to  preserve 
your  credit  for  industry."  "  That's 
right,"  said  the  miller,  "  I'm  content — 
that's  right— that  will  do  ! " 


Bussian  Shop  Customs. 

The  Russians  have  the  custom,  which 
is  very  convenient  for  purchasers,  of 
exhibiting  on  one  and  the  same  spot 
almost  everything  that  is  to  be  sold  in 
a  town,  the  most  different  articles  being 
collected  in  one  and  the  same  building. 
A  stranger,  therefore,  has  no  occasion 
to  inquire,  "  Where  is  tliis  or  that  to 
be  bought  ? "  for  he  finds  at  once 
everything  that  he  can  ask  for.  In 
every  town  in  Russia  of  any  impor- 
tance there  is  a  "  Gostinnoi  Dwor,"  and 
this  structure  is  where  the  buyers  and 
sellers  congregate.  In  no  country  does 
like  stick  closer  to  like  than  in  Russia. 
Not  only  are  the  tradesmen  to  be  found 
together  at  one  rendezvous,  but  all 
those  who  deal  in  the  same  commodity 
unite  to  form  a  smaller  mass.  Thus, 
all  the  stationers  are  in  one  row,  all  the 
silk  dealers  are  together,  and  all  the 
leather  sellers  in  one  group. 

A  peculiarity  of  the  Russian  trades- 
man is  to  deliver  everything  they  offer 
for  sale  as  much  as  possible  in  a  state 
fit  for  immediate  use.  The  reason  of 
this  is  because  Russian  buyers  scarcely 
purchase  anything  till  they  are  in 
urgent  want  of  it.  Hence  the  manu- 
facture-like production  of  every  possi- 
ble sort  of  goods.  Each  commodity 
has  its  row  of  shops,  w^hich  is  named 
after  it,  and  the  ignorant  or  the  juve- 
nile may  be  heard  incessantly  ask- 
ing, "Father,  where  is  Fur  Row?" 
"Where  is  Cap  Row?"  ('Brother, 
where  is  Boot  Row?"     "Mother,  is 


this  the  way  to  Stocking  Row  ?  to 
Petticoat  Row  ? " 

If  the  lounger  perambulating  the 
colonnade  is  amused  by  the  inquiries 
of  buyers,  he  will  be  still  more  inter- 
ested by  the  characteristic  sayings  and 
doings  of  the  Russian  tradesmen. 
These  are  all  extremely  sharp  fellows, 
with  flaxen  or  light  brown  hair  and 
beard,  dressed  in  the  kaftan  and  blue 
cloth  cap,  which  is  worn  of  the  same 
form  by  the  shopkeepers  throughout 
all  Russia.  They  are  incessantly  and 
clamorously  recommending  their  goods 
to  passengers  by  the  most  extravagant 
panegyrics.  "  What  are  you  looking 
for,  sir  ?  Clothes— the  very  best,  of  the 
newest  cut.  Hats — the  best  that  can 
be  made.  Kasan  boots — first  rate." — 
"  What  is  your  pleasure,  madam  ? 
what  can  I  do  for  you  ?  what  can  I 
serve  you  with?" — "Have  I  nothing 
that  suits  you,  sir  ? — a  bear-skin,  a  fox- 
skin,  a  wolf-skin  pelisse  ?  You  will 
find  everything  here,  if  you  will  be 
pleased  to  step  in." 

Officious  attendants  are  always  ready, 
cap  in  hand,  to  open  the  door  to  every 
one  who  passes,  chanting  the  while 
their  accustomed  tunes,  and  pouring 
forth  their  eloquence  without  distinc- 
tion of  person,  rank,  sex,  or  age.  Little 
boys  invite  you  in  to  the  bear-skin 
pelisses,  fine  gentlemen  to  the  clumsy 
boots,  old  women  to  the  toy  shops, 
young  lasses  to  the  shops  for  swords 
and  fire-arms,  peasants  and  laboring 
men  to  those  for  millinery  and  haber- 
dashery. They  care  not  whom  they 
address,  their  only  thought  being,  "  No 
matter  who  the  people  are — so  they 
have  money,  in  with  them  ! "  When 
the  shopkeeper  himself  does  not  under- 
take this  office,  he  employs  a  young 
"  barker,"  who,  walking  to  and  fro  the 
whole  day,  rubbing  his  hands,  sings 
out  his  polite  invitations. 

A  genuine  German  tradesman,  seated 
in  his  shop,  brooding  over  plans  and 
thinking  of  his  wife  and  children,  looks 
like  calculation  personified.     The  Hus- 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND  OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


607 


sians^  on  the  contrary,  are  almost  in^ 
variably  without  thought  or  care. 
Rarely  do  you  see  them  writing  or 
keeping  accounts;  their  business  is 
simple,  and  needs  no  such  artificial 
aids.  When,  therefore,  they  are  not 
engaged  with  customers,  or  with 
chanting  their  invitations  to  passen- 
gers, they  are  in  general  full  of  all  sorts 
of  fun  and  frolic 


Paris  •' Gratteurs." 

The  gratteur  of  Paris  is  a  "  trades- 
man "  just  below  the  chifFonnier.  The 
man  of  this  craft  scratches,  the  livelong 
day,  between  the  stones  of  the  pave- 
ment, for  old  nails  from  horses'  shoes, 
and  other  bits  of  iron — always,  of 
course,  in  hope  of  a  bit  of  silver,  and 
even  perhaps  a  bit  of  gold  ;  more  hap- 
py in  his  hope  than  hundreds  of  others 
in  the  possession.  He  has  a  store  or 
"  magazin "  in  the  faubourgs,  where 
he  deposits  his  ferruginous  treasure. 
His  wife  keeps  this  store,  and  is  a 
'•^  marchande  defer.''''  He  maintains  a 
family,  like  another  man ;  one  or  two 
of  his  sons  he  brings  up  to  scratch  for 
a  living,  and  the  other  he  sends  to  col- 
lege ;  and  he  has  a  lot  "  in  perpetuity  " 
in  Pere  la  Chaise.  His  rank,  however, 
in  social  circles,  is  inferior  to  that  of 
the  chifFonnier,  who  will  not  give  him 
his  daughter  in  marriage,  and  he  don't 
ask  him  to  his  soirees. 


Vocation  Peculiar  to  China ;    Gossip 
at  Pifty  Cents  per  Hour. 

There  is  a  kind  of  employment — a 
paying  vocation  too,  it  is  said — which, 
at  least  in  its  financial  aspects,  is  pecu- 
liar to  China  alone.  The  Chinese  name 
for  this  trade  literally  signifies  gossip 
monger.  Now,  a  number  of  elderly 
ladies,  generally  widows,  make  it  their 
business  to  collect  gossip,  on  dits,  chit- 
chat, and  stories  of  all  sorts,  with  which 
they  repair  to  the  houses  of  the  rich, 
announcing  their  arrival  by  beating  a 


small  drum,  which  they  carry  for  that 
purpose,  and  ofier  their  services  to 
amuse  the  ladies  of  the  family.  When 
it  is  recollected  that  shopping,  public 
assemblies,  and  even  morning  calls,  are 
all  but  forbidden  to  the  beauty  and 
fashion  of  China  by  their  country's  no- 
tions of  both  propriety  and  feet,  some 
idea  may  be  formed  of  the  welcome 
generally  given  to  these  reporting 
dames.  They  are  paid  according  to 
the  time  employed,  at  the  rate  of  about 
fifty  cents  an  hour,  and  are  besides  in 
the  frequent  receipt  of  presents — their 
occupation  affording  many  opportu- 
nities of  making  themselves  generally 
useful  in  matters  of  couitship,  rivalry, 
etiquette,  etc.  On  these  accounts  they 
generally  retire  from  business  in  easy 
circumstances,  but  are  said  never  to  do 
so  unless  obliged  by  actual  infirmity — 
so  congenial  is  the  business  to  their  fe- 
male tastes. 


Saint  Shops. 

Russians  are  given  to  imagining 
that  they  are  forsaken  by  God  and  all 
his  angels,  unless  they  have  visible  and 
palpable  representations  of  his  omni- 
presence about  them,  and  unless  he  has 
taken  actual  possession  by  the  hand  of 
the  priest ;  they  therefore  hang  their 
persons,  their  rooms,  their  doorways, 
and  their  gateways,  as  well  as  their 
churches,  with  images  of  saints.  On 
this  account,  the  necessity  arises  for  in- 
credible quantities  of  the  latter  articles. 
The  manufacture  of  these  is  quite  an 
important  business  matter,  and  there 
are  places  especially  carried  on  for  this 
devotional  traffic.  In  heaps,  like  gin- 
gerbread nuts,  and  sold  by  dozens,  lit- 
tle brass  crosses,  portraits  of  the  Virgin 
Mary,  St.  John,  and  St.  George,  and 
other  amulets,  lie  exposed  like  any 
other  kind  of  merchandise  before  the 
shops.  On  the  walls  of  the  latter  hang 
glittering  figures  of  false  silver  and 
gold,  of  all  forms  and  dimensions : 
small  ones,  a  few  inches  in  length  and 


608 


COMMERCIAL   AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


breadth,  which  the  servants  of  great 
families  fetch  away  by  the  gross,  to 
supply  new-built  houses,  where  they 
are  nailed  up  in  every  room,  behind 
the  curtains ;  large  ones,  six  or  eight 
feet  high,  for  orthodox  tradesmen,  who, 
with  their  wives  and  children,  prostrate 
themselves  before  them ;  others  for  the 
use  of  village  churches  and  city  chap- 
els. Some  are  fitted,  after  the  new 
fashion,  into  mahogany  frames,  others 
adorned  in  the  old  style,  with  pillars, 
porches,  and  whole  temjDles,  curiously 
plated  with  silver  wire. 


•*  Four-and-twenty  Self-Sealing  Enve- 
lopes, Po-oo-Tir  Cents." 

It  is  about  needless  to  give  any 
preface  to  our  present  character,  after 
so  descriptive  a  title  as  the  above. 
Nor  can  we  do  better  than  to  borrow 
the  portrait  of  this  sui-generis  eccen- 
tricity which  we  find  hanging  up  on 
the  walls  of  the  Knickerbocker — drawn 
by  one  of  its  most  skilful  artists,  with 
only  one  or  two  misshadings  of  the 
pencil : 

The  stationery  man  !  Who  does  not 
know  him  ?  Lives  there  the  individ- 
ual with  soul  so  dead,  who  never  to 
his  friend  has  made  an  observation 
concerning  the  stationery  man  ?  All 
the  world  is  acquainted  with  him,  so 
far  as  a  knowledge  which  is  all  on  one 
side  can  be  called  an  acquaintance. 
All  New  York  has  seen  him.  Every- 
body in  the  rural  districts  has  heard 
of  him.  Indeed,  it  is  a  common  thing 
in  Connecticut,  among  persons  who 
have  never  been  to  New  York,  but  who 
like  to  pretend  to  have  made  that  pil- 
grimage, to  claim  an  acquaintance  with 
the  stationery  man,  and  to  ask  you : 
"  Does  he  stand  there  yet  ? "  Of  course 
he  stands  there  yet.  That  man  will 
never  die :  he  couldn't  afford  to  do  it. 
He  may  pass  away  at  some  time  within 
the  next  fifty  years  ;  but  when  he  does 
so,  mark  my  words— don't  pass  up  Nas- 
sau street,  after  midnight,  if  you  would 


not  desire  to  hear  the  sepulchral  voice 
of  a  ghostly  stationery  man  proclaim- 
ing :  "  Four-and-twenty  self-sealing  en- 
velopes, fo-oo-ur  cents ! " 

There  have  been  more  pen-and-ink 
sketches  of  that  individual  taken  than 
were  ever  made  of  the  Duke  of  "Wel- 
lington or  Tippoo  Saib.  I  have  one  of 
them,  and  I  keep  it.  You  might  kill 
me,  or  burn  the  house  over  my  head ; 
but  induce  me  to  part  with  that  por- 
trait ? — not  quite  ! 

Because  I  respect  the  stationery  man, 
I  admire  him.  What  else  can  I  do, 
when  I  see  him  every  day,  and  at  all 
hours,  with  his  heavy  rough  coat  in 
the  warmest  weather,  and  his  chin 
buried  in  that  now  immortal  muffler, 
standing  at  the  corner  under  the  cloth- 
ier's awning,  in  rain  or  sunshine,  from 
mom  to  dewy  eve,  and,  indeed,  till 
eight  o'clock  at  night,  proclaiming  to 
the  city  in  general,  and  to  Nassau  street 
pedestrians  in  particular,  the  cheering 
intelligence  that  he  will  give  you,  if 
you  are  disposed  to  take  them,  "  four- 
and-twenty  self-sealing  envelopes  for 
fo-oo-ur  cents."  I  never  bought  any  of 
him.  I  never  saw  him  sell  any :  though 
I  have  stood  and  watched  him  by  the 
hour.  I  don't  believe  he  ever  effects  a 
transaction.  It  is  his  fate,  his  destiny, 
to  stand  at  the  corner  of  Nassau  street, 
and  repeat  those  mystic  words.  He  is, 
I  believe,  the  Wandering  Jew  of  the 
paper  trade.  I  once  plucked  up  cour- 
age enough  to  speak  to  him :  "  Sir," 
said  I,  "  can  you  tell  me  what  o'clock 
it  is  ? "  He  turned  upon  me  a  glassy 
but  yet  shining  gray  eye,  and  answered 
me  in  accents  already  familiar  to  my 
ear — "  Four-and-twenty  self-sealing  en- 
velopes, fo-oo-ur  cents  1 "  I  hurried  on 
and  left  him. 

No  man  knows  where  he  dines,  or 
whether  he  ever  dines  at  all.  His  com- 
ings out  and  his  comings  in,  are  alike 
shrouded  in  mystery.  I  once  tried  to 
follow  him  home.  Home  ?  Ha  !  ha  ! 
Seeing  him  make  up  his  little  pack,  I 
determined  to  track  him.     The  rain 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND   OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


609 


was  pouring  down  heavily  that  gloomy 
night,  as  /  saw  him  leave  the  corner,  a,nd 
direct  his  steps  up  Nassau  street.  I 
watched  him  until  he  came  within  half 
a  block  of  the  end  of  Nassau  street,  and 
then — well,  I  lost  him.  Out  of  Nassau 
street  I  knoio  he  did  not  go,  I  believe 
he  cannot  leave  Nassau  street.  I  can  ; 
but  before  I  left  it  on  that  memorable 
evening,  I  heard  once  more,  as  from  a 
distance,  the  mysterious  announcement 
which  declared  the  unchangeable  value 
of  "four  and  twenty  self-sealing  en- 
velopes." 

What  manner  of  man  is  this  ? 
Through  how  many  years  has  he  ex- 
isted on  our  globe,  and  for  how  many 
centuries  more  is  he  doomed  to  occupy 
the  corner  of  Nassau  street,  and  pro- 
claim to  a  heedless  world  his  self-seal- 
ing destiny  ?     Ah  !  who  can  tell  ? 

He  has  been  wrapped  in  the  "  en- 
velope "  which  awaits  all  mortals,  and 
now  lies  "  sealed  "  in  his  final  rest. 


Patent-Medicine   Makers— Morrison, 
Brandreth,  Townsend,  etc. 

The  business  of  making  patent  medi- 
cines is  much  overdone,  even  to  an  ex- 
tent beyond  almost  any  other.  A  few 
only  have  realized  a  fortune  in  it.  It 
is  an  uncommonly  flattering  business, 
considering  alone  the  actual  cost  of 
the  stock  :  hence  thousands  have  been 
rashly  invested  in  the  manufacture  and 
distribution  of  remedies  without  count- 
ing the  tremendous  cost  of  popularity. 
Unless  large  sales  are  made,  ruin  must 
follow ;  so  that,  by  a  safe  calculation, 
it  is  believed  ninety  in  every  one  hun- 
dred fail,  who  undertake  in  this  line. 

The  manner  of  doing  this  remarkable 
business  is  invariably  to  manufacture 
large  quantities,  and  establish  agencies 
in  every  part  of  the  country  ;  it  being 
almost  without  exception  a  commis- 
sion, and  this  is  the  only  means  of  ex- 
tending it.  Of  course,  without  a  very 
large  capital,  nothing  of  late  years  can 
be  done  to  compete  with  the  already 
39 


established  remedies.  Townsend  la- 
bored two  years,  and  accomplished 
nothing.  Finally  a  wealthy  citizen  of 
Albany  joined  him,  investing  ample. 
means ;  since  which  the  sarsaparilla 
era  soon  reached  its  zenith,  but,  as 
everything  must  have  its  day,  it  in  time 
rapidly  declined. 

Morrison,  the  London  pill  maker, 
was  one  of  the  leaders  in  this  business. 
His  pills  were  put  up  in  packages  of 
three  boxes  each — "  one,"  "  two,"  and 
"  three  " — and  to  be  taken  in  regular 
order ;  holding  out  the  impression  that 
they  contained  three  different  kinds  of 
medicine.  These  pills  became  at  one 
time  quite  popular  in  the  United  States, 
till  the  general  agent's  sale  in  New 
England  was  one  hundred  dollars  a 
day,  when  he,  becoming  an  extensive 
counterfeiter  of  them,  had  to  leave  the 
place.  It  was  afterward  proved  that 
these  pills  were  made  in  New  York, 
and  that  number  one,  two,  and  three, 
were  all  the  same  article.  The  medical 
faculty  came  out  in  London,  at  one 
time,  and  stated  that  Dr.  Morrison  wa8 
destroying  much  life  by  the  recommen- 
dation of  such  quantities  of  medicines. 
He  in  turn  prosecuted  the  faculty  for 
libel,  but  in  every  instance  was  beaten. 
In  fifteen  years  he  amassed  a  princely 
fortune,  and  built  himself  a  magnificent 
palace. 

Dr.  Brandreth  came  to  this  country 
from  London  about  five  years  after 
Morrison's  pills  became  popular,  and 
established  the  sale  of  his  pills,  adopt- 
ing Morrison's  plan  of  recommending 
every  one  to  take  his  pills  in  large 
quantities ;  and  he  has  accumulated  a 
fortune.  He  gave  the  agency  in  Penn- 
sylvania to  Mr.  Wright,  a  brother  Eng- 
lishman, for  a  number  of  years.  When 
his  sales  became  very  extensive,  he  got 
up  a  counterfeit,  which  caused  Brand- 
reth to  take  away  the  agency  from 
him,  when  he  changed  the  name  of 
the  counterfeit  pills,  and  called  them 
"  Indian  Vegetable  Pills,"  and  got  a 
number  of  Brandreth's  travelling  agents . 


610 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


to  put  them  out  in  the  country. 
Another  Englishman  got  up  a  pill  call- 
ed "  Old  Parr's,"  stating  that  he  lived 
one  hundred  and  fifty  years  on  his 
pills ;  the  story  was  too  absurd  to  be 
believed,  and  they  found  httie  or  no 
sale. 

It  is  to  be  presumed  that  everybody 
is  acquainted  with  the  facts,  to  some 
extent,  connected  with  the  career  of 
Swaim,  the  originator  of  Swaim's  Pa- 
nacea, once  so  popular,  and  how,  being 
a  bookbinder,  he  came  to  find  on  the 
Uank  leaf  of  a  xolume  Tie  was  Unding^  the 
recipe  for  the  extensively  sold  medi- 
cine which  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
princely  fortune  which  he  left  behind. 
There  are  but  few  instances  of  such  rare 
good  fortune  in  business  as  this. 


Chinese  Shcpkeepeirs. 

The  streets  of  Pekin  are  built  in  a 
direct  line,  the  greatest  being  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  broad, 
and  a  good  league  long — and  the  shops 
where  they  sell  silks  and  chinaware, 
which  generally  take  up  the  whole 
street,  make  a  fine  appearance.  Each 
shopkeeper  puts  out  before  his  house, 
on  a  little  kind  of  pedestal,  a  board 
twenty  or  two-and-twenty  feet  high, 
painted,  varnished,  and  often  gilt,  on 
which  are  written,  in  large  characters, 
the  names  of  the  several  commodities 
he  sells.  These  kind  of  pilasters,  thus 
placed  on  each  side  of  the  street,  and 
almost  at  an  equal  distance  from  each 
other,  make  a  pretty  odd  show.  This 
is  usual  in  almost  all  the  cities  of 
China. 

A  visit  to  the  shops  of  the  merchants 
affords  a  "  barbarian "  much  amuse- 
ment. There  is  one  street,  very  narrow 
and  dirty,  where  the  booksellers'  shops 
are  to  be  found,  and  where  Chinese  and 
Mantchoo  works  are  sold.  These  are 
kept  ready  bound  and  in  good  order ; 
but  an  examination  proves  many  of 
them  to  be  imperfect,  and,  besides  ask- 
ing five  times  the  value  of  the  book. 


the  dealers  will  try  to  put  off  copies 
which  want  some  of  the  leaves,  or  are 
composed  of  the  sheets  of  three  or  four 
different  works.  They  are  most  dexter- 
ous in  the  arts  of  imposition. 


Genoese   Merchants  and  French  Ped- 
dlers. 

It  is  a  strange  fact,  and  one  which  re- 
markably illustrates  the  vicissitudes  of 
commerce  and  commercial  places,  that 
in  Genoa,  the  French  peddlers  are  those 
who  have  taken  the  place  of  her  once 
princely  merchants,  and  help  to  keep 
alive  the  remnant  of  a  commerce  which 
once  accumulated  opulence  in  that  city, 
and  extended  its  ramifications  over  half 
the  world.  At  present,  one  sees  streets 
and  palaces  without  inhabitants,  ware- 
houses without  goods,  a  custom  house 
where  almost  no  duties  are  paid,  and  a 
mole  which  has  too  frequently  no  ships 
to  shelter  from  the  weather. 

The  descendants  of  grandees  with 
pompous  titles,  and  of  merchants,  each 
of  whom  possessed  a  little  navy  of  his 
own,  now  in  many  cases  subsist  by  sup- 
plying goods  to  French  peddlers.  The 
latter,  when  preparing  to  start  on  their 
enterprise,  go  to  the  warehouses  of  the 
merchant,  with  whom  they  deal  always 
in  pairs,  with  capacious  knapsacks  on 
their  backs.  They  bestow  much  care 
on  the  selection  of  their  goods,  which 
necessarily  consist  of  small  articles,  or  | 
things  that  will  pack  close,  such  as 
handkerchiefs,  shawls,  dresses,  cheap 
laces,  ribbons,  reels  of  cotton,  needles, 
etc.  To  these  they  add  a  quantity  of 
Genoese  silver  jewelry,  remarkable  for 
its  tastefulness  and  elegance. 


Shopkeepers  of  Bag-dad. 

Perhaps  the  tradesmen  of  Bagdad 
are  surpassed  by  none  in  the  East,  ex- 
cepting, possibly,  their  neighbors,  the 
Persians.  No  one  at  a  glance  can  de- 
tect the  "  weak  points  "  of  a  customer 
better.     For  example,  a  passer-by  (not 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND   OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


611 


a  novice,  but  one  who  has  had  consid- 
erable experience  in  such  matters) 
sauntering  along — a  carpet  catches  his 
eye,  he  approaches,  and  becomes  de- 
sirous of  purchasing  it.  The  price  is 
demanded  in  a  careless  tone :  "  Sixty 
dollars  ! "  with  a  start  of  surprise  or  a 
sneer.  "  You  must  mean  ten  dollars." 
It  is  now  the  seller's  turn  to  express 
astonishment :  "  Mashallah  !  "  exclaims 
he,  shrugging  his  shoulders,  and  ele- 
vating his  eyebrows;  but,  pausing  a 
little—"  you  shall  have  it  for  fifty 
dollars  "—then  forty— thirty.  No  !  the 
would-be  purchaser  quits  the  shop,  but 
before  he  has  proceeded  ten  yards,  he 
is  called  back,  and  for  twenty  dollars, 
a  third  of  the  sum  first  demanded,  does 
the  carpet  change  owners. 


Men  Manteau  Makers. 

It  seems  hardly  possible  to  believe 
that  in  the  nineteenth  century  there  are 
milliners  with  beards ;  men,  authentic 
men,  who,  with  their  massy  hands,  take 
the  exact  dimensions  of  the  Parisian 
women  of  the  highest  rank,  dress  them, 
undress  them,  make  them  turn  round 
and  round  to  be  looked  at,  neither  more 
nor  less  than  the  waxen  figures  in  the 
shop  windows  of  hairdressers.  In  the 
Rue  de  la  Paix,  Paris,  there  is  a  manteau 
maker  of  this  sort — an  Englishman, 
who  enjoys  a  great  popularity  in  the 
world  of  furbelows.  When  he  tries  on 
a  gown  on  a  living  figure  of  that  flighty 
metropolis,  it  is  with  profound  concen- 
tration that  he  feels,  that  he  sounds, 
that  he  marks  with  chalk  the  faulty 
fold  or  flounce.  From  time  to  time  he 
draws  back,  and,  to  judge  the  better 
of  his  work,  surveys  if  through  an 
opera  glass  at  a  distance,  and  then  re- 
sumes, with  an  oracular  finger,  the  in- 
terrupted modelling  of  the  gown  on  the 
body  of  his  customer.  Sometimes  he 
plants  a  flower  in  one  place,  or  ties  a 
bow  of  ribbon  in  another,  to  judge  of 
the  general  harmony  of  the  toilet ;  all 
this  time,  the  new  Eve,  in  the  process 


of  formation,  immovable  and  resigned, 
lets  the  fashionmonger  finish  his  work 
at  his  will.  At  length,  when  he  has 
moulded  his  stuff  according  to  his 
ideal,  he  takes  his  position  at  the  end 
of  the  saloon  on  a  canopy,  and,  the 
head  of  the  woman  thrown  back,  he 
directs  her  manoeuvres  with  a  wand : 
"To  the  right,  madame  1"  "To  the 
left!"  "Face  the  artist!"  "From 
behind ! "  etc. 


Jew  Traders  in  Holywell  Street. 

Like  Chatham  street,  New  York, 
Holywell  street,  London,  is  a  noted  lo- 
cality of  Jewish  traders.  Here  are  to 
be  found  at  least  a  hundred  noble 
Samaritans,  whose  daily  occupation  it 
is  to  watch  at  their  hospitable  thresh- 
olds, that  they  may  take  in  their  fel- 
low men,  and — whether  they  will  or 
no — clothe  them. 

"  Do  you  vant  a  coat  ?  " — "  a  waist- 
coat ? " — "  a  cloak,  better  as  new  ? " 
These  are  the  words,  uttered  with  a 
melody  of  intonation,  that  all  the  life- 
long day  awaken  in  the  breasts  of  the 
benevolent  the  tenderest  yearning  to- 
ward the  querists.  There  stands  Ikey 
Levi,  glancing  mildly  from  his  door- 
way as  a  jackal  from  a  tomb  !  There 
watches  Solomon  Salamons,  with  drop- 
ping lip — as  though  heavy  with  a 
weight  of  honey  ! — asking  the  wants 
of  passing  bipeds.  And  there,  too, 
Miriam  Jonas,  the  mother  of  a  whole 
Israel  of  Jonases — (poor  pilgrims  vend- 
ing the  aprocryphal  fruit  of  Seville 
and  Tenerifi*e,  and  selling  black  lead 
pencils  never  made  to  mark) — there  she 
stands,  with  the  oil  of  new-fried  floun- 
ders lustrous  on  her  face  and  balmy  on 
her  lip ! 

Here,  too,  bookworms  loiter.  A 
"  first  edition  "  of  Shakspeare  has  been 
bought  for  two-and-sixpence,  whilst 
the  magnanimous  picture  dealers  of 
this  favored  spot  commonly  add  Ra- 
phaels and  Correggios  at  eighteen  pence 
apiece — "  genooine  I " 


612 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Surely,  there  are  solemn  thoughts 
awakened  in  Holywell  street.  Are  not 
its  dealers  the  descendants  of  the  pa- 
triarchs ?  May  not  the  blood  of  him 
who  "  wrestled  with  the  angel "  run  in 
the  veins  of  that  red-haired  Israelite 
now  hanging  on  the  buttonhole  of  that 
newly  caught  customer?  And  is  it 
possible  to  look  at  that  white-bearded 
Jew,  and  not  think  of  Moses  and — the 
profits  ? 

New  Material  for  Sausag-e  StuflB.ng- : 
the  *'  Sauciesse   d'Or." 

As  every  traveller  knows,  the  "  Brus- 
sels sausages"  are  a  savory  nutrition. 
Working  men,  particularly,  dine  oftenest 
on  Brussels  sausages.  To  make  a  living 
by  the  sale  of  so  cheap  an  article,  how- 
ever, it  is  necessary  to  sell  many,  and 
Monsieur  Vaudenvale,  of  the  "  Sauciesse 
d'Or"  (as  he  descriptively  names  his 
eating  house),  has  hit  upon  the  way  to 
bring  this  about. 

At  the  usual  price,  and  like  every- 
body else,  Monsieur  Vaudenvale  sells 
sausages — but  the  one  you  eat  at  the 
"  Sauciesse  d'Or  "  may  be  a  "  blank," 
or  it  may  be  a  "  prize."  In  every  fifty 
sausages  there  is  one  in  whose  savory 
bowels  is  hidden  a  gold  dollar.  Your 
chance,  therefore,  to  come  upon  this 
pleasant  variation  of  minced  meat,  is 
one  in  fifty.  It  is  said  that  the  number 
of  sausages  eaten  at  this  place  since  the 
establishment  of  the  golden  prize  sys- 
tem is  truly  incredible.  So  great  is 
the  crowd,  that  it  is  difficult  to  gain 
admission  at  the  door. 


Nothing:  like  Sarsaparilla. 

The  time  was  when  there  was  "  noth- 
ing like  sarsaparilla," — like  every  dog, 
this  had  its  day.  Pills  had  their  pop- 
ularity, and  elixirs  had  their  run. 
Lozenges  took  their  turn  on  the  wheel 
of  fortune,  and  even  pastes  were  stuck 
to,  for  a  time,  by  a  number  of  adher- 
ents. The  period  at  length  arrived  for 
sarsaparilla  to  have  its  fling.     Every- 


body was  asked  in  a  hundred  different 
ways  to  buy  sarsaparilla  at  a  hundred 
diflerent  establishments. 

At  one  concern  the  public  were 
tempted  by  a  gaudy  picture  of  a  heavi- 
ly freighted  vessel  arriving  amid  en- 
thusiastic millions,  eager  to  purchase 
its  cargo  of  sarsaparilla,  and  it  was 
delicately  hinted  that  no  time  was  to 
be  lost  in  purchasing  a  bottle  of  that 
precious  decoction  which  was  the  ob- 
ject of  so  much  interest  to  assembled 
crowds — especially  to  those  afflicted 
with^aifulence. 

At  another  shop,  the  allurement  con- 
sisted in  full-length  portraits  of  Queen 
Victoria  and  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  both  of  whom,  it  was 
ingeniously  insinuated,  were  large  con- 
sumers of  sarsaparilla — in  this  way, 
indeed,  preserving  the  constitution  of 
the  countries  over  which  they  were  in 
authority. 

A  few  doors  farther  off,  the  customer 
was  enticed  by  a  portrait  of  a  bald- 
headed  individual,  and  were  requested 
to  apply  for  "  Old  Doctor  Jacob  Tovvn- 
send's  Sarsaparilla,"  which  he  no  sooner 
made  up  his  mind  not  to  do,  than  he 
was  reminded  of  a  still  older  Doctor 
Jacob  Townsend,  with  his  still  better 
sarsaparilla,  a  few  doors  off.  Having 
crossed  over  to  avoid  all  this  sarsaparil- 
la nuisance,  he  found  himself  assailed 
by  men  whose  chests  were  placarded 
with  an  invitation  to  buy  somebody 
else's  genuine  article,  and  having  at  this 
recrossed  in  disgust,  he  tumbled  unre- 
sistingly into  the  very  arms  of  the  bill 
deliverer  of  the  hygeist,  who  offered  to 
pour  Ms  "  own  peculiar  "  sarsaparilla 
down  the  tl\roats  of  the  public  at  a 
contemptibly  low  figure. 


Great  Shaving-  Operation  in  a 
Broker's  Office. 

There  lived  in  Macon,  a  dandified 
individual,  whom  we  ("  Sol.  Smith  ") 
will  call  Jenks.  This  individual  had  a 
tolerably  favorable  opinion  of  his  per- 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND   OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


613 


sonal  appearance.  His  fingers  were 
liooped  with  rings,  and  his  shirt-bosom 
was  decked  witli  a  magnificent  breast- 
pin ;  coat,  hat,  vest,  and  boots  were 
made  exactly  to  fit;  he  wore  kid 
gloves  of  remarkable  whiteness ;  his 
hair  was  oiled  and  dressed  in  the  latest 
and  best  style;  and  to  complete  his 
killing  appearance,  he  sported  an  enor- 
mous pair  of  real  whiskers.  Jenks 
was  as  proud  as  a  young  cat  is  of  her 
tail,  when  she  first  discovers  she  has 
one. 

I  was  sitting  one  day  in  a  broker's 
office,  when  Jenks  came  in  to  inquire 
the  price  of  exchange  on  New  York. 
He  was  invited  to  sit  down,  and  a  cigar 
was  ofl^ered  him.  Conversation  turning 
upon  buying  and  selling  stocks,  a  re- 
mark was  made  by  a  gentleman  pre- 
sent, that  he  thought  no  person  should 
sell  out  stock  in  such-and-such  a  bank 
at  that  time,  as  it  7nust  get  better  in  a 
few  days.  "I  will  sell  anyt\img  I've 
got,  if  I  can  make  anything  on  it," 
replied  Jenks.  "  Oil,  no,"  replied  one, 
"not  any  thing;  you  wouldn't  sell 
your  whiskers !  "  A  loud  laugh  fol- 
lowed this  chance  remark.  Jenks  im- 
mediately answered  :  "  I  would — but 
who  would  want  tli^em  ?  Any  person 
making  the  purchase  would  lose  money 
by  the  operation,  I'm  thinking." 
"  Well,"  I  observed,  "  I  would  be  wil- 
ling to  take  the  speculation,  if  the  price 
could  be  made  reasonable."  "  Oh,  I'll 
sell  'em  cheap,"  answered  Jenks,  wink- 
ing at  the  gentlemen  present.  "  What 
do  you  call  cheap  ?  "  I  inquired.  "  I'll 
sell  'em  for  fifty  dollars,"  Jenks  an- 
swered, puffing  forth  a  cloud  of  smoke 
across  the  counter,  and  repeating  the 
wink.  "  Well,  that  is  ;  and  you'll  sell 
your  whiskers  for  fifty  dollars?"  "I 
will."  "  Both  of  them  ? "  "  Both  of 
them."  "  ni  take  them  !■  When  can  I 
have  them  ?  "  "  Any  time  you  choose 
to  call  for  them."  "  Very  well — they're 
mine.  I  think  I  shall  double  my  money 
on  them,  at  least."  I  took  a  bill  of 
sale  as    follows :    "  Received    of   Sol 


Smith,  Fifty  Dollars^  in  full  for  my 
crop  of  whiskers,  to  be  worn  and 
taken  care  of  by  me,  and  delivered  to 
him  when  called  for.     J.  Jenks." 

The  sum  of  fifty  dollars  was  paid, 
and  Jenks  left  the  broker's  office  in 
high  glee,  flourishing  five  Central  Bank 
X's,  and  telling  all  his  acquaintances  of 
the  great  bargain  he  had  made  in  the 
sale  of  his  whiskers.  The  broker  and  his 
friends  laughed  at  me  for  being  taken  in 
so  nicely.  "  Never  mind,"  said  I,  "  let 
those  laugh  who  win  ;  I'll  make  a  profit 
out  of  these  whiskers,  depend  on  it." 
For  a  week  after  this,  whenever  I  met 
Jenks,  he  asked  me  when  I  intended 
calling  for  my  whiskers.  "  I'll  let  you 
know  when  I  want  them,"  was  always 
my  answer  :  "  take  good  care  of  them 
— oil  them  occasionally  ;  I  shall  call  for 
them  one  of  these  days." 

A  splendid  ball  was  to  be  given.  I 
ascertained  that  Jenks  was  to  be  one 
of  the  managers — he  being  a  great 
ladies'  man  (on  account  of  his  whiskers, 
I  suppose,)  and  it  occurred  to  me  that 
before  the  ball  took  place,  I  might  as 
well  call  for  my  whiskers.  One  morn- 
ing, I  met  Jenks  in  a  barber's  shop. 
He  was  adonizing  before  a  large  mir- 
ror, and  combing  up  my  whiskers  at 
a  devil  of  a  rate. 

"  Ah !  there  you  are,  old  fellow^," 
said  he,  speaking  to  my  reflection 
through  the  glass.  "  Come  for  your 
whiskers,  I  suppose  ? "  "  Oh,  no  hurry," 
I  replied,  as  I  sat  down  for  a  shave. 
"  Always  ready,  you  know,"  he  an- 
swered, giving  a  final  tie  to  his  cravat. 
"  Come  to  think  of  it,"  I  said,  musing- 
ly, as  the  barber  began  to  put  the  lather 
on  my  face,  "  perhaps  now  would  be  as 
good  a  time  as  another ;  you  may  sit 
down,  and  let  the  barber  try  his  hand 
at  the  whiskers."  "  You  could'nt  wait 
until  to-morrow,  could  you  ? "  he  asked 
hesitatingly  :  "  There's  a  ball  to-night, 

you  know "  "To  be  sure  there  is, 

and  I  think  you  ought  to  go  with  a 
clean  face ;  at  all  events,  I  don't  see 
any  reason  why  you  should  expect  to 


614 


COMMERCIAL  AXD   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


wear  my  whiskers  to  tliat  ball ;  so  sit 
down."  He  rather  sulkily  obeyed,  and 
in  a  few  moments  his  cheeks  were  in  a 
perfect  foam  of  lather.  The  barber 
flourished  his  razor,  and  was  about  to 
commence  operations,  when  I  suddenly 
changed  my  mind.  "  Stop,  Mr.  Barber," 
I  said ;  "  you  need'nt  shave  off  those 
whiskers  just  yet."  So  he  quietly  put 
up  his  razor,  while  Jenks  started  up 
from  the  chair  in  something  very  much 
resembling  a  passion.  "  This  is  tri- 
fling ! "  he  exclaimed :  "  You  have 
claimed  your  whiskers — take  them." 
"  I  believe  a  man  has  a  right  to  do  as 
he  pleases  with  his  own  property,"  I 
remarked,  and  left  Jenks  washing  his 
face. 

At  dinner  that  day,  the  conversation 
turned  upon  the  whisker  affair.  It 
seems  the  whole  town  had  got  wind 
of  it,  and  Jenks  could  not  walk  the 
street  without  the  remark  being  con- 
tinually made  by  the  boys — "  Tliere 
goes  the  mxin  with  old  SoVs  whiskers!'''' 
And  they  had  grown  to  an  immense 
size,  for  he  dared  not  trim  them.  In 
short,  I  became  convinced  that  Jenks 
was  waiting  impatiently  for  me  to 
assert  my  rights  in  the  property.  It 
happened  that  several  of  the  party 
were  sitting,  opposite  me  at  dinner, 
who  were  present  when  the  singular 
bargain  was  made,  and  they  all  urged 
me  to  take  the  whiskers  that  very  day, 
and  thus  compel  Jenks  to  go  to  the 
ball  whiskerless,  or  stay  at  home.  I 
agreed  with  them  it  was  about  time  to 
reap  my  crop^  and  promised,  if  they 
would  all  meet  me  at  the  broker's  shop, 
where  the  purchase  was  made,  I  would 
make  a  call  on  Jenks  that  evening  after 
he  had  dressed  for  the  ball.  All  prom- 
ised to  be  present  at  the  proposed 
shaving  operation  in  the  broker's  office, 
and  I  sent  for  Jenks  and  the  barber. 
On  the  appearance  of  Jenks,  it  was 
evident  he  was  much  vexed  at  the  sud- 
den call  upon  him,  and  his  vexation 
certainly  was  not  lessened  when  he  saw 
the  broker's  office  was  filled  to  over- 


flowing to  behold  the  barber-ous  pro- 
ceeding. 

"  Come,  be  in  a  hurry,"  he  said,  as 
he  took  a  seat,  and  leaned  his  head 
against  the  counter  for  support,  "  I 
can't  stay  here  long  ;  several  ladies  are 
waiting  for  me  to  escort  them  to  the 
ball."  "  True,  veiy  true — you  are  one 
of  the  managers— I  recollect.  Mr.  Bar- 
ber, don't  detain  the  gentleman — go  to 
work." 

The  lathering  was  soon  over,  and 
with  about  three  strokes  of  the  razor, 
one  side  of  Ms  face  was  deprived  of  its 
ornament.  "  Come,  come,"  said  Jenks, 
"push  ahead — there  is  no  time  to  be 
lost — let  the  gentleman  have  his  whis- 
kers—he is  impatient."  "  Not  at  all," 
I  replied,  coolly,  "  I'm  in  no  sort  of  a 
hurry  myself— and  now  I  think  of  it,  as 
your  time  must  be  precious  at  this  par- 
ticular time,  several  ladies  being  in 
waiting  for  you  to  escort  them  to  the 
ball,  I  believe  FIX  not  take  the  other 
whisker  to-night.'''' 

A  loud  laugh  from  the  bystanders, 
and  a  glance  in  the  mirror,  caused 
Jenks  to  open  his  eyes  to  the  ludi- 
crous appearance  he  cut  with  a  single 
whisker,  and  he  began  to  insist  upon 
my  taking  the  whole  of  my  property ! 
But  all  wouldn't  do.  I  had  a  right  to 
take  it  when  I  chose  ;  /  was  not  obliged 
to  take  it  all  at  cnce  ;  and  I  chose  to  take 
but  half  at  that  particular  period — in- 
deed, I  intimated  to  him  very  plainly 
that  I  was  not  going  to  be  a  very  hard 
creditor,  and  that,  if  he  "  behaved  him- 
self," perhaps  I  should  never  call  for  the 
balance  of  what  he  owed  me  ! 

When  Jenks  became  convinced  I  was 
determined  not  to  take  the  remaining 
whisker,  he  began,  amidst  the  loudly 
expressed  mirth  of  the  crowd,  to  pro- 
pose terms  of  compromise — first  ofler- 
ing  me  ten  dollars,  then  twenty,  thirty, 
forty — ^fifty  !  to  take  off  the  remaining 
whisker.  I  said,  firmly,  "  My  dear  sir, 
there  is  no  use  talking;  I  insist  on 
your  wearing  that  whisker  for  me  a 
month  or  two."     "  What  will  you  take 


CURIOUS  TRADES   AND  OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


615 


for  the  whiskers  ?  "  he  at  length  asked  ; 
"  won't  you  sell  them  back  to  me  ? " 
"  Ah,"  replied  I,  "  now  you  begin  to 
talk  as  a  business  man  should.  Yes,  I 
bought  them  on  speculation — I'll  sell 
them,  if  I  can  obtain  a  good  price." 
"  What  is  your  price  ? "  "  One  hundred 
doWars—must  double  my  money ! " 
"  Nothing  less  ? "  "  Not  a  farthing  less 
— and  I'm  not  anxious  to  sell  even  at 
that  price."  "Well,  I'll  take  them," 
he  groaned,  "  there's  your  money,  and 
here,  barber,  shave  off  this  d d  infer- 
nal whisker  in  less  than  no  time — I 
shall  be  late  at  the  ball." 


Itinerant  Traders  in  Rio  Janeiro. 

The  "  cries  "  of  the  itinerant  traders 
of  London  are  mere  bagatelles  to  those 
of  the  Brazilian  capital.  Both  sexes 
cry  their  wares  through  every  street. 
Vegetables,  flowers,  fruits,  edible  roots, 
fowls,  eggs,  and  every  rural  product ; 
cakes,  pies,  rusks,  doces,  confectionery, 
bacon,  and  other  delicacies,  pass  one's 
window  continually.  Your  cook  wants 
a  skillet — and  hark !  the  signal  of  a 
pedestrian  coppersmith  is  heard ;  his 
bell  is  a  stewpan,  and  the  clapper  a 
hammer.  A  water-pot  is  shattered  ;  in 
half  an  hour  a  moringue  merchant  ap- 
proaches. You  wish  to  replenish  your 
table  furniture  with  fresh  sets  of  knives, 
new-fashioned  tumblers,  decanters,  and 
plates,  and,  peradventure,  a  cruet,  with 
a  few  articles  of  silver — well !  you  need 
not  want  them  long.  If  cases  of  cut- 
lery, of  glass  ware,  china,  and  silver, 
have  not  already  passed  the  door,  they 
will  appear  anon.  So  of  every  article 
of  female  apparel,  from  a  silk  dress  or 
shawl  to  a  handkerchief  and  a  paper 
of  pins !  Shoes,  bonnets  ready  trimmed, 
fancy  jewelry,  toy-books  for  children, 
novels  for  young  folks,  and  works  of 
devotion  for  the  devout — these  things, 
and  a  thousand  others,  are  hawked 
about  daily. 

Proprietors  accompany  silver  ware, 
silks,  and  also  bread,  for  the  blacks  are 


not  allowed  to  touch  the  latter.  When 
a  customer  calls,  the  slave  brings  his 
load,  puts  it  down,  and  stands  by  till 
the  owner  delivers  the  articles  wanted. 
The  signal  of  dry  goods  venders  is  made 
by  the  yard-stick,  which  is  jointed  like 
a  two-foot  rule.  Holding  it  near  the 
joint,  they  keep  up  a  continual  snap- 
ping by  bringing  one  leg  of  the  stick 
against  the  other.  Young  Minas  and 
Mozambiques  are  the  most  numerous, 
and  are  reputed  to  be  the  smartest 
marcha^ndes. 

The  way  customers  call  street  venders 
is  peculiar.  You  step  to  the  door,  or 
open  a  window,  and  give  utterance  to 
a  short  sou,nd  resembling  sJiir — some- 
thing between  a  hiss  and  the  exclama- 
tion used  to  chase  away  fowls  ;  and  it 
is  singular  to  what  a  distance  it  is 
heard.  If  the  person  is  in  sight,  Ms 
attention  is  at  once  arrested  ;  he  turns 
and  comes  direct  to  you,  now  guided 
by  a  signal  which  you  address  to  his 
eyes— closing  the  fingers  of  the  right 
hand  two  or  three  times,  with  the  palm 
downward,  as  if  grasping  something — 
a  sign  in  universal  use,  and  signifying 
"  Come."  There  is  here  no  bawling  or 
chasing  after  people  in  the  street. 


Goods  for  a  *' Private  Venture." 

One  of  the  Chinese  papers  contains 
the  following  advertisement :  "  Achan 
Tea  Chinchin,  sculptor,  respectfully 
acquaints  masters  of  ships,  trading 
from  Canton  to  India,  that  they 
may  be  furnished  with  figure  heads 
of  any  size,  according  to  order,  at 
one  fourth  of  the  price  charged  in 
Europe.  He  also  recommends  for  pri- 
Tiate  venture^  the  following  idols,  brass, 
gold,  and  silver:  The  hawk  of  Vish- 
noo,  which  has  reliefs  of  his  incarna- 
tion in  a  fish,  boar,  lion,  and  turtle. 
An  Egyptian  apis,  a  golden  calf  and 
bull,  as  worshipped  by  the  pious  fol- 
lowers of  Zoroaster.  Two  silver  mam- 
mosits,  with  golden  ear  rings,  a  ram, 
an  alligator,  a  crab,  a  laughing  hyena, 


,616 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


with  a  variety  of  household  gods  on  a 
small  scale,  calculated  for  family  wor- 
ship. Eighteen  months'  credit  will  be 
given,  or  a  discount  of  fifteen  per  cent. 
for  prompt  payment  of  the  sum  afiixed 
to  each  article.  Direct  China  street, 
Canton,  under  the  Marble  Rhinoceros 
and  Gilt  Hydra." 


Shop  Architecture,  Old  and  New. 

The  shops  in  London  of  the  twelfth 
and  thirteenth  centuries,  are  described 
by  a  historian  of  that  day  as  of  "  ane 
meane  appearance" — consisting  of  an 
open  shop,  at  the  entrance  of  which 
stood  the  owner  or  his  apprentice,  and 
a  "  solar  "  or  upper  chamber  above,  in 
which  solar,  the  proprietor  resided  with 
his  household. 

The  mercantile  "  guilds,"  which  be- 
came so  wealthy  and  prosperous,  were 
then  comparatively  in  their  infancy, 
and  struggling  with  debt  and  difficul- 
ties. When  "^they  became  prosperous, 
the  shops  of  London  became  splendid ; 
but  even  then,  their  magnificence  was 
for  a  long  time  confined  to  a  single  lo- 
cality. In  the  fifteenth  century  there 
was  a  vast  deal  of  wealth  accumulated 
in  the  metropolis,  but  it  was  engrossed 
by  comparatively  few  individuals.  One 
of  the  most  wealthy  of  these  was 
Geoffrey  Boleyn,  a  mercer  in  the  Old 
Jewry.  He  was  great-great-grandfather 
of  Queen  Elizabeth  by  her  mother's 
side,  and  was  lord  mayor  of  London  in 
1457.  In  his  time,  the  whole  of  the 
foreign  and  wholesale  trade  was  con- 
fined to  the  hands  of  a  few  great  capi- 
talists ;  and  some  of  the  most  illustrious 
families  in  the  kingdom  may  trace 
their  origin  from  men  who  were  at  that 
period  London  merchants. 

The  oldest  shops  of  which  there  is 
any  account  are  those  of  the  goldsmiths, 
or  money-dealers,  standing  in  Cheap — 
the  modern  Cheapside,  and  of  which 
these  traders  would  seem  to  have  had 
possession  from  time  immemorial.  Of 
these,  the  most  remarkable  by  far  is 


that  which  was  built  by  Thomas  Wood, 
and  described  as  "the  most  beautiful 
frame  and  front  of  fair  houses  and 
shops  that  were  within  the  Vv^alls  of 
London,  or  elsewhere  in  England,  com- 
monly called  Goldsmiths'  Row,  betwixt 
Bread  Street  End  and  the  Cross  in 
Cheap,  but  within  Bread  Street  AVard. 
It  contained  in  number,  ten  dwelling 
houses  and  fourteen  shops,  all  in  one 
frame^  uniformly  built  four  stories 
high,  beautified  toward  the  street  with 
the  goldsmiths'  arms,  and  the  likeness 
of  woodmen  in  memory  of  his  (Thomas 
Wood's)  name,  rising  on  monstrous 
beasts;  all  which  were  cast  in  lead, 
richly  painted  over,  and  gilt.  These 
he  gave  to  the  goldsmiths,  with  stocks 
of  money  to  be  lent  to  young  men  hav- 
ing those  shops,  &c.  This  said  front 
was  again  painted  and  gilt  over  in  the 
year  1594." 


Parrot  and  Monkey  Market. 

In  the  spring  season,  soon  after  the 
opening  of  the  navigation,  a  peculiar 
kind  of  market  is  held  in  St.  Peters- 
burg, which  draws  all  the  city,  and 
affords  an  extraordinary  and  impa- 
tiently-awaited pleasure  to  young  and 
old,  high  and  low,  and  to  many  a  skip- 
per the  source  of  a  profit  that  is  not  to 
be  despised.  Here  are  then  exposed 
for  sale  many  of  those  foreign  produc- 
tions, which  the  merchants  consider  as 
beneath  their  attention,  and  in  which 
the  captains  of  the  ships  and  the  sail- 
ors speculate  on  their  own  account. 
Parrots,  monkeys,  apes,  and  other  rare 
birds  and  animals,  are  intermingled 
with  the  magnificent  flowers  of  tropical 
regions.  Sometimes,  also,  shells,  and 
the  singular  implements  and  dresses  of 
foreign  nations,  are  offered  for  sale. 
After  the  dull,  silent,  and  colorless  win- 
ter, this  busy,  many-tinted  scene— the 
first  gift  presented  by  foreign  lands  to 
the  great  northern  city,  as  an  earnest 
of  the  commencement  of  a  new  business 
—is  particularly  gratifying,   and    the 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND  OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


617 


*'  goods  "  go  off  rapidly,  especially  tlie 
screeching  and  grinning  class  of  them. 


Nothing-  Lost  in  a  Good  Market. 

A  YOUNG  man,  brought  up  in  the 
city  of  London  to  the  business  of  an 
undertaker,  went  to  Jamaica  to  better 
his  condition.  Business  flourished,  and 
he  wrote  home  to  his  father  to  send 
him,  with  a  quantity  of  black  and  gray 
cloth,  twenty  gross  of  black  Tacks. 
Unfortunately  he  had  omitted  the  top 
to  his  T,  and  the  order,  as  near  as  it 
could  be  made  out,  stood,  twenty  gross 
of  black  Jaclts.  His  correspondent,  on 
receiving  the  letter,  recollected  of  a 
man,  near  Fleet  market,  who  made 
quart  and  pint  tin  pots,  ornamented 
with  painting,  and  which  were  called, 
for  convenience,  "  black  Jacks,"  and  to 
him  he  went.  The  maker,  surprised, 
said  he  had  not  so  many  ready,  but 
would  endeavor  to  complete  the  order ; 
this,  by  the  employment  of  extra  hands, 
and  working  day  and  night,  was  done, 
and  the  articles  were  shipped.  The 
Jamaica  man  received  them  with  other 
consignments,  and  was  astonished  at 
the  mistake.  A  friend,  however,  fond 
of  speculation,  offered  to  purchase  the 
whole  lot  at  the  invoice  price — an  offer 
which  the  holder,  glad  to  get  rid  of  an 
article  he  considered  so  useless  in  that 
market,  took  up  with  at  once.  His 
friend  immediately  advertised  a  num- 
ber of  "  Fashionable  Punch  Vases " 
just  arrived  from  England,  and  sold 
the  jacks  at  the  pleasing  profit  of  two 
hundred  per  cent. 


Trials  of  Egg-  Merchants. 

It  is  stated  that  the  London  egg 
merchants,  whose  hopes  had  been  great- 
ly raised  by  the  announcement  of  the 
expected  speedy  arrival  of  the  king  of 
Hanover,  held  a  meeting,  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  Mr.  Fowle  and  others,  to 
know  what  could  be  done  with  the 
enormous  stock  of  eggs  that  had  been 


"laid  in" — somewhat  prematurely,  as 
it  turned  out — with  a  view  to  the  im- 
mediate arrival  of  his  Hanoverian  ma- 
jesty. The  meeting  took  place  under 
the  leadership  of  Mr.  Fowle,  supported 
by  the  Messrs.  Hatch,  at  Lambeth, 
where  the  investment  had  been  most 
considerable— thousands  of  dealers  hav- 
ing been  in  attendance  along  that  por- 
tion of  the  route,  with  the  intention  of 
showing  the  Hanoverian  autocrat  how 
the  yolk  may  le  throicn  off  In/  a  free  peo- 
ple. (Oh  !)  His  majesty,  not  wishing 
to  run  the  risk  of  a  game  at  chicken 
hazard  with  the  populace,  delayed  his 
arrival  till  the  next  day,  and  ultimately 
came  by  a  different  road— the  eggs,  of 
course,  being  thus  left  on  the  hands  of 
the  dealers.  It  was  stated,  however,  at 
the  meeting,  that  Baron  Nathan  had, 
in  the  handsomest  manner,  come  for- 
ward, and  offered  to  shell  out,  by  tak- 
ing off  a  large  proportion  of  the  eggs, 
for  the  purpose  of  teaching  his  pupils 
the  Crack-oviene — an  announcement 
which  was  received  with  eggatraordi- 
nary  cheering. 


Odd  Purchase  at  a  Grocer's. 

Mr.  L.,  a  well-known  professional 
singer  in  London,  one  day  entered  a 
grocer's  shop,  to  make  a  purchase  of 
cheese. 

"  Have  you  any  more  of  this  paper  ? " 
said  he  to  the  tradesman,  regarding 
with  curiosity  and  astonishment  that 
in  which  his  purchase  was  wrapped. 

"  Plenty,  sir,  a  great  pile  of  it." 

Mr.  L.  requested  to  see  it,  and  fol- 
lowed the  tradesman  into  a  little  back 
room,  where  many  reams  of  waste  pa- 
per were  collected,  to  be  used  in  his 
business. 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  L.,  after  inspecting 
the  pile  from  whence  the  wrapper  of 
his  parcel  had  been  taken,  "  Will  you 
sell  this  ?  what  would  you  ask  for  it  ?  " 

"  Twopence  halfpenny  per  pound," 
answered  the  man,  much  astonished  at 
the  uncommon  greenness  of  his  custom- 


618 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


er ;  "  you  can  have  it  as  waste  paper  at 
that  price,  if  you  like." 

Mr.  L.  readily  assented,  and  thus 
purchased  for  a  few  shillings  thirty- 
three  complete  oratorios  and  operas  of 
Handel,  besides  fragments  of  the  best, 
viz.,  Arnold's  edition.  Henceforth,  let 
no  one  despise  the  literature  that  may 
find  its  way  to  the  grocer's,  the  trunk- 
maker's,  the  chandler's,  &c. 


Chatham  Street  Clo'  Dealers. 

Scene — Chatham  street,  New  York. 
Company  assembled — three  Jew  "  bark- 
ers "  for  ready-made  garments. 

Levi :  "  Mishter  Salamonsh,  kin  you 
inform  me  vhy  de  shentlemens  here 
present  ish  like  a  leetle  pit  of  a  shmall 
room  ? " 

Salamons :  "  I  gifes  him  oop." 
Itzig  Rosenbaum  {aus  Frankfort  am 
Main),  "  Und  I  forgifes  him  oop,  too." 
Levi  :  "  Becase  ve're  a  clo'  set." 
Outside  Irishman  :  "  An'  can  yees  till 
me  why    ye're    like    five-sixths  av    a 
closet  ? " 

Israelites  in  chorus  :  "  No,  nein.''^ 
Irish    outsider :    "  Because    ye're    a 
Zo'  seV 

General  confusion,  ending  in  the  par- 
ties joyously  kicking  one  another  all 
round,  and  a  harmonious  knocking  off 
of  hats,  terminated  by  the  appearance 
of  a  green-looking,  wondering  country- 
man. 


Tong  Chow  Traders  in  Dogs  and  Cats. 

In  the  market  of  Tong  Chow,  to 
which  the  stewards  of  the  noble  fam- 
ilies of  Peking  repair  to  purchase  vi- 
ands for  their  lords,  it  is  a  good  diver- 
sion to  see  the  butchers  when  they  are 
carrying  dogs'  flesh  to  any  place,  or 
when  they  are  leading  five  or  six  dogs 
to  the  slaughter-house  ;  for  all  the  dogs 
in  the  street,  drawn  together  by  the 
cries  of  those  going  to  be  killed,  or  the 
smell  of  those  already  dead,  fall  upon 
the  butchers,  who  are  obliged  to  go 


always  armed  with  a  long  cudgel  or 
great  whip,  to  defend  themselves  from 
their  attack;  they  also  have  to  keep 
their  doors  close  shut,  that  they  may 
exercise  their  trade  in  safety. 

The  salesmen  enter  the  market  place, 
or  step  from  their  junks  on  shore,  hav- 
ing baskets  suspended  from  the  ex- 
tremities of  a  carrying-pole,  in  which 
are  contained  dogs,  cats,  rats,  or  birds, 
either  tame  or  wild,  generally  alive — 
sea  slugs,  and  grubs  found  in  the  sugar- 
cane. The  species  of  dog  most  in  re- 
quest is  a  small  spaniel,  and  the  poor 
animals  appear  particularly  dejected  in 
their  imprisonment,  not  even  looking 
up  in  the  hope  of  freedom ;  the  cats, 
on  the  contrary,  maintain  an  incessant 
squalling,  and  seem  never  to  despair  of 
escaping  from  a  fate  which  otherwise 
must  prove  inevitable.  To  a  foreigner, 
Christian  or  Turk,  the  sight  is  pecu- 
liarly trying,  both  regarding  the  dog  as 
among  the  most  faithful  animals,  and 
the  cat  as  one  of  the  most  useful.  In 
the  ancient  Oriental  writings,  cats  are 
spoken  of  as  a  delicacy  at  table ;  but 
the  species  alluded  to  was  found  wild 
in  Tartary,  and  brought  thence  into 
China,  where  they  were  regularly  fat- 
tened for  the  markets  of  the  piincipal 
cities.  As  far  as  appearances  are  con- 
cerned, rats,  when  butchered — for  they 
are  not  brought  to  market  alive — are 
by  no  means  disgusting.  They  are 
neatly  prepared,  slit  down  the  breast, 
and  hung  in  rows  from  the  carrying- 
poles  by  skewers  passed  through  their 
distended  hind  legs. 


Flutes  vs.  Pistols. 

It  is  almost  a  standing  rule  with 
shopkeepers,  when  asked  for  an  article 
which  is  not  in  their  stock,  to  offer 
something  resembling  it.  Thus,  a  coun- 
tryman inquiring  at  a  village  store  for 
a  mowing  scythe,  was  replied  to  by 
the  pert  youngster  behind  the  coun- 
ter, "  Sorry,  sir,  we  have  no  scythes ; 
but  we've  got  first-chop  penknives." 


COMMERCIAL  DIGNITY   AT  THE  APPLE-STAND. 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND   OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


619 


The  following  circumstance,  related  in 
a  Scotch  paper,  is  of  the  same  nature  : 

A  vender  of  buttons,  buckles,  and 
-other  small  ware,  who  occupied  a  little 
shop  at  the  head  of  the  street  in  Glas- 
gow, in  which  erewhile  the  notable 
Bailie  Nichol  Jarvie  domiciled,  noticed 
a  country  clown  standing  at  his  win- 
dow one  day,  with  an  undecided  kind 
of  wanting-to-buy  expression  on  his 
face,  and  who  finally  inquired  whether 
he  had  any  pistols  to  sell.  The  shop- 
man had  long  studied  the  counter  logic 
of  endeavoring  to  persuade  a  customer 
to  buy  what  you  have  for  sale,  rather 
than  what  the  customer  may  ask  for. 
"  Man,"  said  he,  "  what  be  the  use  of  a 
pistol  to  you  ?  Lame  yourself,  an'  may 
be  some  ither  body  w'it !  You  should 
buy  a  flute ;  see,  there's  ane ;  an'  it's 
na  sae  dear  as  a  pistol,  just  stop  an' 
open  finger,  about,  thae  sax  wee  holes, 
an'  blow  in  at  this  big  ane,  an'  ye  can 
hae  any  tune  ye  like,  after  a  wee  while's 
practice ;  besides,  you'll  may-be  blow 
a  tune  into  the  heart  o'  some  blithe 
lassie  that'll  bring  to  you  the  worth  o' 
a  thousand  pistols  or  German  flutes 
ither."  "  Man,"  said  the  simpleton, 
"  I'm  glad  that  I  have  met  wi'  you  the 
day— just  tie't  up  ;  "  and  paying  down 
the  price  asked,  and  bidding  "  guid 
day,"  with  a  significant  nod  of  the 
head,  remarked,  "  It'll  no  be  my  faut 
'gin  ye  get  na  an  opportunity  of  ri- 
ding the  broose  at  my  wedding,  sin'  ye 
hae  learned  me  to  be  my  ain  piper." 


Commercial  Diirnity  at  tlie  Apple 
Stand. 

"The  other  day,"  says  a  pleasant 
writer,  "in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
Park  (New  York),  we  encountered  a 
tall,  dignified-looking  man,  in  a  long, 
seedy  frock  coat,  buttoned  to  the  chin, 
with  a  very  glossy  old  silk  hat,  presid- 
ing at  an  apple  stand.  Somehow  or 
other,  his  manner,  his  "  style,"  struck 
us.  "  What  is  the  price  of  these  ap- 
ples ?  "  we  asked,  pointing  to  a  small 


pile  of  tempting  red  ones.  "  We  shall 
have  to  charge  you  two  cents  for  fruit 
like  that,"  said  he,  "they  are  a  very 
superior  article.  But  there  is  an  article, 
and  of  a  good  quality,  that  we  can  put 
to  you  at  one  cent  per  apple  !  "  Shade 
of  Commerce  !  He  couldn't  have  said 
more,  nor  in  a  more  solid  and  absorbed 
manner,  if  he  had  been  offeiing  the 
rarest  goods  in  Stewart's  marble  palace. 
He  was  far  from  being  what  Mrs.  Par- 
tington terms  '  non  pompous  mentis.''  " 


"Glasspteenl" 

This  is  one  of  the  street  employ- 
ments of  the  city.  He  is  almost  inva- 
riably a  German,  or,  as  the  profane 
have  it,  a  Dutchman,  of  an  age  any- 
where between  eighteen  and  forty.  His 
peculiarities  are  a  determined  inability 
to  make  himself  understood  in  the 
English  language,  and  a  violent  pas- 
sion for  overcharging.  If  you  are  ever 
asked  to  give  an  example  of  cleanli- 
ness, please  not  to  say,  a  Glasspteen 
man  ;  for  you  will  tell  a  story,  in  addi- 
tion to  furnishing  an  incorrect  illustra- 
tion. The  Glasspteen  man  is  rather 
dirty  than  otherwise,  in  dress  as  in 
visage,  and  is  remarkable  for  a  strong 
smell  of  new  putty,  which,  after  a 
gas-house,  furnishes  the  most  disa- 
greeable odor  known  to  nosology. 
He  walks  about  the  street  with  a 
frame  slung  over  his  back,  and  con- 
taining some  score  or  so  of  panes 
of  glass  of  various  sizes.  His  cry 
of  "  Glasspteen,"  whence  his  designa- 
tion in  society  is  derived,  signifies  "  Do 
you  want  any  glass  put  in  ? "  His  avo- 
cation, in  short,  is  to  increase  the  panes 
of  families,  or  to  supply  those  which 
have  been  removed  or  broken.  If  you 
call  him  he  will  come  in  with  alacrity, 
but  will  make  no  haste  to  go  away 
again.  Once  admit  him  into  your 
house,  and  he  will  linger  there  half  the 
day,  unpleasantly  mixing  the  smell  of 
putty  with  your  breakfast  and  your 
lunch.     He  will  charge  you  for  putting 


620 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


in  a  pane  of  glass  exactly  double  what 
he  is  prepared  to  take ;  and  when  you 
have  once  employed  him,  he  w^ll  make 
you  such  a  litter  of  broken  glass  and 
dry  and  new  putty  in  front  of  your 
house,  as  might  well  induce  any  one 
who  does  not  know  you,  to  believe  that 
you  have  gone  extensively  into  the 
"  Glasspteen  "  business  yourself. 


P,icliardson,  the  Eccentric  Showman. 

This  eccentric  individual,  who  died 
some  years  ago,  left  behind  him  such  a 
fortune  as  rarely  comes  out  at  the  end 
of  a  showman's  career.  He  was  born  in 
the  workhouse  of  No.  Mario  w,  in  Bucks, 
but  ran  away  from  that  place  to  seek 
Ms  fortune  in  London.  After  various 
vicissitudes,  he  became  landlord  of  the 
Harlequin  public  house,  in  Drury  Lane, 
where  he  saved  some  money,  which  he 
embarked  in  fitting  up  a  portable  thea- 
tre, and  was  known  for  forty  years  as 
the  "Prince  of  Showmen."  He  used 
to  boast  that  Edmund  Kean,  and  seve- 
ral other  eminent  actors,  were  brought 
out  by  him.  His  property,  after  various 
legacies  to  the  itinerant  company  which 
had  attended  him  for  many  years,  de- 
scended to  two  nephews  and  a  niece, 
and  he  desired,  in  his  will,  to  be  buried 
in  the  same  grave  as  his  "  spotted  boy  " 
— a  lad  who,  some  years  before,  was 
exhibited  by  him,  and  attracted  great 
notice  in  consequence  of  the  extraordi- 
nary manner  in  which  he  was  marked 
on  various  parts  of  his  body. 


Human  Hair  as  an  Article  of  Traffic. 

HuMA2ir  hair  is  an  article  of  extensive 
traffic.  The  London  hair  merchants 
alone  import  annually  no  less  a  quantity 
than  five  tons.  But  the  market  would 
be  very  inadequately  supplied  if  de- 
pendence were  solely  placed  on  chance 
clippings.  There  must  be  a  regular 
harvest,  which  can  be  looked  forward 
to  at  a  particular  time;  and  as  there 
are  different  markets  for  black  tea  and 


green  tea,  or  pale  brandy  and  brown 
brandy,  so  is  there  a  light-haired  mar- 
ket distinct  from  the  dark-haired. 

The  light  hair  is  exclusively  a  Ger- 
man product.  It  is  collected  by  the 
agents  of  a  Dutch  company  w^ho  visit 
England  yearly  for  orders.  Until  about 
fifty  years  ago,  light  hair  was  esteemed 
above  all  others.  One  peculiar  golden 
tint  was  so  supremely  prized,  that  deal- 
ers only  produced  it  to  favorite  custom- 
ers, to  whom  it  was  sold  for  nearly 
double  the  price  of  silver. 

But  the  dark  brown  hair  of  France 
now  rules  the  market.  Whether  dark 
or  light,  however,  the  hair  purchased 
by  the  dealer  is  so  closely  scrutinized, 
that  he  can  discriminate  between  the 
German  and  the  French  article  by  the 
smell  alone ;  indeed,  he  even  claims  the 
power,  "  when  his  nose  is  in,"  of  distin- 
guishing accurately  between  the  Eng- 
lish, the  French,  the  Irish,  and  the 
Scotch  commodity. 

Black  hair  is  imiDorted  chiefly  from 
Brittany  and  the  south  of  France, 
where  it  is  annually  collected  by  the 
agents  of  a  few  wholesale  Parisian 
houses.  The  average  crops  harvested 
by  these  firms  amount  yearly  to  upward 
of  two  hundred  thousand  pounds. 
The  price  paid  for  each  head  of  hair 
ranges  from  one  to  five  francs,  accord- 
ing to  its  weight  and  beauty,  the  for- 
mer seldom  rising  above  a  pound,  and 
rarely  falling  below  twelve  ounces. 
The  itinerant  dealers  are  always  pro- 
vided with  an  extensive  assortment  of 
ribbons,  silks,  laces,  haberdashery,  and 
cheap  jewelry  of  various  kinds,  with 
which  they  make  their  purchases  as 
frequently  as  with  money.  The  hair 
thus  obtained  is  transmitted  to  the 
wholesale  houses,  by  whom  it  is  dressed, 
sorted,  and  sold  to  the  hair- workers  in 
the  chief  towns,  at  about  two  dollars 
per  pound.  When  suitably  prepared 
for  perukes,  it  is  sold  at  a  greatly  ad- 
vanced price — it  may  be  ten,  or  it  may 
be  twenty  dollars  per  pound.  Choice 
heads  of  hair,  like  choice  old  pictures, 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND   OBJECTS  OF  TRAFITC. 


621 


or  rare  old  china,  have,  however,  no 
limit  to  the  price  they  may  occasionally 
command. 


Praying'  and  Trading  Simultaneously. 

Mr.  Hume,  whose  experiences  in 
Bombay  are  so  well  known,  narrates  a 
curious  instance  of  a  wealthy  Parsee 
merchant  carrying  on  his  devotions  and 
trading  pursuits  at  the  same  time.  Mr. 
Hume  says : 

I  had  occasion  to  go  into  the  shop 
of  a  Parsee,  with  whom  I  had  consider- 
able acquaintance.  It  was  in  the  after- 
noon, and  I  found  him  standing  on  the 
steps  of  his  shop,  with  his  face  toward 
the  setting  sun,  busily  engaged  in  saying 
his  prayers.  Many  persons  were  pass- 
ing along  the  street  just  before  him ; 
but  this  seemed  to  cause  him  no  con- 
cern, unless  when  he  had  occasion  to 
bow  to  some  acquaintance.  When  I 
turned  to  enter  his  shop,  he  gave  me  a 
very  cordial  salutation,  bowing,  and 
moving  his  hand  for  me  to  enter,  but 
all  the  time  repeating  his  prayers  as 
rapidly  as  ever.  Perceiving  that  no 
one  was  in  the  shop  to  attend  to  me, 
he  clapped  his  hands  several  times, 
making  a  loud  noise,  the  chief  object 
of  which  seemed  to  be  well  understood 
by  the  fVimily,  as  his  son,  a  young  man 
of  about  twenty  years  of  age,  came  run- 
ning into  the  shop. 

I  asked  him  the  price  of  the  article 
which  I  had  come  to  purchase ;  when 
he,  being  in  doubt,  went  and  inquired 
of  his  father,  who,  with  the  forefinger 
of  his  right  hand,  wrote  upon  the  palm 
of  the  other  the  price  to  be  charged. 
The  young  man  then  came  back  and 
told  me  what  his  father  had  said  ;  but 
the  price  being  extravagant,  I  objected 
to  it,  and  told  him  what  I  would  give. 
The  son,  not  feeling  at  liberty  to  act 
on  his  own  responsibility,  went  and  re- 
ported my  offer  to  his  father,  who 
shook  his  head,  and  again  wrote  on  his 
hand,  as  before,  a  sum  considerably  less 
than  the  first  mentioned.    The  young 


man  again  came  and  stated  the  price 
now  asked  ;  which  being  still  very  un- 
reasonable, I  was  about  to  leave,  but 
said  I  would  give  him  the  sum  offered 
at  first,  if  he  chose  to  take  it.  The 
young  man  again  hastened  to  his  father 
with  my  offer,  and,  as  he  shook  his 
head  at  this,  I  passed  out  at  another 
door,  leaving  him  repeating  his  pray- 
ers as  busily  as  ever.  While  I  remain- 
ed, he  appeared  much  interested  in 
what  was  passing  in  the  shop  ;  and  al- 
though praying  with  his  face  in  an  op- 
posite direction,  he  every  moment 
turned  so  far  about  as  to  catch  a 
glance  of  us,  and  observe  what  we 
were  doing. 


Losing:  a  Good  Customer. 

It  has  been  understood,  from  time  im- 
memorial, that  dress  indicates  the  stand- 
ing of  a  person  in  society  ;  so  much  so, 
indeed,  that  even  business  is  in  many 
instances  done  on  this  absurd  principle. 
If  a  person  of  genteel  dress  steps  into  a 
store,  the  utmost  politeness  is  shown, 
and  the  greatest  pains  are  taken  to  ex- 
hibit the  stock ;  but  if  a  meanly-clad 
person  enters,  scarcely  anything  but  a 
yawn,  or  a  dull,  reluctant  movement  at 
best,  is  extended  to  such  a  visitor.  This 
course  has  been  detrimental  to  the 
trade  of  many  a  store.  Here  is  an  ex- 
ample : 

A  very  wealthy  family  moved  to 
Cincinnati  from  Philadelphia,  and  from 
reputation  they  were  acquainted  "v^f^th 
a  certain  firm  in  the  former  city  before 
their  arrival,  as  said  firm  had  a  branch 
in  the  Quaker  City  which  knew  of 
these  wealthy  customers  there,  and 
who  prized  their  money  and  patronage 
much.  Said  family  wished  to  pur- 
chase a  large  amount  of  things  on  their 
becoming  settled,  and  stepping  into  the 
establishment  of  said  firm  in  their  com- 
monest dress  one  morning,  were  met 
with  the  most  forbidding  coldness. 
The  clerks  and  attendants  took  the 
party  for  "mere  servants"  or  serving 


622 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


girls,  and  did  not  show  them  even 
common  courtesy.  The  result  was,  that 
the  wealthy  family  in  question,  with 
five  hundred  dollars  in  their  pockets  to 
spend,  left  that  store  to  purchase  else- 
where. 

Perhaps  some  other  stores  go  as  far 
the  other  way — that  is,  the  clerks  and 
salesmen  are  too  polite,  and  quite  too 
oUiging^  and  by  their  acts,  become  too 
familiar,  and  disgust  the  would-be  cus- 
tomer, thereby  forever  losing  good  pat- 
ronage. The  proper  course  is  to  steer 
between  extremes,  to  study  aptly  human 
nature,  so  as  to  discover  at  a  glance  a 
person  who  desires  to  buy,  and  the  med- 
dling jade  that  promenades  the  streets 
and  makes  trouble  for  the  clerks,  only 
to  show  a  'pretty  hand  and  face. 


Native  Traders  in  Guinea. 

The  chief  native  traders  of  Guinea 
are  as  keen  men  of  business  in  their 
way  as  can  be  found  in  any  nation ; 
and  it  is  said  to  be  astonishing  with 
what  confidence  some  of  them — per- 
haps nearly  naked — will  ask  for  thou- 
sands of  dollars'  worth  of  goods  on 
credit,  and  get  trusted  accordingly. 
Not  one  in  ten,  however,  who  asks  for 
credit  is  worthy  of  it — the  matter  of 
trusting  and  his  worth  as  a  man  of 
business  being  decided  by  the  charac- 
ter the  trader  bears,  the  size  of  his 
house,  and  the  number  of  his  slaves 
and  wives. 

Some  of  them  are  splendid  mer- 
chants. They  are  hard  at  bargaining ; 
but  the  agreement  once  made,  they 
conscientiously  adhere  to  it,  and  are  ex- 
act in  their  payments.  But  they  are 
roguishly  expert  in  adulterating  their 
goods — mixing  sand  and  copper  filings 
with  gold  dust,  pouring  molten  lead 
into  the  cavities  of  elephants'  tusks  to 
increase  their  weight,  mixing  palm  oil 
with  chopped  plaintain-sucker  and 
mud,  etc. 

The  rich  traders  buy  all  descriptions 
of  elegant  and  costly  furniture — sofas, 


fauteuils,  ottomans,  mirrors,  gold  and 
silver  cloth,  damask  table  covers,  car- 
pets, musical  boxes,  pianos,  etc.  Not 
that  they  care  for  these  things,  but  for 
the  mere  fact  of  possession — the  ability 
to  boast  of  having  them.  As  to  put- 
ting them  to  use,  that  is  usually  out  of 
the  question.  They  may  be  seen  lum- 
bered together  in  a  large  hut,  or  packed 
in  boxes,  and  sometimes  kept  in  the 
ground. 

When  a  ship  has  sold  all  her  cargo, 
the  upper  masts  are  sent  aloft  again,  as 
a  signal  that  the  vessel  has  done  trad- 
ing, and  is  now  awaiting  the  settle- 
ment of  all  outstanding  accounts.  If 
the  negro  merchant  has  fairly  pledged 
his  word  to  pay  on  a  certain  day,  he 
generally  redeems  his  promise ;  but  in 
the  absence  of  this  he  puts  off  payment 
on  all  sorts  of  pretences,  or  perhaps 
tries  cajolery  and  threats  alternately, 
until,  the  white  man's  patience  being 
exhausted,  the  debtor  yields  to  neces- 
sity, and  sends  the  stipulated  quantity 
of  oil,  or  what  not,  on  board. 


St.  PetersTaurg:  Trade  in  Frozen 
Articles. 

To  strangers  in  St.  Petersburg, 
nothing  appears  more  peculiar  than 
that  part  of  the  city  dedicated  to  the 
sale  of  frozen  provisions.  The  aston- 
ished sight  is  there  arrested  by  a  vast 
open  square,  containing  the  bodies  of 
many  thousand  animals,  piled  in  pjTa- 
midal  heaps,  on  all  sides  ;  cows,  sheep, 
hogs,  fowls,  butter,  eggs,  fish,  all  are 
stiffened  into  granite.  The  fish  are 
thus  rendered  attractively  beautiful, 
possessing  the  vividness  of  their  living 
color,  with  the  transparent  clearness  of 
wax  imitations.  The  beasts  present  a 
far  less  pleasing  spectacle.,  The  pecu- 
liar manner  in  which  they  are  piled,  on 
their  hind  legs, — the  apparent  anima- 
tion of  their  attitudes,  as  if  suddenly 
seized  in  moving,  and  petrified  by  frost 
— gives  a  horrid  life  to  this  dead  scene.  m. 
Their  hardness,  too,  is  so  extreme,  that         ^ 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND   OBJECTS  OF   TRAFFIC. 


623 


the  dealers  chop  them  up  for  purchasers 
like  wood,  and  the  chips  of  their  car- 
casses fly  ofl*  in  the  same  way  as  splin- 
ters from  timber  or  coal.  At  certain 
hours,  every  day,  the  market,  while  it 
lasts,  is  quite  a  fashionable  resort.  The 
beauty  and  gayety  of  St.  Petersburg 
are  there,  from  representatives  of  the 
imperial  family  down  to  the  merchant 
and  his  wife. 

Songr-Bird  Shops  in  New  York. 

There  are  twenty  to  thirty  thousand 
song  birds  of  different  kinds  sold  year- 
ly in  the  city  of  New  York.  Most  of 
these  are  canaries.  The  "bird  mer- 
chants "  go  to  Europe  about  the  first 
of  August,  and  buy  their  stock  of  cana- 
ries, linnets,  finches,  blackbirds,  and 
thrushes,  of  the  Germans  who  raise 
them  for  sale.  They  come  back  in 
September  and  October.  The  pure 
golden  yellow  canary  takes  the  highest 
price,  and  they  are  sometimes  sold  as 
high  as  twenty-five  and  fifty  dollars  a 
pair.  How  many  homes  are  made 
happier  by  their  cheerful  notes ! 


"Mighty  Monarch,  let  me  send  a 
Shop!" 

"When  Charles  Lamb  was  asked  his 
opinion  of  the  Vale  of  Keswick  and 
the  hills  of  Ambleside,  he  frankly  ac- 
knowledged that  there  was -more  pleas- 
ure for  him  in  the  London  shop  win- 
dows, when  filled  and  lighted  up  in 
the  frosty  evenings  before  Christmas. 
This  answer,  remarks  an  English  writer, 
though  odd  and  unexpected,  is  not  sur- 
prising. Where,  in  the  wide  world,  is 
there  such  an  exhibition  of  artistic 
wealth  and  magnificence  as  is  seen 
dally  in  the  London  shop  windows  ?  No 
doubt  some  of  the  shops  of  Paris  and 
New  York  rival  anything  of  the  kind  in 
the  British  metropolis  ;  but,  taken  as  a 
whole,  the  stock  and  the  array  of  the 
London  shops  are  unmatchable.  All 
Orientals    and    Africans,    on    visiting 


Europe  for  the  first  time,  are  most 
struck  with  the  splendor  of  the  shops. 
There  was  nothing  unreasonable  in  tne 
request  of  an  African  king's  son  whose 
tribe  had  been  serviceable  to  the 
French  settlements  on  the  Senegal,  in 
return  for  which  the  young  prince  was 
taken  under  the  protection  of  Louis 
the  Fourteenth,  and  sent  to  receive  an 
education  in  Paris.  After  having  seen 
and  been  astonished  at  the  French 
capital,  Louis  asked  of  him  what 
would  be  the  most  desirable  present 
for  his  father,  promising  that  whatever 
might  be  selected  should  be  sent ;  when 
the  youth  exclaimed,  with  a  look  of  the 
most  imploring  earnestness,  "Mighty 
monarch,  let  me  send  a  shop  I  " 


One  of  the  Branches  of  the  Tea 
Trade. 

It  is  not  generally  known  that  tea- 
tasting  is  a  regular  commercial  profes- 
sion or  business — one  which  is  certain 
death  to  those  w^ho  pursue  it.  The 
success  of  the  tea-broker,  or  taster,  de- 
pends upon  the  trained  accuracy  of  his 
nose  and  palate,  his  experience  in  the 
wants  of  the  American  market,  and  a 
keen  business  tact.  If  he  has  these 
qualities  in  high  cultivation,  he  may 
make  from  twenty  to  forty  thousand 
dollars  per  annum  while  he  lives — and 
die  of  ulceration  of  the  lungs.  He 
overhauls  a  cargo  of  tea,  classifies  it, 
and  determines  the  value  of  each  sort. 
In  doing  this,  he  first  looks  at  the  color 
of  the  leaf,  and  the  general  cleanliness 
of  it.  He  next  takes  a  quantity  of  the 
herb  in  his  hand,  and  breathing  his 
warm  breath  upon  it,  he  snuffs  up  the 
fragrance.  In  doing  this,  he  draws 
into  his  lungs  a  quantity  of  irritating 
and  stimulating  dust,  which  is  by  no 
means  wholesome.  Then,  sitting  down 
to  the  table  in  his  office,  on  which  is  a 
long  row  of  little  porcelain  cups  and  a 
pot  of  hot  water,  he  "  draws  "  the  tea 
and  tastes  the  infusion.  In  this  way 
he  classifies  the  different  sorts  to  the 


624 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


minutest  shade;  makes  the  different 
prices,  and  is  then  ready  to  compare 
his  work  with  the  invoice.  The  skill 
of  these  brokers,  or  tasters,  is  fairly  a 
marvel ;  but  the  effect  of  the  business 
on  their  health  is  ruinous.  They  grow 
lean,  nervous  and  consumptive. 


Grocers  and  Bank  Presidents. 

In  a  certain  city  resides  Mr.  Brown, 
who  keeps  rather  an  extensive  grocery, 
and  Mr.  Green,  president  of  one  of  the 
banks.  Mr.  Green  dealt  occasionally 
with  Mr.  Brown.  IVIr.  Brown  is  a  man 
who  has  paid  more  attention  to  busi- 
ness and  making  money  than  to  book 
knowledge.  Mr.  Green  is  an  inquiring 
man,  and  seeks  knowledge  in  every- 
thing, and  sometimes  under  difficulties. 
A  few  years  ago  in  the  winter  season, 
when  eggs  were  scarce,  an  article  was  in- 
troduced by  some  enterprising  Yankee, 
under  the  name  of  Egg  Powders,  was 
sold  by  the  principal  grocers,  and  ap- 
peared to  answer  the  purpose  very 
well.  Mr.  Green  dropped  in  one  day 
to  Mr.  Brown,  and  thus  : 

"Mr.  Brown,  have  you  got  any  of 
those  Egg  Powders  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Green,  we  have." 

"  Let  me  have  a  dozen  of  them." 

The  powders  were  laid  upon  the 
counter. 

"  Mr.  Brown,  do  you  know  what 
these  powders  are  made  of?  " 

"  Well,  no,  Mr.  Green,  I  can't  say  I  do ; 
but  I  suppose  they  must  be  made  out 
of  the  same  kind  of  stuff  the  hens  eat." 

Mr.  Green  paid  for  his  powders  and 
left,  not  much  satisfied  with  the  ex- 
planation. 


Puzzling-  an  Apothecary. 

The  following  colloquy  is  vouched 
for  by  the  storekeeper  at  whose  estab- 
lishment it  occurred,  in  Indiana,  and 
who  thus  reproduces  it :  A  few  even- 
ings since,  while  musing,  "  solitary  and 
alone,"   upon  the   fortunes  (or  rather 


misfortunes)  of  war,  especially  the  late 
Rappahannock  disaster,  a  gentleman 
stepped  into  the  drug  store,  inquired 
for  two  or  three  essential  oils,  took  a 
seat,  and  with  a  countenance  expres- 
sive of  the  highest  admiration  of  his 
own  wisdom,  gave  a  short  dissertation 
upon  the  virtues  of  the  medicines  called 
for,  showing  them  to  be  "good  for 
horses,  and  also  for  baiting  bees."  To 
all  of  which  we  nodded  assent.  He 
then  inquired  if  we  had  "  such  a  thing 
as  stra-ta-gum  f  "  Upon  my  giving  him 
a  negative  answer,  and  expressing  a 
doubt  as  to  there  being  "  such  a  thing," 
he  confidently  insisted  that  there  was, 
as  he  "  had  been  reading  about  their 
capturing  elephants,  and  it  is  said  they 
used  stra-ta-gum  to  bait  them  with,  like 
they  bait  bees,  and  he  would  like  to 
know  what  it  was."  Seeing  he  was  so 
anxious  about  it,  I  turned  to  the  Dispen- 
satory to  look  for  it,  when,  thinking,  no 
doubt,  it  would  facilitate  my  search, 
he  said  he  "  believed  it  was  spelled 
s-t-r-a-t-a-g-e-m  !  "  And  thereupon  we 
discovered  the  joke ;  and  well  we 
might,  for  if  a  "  wayfaring  man  "  had 
failed  to  see  it  at  that  point,  he  must 
indeed  have  been  the  prince  of  "  fools." 
After  as  much  of  an  explanation  as  the 
circumstances  would  warrant,  our  friend 
left,  seemingly  much  disappointed  at 
not  finding  his  "  stra-ta-gum,"  and  per- 
haps less  troubled  with  an  enlargement 
of  the  brain  than  when  he  first  entered 
the  drug  store. 


Making  the  Best  of  a  Bad  Article. 

Mr.  L was,  many  years  ago,  and 

may  be  yet,  extensively  engaged  in  one 
of  the  Eastern  States  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  paper,  which  at  one  time  ob- 
tained considerable  reputation.  Pre- 
vious to  his  engaging  in  this  business 
he  had  attempted  another,  which  did 
not  prove  so  successful.  During  the 
war  of  1813,  gunpowder  became  veiy 
scarce,  and  commanded  a  correspond- 
ing price,  and  L.,  who  was  a  very  en- 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND  OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


625 


terprising  fellow,  and  watchful  for  every 
chance  of  making  an  "  honest  "  living, 
although  thoroughly  ignorant  of  the 
business,  embarked  in  the  manufacture 
of  this  indispensable  requisite  of  war. 
He  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  contract 
from  Government  for  a  large  supply, 
but  the  very  first  instalment  was  con- 
demned and  thrown  on  hia  hands. 
This  was  a  serious  loss ;  but  he  deter- 
mined to  make  the  best  of  it ;  and  the 
way  to  do  that,  he  concluded,  was  to 
peddle  the  rejected  article  among  the 
storekeepers  in  his  region.  According- 
ly, he  loaded  a  two-horse  wagon,  and 
in  two  or  three  days  he  had  got  rid  of 
twenty  or  thirty  kegs.  After  the  lapse 
of  a  few  weeks,  he  thought  he  would 
make  another  tour.  Now  he  had  dis- 
posed of  a  keg  to  Major  Conover,  a 
whole-souled  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle 
— a  shrewd  and  thrifty  man  of  busi- 
ness, honest  in  his  dealings,  generous 
in  disposition,  and  the  greatest  wag  in 
those  parts.     Hailing  the  major  from 

his   wagon,   L asked   him    if  he 

should  leave  him  another  keg  of  pow- 
der? 

Major  {with  a  Jiedtancy  of  manner,  as 
if  Ms  mind  was  not  entirely  made  ujS). — 
"Well,  I  guess  not  to-day.  I  am  of 
the  opinion  that  the  stock  I  have  will 
last  till  you  come  round  again." 
"  How  did  the  other  turn  out  ?  " 
Major.— "  Well,  I  can't  complain. 
What  has  been  disposed  of  has  certain- 
ly gone  off  much  to  my  satisfaction. 
It  might  have  been  a  good  deal  worse. 
The  greatest  difficulty  I  have,  is  to 
know  what  to  call  it,  and  what  to  sell 

it  for.      The  fact  is,   L ,  when  I 

bought  that  keg  I  had  it  placed  for 
safety  in  my  wife's  chamber.  I  knocked 
out  the  head,  and  left  it  uncovered, 
which,  I  confess,  was  a  little  careless  in 
me.  One  day  my  wife  wanted  a  fire 
made  in  the  room,  and  told  our  help 
to  take  a  shovelful  of  hickory  coals  up 
stairs.  Now  what  does  the  h.  ssy  do 
but  knocks  her  elbow  against  the  cheek 
of  the  door,  and  dowses  the  coals  right 
40 


into  the  powder.  She  showed  great 
presence  of  mind,  that  I  must  allow, 
and  screamed  fire  with  all  her  might. 
I  happened  to  be  at  the  foot  of  the 
stairs  with  a  bucketful  of  v/ater,  which 
I  was  just  taking  into  the  store.  1  tore 
up  stairs  like  a  catamount,  and  dash- 
ing the  water  upon  the  flaming  mass,  I 
soon  had  the  fire  out,  but,  would  you 
believe  it,  not  till  nigh  on  to  one  third 
of  the  pesky  stuff  was  burned  up  1 
Now,  L.,  that  article  of  yours  is  a  good 
article,  I  have  no  doubt ;  but  it  is  my 
deliberate  judgment,  that  if  it  was  made 
for  ammunition,  it  is  rayther  too  slow ; 
if  it  was  intended  for  kindlin',  it's  a 
consarned  sight  too  fast." 

L did  not  wait  to  press  a  sale, 

but  giving  the  whip  to  his  ponies,  he 
went  out  of  that  town  at  the  rate  of 
something  like  3  50. 


Grindstones  by  the  Fraction. 

Tradesmen  are  so  often  seriously  an- 
noyed by  tedious  customers  that  they  are 
not  apt  to  enjoy  any  imposition  of  fun. 
One  day  a  wag  entered  a  hardware 
store  and  inquiring  for  grindstones  was 
taken  to  the  back  yard  where  there  were 
rows  of  the  desired  article  ranged  on 
either  side.  The  day  was  drizzly,  the 
rain  pouring  down  silently  but  stead- 
ily. He  examined  a  number,  but  none 
seemed  to  suit  his  purposes.  One  was 
too  large,  another  was  too  small ;  one 
was  too  coarse  in  grain,  another  the 
opposite.  At  last,  when  he  saw  the 
tradesman  was  getting  somewhat  damp 
and  uncomfortable  from  exposure  to 
the  weather,  he  thought  that  he  would 
bring  matters  to  2i  finale;  and  laying 
his  hands  on  a  pretty  fair  specimen,  he 
inquired,  "  How  much  do  you  charge'  a 
pound  for  this  one  ?  "  "  Well,"  replied 
the  clerk,  "I  guess  we  can  let  you 
have  that  one  at  four  cents  a  pound." 
"  Well,"  returned  Sam,  "  knock  me  off 
a  pound  and  a  half."  , 


626 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Pancy  Stoves  and  Imaginative 
Customers. 

A  CnsTcrPTNATi  dealer  in  dry  goods, 
hardware,  etc.,  says :  Among  our  as- 
sortment of  goods  we  introduced  a  new 
style  of  parlor  stoves,  and  in  the  fall  of 
the  year,  as  the  weather  became  cold 
enough  for  fires,  we  fixed  up  a  fancy  plat- 
form and  placed  thereon  one  of  the  fancy 
stoves,  putting  an  elbow  of  pipe  on  the 
smoke-hole  to  designate  where  it  was. 
So  there  it  stood,  exciting  the  admira- 
tion of  some  of  our  customers,  and  the 
curiosity  of  others.  In  the  back  part 
of  the  store  we  had  one  of  them  in  use, 
to  show  its  operation.  So  one  pretty 
cold  morning  we  were  quite  busy,  cus- 
tomers coming  and  going,  some  merely 
to  warm,  some  to  chat,  and  others  to 
purchase.  While  we  were  all  engaged 
in  selling,  a  lady  walked  in,  and  pick- 
ing up  a  counter-stool,  placed  it  by  the 
cold  stove.  None  seemed  to  pay  any 
particular  attention  to  her  until  she 
began  to  show  signs  of  getting  too 
warm.  First  off  went  mittens,  then 
shawl,  then  moving  back  a  little.  Ob- 
serving a  broad  smile  on  the  face  of 
the  person  I  was  waiting  upon,  I  be- 
came aware  of  the  laughable  mistake 
the  woman  was  laboring  imder.  So 
stepping  down  to  her,  I  said,  "Madam, 
if  you  wish  to  warm  yourself,  step  back 
to  the  rear  of  the  room,  and  you  will 
find  a  stove  with  a  fire  in  it."  The 
blank  look  that  came  over  her  face  can- 
not be  described ;  but  wetting  her  first 
finger,  she  touched  the  stove  with  a 
jerk,  and  finding  her  finger  did  not 
fiz-z,  she  realized  her  mistake,  then 
looked  at  the  pipe,  and  seeing  it  was 
disconnected,  and  no  smoke  issuing, 
confirmed  its  coldness.  So  picking  up 
her  shawl,  she  confessed  it  was  no  use 
going  back  to  the  other  stove,  for  "  she 
believed  she  was  warm  enough  any 
how,"  but  would  look  at  some  calico. 
From  that  day  on  our  friend  always 
took  a  look  at  the  stove-pipe  to  see  if 
it  really  went  into  a  chimney. 


Orthography  behind  the  Counter. 

Amused  at  the  style  of  orders  which 
were  sometimes  presented  at  his  coun- 
ter for  medicine,  a  Philadelphia  drug- 
gist made  a  collection  of  curious  speci- 
mens—forming, altogether,  quite  a  tri- 
umph over  pharmaceutical  orthogra- 
phy.    A  few  of  them  are  here  given : 

6  cents  word  spice  Ruback  (rhu- 
barb). 

6  cents  word  crima  datoer  (cream  of 
tartar). 

Gum  Rabick  (gum  Arabic). 

6  cents  of  exolasses  (oxalic  acid). 

Clanaide  (chloride)  Lime  to  take  the 
bad  smeell  out  of  the  scelar. 

I — A — did  potass  (iodide  of  potas- 
sium). 

A  fip's  worth  of  Blood  Rought 
(root). 

Abekack  (ipecacuanha). 

3  Sinic  A  (Seneca)  Snake  root. 

3  Pruvian  borks  (Peruvian  bark). 

3  black  liciice  (licorice). 

3  cts.  Mur. 

3  cts.  Charcole. 

3  cts.  Ores  root. 

A  box  of  Brandeth's  pills  or  some 
kind  that  is  good  for  clensing  the 
stumech. 

Wone  ounce  of  the  Surrip  of  Epeca- 
cuanna. 

Bossom  Compey  (balsam  of  copai- 
va). 

A  Botel  of  Bruster's  Coler  (cholera) 
mixter. 

Gum  De  Achum  (gum  guaiacum). 

2  ownces  of  gumarrerbeck  and  2 
ownces  of  Kiann  Pepper  &  one  quart 
of  alcohaw  I  want  the  pulverised  gum- 
arrerbac  give  him  a  slip  of  paper  with 
figers  of  how  much  it  caust. 

please  put  the  costoc  (caustic)  in  a 
quill  whith  one  Eight  of  a  inch  out. 

3  Cents  worth  of  peneroil  the  Earb. 


Florentine  Flower-Girls. 

The  most  fragant  bouquets  are  as- 
siduously profiiered  to  pedestrians  in 


CURIOUS  TRADES  AND   OBJECTS  OF  TRAFFIC. 


627 


Florence — sold  by  unsentimental-look- 
ing flower-girls  at  prices  that  seem  al- 
most of  fabulous  cbeapness  in  contrast 
vntli  floral  sales  elsewhere.  But  with 
the  Florentines  flowers  would  appear 
to  be  too  vulgar  an  attraction,  for  few 
but  strangers  display  taste  in  this  re- 
spect. With  them,  however,  it  can- 
not ever  be  said  to  be  a  matter  of 
choice,  for,  like  carriages,  they  must 
receive  the  offered  bouquets  in  self- 
defence.  By  some  incomprehensible 
singularity,  these  flower  girls  are  among 
the  grossest  and  most  ill-favored  of  the 
peasantry — or,  if  they  are  fair  speci- 
mens of  the  peasantry,  the  rural  Tus- 
cans are  remarkably  deficient  in  good 
looks.  But  even  when  one  has  a  pret- 
ty face,  and  turns  it  to  profitable  ac- 
count, she  runs  the  risk  of  having  it 
peeled  by  the  knife  of  some  jealous 
rival.  This  actually  took  place  a  short 
time  since,  because  it  proved  to  its 
possessor  worth,  in  the  sale  of  flowers, 
something  more  than  twice  that  of  her 
enraged  and  homely  competitor.  The 
sum  total  of  the  monthly  gains  that  ex- 
cited the  one  to  a  deed  that  sent  her, 
or,  rather,  her  agent — for  she  did  it  by 
proxy — to  the  penitentiary,  and  the 
other  to  the  hospital,  was — eleven 
dollars ! 

The  flower  girls  are  as  pertinacious 
as  hack  drivers  or  picture  dealers. 
They  do  not  demand  money — only 
you  must  accept  their  flowers ;  if  you 
will  not  take  them,  they  arrest  you  by 
the  collar,  and  decorate  your  button- 
hole with  a  dainty  bunch,  and  then  slip 
modestly  off,  declining  all  recompense, 
knowing  that  bachelor  nature  can  never 
long  hold  its  purse  strings  closed 
against  the  language  of  flowers.  This 
they  repeat  every  morning.      If  you 


breakfast  at  Doney's,  the  Delmonico 
of  Florence,  a  fresh  bouquet  is  on  your 
table  as  soon  as  you  are  seated.  If  you 
escape  this,  you  are  overtaken  in  the 
street,  or  at  the  Cascine,  and  decorat- 
ed, despite  all  modest  resistance,  with 
the  infallible  sign  of  a  newly  caught 
stranger.  After  all,  it  is  a  very  pretty 
and  innocent  affair,  barring  the  adver- 
tisement it  holds  out  of  a  greenhorn  to 
be  plucked.        ___^_ 

Batavian  Trade  in  Birds'  Nests. 

Birds'  nests  constitute  quite  an  arti- 
cle of  trade  in  Batavia,  being  sold  for 
2,500  paper  dollars  the  picul — about 
one  hundred  and  thirty-three  pounds. 
The  birds  that  make  these  nests  are 
shaped  like  the  swallow,  and  fly  with 
the  same  velocity,  but  are  smaller. 
They  are  very  numerous  on  the  islands. 
The  coast  of  Sumatra  gives  the  greatest 
supply  of  them — called  the  Salignare, 
and  found  in  great  numbers  in  the 
Philippines.  They  always  lay  in  the 
same  nest  unless  it  be  destroyed,  and 
will  keep  continually  rebuilding  when 
their  nests  are  taken  away ;  late  meth- 
ods of  insuring  good  nests  by  destroy- 
ing all  the  old  ones.  The  nests  are 
formed  of  a  glutinous  substance  found 
in  the  water.  They  are  about  the  size 
of  the  inside  of  a  swallow's  nest,  and 
some  of  them  almost  transparent.  The 
soup  made  of  them  is  very  palatable, 
but  as  it  is  dear,  it  is  not  often  met 
with ;  the  old  nests  are  of  a  black  cast, 
and  are  not  near  so  valuable  as  the 
white.  There  are  three  layers  or  thick- 
nesses in  the  nests,  which,  when  sepa- 
rated, appear  like  three  distinct  nests ; 
the  first  or  outside  layer  brings  the  least 
price,  increasing  to  the  inside,  which 
brings  the  large  price  above  quoted. 


PART  TWELFTH. 


Anecdotes  and  Chronicles  of  Insurance. 


PART    TWELFTH. 

Anecdotes  and  Chronicles  of  Insurance. 

ITS  PIONEERS,  VARIETIES ;  CURIOUS  RATES,  TERMS,  SUBJECTS  ;  HUMORS,  FANCIES,  AND  EX- 
CESSES ;  NOTABLE  CASES  OF  LOSS  AND  ADJUSTMENT ;  CARICATURES,  PUNS,  RAILLERY, 
ETC. 


In  vain  are  all  insurances,  for  still 
The  ratting  wind  must  answer  heaven  or  hell 
To  what  wise  purpose  must  we  then  insure? 
Since  some  must  lose  whate'er  the  seas  devour. 

Eng.  Bard. 

The  vain  insurancers  of  life, 

And  he  who  most  performed  and  promised  lees, 
Ev'n  Short  and  Hobbs,  forsook  th'  uiiequal  strife. 

"Thrbnodia  Augustalis.** 
Come  all  ye  generous  husbands  with  your  wives, 
Insure  round  sums  on  your  precarious  lives, 
That,  to  your  comfort,  when  you're  dead  and  rotten, 
Your  widows  may  be  rich  wiien  you're  forgotten.— Ano. 
Everything  is  insurable— at  a  premium  I— PerrotT. 


Insuring  Dr.  Lieb's  Life. 

At  tlie  time  when  the  famous  Doctor 
LiEB  was  figuring  so  largely  in  politi- 
cal life,  prejudices  were  strong,  and 
party  feeling  ran  high — application 
was  made  to  the  Legislature  of  Penn- 
sylvania to  incorporate  a  "  Life  Insu- 
rance Company  "  for  the  term  of  fifty 
years.  On  this,  a  zealous  member  rose 
and  addressed  Mr.  Speaker  with — "  Sir, 
I  don't  like  this  bill,  and  I  sha'n't  vote 
for  it.  The  petitioneers  have  asked 
leave  to  be  incorporated  to  insure  lives 
for  fifty  years,  and  what  will  be  the 
consequence  of  granting  their  prayer  ? 
Why,  the  first  thing  you'll  know,  that 
mischievous  Dr.  Lieb  will  get  Ids  life 
insured  for  the  whole  time,  and  then 
we  shall  have  him  tormenting  us  for 
half  a  century  to  come." 


Porcelain  Jars  and  liow  Premiums. 
During  the  mania  in  England  for 
insuring    anything     and     everything, 


there  was  a  man  named  John  Pereott, 
wealthy,  consequential,  and  eccentric — 
an  insurer  of  lives,  of  merchandise,  and 
of  anything  that  was  offered ;  his  motto 
being,  "  Everything  is  insurable — at  a 
premium.''''  In  his  private  tastes,  his 
chief  delight  was  to  collect  fine  china, 
and  in  this  he  indulged  himself  to  an 
extravagant  extent.  The  uglier  the 
specimen  the  dearer  it  was  to  John 
Perrott,  and  the  more  he  was  willing 
to  pay  for  it.  His  clerks  were  charged 
to  board  the  vessels  from  the  East  as 
soon  as  they  reached  the  Thames,  and 
he  would  at  any  time  stop  in  the  midst 
of  pressing  business  to  listen  to  infor- 
mation about  pottery  and  porcelain. 
When  a  man  came  to  insure  his  life  or 
his  ship,  to  buy  an  annuity  or  to  sell 
one,  he  was  sure  of  a  favorable  bargain 
if  he  could  but  procure  some  vase  or 
jar  which  had  been  seen  by  no  one  else. 
He  had  one  fine  specimen  in  his  collec- 
tion, which  however  required  a  second 
and  similar  one  to  complete  its  value 


632 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


in  his  eyes.  This  he  once  possessed ; 
but  being  lost  or  broken,  it  afforded 
him  a  constant  topic  of  complaint,  and 
out  of  it  arose  a  characteristic  story  of 
the  man. 

One  day  he  was  applied  to  by  a  mer- 
chant to  effect  an  insurance  on  a  ship 
which  had  been  long  absent,  and  of  the 
safety  of  which  many  doubts  were  en- 
tertained. Perrott  demanded  a  very 
high  premium,  and  the  applicant  de- 
murred. 

In  the  course  of  conversation,  how- 
ever, the  merchant  "carelessly"  al- 
luded to  a  fine  porcelain  jar  of  which 
a  friend  was  possessed,  and  which  he 
thought  he  could  procure.  Perrott's 
eyes  opened  as  the  description  pro- 
ceeded. It  was  the  apple  of  his  eye — 
the  very  specimen  his  soul  desired, — 
and  his  visitor,  on  witnessing  the  anx- 
iety he  evinced,  offered  to  go  for  it, 
good-naturedly  declaring  it  was  of  no 
value  to  Am,  and  at  the  express  solici- 
tation of  Perrott  went  off  immediately 
to  fetch  the  valued  prize. 

The  merchant  seemed  a  long  time 
gone,  but  Perrott  attributed  this  to  his 
own  impatience,  and  felt  fully  rewarded 
when  he  saw  him  return  bearing  the 
porcelain  he  coveted.  With  eager 
hands  he  grasped  it ;  the  insurance  on 
the  missing  ship  was  most  advantageously 
coTwluded  for  his  client;  and  Perrott 
went  home  a  happy  man.  On  entering 
the  boudoir  where  all  his  treasures 
were  deposited,  lo  I  his  own  jar  was 
missing,  and  he  found  on  inquiry  that 
he  had  been  outwitted  by  his  mercan- 
tile friend,  who  had  tempted  him  to  a 
low  premium  with  information  about 
his  own  property,  and  at  his  urgent 
wish  had  procured  it  from  his  home  by 
a  deception  on  his  own  housekeeper. 

Burning  with  rage,  and  vowing  ven- 
geance against  the  crafty  merchant, 
whom  he  determined  to  expose  on 
'change,  Perrott  went  to  town  the  next 
morning,  where  the  first  information 
that  greeted  him  was  the  arrival  of  the 
vessel  he  had  just  insured.     Finding 


the  tables  thus  turned  in  his  own  favor 
and  profit,  he  wisely  held  his  peace, 
merely  making  a  special  visit  to  the 
merchant  to  congratulate  him  on  the 
arrival  of  his  merchandise,  so  imme- 
diately after  he  had  insured  it. 


Ang-erstein,  the  Great  English  Under- 
writer. 

John  Julius  Angerstein  is  a  name 
preeminent  in  the  annals  of  English  in- 
surance enterprise  by  private  merchants. 
Mr.  Angerstein,  though  born  in  St. 
Petersburg,  went  to  England  at  an  early 
age,  and  soon  became  eminent  as  a 
broker  and  underwriter.  In  the  last 
character,  such  was  his  remarkable 
judgment,  that  when  his  name  ap- 
peared on  a  policy,  it  was  a  sufficient 
recommendation  for  the  rest  to  follow 
where  he  led,  without  further  exami- 
nation ;  accordingly,  other  underwriters 
were  eager  to  see  policies  sanctioned  by 
his  name  or  subscription,  which  speed- 
ily acquired  so  great  an  authority  in 
commercial  and  other  circles,  that  for 
some  years  after,  they  were,  by  way  of 
distinction,  called  Julians — after  his 
name.  This  peculiar  ability  and  suc- 
cess increased  very  largely  Mr.  A.'a 
mercantile  business  and  celebrity,  and 
he  attained  the  highest  rank  among 
that  class,  together  with  a  princely  for- 
tune. Were  a  parallel  to  the  brilliant 
career  of  Mr.  Angerstein  to  be  sought 
in  our  own  country,  it  would  be  found 
in  the  honored  name  of  Walter  R. 
Jones,  whose  ability  and  accomplish- 
ments in  this  department  of  commerce 
may  be  said  to  be  unsurpassed  in  the 
commercial  metropolis  of  which  he  was 
so  long  an  ornament. 


Introduction  of  Iffiarina  Insurance. 

From  the  best  authorities  that  can 
be  found,  it  would  appear  that  the  con- 
tract of  insurance  was  first  invented  by 
the  Lombards  in  the  thirteenth  cen- 
tury ;  and  as  the  Italians  were  at  that 


CHRONICLES  OF  INSURANCE. 


633 


time  engaged  in  an  extensive  trade 
with  foreign  countries,  and  carried  on 
a  rich  traffic  with  India,  it  is  but  rea- 
sonable to  suppose  that  in  order  to  sup- 
port so  extensive  a  commerce,  they 
would  introduce  insurance  into  their 
system  of  mercantile  affairs.  It  is  true, 
there  is  no  positive  and  conclusive  evi- 
dence that  they  were  the  originators  of 
this  kind  of  contract,  but  it  is  certain 
that  the  knowledge  of  it  came  with 
them  into  the  different  maritime  states 
of  Europe,  in  which  parties  of  them 
settled ;  and  in  view  of  the  fact  that 
they  were  the  merchants,  bankers,  and 
carriers  of  Europe,  it  is  quite  reasonable 
to  presume  that  they  also  led  the  way 
in  a  matter  which  is  so  important  for 
the  building  up  and  continuance  of 
commercial  prosperity.  It  is  certain, 
also,  that  the  Lombards  were  the  first 
who  introduced  this  contract  into  Eng- 
land ;  and  a  clause  is  inserted  in  all 
policies  of  insurance  made  in  that  coun- 
try, that  the  policy  shall  be  of  as  much 
force  and  effect,  as  any  before  made  in 
Lombard  street — the  place  where  these 
Italians  are  known  to  have  first  taken 
up  their  residence. 


Companies  for  Insuring  Female  Chas- 
tity, Childrens'  Fortunes,  etc. 

Among  the  numerous  quixotic  in- 
surance companies  which  were  formed 
when  the  rage  for  that  kind  of  "  job- 
bing" was  so  popular,  in  years  gone 
by,  in  England,  the  following  named 
will  doubtless  appear  sufficiently  ab- 
surd, even  to  the  present  speculative 
generation :  William  Helmes,  Ex- 
change Alley,  Insurance  of  Female 
Chastity.  A  company  for  insuring  and 
increasing  children's  fortunes.  An  in- 
surance office  for  horses  dying  natural 
deaths,  stolen  or  disabled, — Crown 
Tavern,  Smithfield.  Insurance  from 
housebreakers.  Insurance  from  high- 
waymen. Insurance  from  lying.  Plu- 
mer  &  Petty's  insurance  from  death  by 
drinking    rum.      But    these    vagaries 


were  not  the  wildest.  After  a  time 
"insurance  wagers"  became  the  rage. 
Policies  were  openly  laid  on  the  lives 
of  all  public  men.  When  George  the 
Second  fought  at  Dettingen,  twenty- 
five  per  cent,  was  paid  against  his  safe 
return.  When  in  1745  the  Pretender 
was  defeated,  thousands  of  pounds 
were  laid  upon  his  capture,  his  death, 
even  his  whereabouts.  When  Lord 
Nithsdale  escaped  from  the  tower  by 
his  wife  taking  his  place,  the  wretches 
who  had  perilled  money  on  his  life, 
and  to  whom  his  impending  execution 
would  have  been  a  profit,  were  noisy  in 
their  complaints  and  execrations.  But 
no  sooner  was  it  known  that  he  was 
really  free  than  they  turned  about  and 
wagered  upon  his  recapture.  Sir  Rob- 
ert Walpole's  life  was  insured  for  many 
thousands,  and  at  periods  of  political 
excitement,  when  his  person  seemed  in 
danger,  the  odds  were  proportionately 
enlarged  by  the  speculators.  When 
Wilkes  was  committed  to  the  tower, 
policies  were  issued  at  ten  per  cent, 
that  he  would  remain  there  for  a  speci- 
fied time.  King  George,  when  he  was 
ill,  and  Lord  North,  when  he  was  un- 
popular, were  both  good  objects  on  the 
brokers'  schedules. 


Curious  Inconsistencies  in  Insuring 
Life. 

Before  the  present  comparatively 
perfect  system  of  regulating  life  in- 
surance was  inaugurated,  the  incon- 
sistencies  of  the  plan  pursued  were 
very  striking,  as  viewed  from  the  exist- 
ing standpoint.  Average  lives  were 
declined,  and  for  him  whose  health 
was  not  perfect  there  was  no  chance. 

The  healthy  but  nervous  man,  whose 
pulse,  when  examined,  beat  like  a  steam 
engine,  was  very  often  refused, — and 
stories  of  rejected  applicants,  which 
speak  volumes,  are  prevalent.  One  gen- 
tleman was  declined  because  he  was 
deaf^  as  he  ran  more  risk  of  being  run 
over.    Another  was  refused  because  he 


634 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


had  been  three  times  hanJcrupt,  and  his 
system  might  have  suffered.  A  third 
was  too  full  of  health,  and  might  die 
of  apoplexy.  A  fourth  was  deficient, 
and  might  die  of  decline.  No  life  was 
taken  that  presented  any  exceptionable 
point.  The  consequence  was,  that  men 
in  rude,  robust  health,  if  blind  in  one 
eye,  or  deaf  in  one  ear,  were  often  re- 
jected ;  and  there  are  numerous  in- 
stances of  the  refused  party  living  to  a 
good  old  age — while  cases  are  not 
wanting,  in  which,  after  outliving  doc- 
tor, actuary,  and  half  the  board  of  di- 
rectors, the  very  man  who  thirty  years 
before  was  refused  at  any  price,  was 
f  gladly  taken  by  the  same  company  at 
the  ordinary  premium. ' 


One  of  the  CompanieB. 

Some  years  ago,  the  English  country 
papers  were  filled  with  advertisements 
drawing  attention  to  the  peculiar 
claims  of  a  new  Life  and  Fire  Insurance 
Company.  Its  capital  was  stated  to  be 
five  millions ;  it  was  declared  to  be  a 
legal  corporation,  and  acts  of  parlia- 
ment to  prove  this  were  boldly  quoted. 
Cautiously,  however,  did  the  promo- 
ters proceed  in  the  metropolis,  where 
they  did  not  at  first  advertise,  content- 
ing themselves  with  establishing  agen- 
cies in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
and  publishing  advertisements  in  coun- 
try papers.  An  imposing  array  of 
names  as  directors,  declared  to  be  of 
the  first  character  and  responsibility, 
was  promulgated;  and  when  such 
names  as  Drummond  and  Perkins  ap- 
peared in  the  list,  the  uninitiated  be- 
lieved the  one  to  be  the  great  banker, 
and  the  other  the  rich  brewer,  bearing 
the  same  names.  To  add  to  the  de- 
lusion, the  Bank  of  England  was  ad- 
vertised as  their  bankers;  and  when 
they  opened  handsome  premises  in 
London,  Dublin,  Edinburgh,  and  Glas- 
gow, the  minds  of  the  many  were  thor- 
oughly deluded. 

They  not  only  insured  lives  at  smaller 


premiums  than  other  offices,  but  gave 
larger  annuities  for  smaller  sums.  Ac- 
cording to  their  tables,  a  man  of  thir- 
ty? by  paying  five  hundred  dollars, 
could  obtain  forty  dollars  yearly,  and 
could  insure  his  life  at  nine  dollars 
per  cent.,  thus  making  a  clear  interest 
of  thirty-one  dollars  per  annum. 

The  deed  of  the  company — for, 
strange  to  say,  it  had  a  deed — was 
signed  by  any  one  who  chose.  Any  one 
who  asked  for  a  situation  was  made  a 
governor.  A  schoolmaster  who  re- 
quested a  clerkship  was  made  a  direc- 
tor. An  errand-man  was  employed  as 
manager.  A  boy  of  sixteen  was  ap- 
pointed to  a  seat  in  the  board.  One 
director  had  been  tapman  to  a  London 
tavern ;  another  had  been  dismissed 
from  his  employ  as  a  journeyman  bell- 
hanger;  a  third  had  been  a  valet-de- 
chambre.  All  had  orders  to  dress  well, 
to  place  rings  on  their  fingers^  and  adorn 
their  persons  with  jewelry — fines  being 
instituted  if  they  omitted  to  wear  the 
ornaments  provided.  By  all  these 
means,  together  with  extraordinary 
puffing,  premiums  to  a  large  amount 
were  procured  by  them,  and  they  pros- 
pered. 

It  was  known,  however,  by  many,  that 
a  great  crash  must  one  day  come.  This 
was  brought  about  by  the  sharp  and 
persevering  exposures  made  in  a  Scotch 
newspaper,  the  editor  of  which  stood 
his  ground  against  every  combination 
and  menace  directed  by  those  whom  he 
opposed.  The  company  placed  a  large 
amount  in  the  hands  of  their  law  agent 
to  destroy  their  accuser,  declaring  him 
to  be  a  false  and  malicious  calumniator 
and  themselves  injured  men.  One  of 
the  agents,  who  had  been  in  London, 
had  the  audacity  to  state,  on  his  return, 
that  the  deputy  governor  of  the  Bank 
of  England  had  personally  assured  him 
of  the  respectability  of  the  association ; 
but  this  statement  was  followed  up, 
and  was  met  with  a  complete  denial 
from  the  official  in  question. 

Finally,  the  practices  of  the  company 


CHRONICLES  OF  INSURANCE. 


635 


could  not  hold  out  against  the  expo- 
sures made  ;  and  one  fine  morning^  the 
entire  gang  absconded,  taking  with 
them  from  the  premises  every  article 
of  furniture,  after  having  realized  by 
their  operation  a  booty  largely  rising 
a  million  dollars. 


Instiraiice  for  Husbands. 

Some  of  the  principal  capitalists  of 
London  are  engaged  in  the  formation 
of  a  new  company  for  insurance  from 
damage  by  fire.  In  consequence  of  the 
constantly  occurring  accidents  in  that 
metropolis,  by  which  ladies,  owing  to 
the  immensity  of  their  dresses,  are 
either  burnt  to  death,  or  have  a  large 
portion  of  the  valuable  and  extensive 
stock  of  drapery  which  they  carry 
about  them  destroyed,  the  eminent 
financial  gentlemen  alluded  to  have  de- 
termined to  establish  a  Wife  Insurance 
Company. 

♦ 

Bomance  and  Beality  of  Insurance. 

In  the  days  when  crusades  were  so 
common,  and  men  undertook  pilgrim- 
ages from  impulse  as  much  as  from  re- 
ligion, it  was  desirable  that  the  pilgrim 
should  perform  his  vow  with  safety,  if 
not  with  comfort.  The  chief  danger  of 
his  journey  was  captivity.  The  ballads 
of  the  fifteenth  century  are  full  of 
stories  which  tell  of  pilgrims  taken 
prisoners,  and  of  emirs'  daughters  re- 
leasing them;  but  as  the  release  by 
Saracen  ladies  was  more  in  romance  of 
song  than  in  reality,  and  could  not  be 
calculated  on  with  precision,  a  personal 
insurance  was  entered  into,  by  which, 
in  consideration  of  a  certain  payment, 
the  assurer  agreed  to  ransom  the  trav- 
eller, and  thus  the  devotee  performed 
his  pilgrimage  as  secure  from  a  long 
or  dangerous  captivity  as  money  could 
make  him.  Another  mode  of  assurance 
was  commonly  practised,  by  which  any 
traveller  departing  on  a  long  or  danger- 
ous voyage  deposited  a  specific  amount 


in  the  hands  of  a  money  broker,  on 
condition  that  if  he  returned  he  should 
receive  double  or  treble  the  amount  he 
had  paid ;  but  in  the  event  of  his  not 
returning,  the  money  broker  was  to 
keep  his  deposit,  which  was  in  truth 
an  insurance  premium  under  another 
name. 

♦ 

The  United  Glass  and  Crockery  In- 
surance Company. 

This  office  unites  the  benefit  of  a 
mutual  association  with  the  security  of 
a  proprietary  company,  and  offers  to 
the  insured  the  following  advantages  : 

To  all  domestics,  from  coachman  to 
maid-of-all-work,  an  insurance  against 
the  accidents — so  frequent  and  so 
alarming  in  families — of  broken  glass, 
china,  crockery,  and  delf  of  every  kind, 
from  carelessness,  ill-temper,  or  the 
mischievous  habits  of  dog  or  cat. 

A  very  trifling  percentage  on  the 
rate  of  wages  received  will  enable  the 
servant  thus  insuring,  to  break  more 
than  an  average  amount  of  glass  or 
crockery ;  whilst  the  feeling  of  inde- 
pendence assured  to  the  breaker  will 
considerably  tend  to  elevate  him  or  her 
in  the  social  position. 

When  it  is  remembered  that  the  do- 
mestic is  peculiarly  liable  to  those  ac- 
cidents of  broken  glass  and  earthen- 
ware that,  for  a  time,  tend  to  ruin  the 
peace  of  families  and  endanger  the 
situation  of  the  unfortunate  servant — 
such  a  company  as  the  present  must  be 
productive  of  the  greatest  good,  as 
creating  a  cordial  understanding  be- 
tween the  employer  and  the  employed. 

When,  however,  it  is  borne  in  mind 
that  servants,  covenanting  to  pay  for 
"  all  they  break,"  are  more  than  likely 
to  be  overcharged  by  the  cupidity  of 
their  master— or,  what  is  more  fre- 
quently the  case,  their  mistress — this 
society  will  step  in,  and  throwing  its 
shield  about  the  defenceless,  will  fairly 
arbitrate  the  cost  of  the  broken  pieces. 

To  servants  of  eccentric  or  violent 


636 


COMMERCIAL   AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


temper,  who  love  to  express  tlieir  in- 
dependence of  master  or  mistress  by 
smashing  a  finger-basin,  or  letting  drop 
a  dozen  of  plates,  this  ofiice  will  be 
found  to  offer  the  most  consoling  ad- 
vantages, as  the  terms  are  at  once 
equitable  and  without  preference — the 
directors  making  only  a  slight  advance 
in  the  case  of  applicants  having  un- 
usually red  hair. 

Messrs.  Crocker  and  Ewer  have,  for 
many  years,  been  incessantly  occupied, 
calculating  the  average  duration  and 
existence  of  cups,  saucers,  dishes,  plates, 
decanters,  tumblers,  cruets,  ewers,  and 
crockery  in  general,  in  every  walk  of 
life ;  and  are  enabled,  after  the  most 
earnest  and  minute  research  into  their 
various  longevity,  to  draw  up  such  a 
set  of  "  tables  "  as  will  allow  the  most 
independent  footman  and  the  most 
careless  housemaid  to  break  to  their 
hearts'  content,  at  a  rate  of  insurance 
inconceivably  contemptible.  The  quar- 
rels, the  bickerings,  the  ill-blood  here- 
tofore occasioned  by  broken  glass  or 
china,  may  henceforth  be  avoided  ;  and 
squalls  in  the  pantry  and  tears  in  the 
kitchen  be  forever  abolished. 

Heads  of  families,  also,  will  at  once 
see  the  evident  value  of  this  company, 
and  that  it  is  in  every  way  worthy  of 
their  countenance;  as,  upon  engaging 
a  servant,  they  cannot  but  feel  doubly 
secure  of  their  property,  if  the  domes- 
tic to  be  hired  is  duly  insured  in  the 
"  United  Glass  and  Crockery." 

To  render  the  rates  of  insurance  as 
easy  as  possible,  servants  may  insure 
separately  for  breakfast,  dinner,  or  tea 
service;  or  for  lamp  glasses  only. 
Office,  No.  1,  Pitcher  Court,  China 
Road. 


Jacob  Barker's  Insurance  Case— Eedi- 
vivus. 

This  story  is  so  like  Jacob,  that  it 
might  safely  have  been  imagined  of 
him,  even  if  it  had  never  been  narrated 
of  him  as  having  taken  place.     It  has 


been  often  told  in  days  past,  but  will 
bear  to  be  told  again. 

Mr.  Barker  was  a  large  shipowner. 
He  had  many  ships  at  sea,  and — as  was 
the  custom  in  those  days  as  well  as  at 
present — some  of  them  would  be  lost. 
One  of  Mr.  B.'s  ships  had  been  a  long 
time  out  of  port.  Fears  were  enter- 
tained for  her  safety.  Sharing  the 
general  anxiety,  Mr.  B.  called  at  a 
marine  insurance  office,  and  expressed 
his  desire  to  effect  a  fresh  insurance  on 
the  vessel.  The  office  demanded  a  high 
rate  of  premium.  Mr.  B.  offered  a 
lower  figure.  "Without  coming  to  any 
understanding,  Mr.  B.  left  the  office. 
That  night  a  swift  messenger  from 
New  England  brought  him  news  of  the 
total  loss  of  the  vessel. 

He  said  simply,  "  Very  well."  Next 
morning,  as  he  drove  down  to  his 
counting  house,  he  stopped  at  the  in- 
surance office.  He  did  not  get  out  of 
his  carriage,  but  calling  the  secretary 
from  his  seat,  observed  to  him,  quietly  : 

"  Friend,  thee  need  not  make  out  that 
policy  ;  T'se  lieard  of  the  ship.'''' 

"  Oh,  sir  !— but,  sir — Mr.  Barker," 
stammered  the  cunning  secretary,  dash- 
ing back  into  the  office,  and  reappear- 
ing again  in  a  moment,  "  we've  made 
out  the  policy,  and  you  can't  back  out 
of  it ! " 

"How  so,  friend?"  asked  the  old 
Quaker,  very  demurely. 

"When  you  left  last  evening  we 
agreed  to  your  proposal,  and  the  policy 
was  made  out  at  once.  The  office  be- 
came liable,  and  you  must  take  it. 
See,  here  it  is  ! " — and  a  clerk  at  that 
moment  brought  out  the  policy,  with 
the  signatures  hardly  dry. 

Well,  friend,"  said  old  Jacob  plainly, 
"  if  thee  will  have  it,  I  suppose  I  must 
take  it."  And  he  put  the  policy  into 
his  pocket  and  drove  to  his  office.  Be- 
fore that  evening,  the  insurance  com- 
pany and  all  the  world  had  heard  of 
the  loss  of  the  ship,  and  of  the  round 
sum  with  which  the  company  stood 
self-mulcted. 


CHRONICLES  OF  INSURANCE. 


637 


liife-and-Death  Brokers,  and  their 

*' Humble  Servant.'* 
Walpole  relates  the  following  odd 
story  :  If  a  man  insures  his  life,  killing 
himself  vacates  the  bargain.  This  has 
produced  an  office  for  insuring  in  spite 
of  self-murder  ;  but  not  beyond  three 
hundred  pounds.  It  is  presumable 
that  voluntary  deaths  were  not  then 
the  1)011  ton  of  people  in  higher  life.  A 
man  went  and  insured  his  life,  securing 
this  privilege  of  a  free-dying  English- 
man. He  carried  along  with  him  the 
insurers,  to  dine  at  a  tavern,  where 
they  met  several  other  persons.  After 
dinner,  he  said  to  the  life-and-death 
brokers  :  "  Gentlemen,  it  is  fit  that  you 
should  be  acquainted  with  the  com- 
pany ;  these  honest  men  are  tradesmen, 
to  whom  I  was  indebted,  without  any 
means  of  paying  but  your  assistance, 
and  now  I  am  your  humble  servant." 
He  pulled  out  a  pistol  and  shot  him- 
self. 


Pitt,  the  Insolvent  Premier,  Insured 
by  his  Coachmakers. 

The  greatest  British  minister  of  the 
last  century  died  insolvent,  and  from 
this  arose  a  most  interesting  insurance 
action.  In  1803,  William  Pitt  was  in- 
debted to  Godsall  &  Co.,  his  coach- 
makers,  for  something  rising  five  thou- 
sand dollars.  To  secure  some  part  of 
this,  in  the  event  of  his  death,  they  in- 
sured his  life  for  seven  years,  with  the 
Pelican  Company,  for  twenty-five  hun- 
dred dollars,  at  the  rate  of  about  six- 
teen dollars  per  cent.  In  1806,  three 
years  after  this,  the  premier  died,  with- 
out sufficient  assets  to  meet  his  liabili- 
ties. The  greatness  of  his  services  to 
the  country — the  fact  that  he  had  died 
in  debt  being  a  proof  of  his  self-abnega- 
tion— demanded  an  acknowledgement, 
and  the  state  very  properly  determined 
to  pay  his  creditors.  This  was  not 
sufficient  for  the  coachmakers;  and 
immediate  claim  was  made  by  them  for 
payment  of  the   twenty-five  hundred 


dollars  insured.  As  Godsall  &  Co., 
however,  had  received  the  entire 
amount  of  their  bill  when  Mr.  Pitt's 
other  debts  were  discharged,  the  Peli- 
can refused  to  pay,  on  the  ground  that 
their  insurable  interest  in  the  life  of 
the  deceased  had  been  terminated  by 
the  payment  of  his  debts,  and  that,  as 
the  insurance  was  to  meet  a  special 
debt,  since  discharged,  they  could  not 
recover.  On  a  trial  of  the  case,  the 
court  decided  against  the  coachmakers* 
claim. 


Underwriters  Jobbing-  with  Napo- 
leon's Life. 

During  the  whole  of  the  first  Napo- 
leon's wonderful  career,  his  life  w^as 
trafficked  with  in  every  sort  of  way  by 
the  underwriters  of  that  period.  The 
various  combinations  in  the  funds,  de- 
pendent on  his  life,  entered  into  by  job- 
bers, made  it  very  desirable  to  insure 
it;  and  as  every  campaign  and  every 
battle  altered  the  aspect  of  affairs,  the 
premiums  varied.  Sometimes  private 
persons  acted  as  insurers.  Thus,  in 
1809,  as  Sir  Mark  Sykes,  the  banker, 
entertained  a  dinner  party,  the  conver- 
sation turned — as  almost  all  thoughts 
then  turned — to  Bonaparte,  and  from 
him  to  the  danger  to  which  his  life 
was  daily  exposed.  The  baronet,  ex- 
cited partly  by  wine  and  partly  by  loy- 
alty, offered,  on  the  receipt  of  one  hun- 
dred guineas,  to  pay  any  one  a  guinea 
a  day  so  long  as  the  French  emperor 
should  live.  One  of  the  guests,  and 
he  a  clergyman,  closed  with  the  offer ; 
but  finding  the  company  object,  said 
that  if  Sir  Mark  would  ask  it  as  a  fa- 
vor, he  would  let  him  off  from  his  bar- 
gain. To  a  high  spirited  man  this  was 
by  no  means  pleasant,  and  the  baronet 
refused.  The  clergyman  sent  the  one 
hundred  guineas  next  day,  and  for 
three  years  the  banker  paid  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty-five  guineas — when, 
thinking  he  had  suffered  sufficiently 
for  an  idle  joke,  he  refused  to  pay  any 


638 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


longer.  The  recipient,  not  disposed  to 
lose  his  annuity,  brought  an  action, 
■which  was  eventually  carried  up  to  the 
highest  legal  authorities,  and  there 
finally  decided  in  favor  of  Sir  Mark, 
the  law  lords  not  being  disposed  to 
give  the  plaintiff  a  life  interest  in  Bona- 
parte to  the  extent  of  nearly  two  thou- 
sand dollars  a  year. 


Apt  Illustration  of  a  Principle. 

An  agent  of  one  of  the  metropolitan 
life  insurance  companies,  while  travel- 
ling in  the  north  of  Scotland,  met  with 
an  intelligent  man  who  farmed  some 
thousand  acres.  This  estate  he  delight- 
ed to  cultivate  ;  and  though  the  period 
was  long  before  that  when  science  was 
employed  by  the  agriculturist,  he  in- 
vested all  his  profits  in  the  estate  he 
rented.  "With  great  satisfaction  he 
took  the  life  insurance  agent  over  his 
land,  pointed  to  his  improvements,  and 
boasted  his  gains. 

When  they  returned  to  the  farm 
house,  the  agent,  who  saw  that  if  his 
host  died,  all  that  he  had  done  would 
be  for  his  landlord's  benefit,  only  said 
to  him,"  You  must  have  spent  a  large 
sum  on  this  estate." 

"  Many  thousands,"  was  the  brief 
reply. 

"And  if  you  die,"  was  the  ready 
rejoinder,  "  your  landlord  will  receive 
the  benefit,  and  your  wife  and  daugh- 
ter be  left  penniless.  Why  not  insure 
your  life  ? " 

The  man  rose,  strode  across  the  room, 
and  drawing  himself  up  as  if  to  exhibit 
his  huge  strength,  said,  almost  in  the 
words  of  one  of  Sir  Bulwer  Lytton's 
heroes  :  "  Do  I  look  like  a  man  to  die 
of  consumption  ? " 

The  agent,  true  to  his  vocation,  was 
not  daunted — he  persevered,  explained 
his  meaning,  enlisted  the  kindly  feel- 
ings of  his  host,  persisted  in  asking 
him  how  much  he  would  leave  his 
family,  and  at  last  induced  him  to  lis- 
ten.    They  examined  his  accounts,  and 


found  that  he  could  spare  about  six 
hundred  dollars  a  year.  The  village 
apothecary  was  almost  immediately 
sent  for,  the  life  was  accepted,  and 
policies  were  granted  for  fifteen  thou- 
sand dollars. 

In  less  than  nine  months,  this  man, 
so  full  of  vigorous  health,  took  cold, 
neglected  the  symptoms,  and  died, 
leaving  only  the  amount  for  which  he 
had  insured  his  life  to  keep  his  family 
from  want. 


Oddities  of  a  Former  Period. 

In  the  early  period  of  English  in- 
surance, as  soon  as  it  was  known  that 
any  great  man  was  seriously  ill,  in- 
Burances  on  his  life,  at  rates  in  propor- 
tion to  his  chance  of  recovery,  were 
freely  made.  These  bargains  were  re- 
ported in  the  public  journals  ;  and  the 
effect  on  an  invalid  who  knew  his 
health  to  be  precarious,  may  be  ima- 
gined, when  he  saw  in  the  Whitehall 
Evening  Post,  that 

"  Lord might  be  considered  in 

great  danger,  as  his  life  could  only  be 
insured  in  the  Alley  at  ninety  per 
cent." 

Of  a  less  questionable,  though  still 
novel  character,  was  the  habit  of  in- 
suring property  in  any  besieged  city ; 
or  the  yet  more  common  mode  of  pay- 
ing a  premium  to  receive  a  certain  sum 
should  the  city  be  taken  by  the  day 
named  in  the  contract.  The  Spanish 
ambassador  was  accused  of  insuring 
one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars 
on  Minorca,  during  the  seven  years' 
war,  when  the  despatches  announcing 
its  capture  were  in  his  pocket. 


Terrible  Mode   of  Rendering-  an  In- 
surance Policy  Void. 

There  resided,  at  the  close  of  the 
last  century,  in  one  of  the  districts  of 
Yorkshire,  England,  one  of  those  coun- 
tiy  squires  of  whom  we  read  in  the 
pages  of  the  elder  novelists.    He  could 


CHRONICLES  OF  INSURANCE. 


639 


write  sufficiently  to  sign  his  name  ;  he 
could  ride  so  as  always  to  be  in  at  the 
death ;  he  could  eat,  when  his  day's 
amusement  was  over,  sufficient  to  star- 
tle a  whole  caravan  of  epicures — and 
drink  enough  to  float  himself  to  bed 
tipsy,  as  regularly  as  the  night  came. 
He  was  young,  having  come  to  his  es- 
tate early,  through  the  death  of  a  father 
who  had  broken  his  neck  when  his 
morning  draught  had  been  too  much 
for  his  seat,  and  he  seemed  at  first  ex- 
ceedingly likely  to  follow  his  father's 
footsteps. 

In  due  time,  however,  being  com- 
pelled to  visit  London  on  some  busi- 
ness, he  found  that  there  were  other 
pleasures  than  those  of  hunting  foxes, 
drinking  claret,  following  the  hounds, 
and  swearing  at  the  grooms  ;  and  that, 
although  on  his  own  estate,  and  in  the 
neighborhood  of  his  own  hall,  he  might 
be  a  great  person,  all  his  greatness  van- 
ished in  the  metropolis.  With  the 
avidity  of  a  young  man  entirely  un- 
curbed, enjoying  also  huge  animal  pow- 
ers, he  rushed  into  the  dissipation  of 
London,  where,  as  he  possessed  a  con- 
siderable share  of  mental  capacity,  he 
contrived  to  polish  his  behavior  and 
to  appear  in  the  character  of  a  buck 
about  town  with  some  success. 

His  estate  and  means  now  became  fa- 
miliar to  those  who  had  none  of  their 
own;  and  as  he  was  free  enough  in 
spending  his  money,  and  was  not  very 
particular  in  his  company,  he  was 
quickly  surrounded  by  all  the  younger 
sons,  roysterers,  and  men  who  lived  by 
their  wits,  of  the  circle  in  which  he 
visited.  With  such  as  these  his  career 
was  rapidly  determined.  The  gaming 
of  the  period  was  carried  to  such  an 
extent  that  it  might  almost  be  termed 
a  national  vice,  and  into  this  terrible 
vortex  he  threw  himself  with  unstinted 
recklessness.  Mortgage  after  mortgage 
was  given  on  his  estate;  but  as  this 
was  entailed,  it  was  necessary  that  he 
should  also  insure  his  life^  which  was 
done  at  Lloyds',  on  the  Koyal    Ex- 


change, and  with  those  usurers  who 
added  this  to  their  other  branches  of 
business. 

In  the  midst  of  his  career  there  seem- 
ed a  chance  for  his  escape.  It  may 
well  be  supposed  that  many  intriguing 
women  fixed  their  eyes  on  "  so  desira- 
ble a  match,"  and  that  many  young 
ladies  were  willing  to  share  the  for- 
tunes, for  better  or  for  worse,  of  the 
possessor  of  a  fine  estate.  At  last  the 
hour  and  the  woman  came— the  York- 
shire squire  fell  in  love  with  a  young 
lady  of  singular  beauty.  To  fall  in 
love  was  to  propose — to  propose  was  in 
this  case  to  be  accepted — and  the  mar- 
riage took  place.  Immediately  after- 
ward they  left  the  metropolis  for  the 
Yorkshire  home,  with  many  dainty 
dreams  of  bliss  in  the  future.  A  son, 
heir  to  the  entail,  was  born  to  them, 
and  soon  after  he  again  went  to  Lon- 
don, where,  tempted  beyond  his  resolu- 
tion, he  plunged  again  into  his  former 
pursuits,  pleasures  and  vices.  He  gam- 
bled, he  betted,  he  hazarded  his  all, 
until  one  fine  morning,  after  a  deep  de- 
bauch, he  arose  a  ruined  man.  He  had 
lost  more  than  his  whole  life  would  re- 
deem, the  only  security  now  left  to  the 
winners  being  his  annuity  bonds  on 
the  estate,  and  his  various  life  insurances 
should  he  die. 

Thus  situated,  he  was  aroused  to  a 
sense  of  the  wrongs  he  had  suffered ; 
he  saw  that  he  had  been  the  dupe  of 
gentlemen  sufficiently  practised  in  the 
art  of  play  to  be  called  sharjiers,  and 
saw  also,  what  was  doubtless  the  fact, 
that  he  had  been  cheated  to  their 
hearts'  content.  Almost  mad,  burning 
with  consuming  fire,  he  determined  to 
be  revenged.  Another  night  he  was 
resolved  to  try  his  luck,  and,  by  play- 
ing more  desperately  than  ever,  win 
back,  if  possible,  the  money  he  had 
lost,  and  then  forswear  the  dangerous 
vice.  With  a  desperate  resolve  to  out- 
wit them,  in  life  or  in  death,  he  once 
more  met  the  gamesters.  He  had  hither- 
to honorably  arranged  all  the  losses  he 


C40 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


had  sustained,  and  his  opponents  were 
prepared  to  humor  him.  The  doors 
were  finally  closed,  the  shutters  were 
down  to  exclude  light,  refreshments 
were  placed  in  an  antechamber,  and  for 
thirty-six  hours  the  last  game  was 
played. 

The  result  may  be  guessed.  The 
squire  had  no  chance  with  the  men 
banded  against  him,  and  high  as  his 
stakes  were,  and  wildly  as  he  jDlayed, 
they  fooled  him  to  the  top  of  his  bent. 
Exhausted  nature  completed  the  scene, 
and  the  loser  retired  to  his  hotel.  He 
was  ruined,  wretched,  reckless.  He 
knew  that  if  he  lived  it  would  be  a 
miserable  existence  for  himself  and  his 
wife,  and  he  knew  also  that  if  lie  died 
Jyy  Ids  own  Imnd,  not  only  would  his 
family  be  placed  in  a  better  position 
than  if  he  lived,  but  that  the  men  who 
had  wronged  him  would  be  outwitted, 
as  the  policies  on  his  life  would  le  for- 
feited^ and  his  bonds  become  waste 
paper. 

His  mind  soon  became  resolved.  He 
evinced  to  the  people  of  the  hotel  no 
symptoms  of  derangement ;  but  saying 
he  should  visit  the  theatre  that  night, 
and  go  to  bed  early,  as  he  had  been 
rather  dissipated  lately,  he  paid  the 
bill  he  had  incurred,  giving  at  the  same 
time  gratuities  to  the  waiters.  He  then 
wrote  a  letter  to  one  of  the  persons 
with  whom  his  life  had  been  insured, 
stating  that  as  his  existence  was  now 
of  no  value  to  him,  he  meant  to  destroy 
himself;  that  he  was  perfectly  calm 
and  sane ;  that  he  did  it  for  the  ex- 
press purpose  of  punishing  the  men 
who  had  contrived  to  ruin  him ;  and, 
as  the  policy  would  be  void  by  this 
act,  he  charged  him  to  let  his  suicide 
be  known  to  all  with  whom  his  life 
had  been  insured.  In  the  evening  he 
walked  to  the  Thames,  where  he  took 
a  wherry  with  a  waterman  to  row  him, 
and  when  they  were  in  the  middle  of 
the  current,  plunged  suddenly  into  the 
stream,  and  was  seen  no  more. 

The  underwriter  who  had  received 


the  letter,  communicated  it  to  the  other 
insurers  ;  and  when  a  claim  was  made  by 
the  gamblers,  they  saw  that  they  in  turn 
had  been  duped  by  the  squire,  although 
at  the  fearful  price  of  self-murder. 


Oriiriu  of  Fire  Insurance  Companies. 

It  is  amusing,  indeed,  to  trace  the 
incidents  which  attended  the  introduc- 
tion of  fire  insurance  companies.  The 
basis  of  a  plan  of  this  sort  appears  to 
have  been  suggested  as  early  as  two 
hundred  and  fifty  years  ago.  At  that 
time,  a  person  proposed  to  Count  An- 
thony Gunther  von  Oldenburg,  that,  as 
a  new  species  of  finance,  he  should  in- 
sure the  houses  of  all  his  subjects 
against  fire,  on  their  paying  so  much 
per  cent,  annually,  according  to  their 
value;  but  the  prospect  of  gain,  so 
tempting  to  most  persons,  could  not 
induce  the  count  to  adopt  the  plan. 
He  thought  it  good  if  a  company  was 
formed  of  individuals  to  insure  each 
other's  houses,  but  he  doubted  that  it 
could  by  him  be  "  honorably,  justly, 
and  irreproachfully  instituted  without 
tempting  Providence — without  incur- 
ring the  censure  of  neighbors,  and 
without  disgracing  one's  naaie  and  dig- 
nity," adding  that  "  God  had  without 
such  means  preserved  and  blessed,  for 
many  centuries,  the  ancient  house  of 
Oldenburg,  and  He  would  still  be  pres- 
ent with  him  through  his  mercy,  and 
protect  his  subjects  from  destructive 
fires." 

The  Count's  plan  appears  not  to  have 
been  again  thought  of  until  the  great 
fire  of  1666  had  laid  the  city  of  Lon- 
don in  ashes.  In  consequence  of  this 
calamitous  event,  the  citizens  began  to 
see  the  importance,  and  indeed  neces- 
sity, of  erecting  their  buildings  of  a 
material  less  susceptible  of  fire  than 
hitherto;  also  of  adopting  a  regular 
system  of  precaution  against  future  ac- 
cidents, as  well  as  of  devising  some 
scheme  for  mutual  pecuniary  protec- 
tion and  relief. 


CHRONICLES  OF  INSURANCE. 


641 


Various  proposals  were  accordingly 
submitted  to  the  Court  of  Common 
Council  of  the  City  of  London,  be- 
tween 1669  and  1680,  for  the  mutual 
relief  of  such  as  might  have  their 
houses  destroyed  by  fire — the  most  no- 
table and  acceptable  of  which  was  by 
one  of  their  own  body,  Mr.  Deputy 
Newbold.  But  if  we  may  judge  from 
the  length  of  time  that  elapsed  ere  the 
worshipful  committee  made  their  re- 
port to  the  Court,  we  should  conclude 
the  adopting  of  the  proposal  to  have 
been  attended  with  serious  difficulties  ; 
and,  in  verification  of  the  old  proverb 
that  "  delays  are  dangerous,"  during 
the  period  between  the  first  presenta- 
tion of  Mr.  Newbold's  proposal  to  the 
Lord  Mayor  and  the  final  report  of  the 
committee  to  whom  the  matter  was  re- 
ferred by  the  Court  of  Common  Coun- 
cil, several  private  individuals  asso- 
ciated themselves  together,  and  sub- 
mitted to  the  good  citizens  of  London 
a  "  design  for  insuring  houses  from 
fire,"  and  on  the  16th  of  September, 
1681,  a  notice  or  advertisement  was 
issued  from  their  "  office  on  the  hack  side 
of  the  Boyal  Exchange,''''  ofiering  to  in- 
sure irick  houses  against  fire  for  six- 
pence, and  timher  houses  for  twelvepence 
in  the  pound— hting  at  the  rate  of  £2 
10s.  per  cent,  for  the  brick  houses,  and 
of  £5  per  cent,  for  timber. 

Subsequently,  on  the  13th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1681,  the  Court  of  Common  Coun- 
cil did  "  agree  and  resolve  to  under- 
take y°  insuring  all  houses  w*^in  this 
city  and  libertyes  from  fire,  and  execute 
y®  same  with  all  expedicion,"  and  there- 
fore "  resolved  forthwith  to  engage  a 
sufficient  fund,  and  undoubted  security 
by  the  chamber  of  London,  in  lands 
and  good  ground  rents,  for  the  per- 
formance thereof."  Much  amusing 
pamphleteering  and  advertising  in  the 
Oazeite  took  place  between  the  advo- 
cates of  the  corporation  scheme,  and 
the  "  interested  "  in  the  sale  insurance 
office  on  the  back  side  of  the  Royal 
Exchange.  The  journals,  too,  of  the 
41 


Court  of  Common  Council  at  that  pe- 
riod record  the  signing  of  many  poli- 
cies, and  bear  amusing  evidence  of  the 
zeal  and  prudence  of  the  fire  insurance 
committees  in  promulgating  the  bene- 
fits of  the  corporation  scheme,  and  com- 
bating the  antagonistic  pamphlets  is- 
sued by  their  competitors. 


Exciting  Life   of  an  TTnderwriter. 

It  is  not  possible  to  conceive  of  a 
more  exciting  life  than  that  of  a  pri- 
vate underwriter.  A  sudden  change 
of  weather,  or  the  non-arrival  of  a 
ship  at  the  time  she  is  expected  or  is 
"  due,"  sinks  him  from  the  highest 
hopes  of  profit  to  the  deepest  dread  of 
loss. 

Some  branches  of  this  business  may 
well  be  said  to  be  a  sort  of  gambling ; 
at  all  events,  the  risks  of  marine  in- 
surance are  much  less  easily  reckoned, 
and  are  of  a  far  less  precise  kind,  than 
those  of  life  or  fire  insurance.  Yet 
wonderful  efibrts  are  made  to  give  it 
certainty;  the  age  and  soundness  of 
the  ship,  the  kind  of  cargo  with  which 
she  is  laden,  the  part  of  the  world  to 
which  she  is  going,  the  time  of  year,  as 
well  as  the  skill  and  character  of  the 
captain  who  commands  her,  are  ele- 
ments in  the  calculation.  Sometimes, 
as  is  well  known,  insurances  are  in- 
creased, or  new  ones  effiected,  while 
the  ship  is  at  sea :  when  she  has  not 
been  met  with  by  other  vessels  reported 
to  have  crossed  her  track,  or  when  she 
has  delayed  her  arrival  into  home  port, 
the  rate  is  augmented,  according  as  the 
chance  of  some  accident  is  great. 

The  steamship  President,  which  went 
down  years  ago,  and  has  never  since 
been  heard  of,  was  "  done,"  or,  in  other 
words,  risks  were  taken  on  her  at  a 
very  high  premium,  up  to  the  latest 
minute  of  hope.  Underwriters  are 
found  who  do  not  object  to  speculate 
on  the  safety  of  ships  in  equally  des- 
perate circumstances,  or,  to  use  their 
own  slang,  "  to  take  a  few  thousands 


642 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


on  them  at  a  very  long  price ; "  and 
vast  sums  of  money  are  frequently  won 
and  lost  in  this  way.  This  is  gam- 
bling, than  which  no  lottery  schemes 

are  greater. 

♦ 

Policies  and  Tragredies. 

A  Mrs.  E.  came  to  the  office  of  a 
London  insurance  company,  in  her  car- 
riage, to  take  out  a  policy  upon  Ann 
E.,  whom  she  described  as  a  friend 
whose  life  had  already  been  insured 
for  three  thousand  pounds,  also  for 
twenty-live  hundred  in  a  second  office, 
and  seven  hundred  in  a  third.  The 
medical  referee  was  a  member  of  the 
Eoyal  College  of  Surgeons,  and  resided 
near  one  of  the  fashionable  squares  at 
the  West  End.  Three  months  after 
the  insurance  had  been  effected,  Ann 
E.  died.  Upon  the  life  of  her  she 
had  effected  an  insurance  for  three 
thousand  pounds  in  one  office,  four 
hundred  and  ninety-nine  in  a  sec- 
ond, and  two  thousand  in  a  third, 
while  the  life  had  been  refused  in  a 
fourth.  The  lady  had  also  effected  in- 
surances on  the  life  of  her  sister,  to 
the  amount  of  twenty-four  thousand 
pounds,  but  all  of  them  had  been  re- 
fused. Further,  the  same  lady  had 
had  policies  granted  upon  the  lives  of 
almost  every  member  of  her  family, 
and  in  every  case  the  insured  had  died 
within  a  few  months  after  the  grant 
was  made,  the  certificates  of  death 
being  invariably  signed  by  the  Hon. 
M.R.C.S.,  who  had  figured  as  medical 
referee  in  connection  with,  all  these 
cases.  These  circumstances  were  so 
suspicious  and  startling,  that  this  com- 
pany resisted  the  claim,  and  an  action 
was  accordingly  brought  to  trial.  Mrs. 
E.  gained  the  case,  but  the  publicity 
given  to  the  facts  brought  a  volley  of 
letters,  volunteering  information  con- 
cerning the  plaintiff.  It  then  came  to 
light  that  the  lady  had  been  the  in- 
mate of  a  hospital  for  females  of  ques- 
tionable virtue  ;  that  she  was  then  the 


mistress  of  an  eminent  baronet  banker 
at  the  West  End,  to  whom  belonged 
the  carriage  in  which  she  had  invaria- 
bly called  to  effect  the  insurance,  and 
the  appearance  of  which  had  aided  her 
materially  in  doing  so.  It  is  supposed 
that  she  must  have  poisoned  more  than 
thirty  persons,  in  these  criminal  in- 
surance transactions — a  catalogue  of 
tragedies  certainly  without  a  parallel. 


Leaving  a  Case  Out. 

A  Philadelphia  merchant,  in  the 
olden  time,  chartered  a  vessel  and 
laded  her  with  an  invoice  of  valuable 
wines  for  a  port  in  the  West  Indies, 
and  insured  the  vessel  and  cargo  at  a 
remarkably  high  figure  in  an  office 
w^here  one  of  his  acquaintances — a  man 
of  about  the  same  honesty  as  himself — 
was  a  director.  The  vessel  (as  was 
commercially  foreordained)  sprang  a 
leak  at  sea,  was  abandoned,  and,  as 
Byron  says,  "  going  down  head-fore- 
most— sunk — in  short."  The  shipper 
demanded  his  insurance  money ;  but 
being  unable  to  satisfy  the  office  as  to 
when  and  how  he  became  possessed  of 
such  a  large  quantity  of  valuable  wines, 
they  refused  to  pay,  and  the  matter  re- 
mained for  a  long  time  unsettled,  the 
shipper  urging  his  claims,  and  the 
office  professing  their  readiness  to  pay 
whenever  he  produced  the  proper  evi- 
dences. One  day  the  shipper,  meeting 
the  director,  complained  bitterly  of  the 
treatment  of  the  office,  and  wound  up 
by  saying  he  was  willing  to  leave  the 
case  out  to  the  decision  of  three  honest 
men.  "  Three  honest  men !  Why,  my 
dear  fellow,  where  would  you  get 
them  ?  There  are  you  and  7,  to  be 
sure ;  but  where  would  you  find  the 
other  f  "  It  leaked  out  afterward  that 
the  vessel  had  been  scuttled  by  the 
captain,  who  was  interested  in  the  ad- 
venture, and  that  the  valuable  wine 
was  only  colored  water. 


CHRONICLES  OF  INSURANCE. 


643 


"Poor  Tim  Rooney." 

Tim  Rooney  had  his  life  insured  in 
one  of  the  British  offices,  and  the  hold- 
er of  the  policy  was  anxious,  if  possi- 
ble, to  avoid  paying  the  premiums, 
and  to  receive  the  sum  insured  during 
the  life-time  of  his  assignor.  Finally, 
a  premium  became  due,  and  he  found 
himself  unable  to  pay  it.  He  had  still 
a  few  days'  grace,  when,  crossing  the 
Liffey  at  night  with  a  party  of  friends, 
he  saw  a  body  floating  on  the  stream. 
He  lost  no  time  in  pulling  it  on  shore, 
and  then,  with  a  look  of  pity,  exclaim- 
ed, "  Why,  it's  'poor  Tim  Booney  !  "  His 
friends  at  first  thought  him  crazy  ;  but 
when  he  repeated,  "  Sure  enough,  it's 
Tim  Rooney,"  adding,  "  and  hadn't  I 
to  pay  the  next  premium  on  his  life  ?  " 
the  whole  party  were  courteous  enough 
to  understand  him.  Accordingly,  the 
report  was  circulated  that  Tim  Rooney 
had  fallen  into  the  Lifi'ey.  An  inquest 
subsequently  held  confirmed  the  fact, 
the  news  of  which  in  due  time  reached 
the  insurance  office.  A  certificate, 
signed  by  the  coroner,  and  testifying 
as  to  the  cause  of  death,  was  soon  after- 
ward forwarded  to  the  office,  and  the 
money  for  which  Tim  Rooney's  life 
had  been  insured,  was  paid  to  the 
proper  representative.  Some  time  af- 
terward, the  agent  of  the  company  met 
and  identified  "  poor  Tim  Rooney  "  in 
the  streets  of  London,  and  reproached 
him  with  being  still  alive.  "  Was  not 
an  inquest  held  on  you  ?  "  inquired  the 
agent.  "That  there  was,"  replied  Tim, 
"  and  I  am  told  that  twelve  men  sat  on 
my  body ;  but  I  am  not  at  all  dead  for 
all  that." 


Examining  an  Applicant. 

A  PEEP  into  that  room  of  mysteries 
— the  examining  apartment  of  a  life  in- 
surance company — reveals  some  side- 
shaking  dealings.  In  vain  does  the 
board  endeavor  to  persuade  some  of 
the  faded  and  rickety  adventurers,  that 


they  are  half  dead  already ;  they  still 
swear  that  their  fathers  were  almost 
immortal,  and  that  their  whole  families 
have  been  as  tenacious  of  life  as  eels 
themselves.  Among  these  one  old  gen- 
tleman had  a  large  premium  to  pay  for 
a  totter  in  his  knees ;  another  for  an 
extraordinary  circumference  in  the 
girth ;  and  a  lady  of  high  respecta- 
bility, who  was  afflicted  with  certain 
undue  proportions  of  width,  was  fined 
most  exorbitantly.  The  only  customer, 
on  this  occasion,  who  met  with  any- 
thing like  satisfaction,  was  a  gigantic 
man  of  Ireland,  with  whom  it  was  evi- 
dent that  Death  was  likely  to  have  a 
puzzling  contest. 

"  How  old  are  you  ?  "  inquired  the 
examiner.  • 

«  Forty." 

"  You  seem  a  strong  man." 

"  I  am  the  strongest  man  from  Ire- 
land." 

"  But  subject  to  the  gout  ? " 

"  No — the  rheumatism.  Nothing  else, 
upon  my  soul." 

"  What  age  was  your  father  when  he 
died  ? " 

"  Oh,  he  died  young ;  but  then  he 
was  killed  in  a  row." 

"  Have  you  any  uncles  alive  ?  " 

"  No — they  were  all  killed  in  rows 
too." 

"  Pray,  sir,  do  you  think  of  return- 
ing to  Ireland  ?  " 

"  May  be  I  shall,  some  day  or 
other." 

"  What  security,  then,  can  we  have 
that  you  will  not  be  killed  in  a  row 
yourself  ? " 

"  Oh,  never  fear  I  I  am  the  sweetest 
temper  in  the  world,  barring  when  I'm 
dining  out,  which  is  not  often." 

"  What,  sir,  you  can  drink  a  little  ?  " 

"  Three  bottles,  with  ease." 

"  Aye,  that  is  bad.  You  have  a  red 
face,  and  look  apoplectic.  You  will, 
no  doubt,  go  off  suddenly." 

"  Devil  a  bit.  My  red  face  was  bom 
with  me  ;  and  I'll  lay  a  bet  I  Hve  long- 
er than  any  two  in  the  room." 


644 


COMMERCIAL   AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Examining  an  Applicant. 


"  But  three  bottles—" 

"  Never  you  mind  that.  I  don't  mean 
to  drink  more  than  a  bottle  and  a  half 
in  future.  Besides,  I  intend  to  get 
married,  if  I  can,  and  live  snug." 

A  debate  arose  among  the  directors 
respecting  the  gentleman's  eligibility. 
The  words  "  row  "  and  "  three  bottles  " 
ran,  hurry-scurry,  round  the  table. 
Every  dog  had  a  snap  at  them.  At 
last,  however,  the  leader  of  the  pack 
addressed  hira  in  a  demurring  growl, 
and  agreed  that,  upon  his  paying  a 
slight  additional  premium  for  his  ir- 
regularities, he  should  be  treated  as  a 
fit  subject.  ^ 

Life-insurance  Obituary  Announce- 
ment. 

Concerning  life-insurance  compa- 
nies, Gaylord  Clark  once  said :  We 
verily  believe  that  by-and-by  they  w^ill 
create  a  new  style  of  announcing  the 
deaths  of  our  "  friends  and  fellow  citi- 
zens." It  will  not  be  long  before  we 
shall  see  in  the  newspapers,  under  the 
obituary  head,  such  announcements  as 
this :  "  Died  of  fever,  on  Wednesday 
morning,  Timothy  Pipkin,  aged  fifty- 


six  ;  no  insurance^  Or,  "  Died,  on  Fri- 
day morning,  Jerothnail  P.  Hopkins, 
of  a  lingering  '  squinancy,'  aged  forty- 
eight  ;  insured  one  thousand  dollars  in 
the  Wall  street  Life-insurance  Com- 
pany, and  two  thousand  in  the  Connec- 
ticut Mutual." 

An  epidemic,  also,  taking  away 
whole  neighborhoods,  we  may  look  to 
see  under  the  head  of  "  Great  Epide- 
mic :  Failure  of  Life-insurance  Com- 
panies^^'' something  like  the  following : 
"  We  regret  to  learn  that  two  of  our 
prosperous  life-insurance  companies 
have  been  compelled  to  suspend  pay- 
ment. An  epidemic  which  broke  out 
recently  in  Tinnecum,  and  which  at 
one  time  threatened  the  destruction  of 
the  whole  village,  could  not  be  arrested 
until  the  raging  scourge  had  destroyed 
more  than  three  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars' worth  of  sound  insurance.  The 
loss  falling  on  individuals  and  families 
is  immense." 


Marriage  and  Baptism  Insurance. 

The  following  advertisements  relate 
to  a  department  of  insurance  which  we 


CHRONICLES   OF  INSURANCE. 


C45 


believe  does  not  pertain  to  that  busi- 
ness as  carried  on  at  present.  In  the 
British  Apollo  for  1710  is  the  following 
notice : 

"  A  first  and  second  claim  is  made  at 
the  oflace  of  Assurance  on  Marriage  in 
Roll  Court,  Fleet  street.  The  first  will 
be  paid  on  Saturday  next,  wherefore 
all  persons  concerned  are  desired  to 
pay  two  shillings  into  the  joint  stock, 
pursuant  to  the  articles,  or  they  will  be 
excluded.  The  two  claimants  married 
each  other  and  have  paid  but  two  shil- 
lings each."  Yet  they  were  to  receive 
thirty-seven  pounds.  This  advertise- 
ment may  receive  its  explanation  in 
another : 

"Any  person,  by  paying  two  shil- 
lings at  their  entrance  for  a  policy  and 
stamps,  and  tw^o  shillings  toward  each 
marriage  until  their  own,  when  [the 
number  is]  full,  will  secure  to  them- 
selves two  hundred  pounds,  and  in  the 
mean  time  in  proportion  to  the  number 
of  subscribers." 

It  appears  that  so  well  did  this  specu- 
lation answ^er,  that  three  offices  shortly 
opened  in  the  same  line,  one  at  least  of 
which  appears  to  have  had  a  very  ap- 
propriate location,  viz.,  in  ^'•Petticoat 
Lane."  Growing  out  of  such  a  concern 
was  another  company — that  for  insar- 
ance  upon  infant  baptism.  In  this  case, 
persons  were  to  pay  two  shillings  and 
sixpence  toward  each  infant  baptism 
until  they  had  a  case'  of  their  own.  If 
the  list  was  full,  they  could  then  receive 
two  hundred  pounds,  "  the  interest  of 
which  is  sufficient,"  says  the  advertise- 
ment, "  to  give  a  child  a  good  educa- 
tion, and  the  principal  reserved  until 
the  child  comes  to  maturity."  For  a 
time  these  speculative  projects  of  cre- 
dulity were  greedily  run  after. 


Assessments  in  Old  Times. 

Here  is  an  instance  of  the  singular 
manner  in  which  fire-insurances  w^ere 
conducted  in  old  times.  It  is  a  notice, 
or  advertisement,  copied  from  the  Lon- 


don OazetU  of  July  6th,  1685  :  "  There 
having  happened  a  fire  on  the  24tli  of 
the  last  month,  by  which  several  houses 
of  the  friendly  society  were  burned,  to 
the  value  of  nine  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  pounds,  these  are  to  give  notice  to 
all  persons  of  the  said  society,  that  they 
are  desired  to  pay  at  the  office,  Faulcon 
Court,  in  Fleet  street,  their  several  pro- 
portions of  their  said  loss,  which  comes 
to  five  shillings  and  one  penny  for 
every  hundred  pounds  issued,  before 
the  12th  of  August  next." 


TrafSckers  in  Insurance  Run  Mad- 
Astounding:  Policies  on  the  Chev- 
alier d'Eon's  Sex  I 

Chaeles  Genevieve  Louis  Au- 
gusts d'Eon  de  Beaumont,  popularly 
known  as  the  Chevalier  d'Eon,  was  the 
cause  of  a  famous  trial  before  Lord 
Mansfield,  as  to  the  validity  of  a  policy 
without  an  insurable  interest.  The  ca- 
reer of  this  man,  or  woman — for  the 
question  w^as  long  doubtful — was  most 
remarkable.  Equerry  to  Louis  Fif- 
teenth, doctor  of  law,  ambassador,  and 
royal  censor,  employed  in  a  confiden- 
tial mission  to  the  Russian  court,  and 
said  to  be  a  favorite  of  its  empress, 
d'Eon's  reputation  in  England  was  es- 
tablished. Coming  to  the  latter  coun- 
try, he  soon  quarrelled  w' ith  the  Due  de 
Nivernois,  ambassador  from  the  most 
Christian  king,  and  being  regarded  as 
a  calumniator,  he  was  mobbed  where- 
ever  he  appeared. 

In  the  mean  time,  doubts  being  set 
afloat  as  to  his  sex,  his  calumnies  were 
all  forgotten,  and  a  new  interest  was 
attached  to  the  chevalier,  by  the  asser- 
tion of  some  that  he  was  male,  and  of 
others  that  he  was  female.  This  was 
something  decidedly  fresh — a  positive 
windfall — for  the  wide-awake  and 
scheming  insurance,  brokers  of'  that 
period,  and  the  question  was  forthwith 
mooted  at  Lloyds's.  At  first  wagers  or 
bets  were  made ;  but  as  there  was  no 
readily    available    mode    of   deciding 


>646 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


whether  this  extraordinary  individual 
was  man  or  woman,  they  were  neces- 
sarily abandoned. 

It  was  decided,  therefore,  that  regular 
insurance  policies  should  de  opened  on  his 
sex,  by  which  it  was  undertaken  that 
on  payment  of  fifteen  guineas,  one  hun- 
dred should  be  returned  whenever  the 
chevalier  was  proved  to  be  a  woman. 
At  first  he  pretended  to  be  indignant, 
and  advertised  that  on  a  certain  day 
and  hour,  he  would  satisfy  all  whom  it 
concerned.  The  place  was  a  city  cofiee 
house,  the  hour  was  that  of  high 
'change,  and  the  curiosity  of  the  citi- 
zens was  greatly  excited. 

The  insurances  on  this  eccentric  per- 
son's sex  were,  under  these  stirring  cir- 
cumstances, greatly  and  immediately 
increased,  policies  to  a  very  large 
amount  were  made  out,  and  to  the  ren- 
dezvous thronged  bankers,  underwri- 
ters, and  brokers  innumerable.  The 
hour  approached,  and  with  it  came  the 
chevalier,  who,  dressed  in  the  uniform 
of  a  French  officer,  and  decorated  with 
the  order  of  St.  Louis,  rose  to  address 
the  assembly. 

It  is  easy  to  imagine  the  breathless 
attention  of  this  teeming  throng  (for  "  a 
million"  was  said  to  depend  on  his 
words),  the  eager  interest  of  some,  the 
cool  cupidity  of  others,  the  ribaldry  of 
more,  and  the  astonishment  of  all, 
as,  with  an  audacity  only  to  be 
equalled  by  his  charlatanry,  he  said 
"  he  came  to  prove  that  he  belonged  to 
that  sex  whose  dress  he  wore,  and 
challenged  any  one  there  to  disprove 
his  manhood,  with  sword  or  with  cud- 
gel." The  spirit  of  the  citizens  had 
passed  away,  or  at  any  rate  it  did  not 
serve  them  on  this  occasion  ;  commerce 
had  sheathed  the  sentimental  sword  of 
chivalry,  and  none  grasped  the  gaunt- 
let thus  thrown  down  by  the  knight. 
Bankers,  brokers,  and  underwriters 
gaped  at  one  another  as  though  they 
had  lost  their  senses ;  and  while  the 
boldness  of  the  speech  pleased  many,  it 
was  far  from  satisfactory  to  those  who 


came  with  the  hope  of  winning  a  wa- 
ger, or  claiming  their  insurance  money. 
The  knight  departed  in  triumph. 

Large  sums — in  one  case  amounting 
to  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars— were  said  to  be  offered  him  to  di- 
vulge his  sex.  However  this  may  be, 
it  was  thought  necessary  to  settle  the 
question,  if  possible,  at  the  last  tribu- 
nal ;  and  one  of  the  first  actions  tried 
after  the  act  to  prevent  gaming  in  in- 
surance, arose  from  one  of  the  policies 
on  the  sex  of  d'Eon,  in  which  it  ap- 
peared that  Mr.  Jacques,  a  broker,  had 
received  several  premiums  of  thirty-five 
guineas,  for  which  he  had  granted  poli- 
cies undertaking  to  return  one  hundred 
guineas  whenever  the  chevalier  was 
proved  to  be  a  woman.  The  chief  jus- 
tice declared  that  a  policy  of  insurance, 
although  not  even  on  life,  when  enter- 
ed into  without  an  insurable  interest, 
was  against  the  purport  of  the  act  in 
question,  and  contrary  to  English  no- 
tions of  moralitv. 


Daniel  Webster's  Insurance  Anecdote. 

Da^s^iel  Webster  said,  that  some 
time  after  he  commenced  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Boston,  a  circum- 
stance occurred  which  forcibly  im- 
pressed upon  liis  mind  the  sometimes 
conclusive  eloquence  of  silence,  and  he 
wondered  no  longer  that  the  ancients 
had  erected  a  statue  to  her  as  a  di- 
vinity. 

A  man  in  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  said  Mr. 
Webster,  had  insured  a  ship,  lying  at  the 
time  at  the  wharf  there,  for  an  amount 
much  larger  than  its  real  value,  in  one 
of  the  Boston  insurance  offices.  One 
day,  news  arrived  in  Boston,  that  this 
ship  had  suddenly  taken  fire,  and  been 
burned  to  the  water's  edge.  It  had 
been  insured  in  the  Massachusetts  In- 
surance Company,  of  which  General 
Arnold  Wells  was  president,  and  Mr. 
Webster  the  attorney. 

General  Wells  told  Mr.  Webster  of 
the  misfortune  that  had  happened  to 


CHRONICLES  OF  INSURANCE. 


647 


the  company,  in  the  loss  of  a  vessel  so 
largely  insured  ;  communicating  to  him, 
at  the  same  time,  the  somewhat  extra- 
ordinary manner  in  which  it  had  been 
destroyed. 

"  Do  you  intend,"  asked  Mr.  Web- 
ster, "  to  pay  the  insurance  ?  " 

"  I  shall  be  obliged  to  do  so,"  replied 
the  general. 

"  I  think  not ;  for  I  have  no  doubt, 
firom  the  circumstances  attending  the 
loss,  that  the  ship  was  set  on  fire,  with 
the  intent  to  defraud  the  comj)any  of 
the  insurance." 

"  But  how  shall  we  prove  that  ?  and 

what  shall  we  say  to  Mr.  ,  when 

he  makes  application  for  the  money  ?  " 

"  Say  nothing,"  replied  Mr.  Web- 
ster, "  but  hear  quietly  what  he  has  to 
say." 

Some  few  days  after  this  conversa- 
tion, Mr. came  up  to  Boston,  and 

presented  himself  to  General  Arnold 
Wells,  at  the  insurance  office.  Mr. 
was  a  man  very  careful  of  his  per- 
sonal appearance,  and  of  punctilious 
demeanor.  He  powdered  his  hair, 
wore  clean  ruffles  and  well-brushed 
clothes,  and  had  a  gravity  of  speech 
becoming  a  person  of  respectable  posi- 
tion. All  this  demanded  civil  treat- 
ment ;  and  whatever  might  be  thought 
of  him,  one  would  naturally  use  no 
harsh  language  toward  him.  He  had 
a  defect  in  his  left  eye,  so  that,  when 
he  spoke,  he  turned  his  right  and  sound 
eye  to  the  person  he  addressed,  with  a 
somewhat  oblique  angle  of  the  head, 
giving  it  something  such  a  turn  as  a 
hen  who  discovers  a  hawk  in  the  air. 
General  Arnold  Wells  had  a  corre- 
sponding defect  in  his  right  eye. 

"  I  was  not  present  at  the  interview," 
says  Mr.  Webster,  "  but  I  have  heard  it 
often  described  by  those  who  were. 
General  Wells  came  out  from  an  inner 
office  on    the    announcement    of   Mr. 

's  arrival,  and  fixed  him  (to  use  a 

French  expression)  with  his  sound  eye 
— looking  at  him  seriously,  but  calmly^ 
Mr. looked  at  General  Wells  with 


liu  sound  eye,  but  not  steadily — rather 
as  if  he  thought  to  turn  the  general's 
right  flank. 

"  They  stood  thus,  with  their  eye$  cocked 
at  each  other^  for  more  than  a  minute, 

before  either  spoke ;   when  Mr.   

thought  it  best  to  take  the  initiative. 

" '  It  is  a  pleasant  day.  General  Wells, 
though  rather  cold.' 

"  '  It  is  as  you  say,  Mr. ,  a  pleas- 
ant though  rather  cold  day,'  replied 
the  general,  without  taking  his  eye 
down  from  its  range. 

" '  I  should  not  be  surprised,  general,' 

continued    Mr.   ,    'if   we   should 

have  a  fall  of  snow  soon.' 

"  '  There  might  be  more  surprising 

circumstances,  Mr. ,  than  a  fall  of 

snow  in  February.' 

"  Mr. hereupon  shifted  his  foot, 

and  topic.  He  did  not  feel  at  ease, 
and  the  less  so  from  his  desperate  at- 
tempts to  conceal  his  embarrassment. 

"  '  When  do  you  think,  general,'  he 
inquired,  after  a  pause,  '  that  Congress 
will  adjourn  ? ' 

"  '  It  is  doubtful,  I  should  think,  Mr. 
,  when  Congress  will  adjourn ;  per- 
haps not  for  some  time  yet,  as  great 
bodies,  you  know,  move  slowly.' 

" '  Do  you  hear  anything  important 
from  that  quarter,  general  ? ' 

" '  Nothing,  Mr. .' 

"  Mr. by  this  time  had  become 

very  dry  in  the  throat— a  sensation,  I 
have  been  told,"  says  Mr.  Webster, 
"  one  is  very  apt  to  feel  who  finds  him- 
self in  an  embarrassing  position,  from 
which  he  sees  no  possibility  of  escape. 
He  feared  to  advance,  and  did  not 
know  how  to  make  a  successful  retreat. 
At  last,  after  one  or  two  desperate  and 
ineflfectual  struggles  to  regain  self-pos- 
session, finding  himself  all  the  while 
within  point-blank  range  of  that  raking 
eye,  he  wholly  broke  down,  and  took 
his  leave,  without  the  least  allusion  to 
the  matter  of  insurance. 

^'' He  never  returned  to  claim  his 
moneys 


648 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Adjusting:  an  Insurance  XjOss. 

The  adjusters  of  losses  under  policies 
of  insurance  against  fire  sometimes  have 
funny  cases,  or  meet  an  exhilarating 
turn.  A  common  method  of  determin- 
ing the  damages  is  to  inquire  the  cost 
of  restoration  or  repairs  of  the  property 
injured.  An  adjuster  for  one  of  the 
Hartford  companies  was  once  hurried 
out  to  Elmira  to  pay  for  the  partial 
destruction  of  a  steam  engine  used  in  a 
saw-mill.  The  holder  of  the  policy  de- 
manded the  sum  of  six  hundred  dollars 
as  an  indemnity,  and  had  procured  the 
formal  certificate  for  that  sum,  with 
which  to  assert  his  claim.  The  adjust- 
er had  a  survey  made  at  once  by  an  ex- 
pert, who,  as  the  result  of  his  examina- 
tion, engaged  to  repair  all  the  damages 
for  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  sixty 
dollars,  and  it  was  therefore  proposed 
to  pay  the  claimant  that  amount,  or  re- 
pair the  machine.  Mr.  Claimant  was 
terribly  astonished  at  all  this;  he 
didn't  believe  any  man  living  could 
repair  the  damage  for  that  sum ;  pro- 
tested earnestly  against  the  injustice  of 
asking  him  to  take  less  than  the  ori- 
ginal six  hundred  dollars — but,  on  the 
whole,  if  he  could  have  his  cash  that 
day,  he  would  take  four  hundred  dol- 
lars. Mr.  Adjuster  finally  told  him 
that  he  must  take  one  hand  or  the 
other,  and  he  accepted  the  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty  dollars.  After  the  set- 
tlement was  made,  Mr.  A.  offered  claim- 
ant to  contract  to  repair  for  the  sum 
paid,  which  he  indignantly  refused, 
with  the  delicate  remark,  "  No,  hang 
him  1  he  shan't  do  it !  There's  a  man 
up  to  Corning  will  do  it  for  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars  !  " 


Playing  a  Bold  Game. 

It  is  sometimes  the  case  in  England, 
that  rich  men  insure  the  lives  of  pau- 
pers, merely  as  a  speculation.  A  man 
at  one  time  wrote  from  the  Limerick 
(Ireland)   workhouse  to   an  insurance 


office,  saying  that  his  life  had  been 
insured  for  several  hundred  pounds; 
that  he  was  in  a  bad  state  of  health, 
and  that  he  was  prepared  to  give  five 
distinct  reasons  why  the  company 
should  not  pay  a  farthing  of  the  sum 
insured  for.  At  present  he  felt  that  he 
was  sinking  fast,  but  if  the  company 
would  place  hira  in  a  comfortable 
house  and  feed  him  well,  he  was  con- 
vinced that  he  should  get  better,  and 
live  for  many  years.  The  letter  also 
contained  an  earnest  appeal  for  money, 
to  be  sent  by  return  of  post,  for  the 
purpose  of  prolonging  the  author's  life, 
and  relieving  the  company  from  paying 
a  large  sum  of  money  to  the  persons 
who  had  insured  him  on  speculation. 
He  thought  that  if  brought  to  London 
he  could  distinguish  himself,  and  live 
to  a  good  old  age.  He  appeared  to 
have  stated,  in  a  previous  letter,  that 
he  had  met  with  a  violent  accident, 
which  he  now  wished  to  explain  away. 
"  My  axidence,"  he  wrote,  "  was  a  spark 
which  fell  in  my  eye — "  after  which  he 
added  that  the  company  would  do  well 
to  turn  his  abilities  to  account,  as  he 
was  "  a  good  clerk,  and  by  profession 
a  bricklayer."  This  extraordinary  epis- 
tle was  accompanied  by  an  affidavit, 
acknowledged  before  a  magistrate,  tes- 
tifying to  the  false  answers  which  had 
been  given  to  the  inquiries  of  the  in- 
surance company  respecting  the  wri- 
ter's life. 

An  agent  subsequently  went  down  to 
Limerick  on  behalf  of  another  compa- 
ny, w^hich  had  received  a  proposal  to 
insure  the  life  of  Kinna,  the  author  of 
this  letter,  and  naturally  felt  some  anx- 
iety to  ascertain  the  real  sanitary  con- 
dition of  a  man  who  alternately  repre- 
sented himself  as  a  dying  man  and  as 
destined  t6  live  to  a  ripe  old  age.  On 
arriving  there,  he  was  told  by  one  of 
the  local  magistrates,  that  he  "had 
better  mind  what  he  was  about,  as 
they  all  speculated  a  little  on  life  in- 
surance down  there."  Finding  that 
Kinna    had    left    the    workhouse,   he 


CHRONICLES  OF  INSURANCE. 


649 


naturally  looked  for  him  in  the  nearest 
tavern  ;  here  the  agent  was  soon  recog- 
nized and  surrounded  by  the  inmates, 
who  exclaimed,  "  Here's  the  chap  from 
the  insurance  oflBce  !  "  They  appeared 
at  first,  inclined  to  kill  him,  but  their 
anger  soon  resolved  itself  into  thirst, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  "treat"  all 
around. 

Having  inquired  for  Kinna's  address, 
he  was  told  where  Kinna  lived,  but  at 
the  same  time  reminded  that  he  was  a 
big  man,  and  likely  to  thrash  him  or 
any  one  else  connected  with  a  life  in- 
surance office.  The  agent,  nevertheless, 
continued  his  search  for  Kinna,  and 
finally  found  him  in  a  miserable  hut. 
Kinna  not  getting  an  answer  from  the 
insurance  office  to  which  he  had  ap- 
plied for  money,  had  consented  for  a 
small  bonus  to  have  his  life  insured  iu 
another  office.  He  mistakenly  imag- 
ined, however,  that  tlie  agent  had  come 
from  the  office  to  which  he  had  written  to 
forward  money  to  him,  and  accordingly 
represented  himself  as  sufiering  the 
most  horrible  tortures  from  an  illness 
which  could  only  be  cured  by  the  kind- 
est treatment.  One  symptom  which  he 
complained  of  especially  was  an  acute 
pain  in  the  groin,  which  almost  bent 
him  double.  He  felt  unable  to  walk, 
and  was  convinced  that  he  was  break- 
ing up,  and  would  soon  die,  unless  the 
company  did  something  for  him.  The 
agent  persuaded  him  to  endeavor  to 
walk  a  short  distance,  and  even  pre- 
vailed upon  him  to  accompany  him  as 
far  as  the  bridge,  where  policemen  in 
plain  clothes  were  in  attendance  to  pre- 
vent any  violence  which  might  be  at- 
tempted by  Kinna,  in  case  of  his  disap- 
proving of  any  of  the  questions  which 
the  agent  intended  to  put  to  him. 

At  last,  Kinna  determined  to  play  a 
bold  game — pretended  that  he  could 
walk  no  more.  "  I  am  sinking  !  "  he 
exclaimed.  "  Then,"  replied  the  agent, 
emboldened  by  his  proximity  to  the 
bridge,  "  I  am  afraid  we  shall  be  un- 
able to  accept  your  life."    Kinna  at 


once  saw  the  mistake.  Without  being  in 
the  least  disconcerted,  he  drew  himself 
up  to  his  full  height,  and  said  to  the 
agent,  "  Did  you  ever  see  my  brother, 
now  ? "  The  agent  replied  in  the  nega- 
tive. "  You  have  not  ?  "  continued 
Kinna  ;  "  then  I'm  just  like  him  ;  bar- 
ring that  I've  lost  my  eye,  I'm  as  good- 
looking  a  fellow  as  he  is  ;  and  if  you'd 
known  him,  you'd  have  known  he's 
always  had  a  pain  in  the  groin,  and 
that  it's  a  family  complaint  of  not  the 
least  importance  at  all,  at  all." 

Kinna's  life  was  insured  for  more 
than  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars  by  the  speculators;  and  being 
afraid  to  live  in  Limerick,  he  requested 
the  agent  to  remove  him,  stating  that 
he  had  been  insured  to  so  great  an  ex- 
tent, that  he  felt  his  life  was  unsafe  in 
that  town. 


German  Idea  of  the  Thing-. 

A  THIN,  cadaverous-looking  German, 
about  fifty  years  of  age,  entered  the 
office  of  a  health  insurance  company  in 
Indiana,  and  inquired  : 

"  Ish  te  man  in  vot  inshures  de  peo- 
ple's belts  ? " 

The  agent  politely  answered,  "I 
attend  to  that  business,  sir." 

"  Veil,  I  vants  mine  belts  inshured ; 
vot  you  charge  ? " 

"  Different  prices,"  answered  the 
agent,  "from  three  to  ten  shillings  a 
year ;  pay  ten  dollars  a  year,  and  you 
get  ten  dollars  a  week,  in  case  of  sick- 


"  Vel,"  said  Mynheer,  "  I  vants  ten 
dollars'  vort." 

The  agent  inquired  his  state  of 
health. 

"  Veil,  I  ish  sick  all  te  time.  I'se 
shust  out  te  bed  too  tree  hours  a  tay, 
und  te  doctor  says  he  can't  do  nothing 
more  goot  for  me." 

"  If  that's  the  state'  of  your  health," 
returned  the  agent,  "we  can't  insure 
it.  We  only  insure  persons  who  are  in 
good  health." 


650 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


At  this,  Mynheer  bristled  up  in  great 
anger. 

"You  must  tink  I'se  a  tarn  fool; 
vot !  you  tink  I  come  pay  you  ten 
dollars  for  inshure  my  helt ;  wn  I  vos 


Lively  Operations. 

If  there  be  any  question  as  to  the 
verity  of  what  follows,  it  must  "  lie  " 
with  the  editor  of  the  "  Drawer,"  who 
gives  it  in  the  inimitable  style  of  that 
piquant  feature  in  Harpefs : 

Borem  was  the  soliciting  agent  of 
the  Gotham  Life  Insurance  Company 
in  this  city.  His  business  was  to  in- 
duce as  many  of  the  mortal  population 
of  this  world  as  possible  to  insure  their 
lives  in  his  company.  Of  course  it  was 
a  good  thing  for  them,  a  better  thing 
for  the  Company,  and  the  best  thing 
for  Borem.  Because,  according  to 
Borem's  bargain,  was  he  not  entitled 
to  ten  per  cent,  on  every  policy  taken 
out  by  any  man  whom  he  solicited,  and 
five  per  cent,  on  every  year's  renewal  ? 
No  sooner  was  this  agreement  made, 
than  Borem  commenced  and  carried  out 
a  system  of  visitation  and  solicitation 
so  extended  and  thorough  that,  in  the 
course  of  two  or  three  years,  there  was 
not  a  live  man  in  the  company  whom 
Borem  had  not  bored  almost  to  death 
to  induce  him  to  insure  his  precious  life. 
Every  day  he  compared  his  own  book 
of  memoranda  with  the  records  of  the 
company,  and  when  he  found  that  a 
man  was  down  whom  he  had  spoken 
with,  even  if  it  were  months  or  years 
before,  he  claimed  him  as  his  man, 
showed  his  entries,  and  pocketed  his 
premiums.  In  this  way  it  was  fast 
coming  to  pass  that  all  parties  insuring 
in  the  company  were  yielding  a  profit 
to  Borem,  whose  percentage  was  eating 
up  the  profits  of  their  business.  So  far 
did  he  carry  his  system  that  he  would 
stand  in  the  street,  and  whenever  he 
saw  a  man  entering  he  would  address 
him,  "  Groing  to  insure,  sir  ? "  and  then 


taking  his  name  and  address,  would 
book  him  as  one  of  Ms  men,  and 
demand  his  per  cent.,  on  the  score  of 
having  solicited  him.  The  company 
was  finally  obliged  to  compromise  with 
Borem,  and  lay  him  off,  by  paying  him 
thirty  thousand  dollars,  and  giving 
him  a  handsome  policy  on  his  own  life. 
With  this  sum  he  bought  a  splendid 
farm,  and  lives  like  a  nabob  on  the  pre- 
vious profits  which  he  had  made  out 
of  this  very  profitable  business.  Here 
is  an  illustration  of  his  mode  of  opera- 
tion : 

Mr.  Lively  had  a  dry  goods  store 
above  Chambers  street,  and,  moreover, 
had  an  interest  in  a  broker's  office,  in 
"Wall  street.  Now  Borem  had  often 
seen  the  merchant  up  town  and  the 
broker  down  town,  for  Mr.  Lively  was 
part  of  the  day  in  one  place  and  part 
of  the  day  in  the  other.  It  had  not 
occured  to  Borem  that  the  Lively  of 
one  latitude  was  the  Lively  of  the 
other ;  and  so  calling  in  at  the  Wall 
street  office,  he  says : 

"  Mr.  Lively,  I  believe,  sir  ? " 

"  That  is  my  name,"  said  the  gentle- 
man addressed. 

"Ah,  yes,  sir,  you  have  a  brother, 
have  you  not  ? " 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Lively,  "  I  have  a 
twin  brother." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  know  him,"  said  Borem ; 
"he  is  a  merchant  up  town.  He  is  about 
insuring  his  life  in  our  company,  and 
I  called  to  ask  if  you  would  not  like  to 
insure  at  the  same  time.'* 

Mr.  Lively  knew  the  tricks  that 
Borem  was  up  to;  and  saying  that 
he  would  think  of  it,  turned  away. 
Borem  left  the  office.  Mr.  Lively  fol- 
lowed him  out,  passed  on  the  other 
side  of  the  street,  and  reached  his  store 
a  few  minutes  before  Borem,  who  was 
on  his  way  up.  Mr.  Lively  was  read- 
ing the  newspaper  when  Borem  entered, 
and  coming  up  to  him,  said — 

"  Mr.  Lively,  I  believe,  sir  ? " 

"  That  is  my  name,"  said  the  mer- 
chant. 


CHRONICLES  OF  INSURANCE. 


651 


"  Ah,  yes,  you  have  a  brother,  have 
you  not  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Lively,  "  I  have 
a  twin  brother." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  know  him,"  said  Borem, 
"  he  is  a  broker  in  Wall  street ;  he  is 
about  insuring  his  life  in  our  company, 
and  I  called  to  see  if  you  would  like 
to  insure  at  the  same  time." 

Mr.  Lively  said  he  would  think  of 
it ;  and  Borem  took  his  leave,  after 
pressing  the  subject  with  his  customary 
volubility  and  impudence.  The  next 
day  he  called  on  Mr.  Lively  the  broker, 
and  the  day  following  on  Mr.  Lively 
the  merchant;  and  this  visitation  he 
continued  for  two  weeks,  making  six 
calls  at  each  place  of  business,  in  all 
twelve  times  that  he  bored  poor  Mr. 
Lively,  without  suspecting  that  the 
two  "brothers"  were  one  and  the 
same  man.  At  last,  Mr.  Lively  up- 
town agreed  that  if  his  brother  would 
meet  him  the  next  day  at  Mr.  Wright's, 
a  mutual  friend,  who,  Mr.  Borem  said, 
was  going  to  insure, — ^he  would  apply, 
and  all  three  would  take  out  a  policy 
at  the  same  time.  "  I  have  just  dis- 
covered," said  Borem  to  Mr.  Lively, 
"how  to  distinguish  you  from  your 
brother — there  is  a  little  bit  more  of  a 
protuberance  on  the  bridge  of  your 
nose." 

So  saying,  he  hurried  over  to  Mr. 
Wright,  to  arrange  for  the  meeting  of 
the  brothers  Lively. 

"  The  Irrothers  I "  said  Mr.  Wright ; 
"  what  brothers  ?  " 

"  Why,  the  merchant  over  here,  and 
the  broker  in  Wall  street." 

"It's  the  same  man,  Borem;  you've 
been  sold.^^ 

"  I  have — I  see  it  all ;  it's  a  fact ;  I'm 
done  for." 

And  rushing  back  to  Mr.  Lively's 
store,  he  looked  in,  and  putting  his 
finger  on  the  handle  of  his  face,  and  at 
a  peculiar  angle,  he  said,  laughingly, 
"  Come  to  think  of  it,  Mr.  Lively,  your 
nose  is  just  about  the  size  of  your  broth- 
er's."  But  Borem  never  recovered  from 


the  mortification  of  his  trickery  ex- 
posed, and  it  probably  helped  to  bring 
him  to  terms  in  his  settlement  with  the 
company. 


Taking  his  own  Bisk. 

That  there  are  times  when  a  mer- 
chant may  incur  risks  without  an  im- 
peachment of  his  prudence  is  readily 
admissible.  The  occasion  for  such  a 
risk  occurred,  once,  at  least,  in  the  mer- 
cantile experience  of  Mr.  Cope,  of  Phil- 
adelphia. His  favorite  ship,  the  Lan- 
caster, was  on  her  return  voyage  from 
Canton  with  a  cargo  of  great  value,  at 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  1813. 
He  made  repeated  applications  for  in- 
surance, but  the  alarm  was  general  and 
great,  and  the  offices  refused  to  take  a 
risk  upon  the  ship  and  cargo  for  less 
than  seventy-five  per  cent.  This  was 
an  enormous  deduction  ;  but  the  ocean 
swarmed  with  British  cruisers,  and  the 
amount  of  the  premium  of  insurance, 
considering  the  course  of  the  Lancaster, 
could  scarcely  be  regarded  as  unreason- 
able. 

Mr.  Cope  understood  his  own  affairs 
perfectly,  and,  satisfying  himself  that 
he  could  sustain  the  loss  of  the  whole, 
and,  consequently,  that  he  could  be  his 
own  insurer,  he  calmly  awaited  the 
result,  though  each  day's  papers  con- 
veyed intelligence  of  important  inroads 
upon  the  mercantile  marine  of  our 
country  by  British  ships  of  war.  The 
resolution,  however,  had  been  taken 
after  careful  deliberation,  and  the  only 
course  was  a  "  patient  waiting."  And 
when  darkness  seemed  to  hang  thickest 
upon  the  prospects  of  the  merchants, 
the  Lancaster  arrived  at  Philadelphia, 
one  evening,  with  her  immensely  val- 
uable cargo,  and  the  captain  received 
from  the  pilot,  in  the  Delaware,  the  first 
intimation  of  hostilities  between  this 
country  and  Great  Britain  ;  the  captain 
remarking  that  he  should  have  hailed 
a  British  cruiser  for  the  news,  had  one 
come    within    "speaking"    distance. 


652 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


The  result  of  this  was  au  immense  profit 
upon  the  cargo. 


Hiirli  Compliment  to  "W.  R.  Jones,  as 
an  Underwriter. 

The  name  of  Walter  Restored  Jones 
is  perhaps  better  known  in  this  coun- 
try, in  connection  with  insurance,  than 
that  of  any  other  man.  He  was  admit- 
ted to  be  without  a  rival  in  that  com- 
plicated science,  and  earned  the  title 
of  the  first  marine  underwriter  of  his 
age  and  country.  The  middle  name 
of  Mr.  Jones  has  a  circumstance  con- 
nected with  it,  which  is  worth  alluding 
to.  An  elder  brother  of  the  same  name, 
having  met  his  death  by  an  accident,  it 
was  the  wish  of  his  mother,  when  the 
subject  now  under  notice  was  born,  to 
retain  the  name,  for  which  she  had  a 
peculiar  fondness;  hence  the  epithet 
"  Restored  "  was  added  to  the  original 
Christian  name. 

At  the  early  age  of  eleven  years,  "Wal- 
ter was  placed  in  the  store  of  his  eldest 
brother,  William  H.  Jones,  then  en- 
gaged in  the  flour  business.  In  this 
sphere,  the  future  underwriter  acquired 
his  first  insight  into  the  principles  and 
modes  of  business,  his  true  scTiool.  A 
few  years  later  he  was  introduced  into 
the  office  of  the  United  States  Insur- 
ance Company,  as  clerk,  where  he  be- 
came remarkable  for  his  habits  of  meth- 
od, industry,  and  attention  to  business, 
laying  a  firm  basis  for  his  future  emi- 
nence in  a  province  of  insurance  requir- 
ing caution,  accuracy,  precision,  and 
promptness.  The  United  States  Insur- 
ance Company  was  one  of  the  first,  if 
not  absolutely  the  earliest  in  point  of 
time,  in  New  York,  and  perhaps  in  the 
Union,  for  undertaking  marine  risks. 
But  owing  to  novelty,  or  ignorance  of 
the  proper  mode  of  conducting  the 
business,  or  from  some  other  untoward 
causes,  the  association  failed  to  realize 
its  objects,  and  it  became  embarrassed 
and  was  discontinued. 

At.  an  early  period  of  his  career,  Mr. 


Jones  conceived  an  aversion  to  litiga- 
tion, of  which  there  had  been  much, 
both  unnecessary  and  of  a  vexatious 
character,  in  the  early  insurance  com- 
panies, and  which  proved  in  the  end 
detrimental  to  their  interests,  and 
served  to  exclude  customers.  Mr.  Dan- 
iel Lord,  counsellor  to  the  company, 
stated  in  his  speech  at  the  dinner  given 
to  Mr.  Jones,  on  the  occasion  of  the 
complimentary  presentation  to  him  of 
a  rich  service  of  plate,  that  "  for  the 
twenty-four  years  of  the  administration 
of  this  company,  not  more  than  six  law- 
suits have  occurred  to  it,  and  I  can  re- 
collect but  four."  Perhaps  no  higher 
compliment  than  this  could  have  been 
paid  to  Mr.  Jones's  skill  and  tact  as  an 
underwriter. 

Mr.  Jones  was  one  of  the  worthies  of 
Long  Island,  though  so  long — from 
early  boyhood — connected  with  New 
York  city  as  to  be  regarded  as  one  of 
her  denizens;  yet,  as  he  never  for  a 
moment  lost  sight  of  the  place  of  his 
nativity  and  his  rural  home,  as  he  vis- 
ited it  weekly,  built  his  noble  mansion 
there,  and  there  looked  to  end  his  days 
in  peace  and  domestic  happiness,  he 
must  not  be  forgotten  in  the  list  of  emi- 
nent Long  Islanders, — Conckling,  Sand- 
ford,  Miller,  Wickham,  Golden,  Post, 
Seaman,  Mott,  Elias  Hicks,  Mount, 
Rhodes,  Hackett,  Sands,  WoodhuU, 
Truxton,  and  others. 


Juvenile  Evidence  in  an  Insurance 
Case. 

At  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer, 
in  New  York,  Judge  Leonard  presid- 
ing, a  •  German  was  tried  for  arson  in 
the  first  degree — having  set  fire  to  his 
store  in  order  to  get  the  insurance. 
His  nephew,  a  small  and  honest-look- 
ing boy,  was  the  principal  witness 
against  him — he  having  kindled  the 
fire  at  the  instigation  of  his  uncle  ;  and 
confessing  to  that  effect  while  in  prison, 
the  district  attorney  put  him  forward 
as  a  witness  for  the  State. 


CHRONICLES  OF  INSURANCE. 


653 


The  boy  was  upon  the  stand  some 
hours  the  first  day,  and  was  subjected 
to  a  rigorous  cross-examination  by  the 
prisoner's  counsel ;  but  without  making 
him  alter  his  statement  in  the  least. 

Toward  the  close,  the  counsel,  not 
being  satisfied  that  the  poor  little  fel- 
low rightly  understood  his  questions, 
had  an  interpreter  appointed  by  the 
Court,  and  began  anew  to  endeavor  to 
confuse  him,  and,  if  possible,  break 
down  his  strong  and  truthful  testi- 
mony. 

"  Ask  him,"  said  he  to  the  interpre- 
ter, "  if  he  does  not  know  that  his  evi- 
dence in  this  case  will  injure  his  uncle, 
and  if  he  does  not  think  it  will  benefit 
himself?" 

The  interpreter  put  the  question  (the 
boy  looking  at  him  with  earnest  eyes), 
awaited  his  answer,  then  turned  and 
said,  "  He  does  not  know  whether  it 
will  injure  his  uncle.  He  does  not 
know  whether  it  will  benefit  himself. 
He  believes  in  God  !  " 

There  was  no  sympathetic  heart  in 
that  court  room  but  must  have  thrilled 
at  the  pathos  of  that  simple  reply. 


Protective  Tariffs  and  the  "Genesee 
Mutual." 

Not  many  miles  from  the  county 
town  of  "  Old  Genesee,"  New  York, 
there  was  a  defunct  Mutual  Insurance 
Company,  drawing  its  slimy  length 
along,  and  the  dread  of  many  who  gave 
their  premium  notes  to  the  same  in  its 
days  of  prosperity.  One  of  its  former 
secretaries  was  a  popular  stump  speaker. 
During  the  campaign  of  1844,  while 
addressing  a  large  audience — and 
among  the  number  was  Newt  S.,  a  most 
worthy  man  and  clever  wag — the  speak- 
er, coming  to  the  question  of  a  protect- 
ive tariff,  and  while  annihilating  its  op- 
ponents, was  interrupted  by  Newt  S., 
with  the  remark,  that,  if  not  objection- 
able, he  would  like  to  propound  an  in- 
terrogatory. "  Most  certainly  not,"  the 
speaker  replied;  "it  will  afford  me 
pleasure  to  answer,  my  good  friend." 
"  Well,  Squire,  will  you  please  to  in- 
form me  the  difference  between  a  high, 
a  mry  Ugh  Protective  Tariff  and  the 
Genesee  Mutual  ? " 

In  that  locality  the  question  and  its 
effect  will  be  long  remembered. 


PART  THIRTEENTH. 


Anecdotes  of  Business  Employes. 


>.' 


.# 


0 


0        f 


%*         • 


•  ^ 


! 


^ 


v*- 


PAET    THIETEEIsTTH. 

Anecdotes  of  Business  Employes. 

CASHIERS,  CLERKS,  SALESMEN,  AGENTS,  FACTORS,  ETC.;  BOOKKEEPING,  ACCOUNTS,  PRICES 
AND  VALUES,  CORRESPONDENCE,  SHOP  TALK TRIALS  AND  MISERIES,  BLUNDERS,  FACE- 
UP,   WAIFS    AND    STRAYS, 


This  fellow  harl  an  admirable  knack  of  fishine:  out  the  Becrets  of  his  customers.  He  would  rub 
and  lather  a  man's  head,  till  he  had  got  out  everything  that  was  in  it  —Guardian. 

Young  men  soon  give,  and  soon  forget  ailronts. — Addison. 

Little  that  is  truly  noble  can  be  expected  from  one  who  is  ever  poring  over  his  cash  book  or  balan- 
cing his  accounts.— Anon. 

I  asked  him  to  come  and  sit  an  hour  with  me  ;  he  excused  himself— and  what  do  you  think  was 
his  excuse  ?    He  was  engaged  with  his  mother  and  some  ladies  to  go  shopping  ! — Byron. 


Pitz-Greene  Halleck's  Clerkship  with 
Jacob  Barker. 

It  was  the  good  fortune  of  Jacob 
Barker,  while  a  merchant  in  New  York, 
to  have  the  services  of  Fitz-Greene 
Halleck,  for  nearly  twenty  years,  as  his 
confidential  clerk  ;  when  his  business  at 
last  ceased  to  yield  him  the  power  to 
employ  others.  Upon  this,  Mr.  Halleck 
devoted  himself  to  literary  pursuits, 
in  the  expectation  that  Mr.  Barker 
would  retrieve  his  fortunes  and  have 
occasion  for  his  further  services.  For- 
tune, however,  continuing  to  frown  on 
Mr.  Barker's  efforts,  a  neighboring  mer- 
chant offered  Mr.  Halleck  employment 
at  fifteen  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 
This  offer  was  named  by  Mr.  Halleck 
to  Mrs.  Barker,  when  she  inquired  if  he 
would  enter  the  service  of  another  for 
the  miserable  sum  of  fifteen  hundred 
dollars.  The  reply  was,  "  No,  madam  • 
it  is  the  miserable  want  of  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars  that  may  tempt  me."  The 
offer  was  declined ;  but  he  soon  after- 
ward entered  the  employ  of  John 
Jacob  Astor,  with  whom  he  continued 
until  the  death  of  that  gentleman. 
42 


On  the  great  New  York  conspiracy 
trials  of  1826,  the  public  prosecutor 
called  Miss  Jarvis,  Mr.  William  R. 
Thurston,  Mr.  Halleck,  and  many 
other  friends  and  relatives  of  Mr. 
Barker  into  court,  to  prove  Avho  Mr. 
Barker's  intimates  and  associates  were, 
who  visited  his  house — in  other  words, 
with  whom  he  would  be  likely  to  con- 
fer. Mr.  Halleck,  with  apparent  aston- 
ishment, repeated  the  question  as  it  fell 
from  the  attorney's  lips,  and  answered, 
"  Jacob  Barker  does  in  all  things  as  he 
lists,  without  counselling  with  any  one," 
— a  fact  which  the  prosecutor  could 
only  have  been  ignorant  of,  from  not 
knowing  Mr.  Barker. 


Precision  in.  Keeping-  Accounts. 

The  following  anecdote  will  show 
with  what  nice  precision  the  accounts 
are  required  to  be  kept  in  the  great 
private  banking  houses  of  the  English 
metropolis.  After  closing  the  doors  to 
customers,  every  clerk  makes  up  his 
accounts,  and  a  general  balance  is 
struck,  which  must  tally  to  the  veriest 


658 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


farthing  before  the  clerks  separate.  It 
happened,  on  the  occasion  in  question, 
that  in  one  of  these  great  establish- 
ments, there  was  two  shillings  and  ten- 
pence  minus  in  balance.  Every  clerk 
was  ordered  to  revise  his  account,  the 
silver  and  copper  money  in  the  vast 
vaults  was  re-counted, — but  still  there 
was  no  solution  of  the  cause  of  the 
deficit;  this  was  repeated  over  and 
over  again,  still  there  wanted  two  shil- 
lings and  tenpence  ;  the  resident  part- 
ner would  not  suffer  the  clerks  to  depart 
without  a  correct  balance ; — gladly 
would  each  clerk  have  paid  the  differ- 
ence ten  times  over  from  his  own 
pocket.  The  affair  remained  unex- 
plained until  the  next  morning,  when, 
on  the  arrival  of  one  of  the  non-resident 
partners,  he  recollected  taking  that 
exact  sum  out  of  the  till,  for  payment 
of  the  postage  on  a  foreign  letter,  but 
without  making  the  usual  memoran- 
dum of  the  same. 


Bemarkable  Sacrifice  for  Principle. 

Some  time  since,  says  the  Journal  de 
Franckfort,  a  foreigner  presented  him- 
self at  the  office  of  a  merchant  in  Ham- 
burg, to  receive  cash  for  a  bill  of  two 
thousand  double  louis,  and  received 
from  the  clerk  in  attendance  ten  thou- 
sand francs  too  much.  He  did  not  per- 
ceive the  mistake  until  he  had  reached 
his  hotel,  when  he  returned  and  men- 
tioned the  fact.  The  merchant  looked 
at  him,  and  then  said, 

"  It  is  impossible." 

"  Your  cashier  has  certainly  made  a 
mistake,"  persisted  the  foreigner. 

"  That  is  not  possible,"  replied  the 
merchant,  in  a  decided  tone.  "  Take 
your  money — no  mistakes  are  ever 
made,  sir,  at  my  office." 

The  stranger  then  pocketed  the 
money  and  left  the  place,  w^hen  the 
merchant,  turning  to  the  bookkeeper, 
told  him  to  enter  ten  thousand  francs 
to  the  account  of  profit  and  loss,  adding 
that  though  the  cashier  would  never 


hear  a  word  of  reproach  from  him  on, 
the  subject  he  would  not  allow  any  one 
to  imagine  that  a  mistake  could  occur 
in  his  office. 


Englisla  Bank  Clerks'  Pinesse. 

On  the  31st  of  August,  1731,  a  scene 
was  presented  at  the  Bank  of  England, 
which  is  strongly  illustrative  of  the 
money  adventures  of  that,  period.  The 
tickets  for  the  state  lottery  were  deliv- 
ered out  to  the  subscribers  by  numer- 
ous clerks  at  the  bank  counter ;  when 
the  crowd  becoming  so  great  as  to 
obstruct  the  clerks  in  their  handling 
and  delivery  of  the  tickets,  they  told 
the  eager  throng,  "  We  deliver  blanks 
to-day,  but  to-morrow  we  shall  deliver 
prizes," — upon  which  many,  who  were 
by  no  means  in  pursuit  of  blanks,  re- 
tired, and  by  this  stratagem  the  clerks 
obtained  room  to  proceed  in  their  busi- 
ness. 


Broadway  Clerks,  Japonicas,  and 
Sweethearts. 

Grant  Thorburn  gives  the  follow- 
ing quaint  reminiscence  in  his  eventful 
business  career  : — One  morning,  there 
came  into  our  premises  a  young  man, 
leading  on  his  arm  a  very  pretty  girl. 
They  stopped  about  an  hour;  she 
seemed  very  fond  of  flowers,  and  par- 
ticularly fixed  her  laughing  eyes  on  a 
beautiful  japonica.  He  appeared  much 
inclined  to  indulge  her  taste,  and  would 
have  bought  it,  but  the  price  w^as  five 
dollars.  Her  I  knew  ;  him  I  knew  not. 
He  appeared  to  me,  however,  to  be  one 
of  those  thoughtless  young  men  who,  in- 
stead of  going  to  church,  ride  out  of  a 
Sunday,  and  thus  spend  their  week's 
wages — by  which  means  they  have  no 
means  to  spare,  either  to  treat  their 
sweetheart,  or  to  pay  their  washer- 
woman ;  be  this  as  it  may,  that  even- 
ing, between  eight  and  nine  o'clock, 
the  time  of  shutting  our  gates,  the 
plant  disappeared;  my  suspicions  fell 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


659 


on  tlie  young  man  as  above.  I  resolved, 
next  morning,  on  going  immediately 
to  the  house  of  the  young  lady,  with 
pretext  of  giving  her  some  advice 
about  the  plants  I  knew  she  had  in  the 
yard,  hoping  I  would  find  my  own 
gracing  the  company.  At  once,  my 
mind  took  a  different  turn  ;  I  thought 
with  myself  thus :  these  young  people 
seemed  very  fond  of  one  another — pity 
that  I  should  spoil  so  much  happiness 
for  the  sake  of  a  paltry  five  dollar  bill. 
Should  I  find  the  plant,  it  will  expose 
him,  ^nd  no  doubt  spoil  the  marriage, 
for  her  father  is  .a  sterling,  honest 
Dutchman.  Now,  the  ugh  j  I,  should 
they  get  married,  she  ma/  save  him 
from  the  paws  of  the  devil,  from  whom 
many  a  wayward  bachelor  has  been 
snatched  ere  this,  by  the  helping  hand 
of  a  good  wife ;  besides,  should  the 
old  gentleman  approve  the  match,  no 
doubt  he  will  empty  one  of  the  black 
leather  bags  to  set  them  a  housekeep- 
ing, and  she,  having  the  money,  will  be 
able  to  indulge  her  fine  taste  for  plants, 
— so,  by  this  means,  I  may  help  to 
count  some  of  the  dollars,  and  thus 
recover  more  than  I  have  lost.  On 
thus  reflecting,  I  very  resignedly  gave 
up  the  pursuit.  To  make  a  long  story 
short,  in  a  few  weeks  after  this,  they 
were  married,  by  the  consent  of  all 
parties  ;  but  whether  my  surmises  were 
right  or  wrong-founded,  gave  me  no 
further  concern,  as,  from  the  delicate 
hand  of  the  pretty  daughter,  I  came 
in  for  a  share  of  the  old  gentleman's 
dollars,  sufficient  to  make  up  the  pre- 
vious loss,  and  pay  a  reasonable  per- 
centage besides. 


Pen  Portrait  by  an  Old  Master. 

Seventy-five  years  ago,  most  of 
the  dry  goods  stores  in  Kew  York 
were  in  Pearl  and  William  streets, — the 
shop  in  front,  and  generally  a  room 
behind ;  a  glass  door  intervened 
through  which  the  master  of  the 
house  could  see  while  eating  his  din- 


ner, and  if  a  person  entered,  he  imme- 
diately arose,  left  all  and  waited  on  his 
customer.  "  But  (says  one  who  belong- 
ed both  to  that  period  and  the  present) 
look  at  it  now — half  past  three  o'clock 
yesterday  afternoon,  I  called  at  the 
boarding-house  of  Mrs.  S,,  in  Broad- 
way, rang  the  bell,  and  was  answered 
by  a  '  Uach  nigger.''  '  Is  Mr.  B.  with- 
in ? '  '  He  is  at  dinner,  and  can't  be 
disturbed  when  at  dinner.'  Says  I, 
'  Go  tell  Mr.  B.  my  business  is  urgent 
and  can't  be  delayed.'  However,  he 
did  not  appear  till  after  fifteen  minutes, 
while  I  sat  in  the  parlor  gazing  on 
some  shabby  pictures,  and  magnifying 
each  minute  into  ten.  When  he  ap- 
peared, said  I,  '  Sir,  I  have  seen  your 
employer,  hear  forty  years  ago,  rise 
from  his  dinner  to  sell .  a  yard  of  tape.' 
TJiis  fellow  is  now  third  or  fourth  clerk 
undei\  in  a  vendue  store  in  Pearl  street ; 
receives  about  one  hundred  dollars  per 
annum  and  board.  He  was  just  from 
the  tail  of  the  plough,  about  eighteen 
months  ago  ;  he  now  wore  a  coat  much 
in  appearance  like  the  wind-sail  of  a 
vessel  in  the  tropics — it  reached  to  the 
middle  of  his  thighs,  which,  with  his 
legs,  were  covered  with  a  stuff  called 
'  gum  elastic,'  adhering  so  close  as  to 
resemble,  in  appearance,  the  bandages 
around  the  limbs  of  an  Egyptian  mum- 
my, and  made  his  legs  seem  not  much 
thicker  than  a  Bologna  sausage;  the 
toes  of  his  shoes  were  as  broad  as  his 
heel ;  his  neck  screwed  up  in  a  black 
leather  collar.  His  face  was  of  the  true 
Wethersfield  cut,  of  a  mixed  hue,  be- 
tween Dutch  pink  and  brick  dust.  His 
nose  sharp  enough  to  have  gouged  the 
eye  of  a  mosquito;  whiskers  enough 
to  have  covered  his  whole  visage. 
Such  is  the  miserable  remnant  of  mor- 
tality, who  expects  to  become  a  mer- 
chant for  the  next  generation  !  " 


Caledonian  Adroitness. 

"  Once  on  a  time,"  a  teller  in  one  of 
the  Glasgow  banks  found,  at  the  close 


660 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES 


of  the  day's  transactions,  tliat  his  cash 
was  deficient  to  the  extent  of  one  thou- 
sand pounds.  After  much  fruitless 
search,  a  reward  of  fifty  pounds  was 
offered  for  the  recovery  of  the  missing 
sum,  and  by  and  by  an  anonymous  let- 
ter came,  proposing  to  restore  it  if  the 
reward  was  raised  to  one  hundred 
pounds.  It  immediately  occurred  to 
the  bank  clerk  to  compare  the  dis- 
guised handwriting  with  that  of  every 
document  which  had  passed  through 
his  hands  on  the  day  in  question.  In 
the  process  of  a  comparison  more  than 
once  repeated,  he  lighted  upon  a  draft 
in  which  he  thought  he  could  trace 
some  indication  of  similarity.  His 
next  step  was  to  have  the  whole  of  the 
drafts  of  this  individual,— stretching 
over  a  considerable  period,  and  written 
under  every  variety  of  circumstances, — 
sought  out  and  carefully  scrutinized. 
His  suspicions  were  confirmed. 

Being  a  resolute  fellow,  and  fearing 
that  delay  might  be  dangerous,  he  sup- 
plied himself  with  a  brace  of  pistols, 
and,  with  two  friends  on  whom  he 
could  rely,  took  the  bold  step  of  going 
to  the  house  of  the  suspected  party, 
which  was  reached  at  a  late  hour  in 
the  evening.  On  obtaining  a  private 
interview,  he  stated  blandly  that  he 
believed  some  mistake  had  taken  place 
between  them  on  money  matters,  which 
he  was  desirous  should  be  quietly  ar- 
ranged. In  reply,  he  received  a  flat 
denial  of  any  such  mistake  ever  having 
occurred. 

Finding  that  "  soft  sawder "  would 
be  of  no  avail,  the  clerk  altered  his 
tactics,  told  him  with  stern  and  deter- 
mined air  that  he  was  in  no  mood  to 
be  trifled  with — that  he  had  indubita- 
ble evidence  of  the  money  having  been 
obtained  by  him ;  and,  presenting  his 
pistols,  threatened  to  shoot  him  on  the 
spot,  if  it  were  not  that  very  instant 
forthcoming.  Thrown  off  his  guard 
by  this  sudden  and  extraordinary  ap- 
peal, the  poor  man  fell  into  a  fit  of 
trembling  from  head  to  toe  ;  admitted 


that  one-hundred-pound  notes  instead 
of  ten-pound-notes  had  been  paid  to 
him,  and  stated  that  they  were  lying 
concealed  in  the  heart  of  one  of  the 
walls  of  Crookston  Castle.  Suspecting 
that  some  plan  to  escape  was  contem- 
plated, the  bank  clerk  was  for  a  while 
sceptical  of  the  truth  of  this  statement ; 
but  at  length  he  fell  upon  a  method 
whereby  he  could  test  its  truth,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  prevent  any  escape — 
it  was  that  of  locking  up  his  two 
friends  along  with  the  defaulter,  while 
he  should  proceed  alone  to  Crookston. 
He  accordingly  set  out,  and  reached 
the  old  castle  about  midnight,  proceed- 
ed, as  directed,  to  remove  the  fourth 
stone  from  the  bottom,  in  the  corner 
nearest  Glasgow;  and  there,  sure 
enough,  between  two  slips  of  wood,  to 
protect  them  from  damp,  lay  the  iden- 
tical notes.  That  clerk  exhibited  the 
native  Caledonian  grit  and  adroitness ! 


Simple  Entries  and  Calculation- 
Jacob  Barker's  Method. 

The  method  of  keeping  account 
books  adopted  by  Jacob  Barker,  when 
he  was  a  clerk  in  New  York,  consisted 
in  making  a  full  explanation  in  the 
original  entry,  referring  to  it  hereafter 
by  folios,  and  when  goods  were  pur- 
chased or  sold  for  account  of  parties, 
or  moneys  drawn  from  different  banks 
and  delivered  among  different  parties, 
commenced  his  entries  with  "  Sundry 
accounts  debtor  to  sundry  accounts," 
debiting  each  receiver  for  what  he  had 
received,  and  crediting  each  bank  or 
owner  with  their  proportion  of  all  that 
had  been  parted  with,  all  in  one  entry ; 
and  when  a  parcel  of  goods  belonging 
to  a  single  concern  had  been  sold  to 
different  parties,  or  money  drawn  from 
a  bank  and  divided  among  several  per- 
sons, there  was  made  a  single  entry  of 
"  Sundry  accounts  debtor  to  the  party," 
embracing  the  whole  without  mingling 
it  with  the  cash  account,  unless  a  portion 
of  the  money  remained,  in  which  case 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


661 


that  account  became  one  of  the  sundry 
accounts  for  such  residue.  Mr.  Barker 
thought  that  if  young  men  wishing  to 
acquire  a  knowledge  of  book-keeping 
would  consider  well  this  form  of  entry, 
and  understand  the  principle,  they 
would  have  but  little  more  to  do  to 
acquire  the  whole  art,  nothing  being 
more  easy  than  to  transfer  such  entries 
from  the  waste  to  the  journal  and  from 
the  journal  to  the  ledger. 

His  i^lan  of  calculating  interest  was 
to  incre.ase  the  amount  of  each  item  of 
dollars  by  multiplying  them  by  the 
number  of  days — throwing  away  the 
fractions  under  fifty,  adding  one  dollar 
to  the  items  where  the  fractions  were 
over  fifty — leaving  a  single  sum  (the 
balance  of  debits  and  credits)  on  which 
to  calculate  the  interest  for  one  day, 
thus  having  but  one  item  on  which  to 
calculate  the  interest,  however  long  the 
account  might  be,  in  place  of  calcu- 
lating it  ou  each  item. 


Amos  Lawrence  when  a  Clerk. 

To  his  abstinence  from  liquor  and 
tobacco,  Amos  Lawrence  was  accus- 
tomed to  attribute  much  of  his  success 
in  life.  In  his  youth,  he  was  accus- 
tomed, with  his  companions,  every  fore- 
noon to  make  a  drink  compounded  of 
rum,  raisins,  sugar,  nutmegs,  &c.,  with 
biscuit — all  palatable  to  eat  and  drink. 
After  being  in  the  store  four  weeks,  he 
found  himself  admonished  by  his  ap- 
petite of  the  approach  of  the  hour 
of  indulgence.  Thinking  the  habit 
might  make  trouble  if  allowed  to  grow 
stronger,  without  further  apology  to 
his  seniors,  he  declined  partaking  with 
them.  His  first  resolution  was  to  ab- 
stain for  a  week,  and  when  the  week 
was  out,  for  a  month,  and  then  for  a 
year.  Finally,  he  resolved  to  abstain 
for  the  rest  of  his  apprenticeship,  which 
was  for  five  years  longer.  During  the 
whole  period,  he  never  drank  a  spoon- 
ful, though  he  mixed  gallons  daily  for 
his  old  master  and  his  customers.    It 


must  have  been  a  difficult  thing  for 
young  Lawrence,  when  but  a  clerk, 
thus  to  form  and  to  adhere  to  such  a 
resolution — for  the  contempt  now  so 
frequently  bestowed  upon  the  drinker 
was  then  the  portion  of  him  who  would 
not  drink. 

At  the  same  time,  he  resolved  not  to 
use  tobacco  in  any  form,  though  not 
indifferent  to  the  fascinations  of  the 
weed.  He  loved  its  odor  in  youth,  and 
in  advanced  life  he  kept  in  his  drawer 
a  fine  Havana  cigar  to  smell  of.  He 
confessed  to  a  weakness  for  the  "  scent- 
ed rappee  "  with  which  those  of  former 
times  were  accustomed  to  cram  their 
nostrils  ;  yet  he  never  used  an  ounce  of 
snufil  He  chewed  but  "  one  quid,"  and 
that  before  he  was  fifteen. 


In  Pursuit  of  an  Agreeable  Business. 

A  YOUNG  pink,  sprucely  brushed  up, 
and  of  very  genteel  appearance,  entered 
a  banker's  office,  and  with  a  polite  air 
addressed  the  gentleman  there  with : 

"  Sir,  you  want  a  young  man  here, 
I  believe  ? " 

"  Yes,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Here  are  my  recommendations," 
said  the  young  man,  as  he  handed  a 
paper  certifying  that  he  was  worthy  of 
confidence,  etc. 

The  gentleman  read  the  paper,  and 
looked  up,  remarking:  "We  should 
be  glad  to  do  your  friends  the  compli- 
ment of  engaging  you,  and  therefore 
you  will  please  let  me  say  something  in 
regard  to  fitness." 

"  What  shall  I  be  expected  to  do  ? " 
asked  the  young  man. 

"  To  aid  in  the  office  as  opportunity 
may  present,  and  to  pay  notes,  collect 
drafts,  &c.,"  was  the  answer. 

"I  don't  think  collecting  drafts 
would  agree  with  my  feelings,"  replied 
the  young  man. 

"  Well,"  quietly  responded  the  bank- 
er, "I  would  not  advise  you  to  do  any- 
thing against  your  feelings.  Good 
mornmg."  {Exit  Hyacinth. 


662 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Brief  Biograpliical  Sketch,  of  a 
Banker's  Clerk. 

The  English  banker's  clerk  is  born 
to  a  high  stool.  He  is  taught  vulgar 
fractions,  patience,  and  morals,  in  a 
suburban  school.  At  fourteen  he  shoul- 
ders the  office  quill — or  "  Gillott's  fine." 
He  copies  letters  from  morning  till 
night,  but  has  no  salary ;  he  is  to  be 
"remembered  at  Christmas."  He  is 
out  in  all  weathers  ;  and  at  twenty  is 
thoroughly  impervious  to  rain,  snow, 
and  sunshine.  At  last  he  gets  forty 
pounds  per  annum.  Out  of  that  revenue 
he  pays  five  pounds  a  year  to  the  "  Guar- 
antee Fund."  He  walks  five  miles  to 
business,  and  five  miles  home.  He 
never  stirs  out  without  his  umbrella. 
He  never  exceeds  twenty  minutes  for 
his  dinner.  He  drinks  water — "  beer 
gets  into  his  head."  He  has  three 
holidays  a  year — Christmas  day  and 
Good  Friday  being  two  of  them — and 
even  then  walks  to  the  office  and  back 
again  to  pass  away  the  time.  He  runs 
about  all  day  with  a  big  chain  round 
his  waist,  and  a  gouty  bill-book  in  his 
breast  jDOcket.  He  marries,  and  asks 
for  an  increase  of  salary.  He  is  told 
"  the  house  can  do  without  him."  He 
reviews  every  day  a  large  array  of  ledg- 
ers, and  has  to  "  write  up "  the  cus- 
tomers' books  before  he  leaves.  He 
reaches  home  at  nine  o'clock,  and  falls 
asleep  over  the  yesterday's  paper,  bor- 
rowed from  the  public  house.  He 
reaches  eighty  pounds  a  year.  He 
fancies  his  fortune  is  made ;  but  small 
boots  and  shoes,  and  large  school  bills, 
stop  him  on  the  high  road  to  inde- 
pendence, and  bring  him  no  nearer  to 
Leviathan  Rothschild.  He  tries  to  get 
"  evening  employment,"  but  his  eyes 
fail  him.  He  grows  old,  and  learns 
that  "  the  firm  never  pensions."  One 
morning  his  stool  is  found  to  be  unoc- 
cupied, and  a  subscription  is  made 
amongst  his  old  companions  to  pay  the 
expenses  of  his  funeral. 


"What  is  a  "Flemish"  Account? 

The  saying  or  phrase  "A  Flemish 
Account"  has  long  been  current.  It 
always  means,  that  the  sum  to  be  re- 
ceived turns  out  less  than  had  been 
expected.  It  is  a  commercial  joke, 
familiarly  bantered  by  clerks,  and  is 
believed  to  admit  of  explanation  by 
reference  to  the  early  commercial 
transactions  between  the  English  and 
the  Flemings,  though  this  explanation 
has  some  pleasant  variations — for  exam- 
ple :  When  commerce  was  young,  the 
Flemings  were  the  great  merchants  of 
Western  Europe ;  but  those  worthies 
were  notorious,  when  furnishing  their 
accounts  current,  for  always  having  the 
balance  at  the  right  side  (for  them- 
selves,) and  hence  arose  the  term. 

Or  it  is  probable  that  the  expression 
may  have  been  derived  from  the  fact 
that  the  Flemish  ell  measures  only 
three  quarters  of  the  English  yard, 
while  the  English  ell  measures  five 
quarters,  and  that  thence  the  epithet 
"Flemish"  was  adopted  as  denoting 
something  deficient. 

The  derivation  of  the  phrase  has 
also  been  traced  to  the  word  fiem, 
which,  in  old  Sctoch  and  English,  is 
to  "  run  away ;  "  in  modern  slang,  to 
"make  oneself  scarce," — to  "levant." 
Flemen  is  an  outcast,  an  outlaw.  The 
application  of  the  word  to  accounts,  in 
certain  cases,  is  pertinent. 


Fancy   Costume  among  the  Ledgers. 

An  amusing  story  is  told  of  the  first 
appearance  of  a  new  clerk  in  one  of 
the  ancient  English  banking-houses  of 
celebrity.  He  was  dressed  in  the  fash- 
ion thus  described  :  He  wore  a  long 
flapped  coat  with  large  pockets;  the 
sleeves  had  broad  cuffs  with  three 
large  buttons,  somewhat  like  the  coats 
worn  by  the  Greenwich  pensioneers 
of  the  present  day;  an  embroidered 
waistcoat  reaching  nearly  down  to  his 
knees,  with  an  enormous  houquet  in  tlie 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


663 


lutton  Iwle ;  a  cocked  hat;  powdered 
hair,  with  pig-tail  and  bag-wig ;  and 
a  ponderous  gold-headed  cane.  The 
gentleman  who  thus  made  his  debut 
in  this  fancy  costume  was,  nevertheless, 
possessed  of  the  most  remarkable  bus- 
iness qualities, — so  much  so,  that  he 
remained  in  the  house  a  great  many 
years,  and  died  only  a  few  years  ago 
at  a  very  advanced  age,  much  respected 
by  his  employers. 


rirst  Set  of  Double-Entry  Booka 
Opened  in  Boston. 

"  I  PRACTISED,"  says  Amos  Lawrence, 
"  upon  the  maxim,  '  Business  lefore 
friends,^  from  the  commencement  of 
my  coarse.  During  the  first  seven 
years  of  my  business  in  Boston,  I  never 
allowed  a  bill  against  me  to  stand  un- 
settled over  the  Sabbath.  If  the  pur- 
chase of  goods  was  made  at  auction  on 
Saturday,  and  delivered  to  me,  I 
always  examined  and  settled  the  bill 
by  note  or  by  crediting  it,  and  leaving 
it  clear ;  so  that,  in  case  I  w^  as  not  on 
duty  on  Monday,  there  would  be  no 
trouble  for  my  boys — thus  keeping  the 
business  lefore  me,  instead  of  allowing 
it  to  drive  me." 

Mr.  Lawrence  had  a  remarkable 
faculty  of  bringing  the  sterling  money 
into  our  currency,  with  any  advance, 
by  a  calculation  in  his  mind,  and 
w^ould  give  the  result  with  great  accu- 
racy in  one  quarter  of  the  time  which 
it  took  most  other  persons  to  do  it  by 
figures.  When  employing  clerks,  he 
daily  examined  every  entry  to  detect 
errors.  He  was  dissatisfied  with  the 
loose  way  of  keeping  books  by  single 
entry,  and,  at  his  request,  the  clerk 
studied  bookkeeping  with  Mr.  G.  Gibbs, 
who  had  just  introduced  the  new  and 
shorter  method  of  double  entry.  The 
accounts  were  then  transferred  into  a 
new  set  of  books  on  this  plan,  during 
which  process  Mr.  Lawrence  manifested 
much  anxiety,  but  expressed  his  satis- 
faction when  the  work  was  completed 


and  his  clerk  had  succeeded  in  making 
the  first  trial  balance  come  out  right. 
This  was  the  first  set  of  books  opened 
in  Boston  on  the  new  system,  and  to 
Mr.  Lawrence's  business  taste  and  skill 
is  this  improvement  due. 


Jacob  Barker's  Clerks  at  Dinner. 

"  Walter  Barrett  "  seldom  says  a 
dry  or  witless  thing,  and,  in  one  of  his 
racy  mercantile  sketches,  he  expresses 
the  opinion — as  to  which  there  can  be 
no  variance — that  there  is  no  man  of 
whom  so  many  wonderful  things  are 
related  as  of  Jacob  Barker.  The  cele- 
brated Jacob  Little,  says  Mr.  Barrett, 
was  once  a  clerk  with  the  banker,  and 
if  young  Jacob  should  ever  get  poor, 
he  can  rise  again  by  publishing  a  book 
to  be  called  "  Recollections  of  the  Na- 
poleon of  Wall  street."  But  to  the 
story. 

Two  sons  of  old  Peter  Embury, 
Daniel  and  Peter  J.,  were  clerks  with 
the  famed  Jacob  Barker.  There  were 
seventeen  more  clerks  in  the  office. 
Jacob  Barker  had  no  equal,  on  the 
contrary  he  was  superior  to  any 
money  broker  or  banker  that  ever  lived 
before,  in,  or  since,  his  time.  He  went 
ahead — stopped  for  nothing — not  even 
to  go  home  to  dinner.  His  wife  sent 
his  dinner  down  to  his  office.  His 
clerks  perfectly  detested  old  Jacob 
Barker.  He  was  a  tyrant.  When 
his  dinner  arrived,  it  would  be  on  a 
tin  warmer,  and  wrapped  up  in  a 
towel.  This  would  be  placed  on  his 
desk,  and  then  Jacob  would  sit  and  eat 
it,  the  clerks  laughing  and  making 
faces  at  each  other  in  a  quiet,  subdued 
way.  Sometimes  old  Jacob  would  not 
be  in  when  the  dinner  arrived.  In 
such  a  case  one  of  the  clerks — who  was 
a  great  wag — would  take  Jacob's  place, 
and  while  he  took  off  the  broker  in 
first  rate  style,  amidst  screams  of 
laughter  from  the  admiring  clerks, 
would  also  positively  eat  up  the  din- 
ner— ^put  the  dishes  aside,  and  Jacob 


664 


Commercial  and  business  anecdotes. 


would  suppose  the  dinner  had  not 
come.  But  on  one  occasion,  when  this 
dinner  scene  was  being  enacted,  old 
Jacob  popped  in,  and  witnessed  almost 
the  entire  performance  before  his  pres- 
ence was  discovered  by  the  principal 
performer.  "  Oh,  don't  let  me  inter- 
rupt you — eat  on,"  said  Jacob.  The 
clerk  slid.  He  was  not  discharged, 
but  remained  with  Jacob  until  he  went 
into  business  on  his  own  account. 

Mr.  Barker  was  a  remarkably  driving 
man.  If  he  had  an  appointment  with 
a  man,  he  waited  just  five  minutes,  and 
not  a  second  longer ;  then,  if  the  man 
with  whom  he  had  the  appointment 
did  not  come,  Mr.  Barker  left,  and 
never  after  would  he  make  an  appoint- 
ment with  the  same  man.  At  one 
time,  he  was  indicted  for  conspiracy, 
in  connection  with  some  stock-jobbing 
afiairs.  Hugh  Maxwell  was  the  district 
attorney  in  those  gay  days.  Barker 
plead  his  own  case.  He  was  so  suc- 
cessful that  it  gave  him  the  first  idea 
he  ever  entertained  that  he  was  capa- 
ble of  becoming  a  clever  lawyer.  In 
after  years  he  went  to  New  Orleans, 
studied  law  regularly,  and  made  it  his 
profession.  Jacob  was  also  a  good 
pilot,  and  he  frequently  piloted  his 
own  ships  out  to  sea.  He  did  this  for 
two  reasons:  the  first  was,  that  he 
saved  the  pilotage ;  and  the  second,  he 
believed  that  he  could  do  it  better  and 
with  more  safety  to  his  ships  than  any 
professed  pilot  could  do.  Fitz  Greene 
Halleck,  the  celebrated  poet,  was  the 
cashier    of    Jacob    Barker    for    many 

years. 

— > 

"  One  Thinff  Needful "  in  a  Clerk. 

If  a  vacancy  occurs  in  a  New  York 
jobbing  or  importing  house  in  the  dry 
goods  trade,  the  first  question  likely  to 
be  proposed  to  the  applicant  for  the 
place  is,  "  How  many  goods  can  you 
sell?"  If  the  answer  is  fifty  or  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  that  settles 
the  question;  and  the  young  man  is 


accepted.  Of  course  he  must  not  steal, 
and  he  is  therefore  charged  by  his  new 
employer,  that  "  honesty  is  the  best 
policy."  If  he  drinks,  even  to  intoxi- 
cation, when  away  from  business,  it  is 
a  matter  of  some  regret, — but,  after  all, 
of  no  very  great  consequence,  provided 
he  will  sell  his  "  fifty  thousand." 

A  large  and  very  respectable  dry 
goods  establishment  in  New  York 
thought  best  to  dispense  with  one  of 
these  "  fifty  thousand "  salesmen,  be- 
cause he  would  get  drunk  on  brandy. 
Every  few  days,  in  spite  of  all  appeal 
and  expostulation,  he  would  disgrace 
both  himself  and  his  employers  in  this 
way,  but,  notwithstanding,  in  the  course 
of  a  year  he  would  sell  onore  than  his 
"  fifty  thousand." 

Well,  this  young  man,  with  a  bold 
face,  sought  another  situation  among 
the  merchant  princes.  He  declared  em- 
phatically that  he  could  sell  his  fifty 
thousand.  The  engagement  was  con- 
cluded, and,  as  a  mere  matter  of  form, 
the  merchant  prince  sent  his  confiden- 
tial clerk  to  inquire  about  the  integrity 
of  his  new  salesman.  He  was  told  that 
the  young  man  could  sell  his  "fifty 
thousand  "  easily,  but  that  every  now 
and  then  he  would  get  drunk  on  bran- 
dy. This  fact  was  faithully  communi- 
cated to  headquarters.  "  He  drinks 
brandy,  does  he" — said  the  merchant 
prince  ;  "  is  that  all  you  can  find  against 
him  ?  He'll  do.  Why,  I  drink  brandy 
myself— that's  no  objection  I  "  The 
salesman's  ability  to  sell  his  "  fifty  thou- 
sand" was  the  one  thing  needful  for 
the  success  of  his  application ;  and  that 
he  possessed. 


Overpaying:  a  Check. 

A  QUAKER  once  presented  a  check  for 
three  hundred  pounds  at  a  banker's  in 
London,  and  the  cashier  paid  him  four 
hundred.  The  Friend  discovered  the 
error,  and  in  the  usual  quaint  manner 
of  his  class  addressed  the  cashier,  say- 
ing :  "Friend,  hast  thee  not  made  a 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


4665 


^  mistake  ?  "  but  the  cashier,  being  very 
busy,  gave  no  heed  to  the  question.  In 
a  few  minutes  it  was  repeated  with  like 
success,  and  it  was  not  till  after  the 
question  had  been  put  for  the  third 
time,  that  the  cashier  deigned  to  ask 
in  a  somewhat  haughty  tone  to  what 
he  alluded.  The  Friend,  with  much 
humility,  said :  "  I  wanted  from  thee 
three  hundred  pounds,  and  thou  hast 
given  me  four  hundred.  I  have  been 
desirous  to  draw  thy  attention  to  the 
mistake,  but  could  not  until  now  in- 
duce thee  to  regard  me.  Here  is  the 
one  hundred  back  again."  The  cashier, 
as  may  be  supposed,  was  overwhelmed 
with  shame  at  this  quiet  though  point- 
ed rebuke. 


Nice  Lesson  for  Retail  Salesmen. 

A  YOUNG  lady  having  entered  a  dry 
goods  store,  politely  requested  to  be 
shown  a  certain  article.  An  impatient 
clerk,  in  a  churlish  manner,  obeyed  her 
wishes.  "What's  the  price?"  asked 
she.  "  Three  dollars,"  was  the  uncere- 
monious reply.  "  Three  dollars  !  "  ex- 
claimed the  maiden  in  surprise ;  "  how 
very  high  your  prices  are  I  "  "  They're 
cheap  enough,  if  you'll  only  imagine 
so  !  "  was  the  surly  reply.  "  Well,  you 
may  wrap  it  up  for  me,  and  I  will  take 
it,"  said  the  lady.  The  article  was  ac- 
cordingly packed,  and  Miss  Sweet- 
pretty,  taking  it  in  her  hands,  was  leav- 
ing the  store ;  but  the  alarmed  clerk, 
running  after  her,  exclaimed  :  "  Mad- 
ame, you  have  not  paid  me  !  "  "  Oh, 
yes,  I  have,  if  you'll  only  imagine  «<>,"  she 
archly  replied. 


Bubble-Bank  Book-keeping-  Tauglit  in 
Sire  Lessons. 

Professob  McDooal,  B.B.,G.U.  J.S.S. 
(Blower  of  Bubbles  and  Getter  Up  of 
Joint  Stock  Swindles),  begs  to  acquaint 
the  swell  nobility,  light-fingered  gen- 
try, and  the  hard-up  public  generally, 
that  he  continues  to  give  instructions 


in  the  Art  of  Book-keeping,  as  applied 
to  bubble  banks  and  other  joint  stock 
swindles. 

Having  for  some  years  devoted  his 
most  careful  attention  to  the  subject, 
the  professor  can  with  confidence  re- 
commend his  system  (which  is  founded 
nominally  upon  the  Scotch,  but  diff"ers 
from  it  widely  in  its  integrity  and  prin- 
ciples) as  being  at  once  safe,  simple, 
and  eftective.  It  is  remarkable  espe- 
cially for  the  facilities  it  ofi'ers  for  cook- 
ing the  accounts,  as  it  entirely  prevents 
any  possibility  of  checking  them.  It 
allows,  therefore,  of  overdrawing  with- 
out danger  of  detection,  and  at  the 
same  time  ofiers  most  peculiar  advan- 
tages to  those  who  may  avail  them- 
selves of  this  directors'  privilege,  and 
may  be  afterward  accused  of  having 
fraudulently  done  so.  By  its  complete 
mystification  of  all  matters  of  account, 
it  will  enable  any  so  calumniated  per- 
son to  declare  that  he  was  totally  un- 
conscious how  his  debt  really  stood, 
and  defy  the  most  expert  accountant  to 
make  out  the  contrary.  The  professor 
guarantees,  moreover,  from  his  personal 
experience,  that  no  unpleasant  conse- 
quences ever  will  result  from  this  or 
any  other  advantages  of  his  system, — 
the  liability  of  those  wiio  practise  it 
being  strictly  limited  in  all  respects  to 
the  harmless  jurisdiction  of  the  civil 
courts. 

To  clerks  of  gentlemanly  habits  and 
expenses,  the  professor's  system  will  be 
found  invaluable ;  as  it  will  enable 
them,  by  the  opportunities  it  afibrds 
for  perquisites,  to  live  on  a  salary  of  a 
hundred  a  year,  in  the  style  and  at  the 
rate  at  least  of  a  couple  of  thousand. 
But  it  is  to  managers,  perhaps,  that  the 
professor's  method  will  be  found  most 
advantageous,  since  it  sufiiers  them  to 
"  do  "  what  and  whom  they  please — an 
operation  which  is  much  facilitated  by 
the  professor's  plan  of  double-shufile 
entry,  which,  by  the  addition  of  a  pri- 
vate "  little  book  "  to  those  which  are 
kept  for  public  business  and  inspection, 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


greatly  assists  the  managers  in  all  mat- 
ters of  subtraction. 


Playing  Even. 

Jones  was  an  Oregon  merchant, 
smoked  a  great  many  cigars,  and 
prided  himself  upon  the  accuracy  and 
infallibility  of  his  business  capacities. 
He  never  was  known  to  make  more 
than  one  error  in  business  calculation, 
and  that  was  not  Ms  fault  particularly. 
In  sending  an  order  to  San  Francisco 
for  beans,  he  added  a  cipher  more  than 
ae  intended,  and  thereby  ordered  and 
received  fourteen  thousand  pounds,  or 
seven  tons,  instead  of  fourteen  hundred 
pounds.  The  merchants  all  had  their 
sport  about  his  seven  tons  of  "  regular 
beans,"  and  he  bore  it  meekly,  but 
awaited  an  opportunity  to  *'  play  even," 
by  turning  the  tables  on  them.  The 
time  finally  arrived  for  him  to  prove 
beyond  cavil  that  he  was  not  the  only 
merchant  capable  of  erring,  and  he 
seized  the  opportunity  to  vindicate  his 
long-established  reputation  for  acute 
reasoning.  He  had  ordered  some  ci- 
gars from  a  Crescent  City  merchant, 
and  when  the  bill  came,  with  a  short 
note  appended,  his  visage  brightened 
for  once,  and  he  hastened  to  expose, 
for  twenty-five  cents  a  sight,  "  the 
greatest  blunder  ever  exhibited;"  if 
not,  he  would  return  the  money.  He 
had  taken  in  only  $2  50,  when  the  lit- 
eral copy  TV  as  exhibited,  and  was  as 
follows :  "  Mr.  Jones, — Yours  received, 
and  contents  noted.  I  send  you  the 
best  I  have  now.  On  the  ColumMa^  I 
get  about  fifty  mille  of  the  best  select- 
ed, and  trust  to  get  your  further  orders. 
—Yours,  M.  Goldman."  "  That,  sir," 
said  Jones,  "  is  the  very  richest  thing 
of  the  kind  I  ever  saw  or  heard  of! 
Flfly  millions  of  cigars  !  Why,  sir,  just 
think  of  it  I  At  forty  dollars  per  thou- 
sand, they  would  amount  to  two  hun- 
dred million  of  dollars— more,  sir,  than 
all  Oregon  is  worth !  That  beats  the 
'beans  I  " 


Railway  Clerks— a  Burlesque. 

The  railway  clerk  dresses  smartly. 
He  is  a  friend  of  a  director,  or  the 
cousin  of  a  large  shareholder.  Business 
with  him  is  quite  a  secondary  consid- 
eration. He  opens  at  five  minutes  be- 
fore the  train,  and  closes  it  the  minute 
the  clock  has  struck.  He  will  take 
your  money  if  you  want  a  ticket,  but 
mind — he  is  not  answerable  for  any 
mistake.  He  has  no  time  to  count 
change,  or  answer  questions  about 
trains,  or  attend  to  stupid  people  who 
come  inquiring  about  the  persons  who 
were  killed  by  yesterday's  accident. 
It  is  not  his  business.  He  cannot  at- 
tend to  every  one  at  once,  and  he  runs 
his  diamond  fingers  through  his  rich, 
Macassared  hair.  It's  really  no  fault 
of  his  if  you  lose  the  train — you  ought 
to  have  come  sooner;  and  then  he 
pares  off,  with  a  very  pretty  penknife, 
a  sharp  corner  that  pains  the  symmetry 
of  one  of  his  filbert  nails.  What  should 
Tie  know  about  "  dogs  ? " — you  had  bet- 
ter inquire  at  the  luggage  train.  You 
can  write  to  the  newspapers,  by  all 
means,  if  you  like :  the  newspapers 
don't  pay  him.  The  parcels  are  not  in 
liis  department — the  porters  can  per- 
haps tell.  He  is  very  sorry  he  has  no 
change  for  a  trv'^enty-dollar  bill — he  has 
no  doubt  you  can  get  it  round  the  cor- 
ner. He  yawns  all  the  morning,  his 
eyes  are  only  half  open  at  eight  o'clock, 
and  his  white  waistcoat  betrays  his 
dreadful  impatience  to  get  to  the  opera, 
as  the  time  draws  slowly  toward  the 
mail  train.  What  he  does  between  the 
dreary  intervals,  as  we  cannot  peep 
over  the  walls  of  mahogany  into  the 
small  circle  of  his  duties,  we  cannot 
tell.  On  a  Sunday,  however,  his  usual 
amiability  deserts  him.  His  cambric 
shirt  is  beautifully  smooth,  but  his  tem- 
per is  sadly  ruffled.  The  excursions 
upset  him.  The  number  of  absurd 
questions  annoy  him.  He  wonders 
how  people  can  be  so  foolish,  and  at 
last  makes  a  resolution  not  to  answer 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


667 


any  more  inquiries ;  and  the  railway- 
clerk  knows  his  own  dignity  too  well 
not  to  keep  it.  He  only  stares ;  but 
occasionally  troubles  himself  to  the 
utmost  of  his  abilities  to  give  a  nod 
that  may  express  "  Yes,"  or  "  No,"  just 
as  the  person  pleases.  Beyond  this, 
the  railway  clerk  is  as  obliging  as  most 
clerks;  he  is  also  very  good-looking, 
and  after  coming  out  of  an  omnibus  on 
a  wet  d^iy,  is  quite  pleasant  to  look  at. 
In  the  heat  of  summer  he  looks  cool — 
in  the  depths  of  winter  he  always  ap- 
pears warm  and  comfortable.  He  is 
really  a  pattern  of  politeness  to  ladies, 
and  smiles  most  condescendingly  to 
pretty  girls,  displaying  his  gallantry 
and  white  teeth  in  a  thousand  little 
ways.  He  was  evidently  intended  by 
nature  as  an  ornament  to  a  tea-party, 
or  bom  to  grace  a  pic-nic. 


Rich  Reward  of  Integrity. 

DuniNG  the  last  century,  a  London 
merchant,  somewhat  remarkable  for 
absence  of  mind,  left  his  counting- 
house  for  the  bank,  with  a  large  sum 
of  money,  which  he  intended  deposit- 
ing there  ;  on  reaching  Lombard  street, 
he  found  his  pocket  cut,  and  his  pock- 
et-book missing.  He  immediately  sus- 
pected that  his  pocket  had  been  picked 
of  all  his  money,  and  going  back,  men- 
tioned the  circumstance  to  his  clerk. 
What,  however,  was  his  astonishment, 
at  finding  that  he  had  left  the  money 
behind,  and  that  though  his  pocket- 
book  had  been  taken  (from  him,  yet  it 
contained  nothing  but  a  few  papers  of 
but  little  consequence.  Pleased  with 
the  integrity  of  his  clerk,  who  handed 
him  the  money  he  thought  he  had  lost, 
he  promised  him  a  handsome  present ; 
but  neglecting  to  fulfil  his  promise  was 
reminded  of  it.  Unwilling  to  part  with 
money,  he  gave  the  clerk  one  of  two 
lottery  tickets  he  had  purchased.  This 
ticket  drew  a  prize  of  twenty  thousand 
pounds,  which  the  clerk  made  use  of  as 
his  capital  in  going  into  business,  and 


soon  rose  to  great  eminence  and  wealth 
as  a  merchant. 


Good  Supply  in  Prospect. 

A  LADY  inquired  at  a  city  dry  goods 
store,  some  time  ago,  for  whalebone. 
The  clerk  in  attendance  produced  bun- 
dle after  bundle,  as  the  fair  customer 
successively  rejected  the  article  sub- 
mitted for  inspection.  The  whalebone 
was  all  too  short,  by  several  feet,  for  the 
purpose  desired.  But  the  clerk,  not  to 
be  outdone,  made  another  search 
through  the  store,  in  hope  of  discover- 
ing the  article  of  the  desired  longitude. 
He  was  unsuccessful,  and  flatly  "  broke  " 
his  chagrin  to  the  lady  in  a  polite 
speech  to  the  effect  "  that  the  extraor- 
dinary expansion  of  the  ladies  causing 
so  great  a  demand  for  long  whalebones, 
all  the  big  whales  had  been  killed  and 
used  up,  and  there  were  none  but  little 
ones  now  in  the  ocean — but,  madam, 
we  have  some  superior  ones  growing, 
and  shall  soon  have  the  best  supply  in 
the  market." 


Iffioustaches  in  the  Bank. 

Somehow  or  other,  there  is  in  the 
English  Gentile  world— as  distinguish- 
ed from  the  Jewish— an  antagonism 
between  moustaches  and  money  ;  oddly 
enough,  pounds,  shillings,  and  pence, 
will  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  least 
assertion  of  the  "  tip."  The  young  men 
of  our  generation  have  been  exhorted 
to  lay  down  their  razors  and  to  take  up 
with  moustaches;  many  unsophisti- 
cated enthusiasts  have  answered  to  the 
appeal  with  somewhat  of  the  vigor  of  a 
Samson,  putting,  as  it  may  be,  the 
hairiest  or  downiest  countenance  upon 
the  movement.  On  this,  the  tyranny 
of  bare-faced  Mammon  asserts  itself  in 
Mammon's  very  highest  place — ^yea,  in 
its  golden  pulpit.  Gallant  young  clerks 
of  the  Bank  of  England  were  beginning 
to  grow  good  promissory  notes  of 
moustaches,  when.   Mammon,  looking 


668 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


upon  those  hirsute  shootings,  cried — 
"  Shave,  young  men :  shave,  or  re- 
sign." This  is  a  hard,  tyrannous  fact. 
The  youths  of  England,  intrusted  with 
the  treasures  of  the  Bank,  were  ordered 
by  a  certain  day  to  present  clean  faces, 
or  else  a  fairly- written  resignation. 
The  clerks  did  both :  that  is,  they  one 
and  all  exhibited  their  resignation,  by 
sacrificing  the  objectiona]:)le  hair.  And 
this  in  a  free  country— a  clerk  not  al- 
lowed to  keep  his  moustaches  and  his 

place ! 

♦ — 

One  of  his  "Little  Specs." 

When  Jacob  Barker  was  a  clerk  to 
Mr.  Hicks,  of  New  York,  he  early  dis- 
played that  peculiar  aptitude  for  spec- 
ulation which  subsequently  distin- 
guished his  career  as  a  merchant.  Oue 
day,  Mr.  Hicks  was  ascending  the  stairs 
in  full  view  of  a  lot  of  soap  which  had 
been  very  long  on  hand,  and  remarked, 
"Jacob,  why  does  thee  not  sell  that 
soap  ?  "  The  reply  was,  "  For  the  want 
of  an  applicant.  I  will  purchase  it  at 
eight  cents  if  thee  will  give  me  four 
months'  credit  and  allow  me  to  send  it 
as  an  adventure  to  the  Havana."  Mr. 
Hicks  replied,  in  his  rapid  manner : 
"  Take  it,  take  it;  I  am  tired  of  the 
sight  of  it." 

It  w^s  shipped  by  a  fast  schooner, 
commanded  by  Capt.  Daniel  Waterman, 
about  sailing  for  the  Havana,  at  the 
time  when  the  British  were  capturing 
and  sending  into  New  Providence  all 
vessels  in  that  trade,  depriving  the  in- 
habitants of  their  accustomed  supplies. 
Capt.  W.  returned  safely  in  six  weeks, 
bringing  back  fifty  cents  per  pound  in 
specie  for  the  soap.  The  money  was 
brought  to  the  office,  and  Jacob  was 
engaged  in  counting  it,  when  Mr. 
Hicks,  coming  in  from  breakfast,  in- 
quired, "  What's  all  this  ?  "  The  reply 
was,  "  Money  for  the  soap,  and  I  am 
now  ready  to  pay  for  it,  although  not 
due  for  more  than  two  months."  Mr. 
H.   appeared  quite    pleased  with  his 


young  clerk's  success,  and  passed  on. 
This,  it  may  be  presumed,  is  one  of 
what  Jacob  would  call  his  "little 
specs.'' 


Countryman  and  Clerk. 

One  morning  an  enraged  country- 
man came  into  Mr.  M.'s  store,  with  very 
angry  looks  ;  he  had  left  a  team  in  the 
street,  and  held  a  good  stick  in  his 
hand.  "  Mr.  M."  said  the  angry  coun- 
tryman, "  I  bought  a  paper  of  nutmegs 
here  in  your  store,  and  when  I  got 
home,  they  were  more  than  half  wal- 
nuts ;  and  thafs  the  young  villain  that 
I  bought  'em  of," — pointing  to  John. 

"  John,"  said  Mr.  M.,  "  did  you  sell 
the  man  walnuts  for  nutmegs  ? " 

"  No,  sir,"  was  the  ready  answer. 

"  You  lie,  you  little  villain,"  said  the 
countryman,  still  more  enraged  at  his 
assurance. 

"  The  fact  is,  he  does  tell  a  great  many 
lies,"  said  Mr.  M.  "  and  I  don't  know 
what  to  do  with  him  ;  "  and  with  this 
license  to  his  enraged  feelings,  the 
countryman  made  at  John  with  his 
good  stick,  which  compelled  him  to 
scamper  up  a  flight  of  stairs,  throwing 
down  the  scuttle  after  him,  that,  in  its 
fall,  crushed  the  countryman's  hat  over 
his  eyes,  and  nothing  allayed  his  wrath. 
These  scuttle  doors  were,  in  those  days, 
common  in  warehouses,  at  the  heads 
of  stairs,  instead  of  casements  built 
around  them  as  now  ;  and  John  briskly 
fastened  it  down,  and  kept  the  country- 
man from  following  him — not,  how- 
ever, without  having  got  two  or  three 
licks  of  the  sternly-applied  good  stick 
across  his  legs  and  thighs,  as  he  went 
up  the  stairs. 

Isli.  M.,  who  had  just  come  into  the 
store,  withdrew  to  the  counting-room, 
but  with  scarcely  repressed  laughter, 
determined  to  let  things  take  their 
course,  while  the  rest  of  them  were  en- 
joying John's  predicament,  and  the 
general  confusion,  with  great  gieQ. 
When,  however,  lyir.  M.  saw  that  the 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


669 


countryman  was  foiled,  and  was  still 
complaining  of  the  abuse,  while  John 
was  secure  in  his  beleaguered  position, 
he  came  out  again,  and  told  the  coun- 
tryman that,  if  he  had  been  imposed 
upon,  it  should  be  made  up  to  him, 
trouble  and  alL 

John,  who  overheard  what  was  said, 
now  came  to  the  hoistway,  and  rubbing 
his  thighs  at  the  same  time,  said  :  "  If 
the  goose  had  taken  the  trouble  to 
weigh  his  nutmegs,  he  would  have 
found  that  I  put  in  the  walnuts  gratis^ 

"  Oh,  you  gave  them  to  him,  did 
you  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  threw  in  a  handful  for 
the  children  to  crack,"  said  John, 
laughing  at  the  same  time. 

"  You  were  certainly  very  consider- 
ate," said  Mr.  M.,  turning  away,  and 
unable  to  repress  a  sympathy  with 
John's  mirth. 

"  Well,  now,  if  that  ain't  a  young 
scamp,"  said  the  countryman,  his  fea- 
tures relaxing  into  a  grin,  as  he  saw 
through  the  matter. 

The  fact  is,  John  had  thrown  in  the 
handful  of  walnuts  unobserved,  and 
enjoyed  beforehand  all  the  country- 
man's disappointment  and  rage  when 
he  should  see  them,  but  without  antici- 
pating the  good  stich  feature  of  the  case. 


Langruag-e  and  Business  Letters  of 
Botlischild. 

The  language  which  Mr.  Rothschild 
could  use  when  his  anger  overbalanced 
his  discretion  was  what  must  be  called 
a  license  allowed  to  his  wealth;  and 
he  who,  when  placed  in  a  position 
which  almost  compelled  him  to  sub- 
scribe to  a  pressing  charity,  could  ex- 
claim to  his  clerk,  "  Here,  write  a  check, 
I  have  made  a  —  fool  of  myself!  "  was 
courted  and  caressed  by  the  clergy,  was 
feted  and  flattered  by  the  peer,  was 
treated  as  an  equal  by  the  first  min- 
ister of  the  crown,  and  more  than  wor- 
shipped by  those  whose  names  stood 
foremost  on  the  roll  of  commercial  aris- 


tocracy— not,  of  course,  because  of  his 
personal  worth,  but  because  of  the 
wealth  in  his  breeches. 

His  mode  of  dictating  letters  to  his 
commercial  correspondents  was  charac- 
teristic of  a  mind  entirely  absorbed  in 
money-making,  to  the  exclusion  of  all 
amenities  and  compliments— even  such 
as  business  men  sometimes,  for  the  sake 
of  courtesy  and  mutual  good  feeling, 
refresh  themselves  with  ;  and  his  rav- 
ings, when  he  found  a  bill  unexpectedly 
protested,  were  translated  by  the  clerk 
into  mercantile  language,  ere  they  were 
fit  to  meet  a  correspondent's  eye.  There 
was,  however,  an  occasional  gleam  of 
humor  in  him,  sternly  as  his  thoughts 
were  devoted  to  heaping  up  riches.  "  I 
am  as  much  as  you,"  he  said  to  the 
Due  de  Montmorenci,  when  his  title 
was  granted :  "  you  style  yourself  the 
first  Christian  baron,  and  I  am  the  first 
Jew  baron.'' 


Squaring:  Accounts  among  the 
Celestials. 

It  is  the  custom  ahiong  the  Celestials, 
once  a  year  or  oftener,  to  close  all  their 
accounts  of  a  business  character.  The 
summer,  or  fifth  month  of  the  Chinese 
year, — the  dragon  boat  festival,  eighth 
month,— Che  winter  solstice,  or  eleventh 
month, — and  the  new  year,  these  are 
the  epochs  of  settlement  adopted  by  a 
large  number  of  the  business  men.  But 
in  any  case,  the  commencement  of  the 
new  year  must  find  every  merchant  free 
of  all  debt,  otherwise  he  is  not  permit- 
ted to  open  his  store  for  a  fresh  cam-  • 
paign.  The  intense  anxiety  of  the  mer- 
chants thus  to  begin  the  year  solvent  in 
their  various  business  relations,  will 
often  prevent  a  manufacturer  from  tak- 
ing a  contract  at  the  end  of  the  year, 
lest  the  dreaded  new  year  day  should 
find  him  without  sufl5cient  ready  cash 
to  liquidate  all  his  debts. 

This  peculiar  custom  gives  origin  to 
a  kind  of  festival  among  buyers,  and 
especially  among  foreigners,  who  wish 


670 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


to  make  good  bargains.  The  pressing 
necessities  of  those  native  merchants  who 
find  a  deficit  in  their  treasury,  to  meet 
the  demands  of  creditors,  drive  them 
to  sell — and  sometimes  at  an  immense 
sacrifice — objects  of  luxury  or  'cirtu^  or 
whatever  else,  in  the  shape  of  embroi- 
deries and  clothing,  they  may  have,  not 
essential  to  life.  This  is  generally  ef- 
fected on  new  year's  eve.  On  that 
evening,  different  streets  in  the  city  are 
occupied  on  either  side  by  row^s  of 
such  goods,  exhibited  for  sale  in  tem- 
porary stalls,  or  even  on  the  bare 
ground,  all  the  sellers  being  clothed  in 
blue.  Side  oy  side  stand  the  common 
calico-clad  dealers,  whose  whole  stock 
seems  to  be  scarce  worth  a  dollar,  and 
the  satin-embroidered  merchant,  with 
articles  of  rarest  taste  and  elegance. 
There  may  be  seen  the  Chinaman  who 
has  a  dollar  or  two  in  cash  beyond  his 
debts,  and  the  foreigner,  both  anxious 
to  secure  bargains  at  the  expense  of  the 
needy  sellers. 


HoTT  a  Dry-Qoods  Clerk  lost  his  Place. 

A  GENTLEMAN  in  the  country  placed 
his  son  with  a  dry-goods  merchant  in 
Boston,  and,  for  a  season,  all  went  on 
well.  But  at  length  the  young  man 
sold  a  dress  to  a  lady,  and  as  he  was 
folding  it  up,  he  observed  a  fiaw  in  the 
silk,  and  remarked  to  his  customer, 
"Madam,  I  deem  it  my  duty  to  tell 
you  there  is  a  fracture  in  the  silk." 
This  spoiled  the  bargain. 
♦  But  the  employer  overheard  the  re- 
mark ;  and  had  he  reflected  a  moment, 
he  might  have  reasoned  thus  with  him- 
self :  "  Now  I  am  safe,  while  my  afiairs 
are  committed  to  the  care  of  an  honest 
clerk."  But  he  was  not  pleased;  so 
he  wrote  immediately  to  the  father  to 
come  and  take  him  home — for,  said  he, 
"  He  will  never  make  a  merchant." 
The  father,  who  had  brought  up  his 
son  with  faithful  care,  was  not  a  little 
surprised  and  grieved,  and  hastened  to 


the  city  to  ascertain  wherein  his  son 
had  been  deficient. 

Said  the  anxious  father,  "  And  why 
will  he  not  make  a  merchant  ?  "  "  Be- 
cause," said  the  employer,  "  he  has  no 
tact;  he  voluntarily  told  a  lady  who 
was  buying  silk,  that  the  goods  were 
damaged,  and  so  I  lost  the  bargain. 
Purchasers  must  look  out  for  them- 
selves. If  they  cannot  discover  '  flaws,' 
it  would  be  foolishness  in  me  to  tell  them 
of  their  existence."  "  And  is  this  all 
the  fault  ? "  "  Yes ;  he  is  very  well  in 
other  respects."  "  Well,  I  prize  my  son 
more  than  ever ;  and  I  thank  you,  sir, 
for  telling  me  of  the  matter.  I  w^ould 
not  have  him  in  your  employ  another 
day,  for  all  your  store  contains." 


Philadelphia  Clerk  and  his  Bible. 

In  the  same  office  with  Mr.  Inglis, 
of  Philadelphia,  was  a  young  gentle- 
man in  whom  he  took  great  interest. 
He  was  a  young  man  of  fine  character 
and  talents,  but  inclining  to  infidelity. 
He  was  the  only  son  of  a  widowed 
mother,  and  her  only  support.  He  was 
devoted  to  her  happiness.  By  degrees 
his  health,  through  constant  applica- 
tion to  business,  was  wasting  away. 
His  friend,  IMr.  Inglis,  urged  him  to  re- 
mit his  labors,  and  take  a  journey.  The 
reply  was,  that  his  circumstances  for- 
bade it.  He  had  saved  nothing,  and 
his  mother  needed  ail  his  salary  after 
meeting  his  own  personal  wants.  The 
answer  was : 

"  But  you  must  go.  You  will  die  if 
you  do  not.  What  will  become  of  your 
mother  then  ? " 

The  young  man  sadly  shook  his 
head. 

"  Then  I  will  tell  you  what  I  will  do. 
You  are  aware  of  my  rapidity  in  busi- 
ness. I  can  do  your  work  and  mine 
too.  I  will  take  your  place  while  you 
are  gone,  and  pay  over  the  salary  to 
your  mother,  and  when  you  return  give 
it  up  to  you  again.  The  sole  condition 
of  this  is,  that  you  will  accept  this  Bi- 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


671 


ble  (taking  a  pocket  Bible  from  his 
desk),  and  read  a  chapter  in  it  every 
day." 

With  deep  emotion  the  book  was  re- 
ceived and  the  promise  given.  The 
youth  took  his  departure,  and  Mr. 
Inglis  fulfilled  his  part  of  the  engage- 
ment faithfully.  But  the  invalid  was 
past  all  human  remedy — the  disease  was 
too  deeply  seated ;  so,  after  prolonging 
his  absence  much  beyond  the  supposed 
period,  he  finally  died.  But  he  left  en- 
couraging evidence  that  the  Bible  had 
been  attended  with  the  profit  desired 
by  the  giver. 

After  his  death,  the  directors  of  the 
insurance  company  said  that,  as  Mr. 
Inglis  had  faithfully  and  satisfactorily 
performed  the  double  duties,  hence- 
forth the  double  oflice  and  the  double 
pay  should  be  his. 


Beward  of  Business  Fidelity. 

Mb.  Cuthbert,  a  merchant  in  the 
East  Indies,  of  world-wide  repute,  had 
a  clerk  who  was  taken  very  ill,  and  be- 
came unusually  thoughtful  and  melan- 
choly. Mr.  Cuthbert  inquired  the  cause 
of  his  uneasiness.  The  young  man  re- 
plied that  he  was  not  afraid  to  die,  but 
had  a  mother  and  two  sisters  in  Eng- 
land, to  whom  he  had  been  accustomed 
to  send  one  hundred  pounds  every 
year,  and  his  only  regret  at  dying  was, 
that  they  would  be  left  destitute.  Mr. 
Cuthbert  begged  him  to  make  his  mind 
perfectly  easy  on  that  account,  as  he 
would  take  care  of  his  mother  and  sis- 
ters. He  was  as  good  as  his  word,  for 
he  immediately  went  to  his  attorney, 
and  executed  a  deed,  granting  an  an- 
nuity of  one  hundred  pounds  a  year,  in 
favor  of  the  mother  and  her  two  daugh- 
ters, during  their  joint  lives,  and  with 
the  benefit  of  survivorship.  He  then 
sent  the  bond  to  his  clerk,  who,  clasp- 
ing it  in  his  hands,  uttered  a  hearty 
exclamation  of  gratitude,  and  at  once 
closed  his  eyes  in  death. " 


Oiling  the  Joints  of  Business. 

It  is  oftentimes  better  for  the  har- 
mony and  success  of  men  in  business 
not  to  make  too  great  a  matter  out  of 
a  small  one,  when  anything  happens 
which  may  temporarily  derange  the 
details  of  business.  Budgett,  the  fa- 
mous English  merchant,  was  noted  for 
the  smooth  and  easy  way  in  which  he 
disposed  of  business  discrepancies  and 
annoyances,  and  says  he  found  his  ac- 
count in  thus  doing,  in  the  end. 

"  Well,  what's  the  matter  ?  "  said  he 
to  one  of  his  clerks,  "  I  understand  you 
can't  make  your  cash  quite  right." 
"  No,  sir."  "  How  much  are  you 
short  ?  "  "  Eight  pounds,  sir."  "  Nev- 
er mind ;  I  am  quite  sure  you  have 
done  what  is  right  and  honorable;  it 
is  some  mistake— and  you  won't  let  it 
happen  again.  Take  this,  and  make 
your  account  straight."  The  young 
man  sees  the  proffered  paper — an  order 
for  ten  pounds — and  he  brightens  up, 
as  full  of  admiration  and  good  resolve 
as  he  had  previously  felt  anxiety. 

Now,  what  is  the  next  matter.  This 
time  a  porter  is  summoned.  He  comes 
forward  as  if  he  expected  rebuke. 
"  Oh  !  I  have  had  such  a  complaint  re- 
ported against  you.  You  know  that 
will  never  do.  You  will  not,  I'm  sure, 
let  that  occur  again."  It  certainly  did 
not  occur  again. 

Thus,  with  the  greatest  despatch 
matter  after  matter  was  settled  in  this 
way — without  the  "grievous  words, 
which  stir  up  anger  " — and  all  who  be- 
longed to  his  office  went  to  work  as  if 
some  one  had  oiled  their  joints. 


Pictorial  Bookkeeping:. 

An  old  trader,  whose  father  attended 
more  to  teaching  his  son  the  methods 
of  accumulating  money  than  knowl- 
edge, lived  some  time  since  in  a  town 
in  one  of  the  Eastern  States.  From  ap- 
plication and  industry,  he  had  amassed 
a  property  of  about  twenty  thousand 


672 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


dollars;  and  althougli  not  able  either 
to  read  or  write,  lie  never  hired  a  clerk, 
but  had  always  been  in  the  habit  of 
keeping  his  own  books.  He  had  in- 
vented some  few  pictorial  characters 
for  the  purpose  of  conveying  his  ideas 
to  himself  and  others ;  they  were  formed 
as  nearly  similar  to  the  shape  of  the  ar- 
ticle sold  as  the  nature  of  the  circum- 
stances would  admit.  One  day  a  cus- 
tomer of  his  called  on  him  for  the  pur- 
pose of  settling  his  account ;  the  book 
of  hieroglyphics  was  handed  down,  and 
the  merchant  commenced  with,  "  such 
a  time  you  had  a  gallon  of  rum,  and 
such  a  time  a  pound  of  tea — such  a 
time  a  gallon  of  molasses,  and  such  a 
time  a  cheese."  "  Stop  there,"  says  the 
customer ;  "  I  never  had  a  cheese  from 
you  or  any  other  person — I  make  my 
own  cheese."  "  You  certainly  must 
have  had  it,"  said  the  merchant ;  "  it 
is  down  in  my  book."  The  other  still 
denied  ever  buying  an  article  of  that 
kind.  After  a  promiscuous  bantering 
of  pros  and  cons,  upon  recollection,  he 
informed  him  that  he  believed  he  had 
purchased  a  grindstone  about  that  time. 
"It  is  the  very  thing,"  said  the  mer- 
chant, "  and  I  must  have  forgotten  to 
put  the  hole  in  the  middle.'''' 


Eeformingr  instead  of  Destroying-. 

An  instructive  case  for  merchants 
and  others  engaged  in  business  occur- 
red in  Boston,  where  the  city  constable 
traced  a  large  quantity  of  stolen  goods 
to  a  young  clerk  in  one  of  the  large 
wholesale  stores  in  the  vicinity  of  Milk 
street,  and  in  which  establishment 
business  to  the  amount  perhaps  of  a 
million  or  more  is  carried  on  during 
the  year.  The  officer  in  the  first  place 
informed  the  young  man  of  his  detec- 
tion, and  he  acknowledged  his  crime. 
He  then  went  to  a  member  of  the  firm 
and  informed  him  also  of  what  had 
taken  place.  The  merchant  seemed 
troubled ;  said  that  the  boy  had  for 
some  time  been  with  him,  and  to  all 


appearance  was  a  faithful  clerk ;  that 
he  had  sole  control  of  a  room  contain- 
ing one  hundred  thousand  dollars' 
worth  of  goods,  wuth  several  lads  under 
him,  and  further  stated  that  he  paid 
him  three  and  a  half  dollars  per  week 
for  his  services.  The  officer  asked  if 
the  young  man  did  not  pay  nearly  that 
amount  for  board,  washing,  &c.  The 
merchant  acknowledged  that  he  prob- 
ably did.  He  then  called  the  clerk 
down,  and  asked  him  to  confess  the 
whole  truth,  which  he  did,  with  tears 
in  his  eyes,  and  promises  of  reforma- 
tion. The  merchant  then  told  the  offi- 
cer that  he  wanted  time  to  consider  as 
to  his  course.  When  the  officer  called 
again,  the  young  man  was  found  still 
continuing  at  his  old  employment — 
with  this  difference,  that  his  pay  had 
been  increased  to  six  dollars  per  week. 
The  officer  asked  how  the  boy  got 
along,  to  w^hich  his  master  replied, 
"  Admirably,  admirably ;  I  have  not 
a  better  servant  in  the  store."  Thus 
ended  the  matter,  the  young  man  still 
continuing  in  his  position,  with  the 
firm  intention  to  deserve,  by  his  future 
good  character,  the  confidence  which, 
perhaps,  he  so  little  deserved  by  his 
previous  course.  This  conduct  on  the 
part  of  the  employer  was  thus  the 
means  of  reforming  his  clerk ;  while 
exposure  and  dismissal  would  in  all 
probability  have  destroyed  him. 


Getting  Kich  by  Bookkeeping:. 

In  old  times,  it  was  the  custom  of 
the  merchants  of  the  city  of  New  York 
to  keep  their  accounts  in  pounds,  shil- 
lings, and  pence  currency.  About  fifty 
years  ago,  a  frugal,  industrious  Scotch 
merchant,  well  known  to  the  then  small 
mercantile  community  of  that  city,  had, 
by  dint  of  fortunate  commercial  adven- 
ture and  economy,  been  enabled  to  save 
something  like  four  thousand  pounds — 
a  considerable  sum  of  money  at  that 
period,  and  one  which  secured  to  its 
j)ossessor  a  degree  of  enviable  inde- 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


673 


pendence.  His  place  of  business  and 
residence  were,  as  was  customary  at 
that  time,  under  the  same  roof. 

This  merchant  had  a  clerk  in  his  em- 
ployment, whose  reputation  as  an  ac- 
countant inspired  the  utmost  confi- 
dence of  his  master,  whose  frugal  hab- 
its he  emulated  with  the  true  spirit 
and  feeling  of  a  genuine  Caledonian. 
It  was  usual  for  the  accountant  to  make 
an  annual  balance  sheet,  for  the  inspec- 
tion of  his  master,  in  order  that  he 
might  see  what  had  been  the  profits  of 
his  business  for  the  past  ydar.  On  this 
occasion,  the  balance  showed  to  the 
credit  of  the  business  some  six  thou- 
sand pounds,  which  somewhat  aston- 
ished the  incredulous  merchant.  "  It 
canna  be,"  said  he ;  "ye  had  better 
count  up  agen.  I  dinna  think  I  ha' 
had  sae  profitable  a  beesness  as  this 
represents."  The  clerk,  with  his  usual 
patience,  re-examined,  the  statement, 
and  declared  that  it  was  "  a'  right," 
and  that  he  was  willing  to  wager  his 
salary  on  its  correctness.  The  some- 
what puzzled  merchant  scratched  his 
head  with  surprise,  and  commenced 
adding  up  both  sides  of  the  account 
for  himself.  "  I  didna  think,"  said  he, 
"  that  I  was  worth  over  four  thousand 
pounds ;  but  ye  ha'  made  me  a  much 
richer  man.  Weel,  weel,  I  may  ha'  been 
mair  successful  than  I  had  thought, 
and  I'll  na'  quarrel  wi'  mysel'  for  being 
worth  sax  thousand  instead." 

At  early  candlelight,  the  store  was 
regularly  closed  by  the  faithful  ac- 
countant ;  and  as  soon  as  he  had  gone, 
the  sorely  perplexed  and  incredulous 
merchant  commenced  the  painful  task 
of  going  over  and  examining  the  ac- 
counts for  himself.  Night  after  night 
did  he  labor  in  his  solitary  counting 
room  alone,  to  look  for  the  error ;  but 
every  stage  of  the  examination  con- 
firmed the  correctness  of  the  clerk, 
until  the  old  Scotchman  began  to  be- 
lieve it  possible  that  he  was  really 
worth  "  sax  thousand  pounds."  Stim- 
ulated by  this  addition  to  his  wealth, 
43 


he  soon  felt  a  desire  to  improve  the 
condition  of  his  household  ;  and,  with 
that  view,  made  purchase  of  new  furni- 
ture, carpets,  and  other  elegances,  con- 
sistent with  the  condition  of  a  man 
possessing  the  large  fortune  of  six 
thousand  pounds.  Painters  and  car- 
penters were  set  to  work  to  tear  down, 
build  up,  and  beautify  ;  and  in  a  short 
time  the  gloomy  residence  in  Stone 
street  was  renovated  to  such  a  degree 
as  to  attract  the  curiosity  and  envy  of 
all  the  neighbors. 

The  doubts  of  the  old  man  would, 
however,  still  obtrude  themselves  upon 
his  mind ;  and  he  determined,  once 
more,  to  make  a  most  searching  exami- 
nation of  his  accounts.  On  a  dark  and 
stormy  night  he  commenced  his  labors, 
with  the  patient  and  investigating  spir- 
it of  a  man  determined  to  probe  the 
matter  to  the  very  bottom.  It  was  past 
the  hour  of  midnight,  yet  he  had  not 
been  able  to  detect  a  single  error ;  but 
still  he  went  on.  His  heart  beat  high 
with  hope,  for  he  had  nearly  reached 
the  end  of  his  labor.  A  quick  suspi- 
cion seized  his  mind  as  to  one  "  item  " 
in  the  account.  EureTca !  He  had 
found  it — he  had  found  it  I  With  the 
frenzy  of  a  madman,  rie  drew  his  broad- 
brimmed  white  hat  over  his  eyes,  and 
rushed  into  the  street.  The  rain  and 
storm  were  nothing  to  him.  He  hur- 
ried to  the  residence  of  his  clerk  in 
Wall  street,  and  seized  the  handle  of 
the  huge  knocker,  with  which  he 
rapped  until  the  neighborhood  was 
roused  with  the  loud  alarm.  The  dis- 
mayed clerk  poked  his  night-cap  out 
of  an  upper  window,  and  demanded 
"  Wha's  there  ?  "  "  It's  me^  you  dom 
scoundrel ! "  said  the  frenzied  mer- 
chant ;  "  ye''tie  added  up  the  yeo/r  of  our 
Laird  with  the  pounds.''''  Such  was  the 
fact.  The  addition  of  the  year  of  our 
Lord  in  a  certain  place  among  the  items 
had  swelled  the  fortune  of  the  merchant 
to  nearly  two  thousand  pounds  beyond 
its  actual  amount. 


674 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Two  Clerks  in  a  C^uarrel. 

Something  in  the  way  of  a  quarrel 
once  took  place  between  two  clerks — 
Jonas  and  Jonathan — in  a  merchant's 
counting  house.  The  quarrel  was  of 
little  importance  in  itself,  for  it  was 
merely  as  to  the  quantity  of  work  that 
each  had  to  do.  The  merchant  had 
given  six  letters  to  be  copied.  Jonas 
said  that  each  should  copy  three :  Jon- 
athan said  that,  as  they  were  not  of  the 
same  length,  one  should  copy  four  and 
the  other  two.  They  disputed  violent- 
ly about  it,  and  from  words  came  to 
blows.  Jonas  beat  Jonathan  severely, 
and  Jonathan  vowed  that  he  would  be 
revenged.  In  this  determination  he 
persevered,  and  it  was  a  part  of  his 
every  day's  thoughts  how  he  could  in- 
jure Jonas. 

Jonas  kept  what  is  called  the  "  petty 
cash  "  in  the  merchant's  counting  room, 
that  is,  he  was  charged  with  the  pay- 
ment of  all  the  small  sums  for  the  ordi- 
nary expenses  of  the  business,  and  was 
settled  with  by  the  merchant  every 
week,  on  his  producing  the  accounts, 
and  the  vouchers  for  payment  when 
any  receipts  were  given.  Jonas  was 
particularly  careful  to  keep  his  docu- 
ments in  order,  and  Jonathan,  who 
knew  Jonas's  pride  in  having  his  cash 
book  right,  determined  to  do  all  that 
he  could  to  embarrass  and  confuse 
him.  Whenever  Jonathan  could  lay 
his  hands  upon  any  voucher  that  Jonas 
wanted,  to  show  that  his  accounts  were 
regular,  he  took  the  opportunity,  when 
nobody  was  present,  either  to  burn  or 
otherwise  destroy  it.  This  was  a  great 
trial  to  Jonas,  and  especially  when,  on 
three  succeeding  Saturdays,  instead  of 
receiving  the  merchant's  accustomed 
praise,  he  was  reprimanded  for  negli- 
gence. Jonas  protested  that  he  had 
been  as  careful  as  usual,  but  could  not 
conceive  how  the  documents  had  dis- 
appeared. He  determined,  in  future, 
to  lock  them  up,  instead  of  leaving 
them  under  the  leads  of  the  desk,  as 


he  had  hitherto  done.  The  next  week, 
all  Jonas's  accounts  were  as  correct  as 
usual,  and  all  the  vouchers  in  order^ 
and  his  tranquillity  returned. 

But  this  did  not  last  long,  for  Jona- 
than, finding  that  he  had  not  succeed- 
ed in  his  ill-natured  attempt,  was  re- 
solved to  injure  Jonas  even  more  seri- 
ously;  and  one  day,  when  Jonas  had 
gone  to  the  docks,  and  had  by  accident 
left  the  key  in  his  desk,  Jonathan  took 
a  bank  note  out  of  the  cash  book  which 
Jonas  had  kept  there,  and  concealed  it 
in  another  part  of  the  desk. 

Jonas  came  back,  and  put  the  keys 
in  his  pocket — he  did  not  even  recol- 
lect that  he  had  put  them  in  the  desk ; 
but  the  next  day,  when  he  opened  his 
desk  to  count  the  money  in  his  cash 
box,  the  bank  note  was  found  missing. 
This  was,  indeed,  a  sad  discovery ;  he 
racked  his  brains  to  remember  whether 
he  had  made  any  payments  that  he  had 
not  entered.  He  inquired  of  Jonathan 
whether  he  had  seen  him  pay  any 
money  away.  Jonathan  professed  to 
feel  for  his  distress,  while,  in  fact,  he 
was  rejoicing  in  it ;  and  he  was  de- 
lighted, indeed,  when  he  heard  the 
merchant,  in  his  private  room,  severely 
reproaching  Jonas  for  his  growing 
carelessness.  A  few  weeks  after,  Jonas, 
having  occasion  to  ransack  his  desk  for 
some  papers,  found  the  missing  bank 
note,  and  supposed  that  he  had,  by  ac- 
cident, stowed  it  away  with  other  pa- 
pers. He  told  his  good  fortune  to  the 
merchant;  the  latter  recommended 
more  caution  in  future. 

Jonathan  now  tried  a  little  bolder 
game.  It  was  Jonas's  duty  to  take  the 
letters  to  the  post  office.  One  day,  a 
letter  of  great  importance,  containing 
a  bill  of  exchange  for  a  large  amount, 
was  missing.  The  merchant  had,  as 
usual,  intrusted  the  correspondence  to 
Jonas's  care,  and  had  left  the  city  for 
his  country  abode.  Next  day,  the  first 
inquiry,  when  the  merchant  came,  was, 
whether  said  letter  had  been  despatch- 
ed.    Jonas  burst  into  tears,  and  said 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


675 


that  the  letter  with  the  remittance  was 
not  to  be  found.  "  What !  "  said  the 
merchant,  with  extreme  displeasure, 
"  tlmt  letter  missing  ?  " — and,  quickly- 
scanning  the  floor,  he  saw  the  identical 
letter  at  Jonas's  feet,  wet  and  dirty,  as 
if  it  had  been  trampled  on.  This  had 
been  also  Jonathan's  doing.  He  had 
concealed  the  letter  the  night  before ; 
he  had  flung  it,  unperceived— having 
himself  trodden  upon  it — under  Jonas's 
desk. 

In  this  way  many  months  passed. 
Jonathan  managed  with  so  much  cun- 
ning as  to  be  undiscovered  in  his  mal- 
ice ;  but  things  went  on  so  ill,  that 
finally  the  merchant  dismissed  them 
both. 

Years  rolled  by,  and  Jonas  and  Jon- 
athan had  become  merchants  them- 
selves;  but  nothing  could  eradicate 
from  Jonathan's  mind  the  determina- 
tion to  injure,  and,  if  possible,  ruin 
Jonas.  And  he  at  last  accomplished 
it,  though  his  own  ruin  was  the  conse- 
quence. He  undermined  the  credit  of 
Jonas,  by  indirect  insinuations  as  to 
his  affairs,  by  doubts  and  innuendos, 
and  shrugs  of  the  shoulder ;  and,  by  a 
succession  of  unfounded  reports  and 
malevolently  expressed  suspicions,  Jo- 
nas's reputation  as  a  merchant  suffered, 
and  bankruptcy  took  place.  Some  of 
the  statements  by  which  Jonas  had 
been  injured  were,  however,  traced  to 
Jonathan.  He  was  prosecuted  for 
damages,  convicted,  and  his  own  insol- 
vency followed  soon. 


London  Trade  Report. 

A  London  journal  thus  enters  into 
the  facetiae  of  mercantile  nomenclature 
in  its  Trade  Report : — Beer  is  still  flat 
in  your  own  jugs,  and  seidlitz  powders 
are  on  the  rise  everywhere.  Bones  are 
steady,  at  two  pence  for  three  pounds  ; 
and  wine  bottles  are  in  demand  at  five 
farthings.  New  milk  from  the  cow  has 
become  dearer  since  the  recent  extraor- 
dinary rise  in  chalk ;  and  as  far  as  the 


wine  trade  is  concerned,  the  champagne 
dealers  have  been  playing  old  goose- 
berry. The  tea  trade  is  looking  up  on 
account  of  the  unhealthy  appearance 
of  the  hedges  ;  and  the  arrival  of  four 
barges  laden  with  sand  has  produced  a 
powerful  effect  on  inferior  sugar.  But- 
ter is  not  so  firm  as  it  has  been  during 
the  severe  weather ;  and  the  new-laid 
eggs  having  been  released  from  bond, 
where  they  have  remained  for  some 
time,  preserved  in  lime,  are  a  good  deal 
lower  than  our  last  quotations.  Pigs 
were  quite  stationary  when  taken  by 
the  leg,  and  dealers  who  went  the 
whole  hog  got  enormous  prices. 

The  business  done  in  the  vegetable 
market  has  been  limited.  Potatoes 
have  suffered  from  a  disease  in  the  kid- 
neys, and  the  growers  have  been  fairly 
beaten  out  of  the  field  for  want  of  cham- 
pions. Parsley  was  firm  at  a  half-penny 
a  sprig,  and  a  good  deal  of  thyme  was 
lost  by  a  misunderstanding  among  the 
principal  dealers.  Rhubarb  was  flat 
during  the  rains,  but  rallied  at  the  end 
of  the  week  on  account  of  the  fine 
weather.  Horseradish  was  in  a  feverish 
state  until  the  close  of  business  ;  and  a 
few  transactions  in  onions  under  the 
very  eyes  of  some  inexperienced  per- 
sons, produced  a  very  powerful  effect 
on  their  mode  of  looking  at  the  market 
in  general.  Roasted  chestnuts  witJiout 
the  coupons  were  uncommonly  active  at 
first  handling,  but  those  who  failed  to 
exercise  caution  in  this  investment 
only  burnt  their  fingers.  Spanish 
(nuts)  were  freely  taken — while  the 
owners  turned  their  backs — by  some 
doubtful  parties  in  the  market ;  and 
grapes  were  exceedingly  sour  and  unsea- 
sonable, at  a  shilling  a  pound,  to  those 
who  could  not  purchase  them.  Aspar- 
agus is  looking  up,  and  radishes  arc 
taking  a  downward  direction.  Peas 
were  almost  nothing  at  the  opening; 
and  new  potatoes  were  buoyant  in  the 
basket,  but  turned  out  rather  heavy  at 
the  settling. 

Oysters  were  dull  at  the  opening. 


616 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


but  went  down  rapidly  soon  after. 
Flounders  were  of  course  flat,  but  to 
the  surprise  of  every  one  they  showed 
an  inclination  to  come  round  toward 
the  afternoon,  and  there  were  one  or 
two  transactions  in  whelks,  but  they 
were  of  a  comparatively  insignificant 
character.  Lobsters'  claws  were  lazy 
at  the  opening,  but  closed  heavily,  and 
those  who  had  a  hand  in  them  would 
gladly  have  been  released  if  such  a 
course  had  been  possible. 

Very  little  is  doing  in  calico,  though 
several  extraordinary  shifts  are  being 
made  by  some  of  the  manufacturers. 
Inferior  stuffs  have  not  gone  down  since 
the  speech  of  Mr.  Ferrand,  but  fustian 
for  parliamentary  use  is  a  good  deal 
sought  after.  Coarse  material  is  much 
wanted  for  the  newspaper  press,  which 
has  had  a  glut  of  the  raw  article ;  and 
the  latter  is  now  considered  so  flimsy 
that  it  may  be  seen  through — which 
entirely  defeats  the  object  it  is  intended 
for. 

Money  was  very  plentiful  in  the  city 
this  morning,  and  the  man  at  the  cross- 
ing near  the  bank  carried  off  a  large 
sum  at  the  clearing.  Mohair  stock  was 
not  very  buoyant,  but  gloves  were  easy 
at  eighteen  pence  a  pair  and  upward. 
Coats  were  nominally  heavy,  but  were 
found  much  lighter  on  being  weighed  ; 
and  eggs,  though  they  looked  very 
promising  yesterday,  opened  very  badly 
this  morning,  purchasers  exhibiting 
considerable  shyness.  In  spices  there 
was  very  little  done ;  but  a  party  suf- 
fered greatly  who  had  been  keeping 
too  close  an  eye  to  pepper. 


Improving"  a  Banker's  Broth. 

jEMiiY  Taylor,  noted  as  one  of  the 
sharpest  and  most  successful,  as  well  as 
miserly,  English  stockbrokers  of  the 
last  century,  once  graciously  invited  two 
of  the  clerks  of  a  fellow  banker  to  take 
"pot  luck"  with  him.  On  paying 
their  respects  to  him,  therefore,  at  his 
residence, — though  with  no  intention 


to  dine, — ^these  rollicking  bucks  found 
the  old  boy  boiling  a  solitary  mutton 
chojD,  in  an  ocean  of  water,  to  make, 
what  he  called,  some  "  comfortable " 
broth  for  himself,  and  his  boon  friend, 
old  Daniel  Dancer,  whom  he  expected. 

After  some  complimentary  solicita- 
tions, the  two  "  benders  "  humorously 
prevailed  upon  him  to  fetch  a  pot  of 
porter,  and,  while  he  was  gone,  they 
threw  some  stray  pieces  of  his  half- 
penny candles  into  his  cookery — which, 
no  doubt,  ameliorated  the  scantiness  of 
the  culinaiy  mess,  and  made  it  more 
delectable  to  those  old  hunks,  who,  as 
appears  from  the  sequel,  devoured  it 
with  keen  appetites,  cordially  uniting 
in  their  commendations  of  its  unusual 
richness. 

But  the  next  time  Jemmy  Taylor 
met  those  two  larks  upon  'change,  the 
skinflint  banker  stoutly  accused  them 
of  theft  and  robbery,  in  stealing  his 
candles,  and  grew  warm  in  his  denun- 
ciation of  their  knavery.  The  clerks, 
however,  immediately  cleared  them- 
selves of  the  charge,  by  solemnly  de- 
claring to  the  perspiring  miser,  that 
they  had  only  committed  them  to  the 
pot,  at  the  bottom  of  which  he  would 
find  the  wicks,  if  his  hunger  had  not 
swallowed  them. 

Jemmy  was  bred  a  weaver,  but  after- 
ward became  a  banker,  which  "  trade  " 
he  pursued  with  such  usurious  keen- 
ness, that  he  was  not  long  in  amassing 
a  fortune  such  as  is  attained  by  only  a 
few. 


Apprehended  Embezzlements. 

Clerks  have  of  late  years  been  play- 
ing fast  and  loose  to  such  an  enormous 
extent  with  their  employers'  money 
and  property,  that  it  has  become  ex- 
tremely difficult  to  know  whom  to 
trust.  Apprehensions  have  for  some 
time  been  entertained  that  the  clerk  of 
the  weather  will  be  hard  up  next,  as 
having  been  engaged  in  some  act  of 
embezzlement,  his  course  having  been 


IMPROVING    A    HAXKER'S   BROTH. 


Xng  *V  ■"^'S-  .Tiulcm^i. 


'      oc^i/m/"^ 


BUSINESS  employ:63. 


677 


very  erratic  for  some  time  past,  so 
much  so  indeed  as  to  have  excited  very 
general  remark.  It  is  hinted  that  he 
may  be  taken  up  on  a  charge  of  having 
been  in  the  habit,  for  years  past,  of 
skimming  the  milky  way  and  apj)ro- 
priating  the  cream  to  Ms  own  use.  If 
we  were  Saturn,  we  certainly  should 
count  our  rings  every  night  to  see  that 
none  of  them  were  missing. 


Hitting:  the  Nail  on  the  Head. 

Chakles  Lamb's  description  of  his 
sensation '  on  being  emancipated  from 
his  daily  labor  as  a  clerk  in  the  "  India 
House  "  hits  the  nail  on  the  head.  He 
says :  "It  was  like  passing  from  life 
into  eternity.  I  wandered  about,  thinlc- 
ing  I  was  happy,  but  feeling  that  I  was 
not.  When  all  is  holiday  there  are  no 
holidays.  Think  of  this,  thou  man  of 
sudden  wealth ;  and  if  it  shall  so  chance 
that  thou  hast  been  a  tallow  chandler 
in  thy  days  of  usefulness,  make  a  clause 
in  thy  bill  of  sale  that  shall  reserve  to 
thee  the  right  of  still  assisting  at  the 
*  factoiy '  on  '  melting  days.'  " 


Filling-  a  Grocer's  Order. 

A  Cincinnati  grocer's  house,  finding 
out  that  cranberries  commanded  six 
dollars  per  bushel,  and  under  the  im- 
pression that  the  article  could  be 
bought  to  advantage  at  St.  Mary's, 
wrote  out  to  a  customer,  acquainting 
him  with  the  fact,  and  requesting  him 
to  send  "  one  hundred  bushels  per  Sim- 
mons," (the  wagoner  usually  sent.)  The 
correspondent,  a  plain,  uneducated 
man,  had  considerable  difficulty  in  de- 
ciphering the  fashionable  scrawl  com- 
mon with  merchants'  clerks  of  late 
years,  and  the  most  important  word, 
"cranberries,"  he  failed  altogether  to 
make  out,  but  he  plainly  read,  "  100 
lushels  persimmons.''^  As  the  article  was 
growing  all  around  him,  all  the  boys  in 
the  neighborhood  were  set  to  gathering 
it,  and  the  wagoner  made  his  appear- 


ance in  due  time,  in  Cincinnati,  with 
eighty  bushels,  all  that  the  wagon  bed 
would  hold,  and  a  line  from  the  coun- 
try dealer  stating  that  the  remainder 
would  follow,  the  next  trip.  An  expla- 
nation soon  ensued,  but  the  customer 
insisted  that  the  clerk  of  the  Cincin- 
nati house  should  have  written  "  5y 
Simmons  ".and  not  "  per  Simmons." 


Ellin  produced  by  Bad  Reckoning-. 

A  VERY  deserving  trader  was  ruined 
by  his  miscalculations  respecting  mer- 
cantile discounts — a  subject  requiring, 
at  all  times  and  in  every  branch  of  com- 
merce, the  close  and  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  an  experienced  accountant. 

The  article  he  manufactured  he  at 
first  supplied  to  retail  dealers  at  a  large 
profit  of  about  thirty  per  cent.  He 
afterward  confined  his  trade  almost 
exclusively  to  large  wholesale  houses, 
to  whom  he  charged  the  same  price, 
but  under  discount  of  twenty  per  cent., 
believing  that  he  was  still  realizing  ten 
per  cent,  for  his  own  profit.  His  trade 
was  very  extensive ;  and  it  was  not  un- 
til after  some  years  that  he  discovered 
the  fact,  that  in  the  place  of  making 
ten  per  cent,  profit,  as  he  imagined,  by 
this  mode  of  making  his  sales,  he  was 
realizing  only  four  per  cent.  To  £100 
value  of  goods  he  added  thirty  per 
cent.,  and  invoiced  them  at  £130.  At 
the  end  of  each  month,  in  the  settle- 
ment of  accounts,  amounting  to  some 
thousands  of  pounds  sterling  with  indi- 
vidual houses,  he  deducted  twenty  per 
cent.,  or  twenty-six  on  each  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  pounds,  leaving  one 
hundred  and  four  net  for  every  one 
hundred  pounds'  value  of  goods  at 
prime  cost,  in  place  of  one  hundred 
and  ten  pounds  as  he  all  along  ex- 
pected. 


Dexterity  of  Specie  Clerks. 

Upon    an    occasion    when    a   large 
amount  of  bank  notes  was  required,  a 


678 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


clerk  in  the  Bank  of  England  is  stated 
to  have  signed  his  name,  consisting  of 
seven  letters,  including  the  initial  of  his 
Christian  name,  five  thousand  three  hun- 
dred times  during  eleven  working  hours, 
and  he  also  arranged  the  notes  he  had 
signed  in  parcels  of  fifty  each.  It  is  an 
interesting  fact,  which  also  may  be 
mentioned  in  this  connection,  that 
when  the  hand  or  the  head  has  been 
for  some  time  occupied  in  any  kind  of 
special  work,  it  cannot  instantly  change 
its  employment  with  full  efiect.  The 
muscles  of  the  limbs  employed  have 
acquired  a  flexibility  during  their  ex- 
ertion— and  those  to  be  put  into  action 
a  stiflfening  during  rest — which  renders 
every,  change  slow  and  unequal  in  the 
commencement.  A  similar  result  like- 
wise takes  place  in  any  change  of 
mental  exertion  ;  the  attention  bestow- 
ed on  the  new  subject  is  not  so  perfect 
at  the  first  commencement  as  it  be- 
comes after  some  exercise. 


Commercial  •'Drummers"  or  Travel- 
ling Clerks. 

Not  an  uninteresting  feature  of  the 
internal  traffic  of  Great  Britain,  and  the 
same  may  apply  in  a  good  degree  to 
our  own  land,  is  the  system  commonly 
termed  commercial  travelling.  For- 
merly, almost  every  commercial  house 
of  any  note,  employed  one  or  more 
agents  or  clerks,  whose  business  it  was 
to  travel  about  the  country  and  procure 
custom  for  their  principals.  The  sys- 
tem, wherever  pursued  at  present,  is 
substantially  the  same  now  as  then. 

The  commercial  traveller — as  this 
kind  of  agent  or  clerk  is  denominated 
— is  generally  a  young  and  very  shrewd 
individual,  possessing  great  suavity  of 
manner,  and  a  remarkable  ability  to 
suit  himself  readily  to  all  the  varied 
modes  of  his  various  customers.  Fur- 
nished by  his  principals  with  choice 
samples  of  their  goods,  he  steps  into 
his  conveyance,  and  with  a  light  heart 
commences  his  circuit.     It  is  not  con- 


sidered unusual  if  nearly  a  year  elapses 
before  he  returns  to  his  employers.  At 
each  town  upon  his  route,  he  tarries  at 
the  principal  inn,  where  he  is  sure  to 
find  a  hearty  welcome.  After  thus  en- 
sconcing himself  in  comfortable  quar- 
ters, he  arranges  his  samples,  and,  if  it 
be  forenoon,  puts  them  under  his  arm 
and  issues  forth  to  visit  the  shopkeep- 
ers in  the  place.  Wherever  he  goes,  he 
is  met  with  cordiality.  Like  all  travel- 
lers, he  is  full  of  anecdote,  and  has  at 
his  command  the  rarest  news  of  his 
time.  None  are  more  glad  to  see  him 
than  the  shopkeepers'  wives  and  daugh- 
ters. To  these  he  imparts  the  most 
recent  scandal  and  the  latest  fashions, 
and  thus  afibrds  them  subjects  for  gos- 
sip until  his  next  visit  to  the  town.  To 
the  tradesman  he  lauds  his  samples 
with  all  the  eloquence  and  ingenuity 
of  which  he  is  capable,  and  seldom 
leaves  them  without  making  considera- 
ble bargains  in  behalf  of  his  principals. 
He  then  collects  money  due  on  former 
purchases,  and,  if  in  convenient  shape, 
forwards  the  funds,  together  with  his 
customers'  orders  for  goods,  by  mail,  to 
his  employers. 

With  few  exceptions,  these  drum- 
mers, or  clerks,  are  an  intelligent,  con- 
scientious, whole-souled  company.  Gen- 
erous, convivial,  and  full  of  anecdote, 
the  mercantile  agent  is  a  good  com- 
panion, and  his  conversation  never  fails 
to  make  glad  and  jocund  the  society 
where  he  mingles.  In  his  continuous 
journeying  about  the  country,  he  has 
mixed  with  all  classes,  and  gleaned  in- 
formation of  all  kinds  and  from  all 
sources — humorous  and  grave,  light 
and  substantial.  His  temperament  is 
mercurial,  and  he  readily  adapts  him- 
self to  the  company  which  he  is  in. 
But  if  there  be  one  place  at  which  he 
feels  more  at  home  than  another,  that 
place  is  at  the  dinner  table,  where  he 
meets  his  professional  fellows.  There 
are  generally  as  many  as  five  or  six,  and 
sometimes  more  than  twice  that  num- 
ber of  these  travellers,  in  every  town, 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


679 


at  certain  seasons,  tarrying  only  so  long 
a  time  as  will  suffice  them  to  accom- 
plish their  business  there.  These  stop 
at  the  same  inn,  and  eat  together  in  a 
room  apart  from  the  ordinary.  As  the 
morning  is  devoted  exclusively  to  busi- 
ness, they  take  their  ease  after  dinner, 
and  linger  over  their  "wine.  In  the 
evening,  some  of  their -customers  drop 
in,  a  circle  is  formed,  and  the  evening 
hours  are  forgotten  in  the  recital  of 
story  And  anecdote,  the  cracking  of 
brittle  jests,  and  the  enjoyment  of  good 
■wine  and  cigars. 


Keeping-  Score  by  Double  Entry. 

An  Illinois  correspondent  of  the 
Knickerbocker  cracks  a  nut  for  book- 
keepers, in  the  following  style: — ^You 
know  Elije  Scroggins,  up  here  in  White 
county  ?  Yes  ?  Well,  about  six  years 
ago,  Elije  kept  a  kind  of  "  one  horse  " 
grocery,  on  the  edge  of  "Seven-mile 
Prairie."  I  don't  think  he  kept  much 
besides  "bald-faced,  thirty-day  whis- 
key," and  maybe  some  ginger  brandy. 
Times  were  mighty  tight,  and  not 
much  money  stirring  in  that  settle- 
ment ;  so  Elije  had  to  credit  most  of 
his  customers  till  corn-gathering  time, 
or  till  fur  was  good  ;  and  as  he  had  no 
"  book-learning,"  he  used  to  make  some 
kind  of  a  mark  for  his  different  patrons, 
on  a  clapboard,  which  he  kept  for  the 
purpose,  and  then  chalk  down  the 
"  drinks "  against  them  as  they  got 
them,  which  in  some  cases  was  pretty 
often. 

One  day  there  was  a  big  meeting  ap- 
pointed at  the  Possum-Ridge  school- 
house,  about  five  miles  from  Elije's, 
and  his  wife  persuaded  him  to  go ;  so 
on  Sunday  morning  they  gathered  up 
the  children  and  toted  off  to  meeting 
to  make  a  day  of  it. 

Along  through  this  day,  some  of  the 
neighbors,  getting  a  leetle  dry,  went 
over  to  Elije's  to  moisten  their  clay, 
and  finding  the  door  shut,  and  nobody 
about,  they  were  somewhat  alarmed, 


and  didn't  know  but  somebody  was 
either  sick  or  dead  ;  so  they  jjushed  in 
to  see  about  it,  and  finding  things  all 
right,  they  concluded  that  Elije  and 
his  old  woman  had  gone  off  on  a  visit. 
So  they  took  a  drink  all  around  out 
of  friendly  feeling  to  him,  and  were 
about  going  off,  when  one  of  them 
caught  sight  of  the  tally-board  stuck 
under  the  rafter,  and  pulled  it  down — 
and,  either  out  of  pure  devilment,  or 
thinking  it  an  easy  way  to  pay  off  a 
score,  just  gave  it  a  wipe,  and  stuck  it 
back  again. 

In  the  evening,  when  Elije  got  back, 
he  had  occasion  to  look  at  his  "  ac- 
counts" for  some  purpose  or  other, 
when,  to  his  great  astonishment  and 
dismay,  he  found  it,  in  groggery  par- 
lance, considerably  "  mixed."  He 
scratched  his  head  over  it  for  some 
time,  evidently  trying  to  make  it  out, 
and  finally  calling  his  wife  in,  he  show- 
ed it  to  her,  and  said :  "  There,  thafs 
what  a  man  gets  for  going  off  and  neg- 
lecting his  business." 

On  the  whole,  however,  he  got  over 
it  pretty  quietly  for  him,  for  Elije  used 
to  swear  mightily  when  his  back  was 
up.  He  didn't  have  much  to  say  now, 
though,  but  sat,  with  his  chin  on  his 
hands,  and  his  elbows  on  his  knees, 
looking  in  the  fire  all  the  evening ;  but 
on  Monday  morning,  he  got  up  bright 
and  early,  and  taking  down  the  clap- 
board, gave  it  a  good  wash,  and  began 
very  industriously  to  figure  away  upon 
it?  Two  or  three  times  during  the 
morning,  his  wife  looked  in,  and  he 
was  still  working  away  at  it ;  and  at 
dinner  time,  when  she  came  to  call 
him,  she  ventured  to  ask  how  he  was 
getting  on.  "  Well,"  said  he,  holding 
the  tally-board  off  at  arm's  length,  and 
looking  at  it  very  earnestly,  with  his 
head  on  one  side,  "  I  don't  know  as  I've 
got  as  much  charged  as  I  had,  but  Fm 
got  it  on  letter  men  !  " 


680 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Charming:  Customer  in  a  Bank— Perils 
of  a  Cashier. 

When  a  casMer  in  a  banking  house 
commits  an  error  by  paying  too  much, 
the  loss  falls  upon  the  clerk,  unless 
there  be  some  extenuating  circum- 
stances to  justify  a  contrary  course ;  the 
mistake  is  then  called  a  clerical  error. 
The  reader  will  not  be  at  much  loss  to 
know  in  which  category  to  place  the 
following : 

One  Monday  morning,  a  very  ele- 
gantly dressed  female  entered  the  bank- 
ing house  of ,  and  presented  a  check 

for  payment,  at  the  same  time  request- 
ing, with  a  great  show  of  politeness, 
that  she  might  have  gold  in  exchange 
for  the  check.  The  lady  was  not  only  well 
dressed,  but  she  was  very  beautiful ;  so 
much  so  that  the  attention  of  the  cashier 
was  riveted  upon  her.  He  weighed 
fifty  sovereigns,  which  he  handed  to 
the  lady;  and,  supposing  she  would 
count  them,  one  by  one,  he  anticipated 
that  the  pleasure  he  enjoyed  in  looking 
upon  her  would  thereby  be  prolonged ; 
but  he  was  mistaken — for,  to  his  sur- 
prise, instead  of  counting  them,  she 
huddled  them  all  up  together,  and  put 
them  in  a  white  pocket  handkerchief 
The  cashier,  observing  this  unusual 
mode,  said :  *'  You  had  better  count 
ihem,  madam  ;  "  but  the  lady,  looking 
iat  him  with  a  most  winsome  smile,  re- 
plied: "I  am  quite  satisfied,  sir,  that 
jou  are  right ,;  ■"  and  with  another  be- 
witching look,  wished  him  "  good-day," 
,and  walked  leisurely  out  of  the  bank. 

The  cashier  was  so  overpowered  with 
rthe  beauty  of  his  customer,  that  imme- 
.diately  on  her  retiring,  he  went  a  few 
:paces  to  a  fellow  cashier  and  asked  if 
he  had  ever  seen  so  lovely  a  creature — 
•"  Puch  a  'bewitcliing  woman  ! "  said  he, 
•"  and  what  a  sparkling  brilliancy  there 
was  in  her  eye !  I  wonder  who  she 
is  ? "  This  caused  him  to  look  at  the 
check,  which  on  first  receiving  he  had 
placed  on  his  book,  without  entering 
or  once  glancing  at  it  again  ;  when  he 


was  startled  at  discovering  that  it  was 
for  five  pounds  instead  of  fifty !  Ut- 
tering an  exclamation,  he  jumped  over 
the  counter,  and  was  in  the  street  in  a 
second.  He  looked  to  the  right  and 
the  left,  but  could  distinguish  no  trace 
of  the  beautiful  lady.  He  ran  in  and 
out  of  the  several  courts  that  surround- 
ed the  bank,  but  in  vain  ;  he  returned 
to  the  banking  house  to  take  counsel 
vdih.  his  fellow-admirer  of  the  charm- 
ing woman,  as  to  the  best  course  to 
adopt,  when  it  was  decided  that  he 
should  immediately  apply  to  the  draw- 
er of  the  check  for  the  name  and  ad- 
dress of  the  party  to  whom  he  paid  it, 
— the  body  of  the  check  simply  ex- 
pressing it  to  be  payable  to  "  house 
expenses  or  bearer." 

The  drawer  of  the  check,  Mr.  P.,  on 
being  asked  by  the  cashier  to  furnish 
him  with  the  desired  information,  ex- 
pressed his  surprise  at  what  he  called 
such  impertinent  curiosity ;  but,  on 
being  informed  of  the  mistake  that  had 
been  made,  he  immediately  gave  the 
name  and  address,  "Miss  Thompson, 
Bury  street,  St.  James's,"  adding,  "I 
beg  you  will  not  utter  a  word  of  this 
afi'air  to  any  one,  for  if  it  should  come 
to  the  ears  of  Mrs.  P.,  I  fear  the  most 
serious  consequences  would  result  from 
my  indiscretion,  for  the  party  in  ques- 
tion is,  I  believe,  only  too  celebrated." 

Anxious  to  catch  the  lady  on  her  re- 
turn home,  the  cashier  assured  the  gen- 
tleman of  his  silence,  and  proceeded 
with  the  utmost  expedition  to  Bury 
street.  The  door  was  opened  by  an 
innocent-looking  girl,  who,  on  being 
asked  if  Miss  Thompson  was  at  home, 
replied,  with  great  simplicity,  "No, 
sir,  Miss  Thompson  is  not  at  home ; " 
and,  as  though  she  wished  to  stifle  all 
further  inquiries,  she  added,  "  I  don't 
think  she  will  come  back." 

It  ultimately  turned  out,  that  the 
moment  that  "Miss  Thompson"  re- 
turned from  the  city,  she  packed  up 
her  things  and  left  the  house,  of  course 
without  leaving  her  address  or    any 


~r  ",.-;K 


O  DE  MEDICI 


(§>f^^/ti^.  ^^/^M.^  %r 


VT.G.  JackraaiL  ITgw^ark.. 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


681 


clue  to  her  whereabouts,  enjoying,  no 
doubt,  the  satisfaction  of  having  proved 
the  truth  of  the  saying  that  "  love  is 
blind  " — for  she  had,  by  a  naive  exer- 
cise of  her  charms,  so  far  blinded  the 
eyes  of  a  city  banker  that  he  could 
not  distinguish  between  five  and  fifty 
pounds. 

This  was  a  sad  termination  of  the 
affair  to  the  cashier,  who  on  his  return 
to  the  bank  felt  ashamed  to  mention 
the  circumstance  to  the  house,  and  it 
was  arranged  that  the  drawer  of  the 
check  should,  by  way  of  purchasing 
the  silence  of  the  cashier,  pay  one  half 
of  the  amount,  and  the  cashier  the 
other,  which  was  done. 


Lafitte's  Wasteful  Clerk. 

In  the  zenith  of  his  prosperity  as  a 
w^orld-renowned  banker,  Lafitte  retain- 
ed the  same  principles  of  frugality  and 
saving  that  characterized  him  in  his 
days  of  indigence.  He  was  never  the 
avaricious  and  grasping  miser,  but  he 
was  ever  the  parsimonious  saver.  He 
would  scold,  and  sometimes  read  his 
clerks  a  lecture  upon  their  wilful  waste 
of  a  pen,  a  piece  of  paper,  or  an  inch 
of  twine ;  yet  he  had  a  vein  of  charity, 
and  could  be  magnificent  in  his  benev- 
olence. 

One  morning  a  lady  entered  the 
boudoir  of  the  banker,  to  solicit  his 
subscription  to  some  charitable  object. 
He  appeared  somewhat  ruffled  in  his 
temper  just  at  the  moment,  but  he  re- 
ceived her  graciously,  as  a  Frenchman 
knows  how. 

"  What  do  you  require,  my  good  sis- 
ter ?  "  asked  the  banker. 

"  Sir,"  she  replied,  "  I  come  to  you 
on  behalf  of  my  distressed  neighbors  ; 
their  necessity  is  great." 

"  Indeed  I  you  have  called  at  the 
right  time,  for  just  now  I  am  angry 
with  that  gentleman  for  wasting  my 
wafers."  At  the  same  time  he  pointed 
to  a  young  man  seated  at  a  desk,  who 


smiled,  but  was  evidently  discon- 
certed. 

The  benevolent  lady  pretty  much 
concluded  that  her  mission  would  be  a 
fruitless  one  ;  and  that  her  visit  might 
not  be  without  some  good  result,  she 
amiably  applied  herself  to  excuse  the 
fault  of  the  clerk,  who  had  called  down 
the  reproof  of  the  careful  money  dealer, 
by  not  maJcing  one  icafer  serve  to  seal  two 
letters.  Lafitte  listened  attentively,  and 
afterward  presented  to  the  lady  a  check 
for  one  thousand  francs,  saying,  at  the 
same  time : 

"  If,  in  my  career,  I  had  not  econo- 
mized in  trifles,  it  would  not  be  so  easy 
for  me  to  have  contributed  to-day  to 
the  excellent  object  which  you  have  in 
hand.  Pray,  look  in  upon  me  from 
time  to  time  !  " 


Chickering:  and  his  Employes  on 
"Blue"  Day. 

The  third  of  October,  1857,  is  still 
remembered  and  spoken  of  in  Boston 
business  circles,  as  "blue  day;"  and 
could  all  the  incidents  of  mercantile 
and  trading  life  on  that  day  be  gather- 
ed in  the  form  of  a  volume,  it  would 
constitute  a  book  of  chronicles  indeed. 
One  of  those  incidents— but  in  this  case 
a  refreshing  one — is  well  known  to 
many,  but  will  bear  repetition.  The 
firm  of  Chickering  &  Sons  emiDloyed  in 
their  establishment  over  three  hundred 
persons,  and  consequently  their  weekly 
pay  roll  was  very  large.  Owing  to 
non-remittances,  from  all  parts  of  the 
country,  of  funds  due,  this  firm  did 
not  pay  their  men,  having  business 
paper  maturing  which  required  all 
their  available  money.  The  men,  with- 
out one  dissenting  voice,  passed  a  se- 
ries of  resolutions  tendering  to  Messrs. 
Chickering  their  regrets  at  such  a 
financial  crisis,  and  stating  their  wil- 
lingness and  ability  to  wait  for  their 
pay  until  a  more  favorable  time,  also 
intimating  in  the  kindest  manner  that 
if  a  loan  of  six  or  eight  thousand  dol- 


682 


COMMERCIAL   AND   BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


lars  would  be  useful  at  that  moment, 
they  would  be  happy  to  tender  that 
sum    as   a   willing   contribution  from 

their  savings. 

— « — 

Prench.  Female  Plot  against  a  Clerk. 

A  VERY  elegantly  dressed  lady  once 
entered  one  of  the  most  fashionable 
shops  in  Toulouse,  in  quest  of  some  ar- 
ticles indispensable  for  the  toilette  of  a 
lady  a  la  mode.  A  rich  carriage  waited 
at  the  door,  and  everything  about  the 
lady  was  calculated  to  inspire  the 
greatest  confidence. 

The  shopping  was  soon  done,  and 
the  bill  presented.  "It  is  well,"  said 
the  lady ;  "  send  one  of  your  clerks 
with  me — ^he  shall  be  paid,  and  the 
carriage  shall  bring  him  back." 

A  clerk  is  soon  ready;  the  carriage 
moves  on,  and  after  a  short  ride,  stops 
before  a  large  building.  The  door  is 
opened,  and  the  lady  and  the  clerk 
enter  a  parlor.  After  a  few  minutes' 
delay,  a  gentleman  of  very  respectable 
appearance  enters,  and  receives  them 
cordially. 

"  Take  charge  of  Monsieur — I  will 
soon  return,"  says  the  lady,  and  leaves. 
In  two  minutes  the  noise  of  carriage 
w^heels  is  heard. 

The  young  man,  thus  left  alone  with 
the  gentleman,  becomes  impatient,  and 
exclaims : 

"  Pay  me,  if  you  please." 

"  For  what  ?  " 

"For  the  shawls  and  dresses,  you 
know." 

"  Be  not  so  hasty,  my  young  friend, 
I'll  answer." 

"  For  what  ? " 

"  For  your  convalescence — calm  your- 
self" 

The  clerk  was  thinking  all  the  time 
that  he  was  speaking  to  the  lady-cus- 
tomer's brother,  when,  in  reality,  he 

was  addressing  Dr.  D ,  a  celebrated 

physician  of  maniacs.  The  lady  had 
made  the  doctor  a  visit  shortly  before 
making    her    bargain — had    consulted 


him,  and  solicited  his  aid  in  favor  of 
her  young  brother,  who  was  mentally 
deranged.  She  had  given  him  a  full 
account  of  the  mania  of  this  brother, 
who,  she  said,  believed  himself  to  be 
the  clerk  of  some  merchant,  and  would 
continually  demand  money  for  shawls 
and  dresses,  which  he  had  sold  on  ac- 
count of  his  employer.  Dr.  D ,  be- 
lieving thus  that  he  was  with  a  lunatic, 
treats  him  as  such.  The  clerk  asks  for 
his  money;  the  doctor,  offers  him  a 
room.  At  last  the  young  man  works 
himself  into  a  passion,  and  screams,  in 
despair,  most  fearfully.  This  only  con- 
firms the  doctor's  suspicion,  and  he  is 
contemplating  treating  his  patient  to 
shower  baths,  when  the  clerk  demands 
paper  and  ink,  proposing  to  write  to 
his  employer.  The  doctor  agrees,  think- 
ing to  discover  some  new  symptom. 
The  letter  is  written  and  despatched; 
half  an  hour  afterward,  the  merchant 
arrives,  and  an  explanation  ensues. 
The  success  of  the  plot  was  up  to  this 
moment  complete.  The  beautiful  lady 
was — nowhere. 


Serious  Bargain  for  a  Clerkship. 

Not  many  months  ago,  a  hop  dealer 
of  the  neighborhood  of  Prague  entered 
the  counting  house  of  a  large  merchant 
of  the  latter  place,  with  whom  he  had 
commercial  relations.  The  latter  asked 
him  how  business  was  going  on,  when 
he  replied  :  "  I  am  doing  so  little  that 
I  am  almost  inclined  to  enter  your  ser- 
vice as  a  clerk."  "  What  salary  would 
you  require?"  asked  the  merchant. 
"  Only  two  thousand  florins  a  year," 
replied  the  other,  laughing.  The  mer- 
chant shook  hands  with  him,  saying, 
"  That  is  a  bargain."  After  a  little 
further  conversation  the  hop  dealer  re- 
tired, and  neither  one  nor  the  other 
appeared  to  think  any  more  of  the 
matter. 

Six  days  after,  a  considerable  rise 
began  to  take  place  in  hops,  and  the 
merchant  went    to   Saaz,  the    largest 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


683 


market  in  Bohemia,  to  make  purchases, 
and  to  his  annoyance  found  that  the 
dealer  had  got  the  start  of  him,  and 
purchased  all  he  could  find.  Meeting 
the  dealer  in  the  street,  the  merchant 
asked  him  what  hops  he  had  purchas- 
ed, and  the  price.  "  That  is  my  affair," 
was  the  reply.  "  What  do  you  mean 
by  your  affair  ?  You  forget,  then,  that 
you  are  my  clerk,  and  that  I  have  a 
right  to  inquire  what  business  you  trans- 
act on  my  account.  You  are  free  to 
cancel  your  engagement  hereafter,  but 
for  the  present  you  act  for  me." 

The  dealer  went  to  consult  an  advo- 
cate, who  told  him  that  his  engage- 
ment as  a  clerk  was  legally  valid,  and 
that  in  any  case  a  trial  would  be  a 
tedious  affair.  He  then  went  to  the 
merchant,  and  after  a  long  discussion 
agreed  to  jDay  four  thousand  florins 
(two  thousand  dollars)  damages  for 
cancelling  his  engagement,  in  order  to 
retain  for  his  own  account  the  profit- 
able speculation  he  had  made.  When 
the  money  had  been  paid,  the  Prague 
merchant  declared  that  he  would  not 
keep  a  farthing  of  it,  and  distributed 
it  among  some  poor  relations  of  the 
dealer. 


Refusal  to  become  Girard's  Cashier; 
the  Reason  Why. 

GiRATiD  had  a  high  appreciation  of 
the  business  capacity  of  Joseph  L.  In- 
glis — especially  as  an  accurate  and  rap- 
id accountant — as  well  as  undoubting 
confidence  in  his  integrity.  For  his 
strict  religious  character  he  had  not 
the  least  regard.  When  the  cashier  of 
his  bank  died,  he  tendered  the  place  to 
Mr.  Inglis,  who  was  then  clerk  in  an 
insurance  company. 

"  Mr.  Girard,"  was  the  immediate  re- 
ply, "  I  cannot  serve  you."  Mr.  Inglis 
well  knew  that  Girard  had  no  respect 
for  the  Sabbath,  and  that  in  his  service 
he  would  be  called  on  to  post  his  books 
and  attend  to  financial  matters  on  that 
day. 


"  Why  you  not  serve  me  ?  "  said  the 
rich  banker  ;  "  I  give  you  more  salary 
than  you  get  now.  It  is  a  better  place. 
Why  you  not  be  my  cashier  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Girard,"  was  the  grave  and  de- 
termined answer,  "  I  appreciate  all 
that ;  but  you  and  I  serve  different 
masters,  and  we  never  could  agree." 
Mr.  Girard  understood  the  allusion, 
and  said  no  more. 


Reason  for  Trusting-  a  Clerk. 

The  late  president  of  the  United 
States  Bank  once  dismissed  a  private 
clerk,  because  the  latter  refused  to 
write  for  him  on  the  Sabbath. 

The  young  man,  with  a  mother  de- 
pendent on  his  exertions,  was  thus 
thrown  out  of  employment,  by  what 
some  would  call  an  over-nice  scruple 
of  conscience.  But  a  few  days  after, 
when  the  president  was  requested  to 
nominate  a  cashier  for  another  bank, 
he  recommended  this  very  individual, 
mentioning  this  incident  as  a  sufficient 
testimony  to  his  trustworthiness. 

"  You  can  trust  him,"  said  he,  "  for 
he  would  not  work  for  me  on  the  Sab- 
bath." 


Too  Conscientious  an  Accountant. 

A  CLERK  in  Boston  was  dismissed 
from  his  place,  because  he  Mould  not 
become  a  party  to  a  falsification  in  a 
trade,  by  which  refusal  on  his  part  the 
firm  failed  to  secure  several  hundred 
dollars  which  did  not  belong  to  them, 
but  which  they  expected  to  obtain. 
For  this  fidelity  to  truth,  which  ought 
to  have  added  a  hundred  per  cent,  to 
the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held 
by  his  employers,  the  young  man  was 
dismissed  from  his  position.  A  few 
days  afterward,  hearing  of  a  vacant  sit- 
uation, he  applied  for  it.  The  mer- 
chant, who  wished  for  an  accountant, 
asked  if  he  could  refer  him  to  any  in- 
dividual by  whom  he  was  known,  and 
who  would  recommend  him  as  an  up- 


684 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


right  young  man.  Conscious  of  his 
uprightness,  he  replied,  "  I  have  just 

been  dismissed    from    Mr.   's,   of 

whom  you  may  inquire.  He  has  tried 
me,  he  has  known  me."  When  applied 
to,  his  former  employer  gave  a  full  and 
free  recommendation,  and  added,  "  He 
was  too  conscientious  about  little 
matters."  This  young  man  is  now  part- 
ner in  a  large  firm  in  Boston,  and  on 
the  high  road  to  honorable  wealth. 


Misfortune  Tending:  to  Liberality. 

A  WEALTHY  merchant  having  lost, 
by  one  shipwreck,  to  the  value  of  sev- 
enty thousand  dollars,  ordered  his 
clerk  to  distribute  five  hundred  dollars 
among  poor  ministers  and  other  per- 
sons ;  adding,  that  if  his  fortune  was 
going  by  seventy  thousand  dollars  at  a 
lump,  it  was  high  time  to  make  sure 
of  some  part  of  it  before  it  was  gone. 
The  clerk  forthwith  proceeded  to  dis- 
pense that  charity  which  knows  no 
earthly  account  book. 


Shocking-  Ignorance  of  City  Clerks 
Illustrated. 

An  illiterate  deacon,  in  a  certain  town 
adjacent  to  Worcester,  Mass.,  gave  to 
the  coachman  a  slip  of  paper,  upon 
which,  he  said,  were  written  the  names 
of  a  couple  of  books  which  he  wished 
him  to  call  for  at  Mr.  A.'s  bookstore. 
The  driver  called  a*  the  store,  and 
handing  the  memorandum  to  a  clerk, 
said,  "  There's  a  couple  of  books  which 
Deacon  B.  wished  you  to  send  him." 
The  clerk,  upon  a  careful  examination 
of  the  paper,  was  unable  to  make 
"  head  or  tail "  of  it,  and  passed  it  to 
the  bookkeeper,  who  was  supposed  to 
know  something  of  letters  ;  but  to  him 
it  was  also  "  Greek."  The  proprietor 
was  called,  and  he  also  gave  the  thing 
up  in  despair ;  and  it  was  finally  con- 
cluded to  send  the  memorandum  back 
to  the  deacon,  as  it  was  supposed  that 
he  must  have  sent  the  wrong  paper. 


As.  the  coach  arrived  at  the  village 
inn,  the  driver  saw  the  deacon  waiting 
on  the  steps.  "  Well,  driver,"  said  he, 
"  did  you  get  my  books  to-day  ? " 
"  Boohs  ?  no — and  a  good  reason  why, 
for  there  couldn't  a  man  in  Worcester 
read  your  old  hen-tracks."  "  Couldn't 
read  'ritin'  ?  Let  me  see  the  paper  !  " 
The  driver  drew  it  from  his  jDocket, 
and  passed  it  to  the  deacon ;  who, 
taking  out  and  carefully  adjusting  his 
spectacles,  held  the  memorandum  at 
arm's  length,  exclaiming,  as  he  did  so, 
in  a  very  satisfied  tone,  "  Why,  it's  as 
plain  as  the  nose  on  your  face  ! — '  T  o 
S-A-M  B-u-x — two  psalm  books  ! '  I 
guess  those  city  clerks  had  better  go 
to  school  again ! "  And  here  the 
deacon  muttered  some  impatient  reflec- 
tions upon  the  times  and  of  clerks  in 
particular,  the  want  of  attention  to 
books  by  the  risin'  generation,  &c.,  &c. 


Bank  Clerks  and  their  "Friends." 

The  embezzlement  of  bank  funds,  in 
many  cases,  has  either  had  its  origin  in, 
or  been  greatly  aggravated  by  the  folly 
and  vice  of  gambling;  and  this  has 
generally  been  brought  about  by  the 
persuasion  or  the  arts  of  persons  con- 
nected with  gambling  houses.  The 
bank  clerk  or  the  bank  officer,  is  a 
most  promising  victim  in  this  line,  if 
he  can  be  induced  to  make  the  first  ex- 
periment in  such  a  direction;  and  a 
single  victim  will  reward  many  plans. 
The  following  is  one  instance  of  this 
kind : 

A  paying  teller  accepted  the  invita- 
tion of  a  friend  to  take  a  ride  in  the 
country.  The  farther  end  of  the  ride 
proved  to  be  a  house  frequented  by 
sporting  characters.  He  believed  this 
to  be  accidental — until  a  subsequent 
proposition,  after  an  interval  of  sev- 
eral weeks,  revealed  the  true  character 
and  design  of  his  polite  friend — and 
the  natural  result  followed. 

Thus  inveigled,  this  clerk  or  teller 
practised  fraud  on  a  most  adroit  plan. 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


685 


He  began  by  certifying  a  check  in  ad- 
vance of  the  dealer's  deposit ;  and  on 
the  following  day  certified  another, 
that  it  might  be  negotiated,  and  the 
means  thus  obtained  to  remove  the  first 
out  of  sight ;  to  provide  for  the  second, 
a  third  was  certified — and  so  continu- 
ously on,  the  negotiations  of  one  day 
furnishing  the  means  to  redeem  the 
checks  of  the  day  before.  The  amount 
was  gradually  increased,  until  twelve 
or  fifteen  checks,  for  amounts  between 
four  and  five  thousand  dollars  each,  were 
afloat  in  the  various  channels  of  negotia- 
tion. They  were  drawn  for  irregular 
sums,  that  they  might  wear  a  business- 
like appearance.  No  entry  was  made 
of  any  of  them  on  the  books,  and  no 
apparent  deficiency  was  caused  in  the 
teller's  daily  cash.  An  examination  of 
his  statement  would  have  developed  no 
clue  to  the  fraud,  which  consisted  en- 
tirely of  floating  certifications.  There 
were  two  confederates  in  the  plan — one 
a  dealer  at  the  bank,  and  the  other  a 
broker  whose  account  had  been  closed 
for  iiTcgularity  several  months  before 
the  exposure  came  about.  As  the  fraud 
conld  be  maintained  only  by  a  com- 
plete daily  renewal  and  negotiation  of 
the  whole  of  it,  the  three  met  in  the 
evening  at  the  office  of  the  broker,  and 
the  teller  was  advised  of  the  banks  in 
which  the  checks  had  been  deposited, 
so  that  he  could  lay  aside  those  parti- 
cular exchanges  in  the  morning,  and 
thus  prevent  them  from  passing  into 
the  hands  of  the  assistant  teller.  It 
was  then  also  ascertained  what  amount 
of  checks  must  be  negotiated  on  the 
following  day,  and  they  were  written 
by  the  confederates  and  then  certified 
by  the  paying  teller.  The  develop- 
ments of  the  case  proved  that  this 
process  had  been  carried  on  for  many 
months,  the  amount  gradually  increas- 
ing, until  it  reached  seventy-five  thou- 
sand dollars.  There  had  been,  in  the 
mean  time,  five  or  six  examinations  by 
committees  of  the  directors,  and  the 
usual  certificate  of  accuracy  in  the  ac- 


counts was  recorded.  The  teller  who 
perpetrated  this  fraud  was  a  very  ac- 
complished clerk.  His  self-possession, 
when  all  around  him  was  excitement 
and  hurry,  seemed  to  increase  with  the 
emergency.  He  manifested  an  extraor- 
dinary faculty  for  detecting  the  slight- 
est indications  of  fraudulent  or  dishon- 
orable purpose  in  others,  and  the  bank 
owed  to  him  many  fortunate  escapes 
from  loss  by  the  various  tricks  and  im- 
positions which  are  practised  by  deal- 
ers when  in  extremity.  It  was  subse- 
quently ascertained  that  he  had  been 
a  regular  attendant  at  a  gambling 
house. 

After  the  development  of  the  fraud 
in  question,  several  respectable  dealers 
with  the  bank  came  forward  and  said : 
"  Didn't  you  know  that  that  fellow  was 
a  gambler? — why,  I've  known  it  for 
more  than  a  year."  "  Why  didn't  you 
tell  us  of  it  ?  "  "  Because  it  wasn't  my 
business." 


Bookkeepingr  in  Former  Times. 

In  the  middle  of  the  last  century  in 
this  country,  as  at  a  somewhat  earlier 
period  in  England,  it  was  not  the  uni- 
versal practice  of  merchants, — except 
those  who  were  in  very  extensive  busi- 
ness,— to  have  a  regular  set  of  books 
kept  by  a  partner  or  clerk.  The  trans- 
actions of  the  day  were  entered  in  a 
waste,  and  once  or  twice  a  week,  ac- 
cording to  the  extent  of  the  business, 
a  professed  bookkeeper,  well  versed  in 
what  were  considered  the  mysteries  of 
his  calling,  came  and  compiled  the 
journal  and  ledger.  It  was  only  in 
the  progress  of  time,  and  at  a  com- 
paratively recent  period,  that  it  was 
deemed  indispensable  to  have  the 
books  wholly  kept  within  the  estab- 
lishment, and  that  the  system  of  double 
entry  was  reduced  substantially  to  its 
present  form.  The  work  of  Booth, 
which  contributed  materially  to  this 
result,  was  published  in  England  so 
lately  as  1789.  He  had  been  a  practical 


686 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


merchant  both  in  London  and  New 
York. 


Keeping-  Accounts  in  Guinea. 

The  Guinea  merchants  give  and 
receive  receipts  for  all  their  goods  in 
writing.  Agreements  of  all  kinds, 
and  promissory  notes,  and  orders, 
from  w^hom  they  trade,  are  folded 
carefully  and  tied  in  the  corners 
of  their  handkerchiefs.  A  native  trader, 
doing  business  with  ten  or  fifteen  ships 
at  the  same  time,  and  whose  transac- 
tions extend  to  every  article  of  com- 
merce they  have,  has  an  incredible  num- 
ber of  written  documents  or  books  per- 
taining to  his  business,  but  the  wrong 
book  is  never  known  to  be  presented. 


Placing:  the  Pen  behind  tha  Ear. 

The  practice,  so  general  among  mer- 
chants and  clerks,  of  resting  their  pen 
behind  the  ear,  when  not  in  actual 
use,  is  ancient.  According  to  the  best 
account  concerning  this  matter,  the 
scribes  in  ancient  Egypt  would  clap 
the  reed-pencil  which  they  used  be- 
hind the  ear,  when  listening  to  any 
person  on  business,  as  the  painter  was 
also  in  the  habit  of  doing  when  paus- 
ing to  examine  the  effects  of  his  paint- 
ing. In  the  middle  ages,  also,  public 
clerks  "and  registrars  were  accustomed 
to  carry  a  pen  behind  the  ear. 


Waste-Book  and  Ledger— their 
Meaning:. 
The  waste-book  in  a  counting  room 
is  that  in  which  all  the  transactions  of 
the  day,  receipts,  payments,  etc.,  are 
entered  miscellaneously  as  they  occur, 
and  of  which  no  account  is  imme- 
diately taken,  no  value  immediately 
found ;  whence,  so  to  speak,  the  mass 
of  affairs  is  undigested,  and  the  wilder- 
ness or  waste  is  uncultivated,  and  with- 
out result  until  entries  are  methodically 
made  in  the  day-book  and  ledger,  with- 
out which  latter  appliances  there  would, 


in  business  dealings,  and  in  bookkeep- 
ing, be  icaste  indeed,  in  the  worst  sense 
of  the  term. 

Another  explanation  of  this  term  may 
be  found  in  the  following:  The  mer- 
chant's system  of  bookkeeping  was  not 
invented  perfect.  Thus,  in  many  re- 
spectable shops,  in  the  country  espe- 
cially, these  waste-books  formerly  con- 
sisted of  a  quire  or  two  of  the  com- 
monest paper  used  in  the  trade  there 
carried  on,  that  would  bear  pen  and 
ink,  sewed  together.  An  advance  upon 
this  was  the  waste-book  as  a  distinct 
book,  bound  and  ruled,  of  which  the 
day-book  or  journal  is  merely  a  fair 
copy  ;  and  this  being  made,  the  former 
is  held  of  no  account.  The  word 
"  ledger  "  is  of  Dutch  derivation,  sig- 
nifying a  book  that  lies  in  the  count- 
ing house  permanently  in  one  place. 
The  word  "  day-book  "  explains  itself. 


Cost  of  a  K"ap  on  the  Ledg-er. 

It  was  a  hot  sultry  day  in  the  latter 
part  of  August,  a  day  truly  worthy  of 
New  York ;  the  dirt  in  the  streets, 
which  had  been  swept  into  little  heaps, 
was  scattered  about  by  the  cart  wheels 
and  found  its  way  into  every  nook  and 
crevice, — a  day  which  makes  merchants' 
clerks  wish  for  a  mouthful  of  pure  air 
and  a  cool  draught  of  that  which 
"  drips  from  the  old  oaken  bucket." 

In  the  afternoon  of  this  very  day, 
there  might  have  been  seen  in  the 
counting  room  of  Messrs.  Shaver  & 
Skinem — if  that  be  the  correct  read- 
ing of  the  sign, — a  pale,  sickly  looking 
young  man,  about  twenty  years  of 
age ;  he  is  bending  over  a  large  ledger, 
but  he  soon  closes  it,  and  resting  his 
head  upon  his  hand  he  gazes  at  the 
cover,  but  he  does  not  see  it,  for  his 
thoughts  are  far  away  on  the  banks  of 
the  Hudson. 

"I  wish  I  was  at  home — he  solilo- 
quizes. Brother  John  must  be  driving 
the  cows  from  pasturing,  and  the  boys 
collecting  the  sheep  from  the  hills,  and 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


687 


tlie  fowls  going  to  roost  on  the  old 
pear  tree,  and  the  whippoorwill  singing 
his  clear  song  on  the  cow-yard  fence. 
I  wish  /  was  there."  Now  his  head 
has  fallen  on  the  ledger,  and  wearied 
by  incessant  toil  he  has  sunk  into  a 
quiet  slumber.  It  will  take  many  hours 
of  railroad  travel  to  reach  the  destina- 
tion of  his  thoughts,  for  they  are  far, 
far  away  from  the  city. 

Look !  something  more  than  a 
shadow  glides  in  at  the  doors, 
cautiously  unlocks  a  drawer  of  the 
safe,  and  takes  therefrom  something 
that  looks  very  like  a  five-hundred- 
dollar  bank  note — he  closes  the  drawer, 
locks  it,  and  glides  out  so  quick,  so 
noiselessly,  that  he  disturbed  nothing ; 
and  the  clerk,  all  unconsciously,  still 
sleeps  on. 

Suddenly  he  wakes  with  a  convul- 
sive start,  but  he  soon  resumes  his  usual 
composure  ;  he  puts  the  book  into  the 
safe,  locks  it,  and  calling  to  the  porter, 
who  is  on  the  next  floor  above,  he  tells 
him  he  can  close  the  office  now  for  he 
is  going  home.  Home,  indeed !  A  home 
from  necessity — a  boarding  house. 

The  next  day  he  is  looked  at  with  a 
suspicious  eye  by  Messrs.  Shaver  & 
Skinem,  and  in  the  afternoon  a  gentle- 
man with  a  star  on  his  breast  walks 
into  the  office  and  presents  a  warrant 
for  the  arrest  of  Christopher  Call,  clerk 
with  Messrs.  Shaver  &  Skinem,  charged 
with  grand  larceny.  That  night  he 
sleeps  in  the  Tombs — Tombs  for  the 
living,  not  for  the  dead,  though  there 
are  deaths  there  very  often.  He  is 
tried — pleading  not  guilty  ;  he  looked 
so  thin  and  pale,  and  his  voice  was  so 
hollow,  but  clear  and  distinct,  that  it 
is  said  that  he  haunted  the  court-room 
for  months  afterward.  Yet  he  was 
acquitted.  That  night  he  was  thunder- 
ing along  the  railroad,  and  early  the 
next  morning  he  was — at  home.  But 
he  was  sick,  yes,  very  sick,  for  more 
than  a  month  after.  But  he  at  last  re- 
gained his  health.  He  never  entered 
into  mercantile  life  again,  but  he  com- 


menced farming,  and  became  a  wealthy 
and  much  respected  farmer  in  the 
vicinity  of  Hudson. 


The  Prose  of  Shopkeeping  set  to 
Poetry. 

'  She  stood  beside  the  counter. 

The  day  he'll  ne'er  forget ; 
She  thought  the  muslin  dearer 

Than  any  she'd  seen  yet. 
He  watched  her  playful  fingers 

The  silks  and  satins  toss  ; — 
The  clerk  looked  quite  uneasy, 

And  nodded  to  the  boss. 

*  Show  me  some  velvet  ribbon, 

Barege  and  satin  turc,' 
She  said  ;  '  I  want  to  purchase  ! ' 

Then  gave  the  goods  a  jerk ; 
The  clerk  was  all  obedience — 

He  travelled  '  on  his  shape  ; ' 
At  length,  with  hesitation. 

She  bought — a  yard  of  tape  I " 


Scissors  vs.  Shears. 

"  Is  that  the  lowest  you  can  take  for 
these  lawns,  Mr.  Scissors  ? " 

"  Yes,  Miss,  the  very  least,  and  a  bar- 
gain they  are  too;  I  bought  them  at 
auction,  where  they  were  closed  out  at 
a  great  sacrifice,  and  I  ofi"er  them  to  you 
precisely  at  cost.'''' 

"  But  I  saw  the  same  goods  at  Shears 
&  Co.'s  at  five  cents  a  yard  less." 

"  Not  the  same  goods  at  all,  ma'am ; 
theirs  are  steam  colors,  quite  an  imita- 
tion article,  and  not  near  so  wide  as 
this ! " 

The  lady,  being  timid  on  the  point 
of  colors,  is  at  last  persuaded  to  pay 
the  price  ;  and  the  shopkeeper  pockets 
his  fifteen  per  cent,  profit  with  as  much 
complacency  as  if  he  had  only  drawn 
out  his  purse  to  give  a  dollar  in 
charity.  ^ 

Obtaining   a  Clerkship   in   a  Banking 
House. 
Mr.  Lawson,  one  of  the  most  reada- 
ble   English    authors    on  money  and 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


finance,  has  given  a  sketchy  account  of 
his  first  connection  with  the  banking 
fraternity.  On  visiting  Lombard  street 
one  day,  to  get  a  shilling  changed  into 
pennies,  he,  impelled  by  some  unknown 
and  indefinable  influence,  boldly  ven- 
tured into  the  office  of  one  of  the 
largest  banking  houses  in  that  noted 
locality.  What  took  place,  he  thus 
narrates : — 

I  looked  about  me,  but  nobody  ap- 
peared to  take  any  notice.  I  saw 
young  men  standing  behind  long 
counters,  weighing  gold  and  silver  in 
scales.  I  stood  there  for  some  time, 
watching  the  tellers,  and  inwardly 
admiring  the  magnificence  of  the 
money-changers ;  at  last  I  said  to  one 
of  them,  "Pray,  sir,  do  you  want  a 
clerk  ? "  He  answered  sharply,  "  Who 
told  you  that  we  wanted  a  clerk  ? "  I 
replied,  "  Nobody  told  me  so,  but, 
having  recently  left  school,  I  am  desir- 
ous of  getting  some  employment.  I 
am  living  with  my  mother,  who  cannot 
afibrd  to  keep  me  idle  at  home,  and 
what  to  do,  I  know  not." 

Whether  the  teller  was  struck  with 
the  novelty  of  the  application,  or  the 
reason  I  adduced  for  making  it,  I  never 
could  discover.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that, 
after  waiting  about  ten  minutes,  I  was 
requested  to  walk  into  the  partners' 
room. 

On  my  entering  this  sanctum  sancto- 
rum, I  perceived  three  persons  sitting 
at  a  table.  One  was  a  venerable  and 
amiable  looking  old  gentleman,  the 
head  of  the  firm ;  the  others  were 
younger.  One  of  the  latter,  the  junior 
partner,  addressed  me,  putting  the 
question  the  teller  had  done ;  and, 
nothing  daunted,  I  gave  the  same  an- 
swer, adding,  "I  do  not  like  to  be 
beholden  to  my  friends  for  my  support, 
if  I  can  anyhow  get  my  own  living." 

"A  very  praiseworthy  determina- 
tion," he  said  ;  "  and  how  old  are  you, 
my  boy,  and  how  long  have  you  been 
from  school?"  Having  satisfied  him 
upon  these  points,  he  continued  his 


queries,  asking  what  sort  of  a  hand  I 
wrote.  "  A  very  good  one,"  I  replied, 
"  at  least  so  my  master  used  to  say  ;  " 
and  at  the  same  time  pulling  out  my 
school  copy-book,  which  I  had  been 
thoughtful  enough  to  put  in  my  pocket, 
I  displayed  it  before  them.  "  Aye,"  he 
said,  "  that  is  very  good  writing ;  but 
can  you  get  any  one  to  be  security  for 
you  ?  "  I  said  at  once,  and  without  the 
least  hesitation,  "  Yes,  sir."  This  reply 
was  made  without  my  having  at  that 
time  the  remotest  idea  what  the  term 
security  meant,  as  applied  in  the  sense 
in  which  he  used  it.  I  gave  him  the 
name  of  a  gentleman,  who  I  said  would 
no  doubt  do  what  was  required  ;  I  also 
gave  him  the  name  of  the  steward  of 
Christ's  Hospital. 

Inquiries  were  made  of  these  gentle- 
men, which  proving  satisfactory,  I 
received  on  the  following  Wednesday 
a  visit  from  the  gentleman  at  the  bank- 
ing house  whom  I  had  accosted  on  my 
first  entering,  and  who  on  this  occasion 
said  he  was  very  happy  to  be  the  bearer 
of  the  intelligence  that  I  had  been  n,p- 
pointed  to  a  clerkship  in  the  banking 
house  of  Barclay,  Tritton,  Bevan  &  Cc, 
and  that  I  was  to  commence  the  duties 
of  my  office  on  the  following  morning. 
"  Your  salary,"  he  added,  "  will  be 
seventy  pounds  per  annum."  This  was 
indeed  a  most  agreeable  and  joyful  piece 
of  information,  and  such  as  I  had  no 
reason  to  expect.  I  accordingly  made 
my  appearance  at  the  office  on  the  fol- 
lowing morning,  which  but  a  week 
before  I  had  entered  a  wandering 
stranger.  I  remained  in  the  house 
fifteen  years,  when  the  love  of  change 
operating  upon  an  active  mind,  induced 
me  to  leave  the  bank,  and  seek  for  more 
enlivening  scenes. 


Wife  of  a  Merchant's  Clerk. 

A  merchant's  clerk,  of  the  Rue 
Hautville,  took  it  into  his  head  to  get 
married.  His  master  had  a  niece  *of 
Spanish  birth,  an  orphan— not  pretty, 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


689 


though  very  sensible  and  well  inform- 
ed. At  the  balls,  during  the  winter, 
little  or  no  attention  was  paid  to  her ; 
indeed,  she  seemed  to  attend  them 
rather  as  a  whim  than  from  inclination 
or  amusement,  as  she  seldom  danced. 
But  if  she  did  not  dance,  she  noticed 
much,  and  listened  to  more.  The  clerk 
soon  observed  that  the  lady  was  only 
invited  to  dance  when  no  other  partner 
could  be  obtained.  She  herself  had 
already  noticed  the  same  fact.  Being 
a  gallant  man,  he  acted  accordingly. 
The  incidents  that  led  to  the  denouement 
may  be  easily  divined.  In  six  weeks 
after  his  first  dance  with  the  fair  Span- 
iard, he  obtained  her  permission  to  ask 
her  uncle  for  her  hand  in  marriage. 
He,  astonished,  gave  his  clerk's  pro- 
posal a  very  cool  reception,  and  then 
had  a  long  interview  with  his  niece. 
Finally,  however,  all  was  arranged,  and 
the  lovers  were  married  on  Tuesday. 
The  Thursday  after,  at  breakfast,  Ade- 
line said  to  her  husband,  who  exhibited 
considerable  chagrin  at  being  compelled 
to  return  to  the  duties  of  his  office  thus 
early  in  the  honeymoon  : 

"Very  well — don't  go  there — go 
there  no  more  1 " 

"  My  love,  it  is  very  easy  to  say  so, 
but"— 

"  Easy  to  say  and  easy  to  do — both. 
I  have  a  million  and  a  half.  Nobody 
knows  it  but  my  uncle.  I  always  made 
a  point  of  forgetting  it  myself,  because 
I  wished  to  choose  a  really  disinterested 
husband.  There  need  be  no  more  office- 
work  for  you,  if  you  do  not  wish  it. 
Yet  still,  my  advice  is,  husband,  that 
you  neglect  nothing."  It  is  rather  to 
be  feared,  that  notwithstanding  the 
advice  of  "  my  love,"  the  revelation  of 
her  "million  and  a  half"  caused  him 
to  "  spread  "  somewhat. 


Ben  liippincott,  Girard's  Clerk. 

Mr.  Girard  had  a  favorite  clerk,  and 
he  always  said  "  he  intended  to  do  well 
by  Ben  Lippincott."     So    when    Ben 
44 


got  to  be  twenty-one,  he  expected  to 
hear  the  governor  say  something  of  his 
future  prospects,  and  perhaps  lend  a 
helping  hand  in  starting  him  in  the 
world.  But  the  old  fox  carefully  avoid- 
ed the  subject.  Ben  mustered  courage. 
"I  supj)ose  I  am  free,  sir,"  said  he, 
"  and  I  thought  I  would  say  something 
to  you  as  to  my  course ;  what  do  you 
think  I  would  better  do  ? '  "  Yes,  yes, 
I  know  you  are,"  said  the  old  million- 
naire,  "  and  my  advice  is  that  you  go 
and  learn  the  cooper's  trade."  This 
application  of  ice  nearly  froze  Ben  out, 
but  recovering  equilibrium,  he  said  if 
Mr.  Girard  was  in  earnest,  he  would,  do 
so.  "  I  am  in  earnest ;  "  and  Ben  sought 
the  best  cooper  in  Spring  Garden,  be- 
came an  apprentice,  and  in  due  time 
could  make  as  good  a  barrel  as  the 
best.  He  announced  to  old  Stephen 
that  he  had  graduated,  and  was  ready 
to  set  up  business.  The  old  man 
seemed  gratified,  and  immediately  or- 
dered three  of  the  best  barrels  he  could 
turn  out.  Ben  did  his  prettiest,  and 
wheeled  them  up  to  the  old  man's 
counting  room.  Old  Girard  pro- 
nounced them  first  rate,  and  demanded 
the  price.  "  One  dollar,"  said  Ben, 
"  is  now  as  low  as  I  can  live  by." 
"  Cheap  enough — make  out  your  bill." 

The  bill  was  made  out,  and  "old 
Steve"  settled  it  with  a  check  for 
$20,000,  which  he  accompanied  with 
this  little  moral  to  the  story  : — 

"There,  take  that,  and  invest  it  in 
the  best  possible  manner,  and  if  you 
are  unfortunate  and  lose  it,  you  have  a 
good  trade  to  fall  back  upon,  which 
will  afford  you  a  good  living." 


Sample  Clerk  wanted  in  a  Drug  Store. 

Jem  B.  is  a  wag.  A  joke  to  Jem  is 
both  food  and  raiment ;  and  whenever 
and  wherever  there  is  an  opening  for 
fun,  he  "  goes  into  "  it. 

Jem  was  recently  in  a  drug  store, 
when  a  youth,  apparently  fresh  from 
the  "  mounting,"  entered  the  store,  and 


690 


COMMERCIAL   AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


at  once  accosted  Jem,  stating  that  he 
was  in  search  of  a  job. 

"  What  kind  of  a  job  ?  "  inquired  the 
wag. 

"  Oh,  a'most  anything — I  want  to  git 
a  kind  of  a  ginteel  job ;  I'm  tired  o' 
farmin',  an'  kin  turn  my  hand  to  most 
anything." 

"  Well,  we  want  a  man — a  good, 
strong,  healthy  man,  as  sample  clerk." 

''  What's  the  wages  ?  " 

"  Wages  are  good ;  we  pay  $1,000  to 
a  man  in  that*  situation." 

"  What's  a  feller  have  to  do  ?  " 

"  Oh,  merely  to  test  medicines,  that's 
all.  It  requires  a  stout  man,  one  of 
good  constitution,  and  after  he  gets 
used  to  it,  he  doesn't  mind  it.  You  see, 
we  are  very  particular  about  the  qual- 
ity of  our  medicines,  and  before  we  sell 
any,  we  test  every  parcel.  You  would 
be  required  to  take — say,  six  or  seven 
ounces  of  castor  oil  some  days,  with  a 
few  doses  of  rhubarb,  aloes,  croton  oil, 
and  similar  preparations.  Some  days 
you  would  not  be  required  to  test  any- 
thing ;  but,  as  a  general  thing,  you  can 
count  upon — say,  from  six  to  ten  doses 
of  something  daily.  As  to  the  work, 
that  does  not  amount  to  much — the 
testing  department,  simply,  would  be 
the  principal  labor  required  of  you; 
and,  as  I  said  before,  it  requires  a  per- 
son of  very  healthy  organization  to  en- 
dure it,  but  you  look  hearty  and  I  guess 
you  would  suit  us.  That  young  man 
(pointing  to  a  very  pale-faced,  slim- 
looking  youth,  who  happened  to  be  pres- 
ent) has  filled  the  post  for  the  past  two 
weeks,  but  he  is  hardly  stout  enough  to 
stand  it.  We  should  like  to  have  you 
take  right  hold,  if  you  are  ready,  and  if 
you  say  so,  we'll  begin  to-day.  Here  is 
a  new  barrel  of  castor  oil  just  come  in; 
I'll  go  and  draw  an  ounce — " 

Here  verdant,  who  had  been  gazing 
intently  upon  the  slim  youth,  inter- 
rupted him  with — 

"N-no,  no,  I  g-u-ess  not,  not  to- 
day, anyhow.  I'll  go  down  and  see 
my  aunt;   and  ef  I  o'clude  to  come. 


I'll    come    up   terhiorrer  an'  let    you 
know." 

He  has  not  yet  turned  up. 


Saying  of  an  Old  Merchant. 

A  DISTINGUISHED  merchant,  long  ac- 
customed to  extensive  observation  and 
experience,  and  who  had  gained  an  un- 
common knowledge  of  men,  said: 
"  When  I  see  one  of  my  apprentices  or 
clerks  riding  out  on  the  Sabbath,  on 
Monday  I  dismiss  him.  Such  an  one 
cannot  be  trusted."  There  is  many  a 
clerk,  compelled  to  post  accounts  on 
Sunday,  who  would  be  glad  of  just  such 
an  employer. 

t 

Lady's  Portrait  of  a  Dry  Goods  Clerk. 

A  LADY — somewhat  querulous,  but, 
as  is  generally  the  case,  au  fait  in  mat- 
ters of  shopping — thus  limns,  or,  per- 
haps we  should  say,  lams  the  clerks : — 
Some  stores  in  —  street  (she  says)  are 
noted  and  a\roided,  for  the  imperti- 
nently familiar  manner  which  the 
clerks  think  proper  to  adopt  toward 
their  lady  customers.  When  a  lady 
goes  into  a  store  in  search  of  some 
article  that  she  is  in  want  of,  as  soon 
as  the  gentleman  sees  her,  he  comes 
forward,  makes  a  grimace,  pulls  up  his 
collar,  runs  his  fingers  through  his  hair, 
and  assumes  an  air  of  easy  familiarity 
that  is  quite  refreshing  to  look  upon. 
It  is  true  he  may  not  have  much  sense, 
but  then  he  has  a  wealth  of  smiles ;  in- 
deed, to  listen  to  his  conversation  with 
his  victimized  customer,  a  bystander 
might  come  to  the  conclusion  that  he 
was  proprietor  of  the  establishment, 
and  the  lady  had  made  the  article  in 
question  a  mere  excuse  for  a  morning 
call.  This  is  annoying,  though  in  such 
a  case,  one  can  leave  the  article,  and 
walk  out ;  but  there  is  one  retail  store 
in  this  city  that  is  a  perfect  trap— once 
in  it,  it  is  impossible  to  get  out ;  if  the 
article  does  not  suit  yoa,  you  are  wor- 
ried and  talked  at ;  if  you  attempt  to 


BUSINESS  EMFLOYfiS. 


691 


move  toward  the  door,  you  are  run 
after  and  brought  back ;  if  you  tax 
your  genius  to  give  a  most  unmistaka- 
bly minute  description  of  what  you  do 
■want,  the  reply  is,  "  Oh,  yes,  madam, 
in  the  back  store — if  you  will  walk 
back,  we  have  exactly  the  article  you 
describe."  And  so,  instead  of  your 
getting  out,  they  really  get  you  further 
in  ;  after  looking  about  on  the  shelves, 
they  profess  to  have  found  the  object 
of  their  search,  and  down  comes  the 
very  opposite  of  anything  you  ever 
wished  to  possess.  After  making  half 
a  dozen  fruitless  attempts  to  reach  the 
street  door,  and  being  each  time  perse- 
veringly  caught  and  brought  back,  you 
give  it  up,  and  become  submissive  and 
willing  to  buy  anything  they  wish  you 
to,  making  at  the  same  time  a  firm  re- 
solve— as  you  see  your  money  going 
for  the  things  that  are  not  what  you 
want — that  if  you  live  to  be  the  senior 
of  Methuselah,  you  will  never  enter 
that  store  again. 


B.eward  of  Promptness  in  a  Mer- 
cliant's  Clerk. 

A  YOUNG  man  who  had  just  com- 
menced life  as  a  clerk,  was  one  day  told 
by  his  employer,  "Now,  to-morrow, 
that  cargo  of  cotton  must  be  got  out 
and  weighed,  and  we  must  have  a  reg- 
idar  account  of  it," 

He  was  a  young  man  of  energy,  and 
this  was  the  first  time  he  had  been  in- 
trusted to  superintend  the  examination 
of  such  work.  He  made  his  arrange- 
ments over  night,  spoke  to  the  drivers 
about  their  teams  and  horses,  and,  re- 
solving to  commence  very  early  in  the 
morning,  he  instructed  the  usual  gang 
of  laborers  to  be  on  hand  at  half  past 
four  o'clock.    All  right ! 

His  employer  comes  in  at  the  usual 
business  hour,  and  seeing  him  sitting 
in  the  counting-room,  looks  very  black, 
— supposes  that  his  commands  had  not 
been  executed. 

"  I  thought,"  said  the  master,  "  you 


were  requested  to  get  out  that  cargo  of 
cotton  this  morning  ?  " 

''  It  is  all  done,  sir,"  said  the  young 
man,  "and  here  is  the  account  of  it." 

Need  it  be  said  that  that  clerk  soon 
became  as  important  a  man  as  any  in 
that  firm,  and  that  he  accumulated  an 
ample  fortune  ? 


Charles  Lamb  as  a  Clerk. 

Who,  says  an  American  traveller,  has 
not  heard  of  the  great  East  India  House 
in  London,  which  controls  so  many  mil- 
lions of  people  and  of  money,  and  where 
Lamb,  of  topmost  literary  fame,  used  to 
"  post  ?  "  We  cared  not,  however,  for 
its  wealth  or  fame,  when  we  entered  its 
dusty  corridors,  so  full  were  we  of  other 
memories — of  clevei*  Charlie,  the  hu- 
morous clerk. 

After  a  tedious  ramble  among  the 
heroes  of  the  ledger,  some  of  whom 
were  Lamb's  successors  in  the  dignities 
and  emoluments  of  office,  we  eventually 
stumbled  upon  a  son  of  his  executor, 
who  greeted  us  with  English  courtesy, 
and  good  naturedly  chatted  about  his 
father's  friend.  He  related  many  anec- 
dotes ;  not  otherwise  noteworthy  than 
as  proving  that  the  personal  recollec- 
tions of  our  author  were  still  perpetu- 
ated. He  sometimes  came  late  to 
business,  and  when  cautioned  by  his 
worthy  superior,  would  dryly  answer : 
"  Oh !  I'll  make  it  up  by  leaving  ear- 
lier." 

As  Lamb  never  married,  the  East 
India  Company,  after  his  demise,  kindly 
settled  upon  his  sister  the  "  Widow's 
Portion  "  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
pounds  a  year.  In  the  register  for  the 
"  Home  Department "  of  the  Company, 
the  clerk,  after  erasing  Lamb's  name, 
made  the  usual  annotation,  that  he  was 
"  to  retire  upon  a  pension  of  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds  per  annum." 

The  accountants'  apartment,  which 
Lamb  occupied,  is  rather  gloomy.  His 
old  companions  of  the  establishment 
said  he  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  a 


692 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


good-natured,  odd  little  fellow,  fonder 
of  holidays  than  of  hard  work. 


Remarkable  Discernment  of  Mercan- 
tile Oharacter. 

There  was  once  a  London  merchant 
who  was  remarkable  for  his  intuitive 
discernment  of  the  character  of  business 
men  and  their  clerks.  After  passing 
through  the  store  of  a  friend,  on  a  cer- 
tain occasion,  he  said :  "  Where  did 
you  get  that  young  man  ?  "  The  infor- 
mation was  given.  "  I  would  not  keep 
him  for  a  day."  "  Why  ?  He  is  a  very 
clever  young  man."  "  Yes,  he  is  clever 
enough ;  but  he  is  a  rogue."  "  Well, 
certainly,  1  have  seen  nothing  wrong 
about  him,  and  I  never  yet  saw  his 
equal  behind  the  counter."  "Very 
well ;  I  tell  you  I  would  not  keep  him 
an  hour,  and  you  will  find  it  out  yet." 
"But  I  can't  dismiss  him  without 
cause,  and  he  has  given  me  no  cause." 
The  merchant  insisted  to  the  last  on 
his  estimate  of  the  young  man,  and, 
after  leaving,  told  a  mutual  friend  that 
a  very  improper  young  man  was  clerk 
in  such  a  man's  shop — he  was  sure  of 
it.  His  discernment  was  so  well  known, 
that  the  young  shopman  had  now  his 
employer's  eye  upon  him  with  restless 
vigilance.  It  was  not  long  before  he 
was  detected  stealing  money— a  result 
which  perhaps  would  not  have  occurred, 
had  the  "  discerning  merchant "  put  a 
friendly  word  into  the  clerk's  ear  in- 
stead of  a  suspicious  one  into  his  em- 
ployer's. 


SingTilar  Mode  of  Keeping  Accoxmts 
in  a  Pair  of  Boots. 

An  old  tradesman  used  to  keep  his 
accounts  in  a  singular  manner.  He 
hung  up  two  boots,  one  on  each  side 
of  the  chimney ;  into  one  of  these  he  put 
all  the  money  he  received,  and  into  the 
other  all  the  receipts  and  vouchers  for 
the  money  he  paid.  At  the  end  of  the 
year,  or  whenever  he  wanted  to  make 


up  his  accounts,  he  emptied  the  boots, 
and  by  counting  their  several  and  re- 
spective contents,  he  was  enabled  to 
make  a  balance,  perhaps  with  as  much 
regularity,  and  as  little  trouble,  as  any 
bookkeeper  in  the  country. 


Quaker  Investig-ation  of  Accounts. 

When  public  suspicion  had  seriously 
set  down  upon  the  method  of  keeping 
and  rendering  his  accounts  pursued  by 
Mr.  Hudson,  the  English  railway  mon- 
arch, an  official  inquiry  was  instituted, 
and  Mr.  H.  was  obliged  to  descend 
from  his  iron  throne  and  "  walk  up  to 
the  ledger." 

"  George  Hudson,"  said  Mr.  Cash, 
the  chairman  of  the  committee,  and  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
"  Wilt  thou  take  a  seat  ?  As  thou  hast 
the  financial  department  of  this  com- 
pany under  thy  especial  control,  thou 
art  required  to  answer  a  few  questions 
which  the  committee  will  put  to  thee. 
Didst  thou  ever,  after  the  accountant 
had  made  up  the  yearly  accounts,  alter 
any  of  the  figures  ?  " 

Mr.  Hudson,  in  a  subdued  tone,  an- 
swered, after  a  few  moments'  hesita- 
tion, "  Well,  I  may  perhaps  have  add- 
ed a  thousand  or  two  to  the  next  ac- 
count." 

"Didst  thou  ever  add  £10,000?" 
continued  Mr.  Cash. 

"  Ten  thousand !  that  is  a  large  sum." 

"  It  is  a  large  sum,  and  that  is  the 
reason  why  I  put  the  question  to  thee. 
Wilt  thou  give  the  committee  an  an- 
swer, yea  or  nay  ?  " 

Mr.  Hudson,  in  a  very  depressed 
tone,  and  evidently  much  embarrassed, 
replied:  "I  cannot  exactly  say  what 
may  have  been  the  largest  sum  I  car- 
ried to  the  following  account." 

"  Perhaps,  George  Hudson,  thou 
couldst  inform  the  committee  whether 
thou  ever  carried  to  the  next  account 
so  large  a  sum  as  £40,000." 

"  Oh,  I  should  think  not  so  large  a 
sum  as  that  I  " 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


693 


"  But  art  tliou  quite  sure  tliou  never 
didst  ? " 

Here  again  the  deposed  monarch  of 
the  railway  kingdom  showed  consid- 
erable embarrassment,  on  which  his 
Quaker  inquisitor  did  not  further  press 
the  question  ;  and  putting  the  interrog- 
atories, upon  a  sheet  of  paper,  into  his 
hand,  observed,  with  a  dry  noncha- 
lance which  seemed  almost  to  petrify 
the  former  chairman  of  the  company  : 

"  George  Hudson,  take  the  questions 
home  with  thee,  and  send  wiitten  an- 
swers to  the  committee  at  thy  earliest 
convenience." 


Perplexities  of  Mercantile  Correspon- 
dence. 

A  MERCHANT  of  Mobile,  Ala.,  wrote 
an  important  business  letter  to  a  gen- 
tleman in  Mississippi,  and  in  due  course 
of  time  he  received-  a  letter  with  his 
own  signature  cut  out  and  pasted  on 
the  envelope.  In  the  letter  which  was 
enclosed,  the  writer  stated  that  he  had 
received  the  Mobile  merchant's  com- 
munication, but  did  not  know  who  was 
the  writer  nor  a  word  that  was  written 
in  it,  and  that  his  only  expedient  for 
finding  out  the  author  was  to  cut  out 
the  signature  and  use  it  as  the  address, 
with  the  hope  that  the  postmaster  in 
Mobile  might  be  able  to  do  more  by  it 
than  he  had.  An  instance  is  also  re- 
lated, of  an  American  merchant  being 
actually  obliged  to  go  to  Europe  in 
person,  because  of  his  inability  to  make 
out  certain  paragraphs  in  an  important 
letter  which  he  had  received  from  his 
commercial  agent  abroad. 


"  Old  Salles,"  the  Silk  Buyer,  and  Mr. 
Bayard's  Clerks. 

There  was  some  years  ago,  says  the 
writer  of  those  piquant  sketches,  "  The 
Old  Merchants  of  New  York,"  a  famous 
man  named  Salles.  He  was  always 
spoken  of  as  "  Old  Salles."  He  was  a 
glove  maker  by  profession.     He  had  in 


that  business  a  partner  named  Ton- 
nelly.  The  Tonnelly  estate,  near  the 
Sixth  avenue,  takes  its  name  from  him. 
They  made  the  old-fashioned  deer-skin 
suspender,  and  after  Salles  dissolved 
partnership,  Tonnelly  carried  on  busi- 
ness in  the  old  slow  but  sure  way. 

Old  Salles  was  a  plain  man  ;  in  fact, 
those  who  can  now  recall  him  to  mem- 
ory, must  say  he  was  very  slovenly  in 
his  appearance.  He  appeared  to  be  a 
poor  man.  On  one  occasion,  about  the 
time  of  the  war,  Le  Roy,  Bayard  &  Co., 
had  one  of  their  fast  clippers  arrive. 
She  had  escaped  capture,  and  brought 
in  a  large  quantity  of  silks.  The  value 
was  immense.  At  that  time  the  count- 
ing room  of  Le  Roy,  Bayard  &  Co.  was 
in  Washington  street.  William  Bayard 
knew  old  Salles  by  sight,  but  to  the 
clerks  he  was  not  known.  At  that  time 
old  Mr.  Salles  was  a  great  shaver  of 
notes,  but  it  is  certain  he  never  would 
shave  higher  than  seven  per  cent,  per 
annum,  the  legal  interest  of  the  State. 

When  the  clipper  arrived,  old  Mr. 
Salles  went  down  to  the  office  of  Le  Roy 
&  Co.  He  was  a  capital  judge  of  silks. 
There  was  no  better  in  the  city.  He 
asked  the  young  salesman  to  show  him 
the  samples.  He  did  so.  Old  Salles 
selected  lot  after  lot,  amounting  to 
thousands  of  dollars.  The  clerks 
thought  him  crazy.  Finally  he  stopped, 
and  the  bill  was  made  out.  "  Send  the 
goods  to  mine  shtore,  and  I  vil  pay  de 
bill,"  said  old  Salles.  The  clerks  laugh- 
ed, and  old  Mr.  Salles  left,  and  went  to 
get  his  dinner.  He  boarded  in  Pearl 
street,  and  took  his  meals  under  the  old 
Tontine  CoJBfee  House.  He.  was  a  terri- 
ble eater,  and  dreaded  by  all  private 
boarding-house  or  hotel  keepers.  He 
ate  three  plates  of  turkey,  and  other 
things  in  proportion,  at  a  meal. 

When  it  was  three  o'clock,  the  time 
for  the  goods  he  had  bought  of  Le  Roy, 
Bayard,  &  Co.,  to  be  at  his  store,  old 
Salles  went  there.  No  silks  had  come. 
Down  he  went  to  the  office  of  Le  Roy, 
Bayard,  &  Co. 


694 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"  Did  I  not  buy  goods  here  ? "  he 
asked. 

"  Yes,  but  we  want  pay  !  "  said  the 
clerk.  But  at  this  moment  Mr.  Bayard 
came  in,  and  Mr.  Salles  narrated  what 
had  occurred. 

"You  shall  have  the  goods  imme- 
diately, Mr.  Salles."  The  clerk  started ; 
but  the  silks  were  sent  round  to  ScUes's 
store,  and  he  gave  a  check  for  them. 

The  next  time  that  a  vessel  of  Le  Roy, 
Bayard  &  Co.  came  in,  Salles  was  sent 
for,  aud  again  he  purchased  the  entire 
cargo^  He  made  a  monstrous  amount 
of  money  in  such  purchases.  Old  Salles 
would  resell  to  King  &  Mead  (the  A. 
T.  Stewart  of  1812),  the  largest  dry 
goods  jobbers  in  America,  and  other 
retail  dealers. 


Best  Part  of  a  Grocer's  Business. 

"  Well,  Augustus,  you  have  been  ap- 
prentice three  months,  and  have  got 
some  idea  of  the  several  departments 
of  your  trade ;  I  wish  to  give  you  a 
choice  of  occupation."  Apprentice, — 
"  Thank  'ee.''  Grocer,—"  Well,  now, 
what,  part  of  the  business  do  you  like 
best  ?  "  Augustus  (with  a  sharpness 
beyond  his  years)—"  Shuttin'  up,  sir  ! " 


Betty  Starkey  and  Coutts's  Clerk. 

It  is  well  known  that  Thomas 
Coutts,  richest  among  all  the  bankers 
of  his  day,  selected  for  his  wife  Betty 
Starkey,  a  domestic  in  the  employ  of 
his  brother  and  partner  in  business, 
James  Coutts— and,  of  course,  to  the 
astonishment  and  against  the  wishes  of 
all  his  friends.  So  very  sudden  and 
unlooked  for  was  the  elevation  of 
"  Miss  Starkey  "  that,  only  a  few  days 
before  her  marriage,  while  employed  in 
scouring  the  stairs,  one  of  the  resident 
clerks,  who  had  been  out  in  a  very 
heavy  shower  of  rain,  was  going  up  to 
change  his  clothes,  when  he  was  de- 
sired by  Betty  to  take  off  his  shoes— a 
request  which,  according  to  the  mettle 


of  his  standing,  he  deemed  so  imperti- 
nent, that  he  blustered  out  a  perfect 
crash  of  adjectives  against  her,  and  as- 
cending deliberately,  left  the  dirty 
prints  of  his  feet  on  every  step.  Betty, 
on  her  part,  did  not  endure  this  provo- 
cation in  utter  silence,  but  exclaimed, 
with  some  anger : 

"  Before  long,  I'll  make  you  j)ull  off 
your  shoes  and  stockings  too,  if  I 
choose  it." 

After  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Coutts, 
the  clerk  expected  no  better  luck  than 
his  speedy  discharge.  The  bride,  how- 
ever, never  again  alluded  to  the  matter, 
and  always  treated  the  clerk  with  en- 
tire affability;  and  so  little  did  the 
affair  affect  his  interests,  that  in  course 
of  time  he  became  the  chief  clerk  of 
the  house.  It  may  well  be  supposed 
that  a  woman  with  such  a  disposition 
would  prove  a  good  wife  to  the  rich 
banker.     She  did.* 


That  Bottle  of  Wine  among-  "Old 
Puller's"  Clerks. 

A  BANKER  of  the  genuine  old  school 
was  Mr.  Fuller — "  Old  Fuller  "  he  was 
generally  called — of  Cornhill,  London. 
On  the  day  he  completed  his  eightieth 
year,  he  happened  to  make  mention  of 
the  circumstance  at  his  bank  ;  and  one 
of  his  numerous  clerks,  more  venture- 
some than  the  rest,  expressed  a  hope 
that  they  might  have  the  pleasure  of 
drinking  his  health  and  many  happy 
returns. of  the  day.  To  the  surprise  of 
all,  the  old  gentleman  took  the  hint 
graciously,  and  said,  "  Well,  we  shall 
see."  Just  before  dinner  time,  he  with- 
drew for  a  moment  or  two,  with  a 
somewhat  mysterious  and  satisfied  air 
— such  as  a  rich  banker  might  be  sup- 
posed to  wear  who  had  just  drawn  a 
check  for  a  score  of  thousands  which 
he  was  going  to  make  a  gift  of — and 
returned,  after  a  considerable  time, 
into  the  office  with  a  bottle  of  port 
held  carefully  in  his  hand,  and  which 
he  placed  upon  the  challenging  clerk's 


THE  COTTLE  OF  V/INE  AMONG  OLD  FULLEES   CLERKS 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYlfiS. 


695 


desk,  saying,  "  Well,  I  have  brought 
you  a  bottle  of  port  wine  to  drink  my 
health,  as  you  wished  it ;  it  is  good 
wine,  and  I  hope,  young  men,  that  you 
will  commit  no  excess  loith  iV  It  will 
do  no  harm  to  state,  that  the  old  gen- 
tleman's delay  in  returning  was  ascer- 
tained to  have  been  caused  by  his  en- 
deavors to  beat  down  the  trader  in  his 
price  for  the  bottle. 


Htunors  of  Partnerships  in  Reference 
to  Names. 

From  the  English  directories  may  be 
culled  some  amusing  facts  with  refer- 
ence to  the  junction  of  names  in  part- 
nerships— as,  for  example,  Bowyer  & 
Fletcher ;  Carpenter  &  Wood  ;  Spinage 
&  Lamb;  Sage  &  Gosling;  Rumfit  & 
Cutwell,  tailors ;  Pipe  &  Tabor  ;  Green- 
goose  &  Measure,  another  lirm  of  tai- 
lors ;  Single  &  Double ;  Foot  &  Stock- 
ing, hosiers;  and  Wright — ^late  Read 
&  Wright.  Adam  &  Eve  were  for 
some  time  surgeons  in  partnership,  in 
Paradise  Row,  London.  In  Holborn, 
Byers  &  Sellers  live  in  pleasant  proxim- 
ity on  opposite  sides  of  the  street. 

Sometimes  the  occupation  of  persons 
harmonizes  admirably  with  their  sur- 
names— a  fact  particularly  apparent  in 
the  case  of  London  innkeepers.  Gin 
and  Ginman  are  innkeepers ;  so  is  Ale- 
house ;  Seaman  is  the  landlord  of  the 
Ship  Hotel,  and  A.  King  holds  the 
"  Crown  and  Sceptre "  resort  in  City 
Road  1  Portwine  and  Negus  are  li- 
censed victuallers,  one  in  Westminster, 
the  other  in  Bishopsgate  street.  Cork- 
er is  a  potboy,  whose  name  affords  a 
hopeful  omen  of  his  one  day  rising  to 
the  rank  of  a  butler.  Mixwell's  coun- 
try inn  is  a  well-known  resort. 

Again,  Pegwell  is  a  shoemaker ;  so 
are  Fitall  and  Treadaway,  likewise 
Pinch — the  latter  rather  unpromising- 
ly  so;  another,  Tugwell,  is  a  noted 
dentist,  so  is  Gunn — though  he  uses 
none  but  the  ordinary  arms  in  his  prac- 
tice ;  Bird,  an  egg  merchant ;  Hemp,  a 


sheriff's  officer;  Captain  Isaac  Paddle 
commands  a  steamboat ;  Mr.  Punt  is  a 
favorite  member  of  the  Surrey  wherry 
club ;  Laidman  was  formerly  a  noted 
pugilist;  and  Smooker  or  Smoker,  a 
lime  burner.  Skin  &  Bone  were  the 
names  of  two  millers  at  Manchester, 
and  of  course  furnished  abundant  ma- 
terial for  joke  and  sarcasm. 

Fogg  &  Mist  were  china  dealers  in 
Warwich  street;  the  firm  afterward 
became  Fogg  &  Son,  on  which  it  was 
naturally  enough  remarked  that  "the 
sun  had  driven  away  the  mist !  "  Go- 
ing &  Gonne  was  the  style  of  a  well- 
known  banking  house  in  Ireland,  and 
on  their  failure  in  business  some  one 
wrote, 

"  Going  &  Gonne  are  now  both  one, 
For  Gonne  is  going,  and  Going 's  gone." 

But  this  is  hardly  so  good  as  an  en- 
try in  the  custom-house  bobks  of  Edin- 
burgh, where  it  appears  that  ("A." 
meaning  Alexander) — "  A.  Gunn  was 
discharged  for  making  a  false  report !  " 

The  late  Mr.  I.  Came,  the  wealthy 
shoemaker  of  Liverpool,  who  left  his 
immense  property  to  public  charities, 
opened  his  first  shop  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  street  to  that  in  which  he 
had  been  a  servant,  and  inscribed  its 
front  with  "I-  Came  from  over  the 
way." 


Advantage  of  Skilful  Bookkeeping:. 

If  a  merchant  wishes  to  get  pretty 
deeply  in  debt,  and  then  get  rid  of  his 
liabilities  by  bankruptcy — if,  in  fact, 
he  proposes  to  himself  to  go  systemat- 
ically into  the  swindling  business,  and 
engage  in  wholesale  pecuniary  transac- 
tions without  a  shilling  of  his  own,  the 
first  thing  he  should  take  care  to  learn 
would  be  the  whole  art  of  bookkeep- 
ing. From  what  may  occasionally  be 
seen  of  the  reports  of  the  proceedings 
in  bankruptcy,  it  is  found  that  well-lcept 
loolcs  are  regarded  as  quite  a  test  of 
honesty,  and  though  assets  may  have 


696 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


disappeared,  or  never  have  existed, 
tliough  large  liabilities  may  have  been 
incurred  without  any  prospect  of  pay- 
ment, the  bankrupt  will  be  compli- 
mented on  the  straight  look  of  his 
dealings,  if  he  has  shown  himself  a 
good  bookkeeper.  To  common  appre- 
hension, it  would  seem  that  well-kept 
books  would  only  help  to  show  a  reck- 
less trader  the  ruinous  result  of  his  pro- 
ceedings ;  and  that  while  the  man  with- 
out books  might  flatter  himself  that  all 
would  come  out  right  at  last,  the  man 
with  exact  accounts  would  only  get 
into  hot  water  with  his  eyes  open.  If 
a  man  may  trade  on  the  capital  of 
others  without  any  of  his  own,  and  get 
excused  on  the  ground  that  he  has 
kept  his  books  correctly,  it  is  diflEicult 
to  see  why  a  thief  who  steals  purses 
and  pocket  handkerchiefs — being  none 
of  his  own — may  not  plead  in  mitiga- 
tion of  purfishment,  that  he  has  care- 
fully booked  the  whole  of  his  transac- 
tions. It  would  be  interesting  to  know 
the  effect  of  producing  a  ledger  on  a 
trial  for  felony,  as  well  as  curious  to  ob- 
serve whether  a  burglar  would  be  le- 
niently dealt  with,  on  the  ground  that 
his  housebreaking  accounts  gave  proof 
of  his  experience  in  the  science  of 
"  double  entry." 


Unexpected  Promotion. 

A  YOUNG  man  obtained  a  situation 
to  take  charge  of  a  store  in  New  York 
State,  at  a  moderate  salary  for  the  first 
year  or  so.  It  became,  in  course  of 
time,  the  interest  of  his  employer  to 
advance  him  to  the  head  of  his  estab- 
lishment, which,  however,  compelled 
him  to  be  employed  during  Sabbath 
forenoons,  which  was  contrary  to  his 
custom  and  desires.  He  therefore  con- 
cluded that  he  must  be  relieved  of  this 
kind  of  duty,  or  ask  permission  to  re- 
sign his  situation.  Knowing  the  char- 
acter of  his  employer,  he  confidently 
expected  that  he  should  be  set  adrift, 
and  accordingly  began  casting  around 


to  see  what  he  could  do.  He  finally 
made  the  request,  and  it  was  taken  under 
consideration  for  several  days.  The 
next  week,  he  was  informed  that  "  his 
services  must  be  given  on  the  Sabbath 
if  he  remained,  otherwise  he  might  be 
on  the  lookout  for  another  berth ;  the 
head  clerk  must  be  on  hand  Sabbath 
morning." 

The  young  man,  in  consequence  of  this, 
quietly  commenced  his  preparations  for 
leaving,  and  requested  a  settlement. 
Bat  the  employer  had  only  given  this 
answer  in  order  to  test  his  clerk's  prin- 
ciple. He  cared  not  for  the  principle 
involved  in  the  question  at  issue,  but 
he  did  care  for  a  trusty  cleric — one 
whom  nothing  in  a  pecuniary  way 
could  swerve  or  tempt.  The  result  was, 
not  only  a  release  from  Sabbath  occu- 
pation, but  also  an  increase  of  his 
salary. 


Identifying-  a  Clerk. 

A  German  woman  in  Buffalo  was 
taken  up  for  parsing  a  bogus  half  dol- 
lar. She  said  that  she  had  received  it 
at  the  store  of  one  of  the  first-class 
drygoods  men,  and  she  could  point  out 
the  man  who  gave  it  to  her.  The  ofiicer 
accompanied  her  to  the  store,  and  she 
surveyed  the  clerks. 

"  Is  it  this  one  ?  " 

"  Nix— no." 

"  This  one  ?  " 

^'Nix — no."  Until  her  eye  lighted 
on  one  across  the  store  who  gloried  in 
a  moustache  of  formidable  dimensions 
and  fiery  hue. 

"  That  is  him — that  man  mit  a  big 
mouthful  of  hair  !  " 

He  denied  it  lustily,  but  she  insist- 
ed ;  and  he  deemed  it  prudent  to  prune 
his  lips  and  afterward  avoid  such  a 
flaming  mark  of  recognition. 


Ready  for  a  Trade. 
It  is  told  of  a  well-known  American 
map  agent,  that  while  making  one  of 


X 


^^'^"Z^-^Z^^^c^^u-^ 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


697 


his  travelling  trips  in  the  interior  of 
,  he  was  attacked  by  highway  rob- 
bers, who  demanded  his  money.  Being 
more  prudent  than  to  carry  money  with 
him  in  that  country,  they  failed  in 
making  a  haul.  "  But,"  said  the  Yan- 
kee, "  I  have  some  splendid  maps  of 
the  island  along  with  me,  which  I 
would  like  to  show  you ; "  and  in  a 
twinkling  he  was  off  his  horse,  had  a 
map  stuck  up  on  a  pole,  and  explained 
it  so  effectually  that  he  sold  each  of 
the  banditti  a  map,  pocketed  the 
money,  and  resumed  his  journey,  better 
off  for  the  encounter. 


Irving'  and  the  English  Salesman. 

While  in  England,  not  long  after 
his  name  had  become  familiar  to  the 
public  by  the  publication  of  the 
"  Sketch  Book,"  "Washington  Irving 
made  a  purchase  at  a  shop,  and  desired 
the  parcel  to  be  sent  to  his  lodgings, 
directed  to  Mr.  Irving.  "  Is  it  pos- 
sible," said  the  salesman,  with  a  look 
and  manner  that  indicated  profound 
admiration,  "  that  I  have  the  honor  to 
serve  Mr.  Irving  ?  " 

Irving  modestly  acknowledged  the 
compliment  paid  to  his  accumulating 
fame,  and  a  conversation  ensued  in 
which  the  dealer  manifested  addition- 
al interest  in  his  distinguished  custom- 
er, until  a  direct  inquiry  concerning 
his  last  work  disclosed  the  fact  that  he 
supposed  he  was  engaged  in  conversa- 
tion with  the  Rev.  Edward  Irving,  of 
the  Scottish  kirk,  whose  polemical 
works  had  given  him  an  exalted  posi- 
tion among  the  members  of  that  church. 
The  existence  of  the  "  Sketch  Book  " 
was  probably  unknown  to  him.  "  All 
I  could  do,"  added  Irving,  with  that 
look  of  peculiar  drollery  which  those 
who  have  heard  him  narrate  an  inci- 
dent of  this  kind  will  remember,  "  was 
to  take  my  tail  between  my  legs  and 
slink  away  in  the  smallest  possible 
compass." 


In  Business  for  Themselves. 

While  waiting  for  a  friend  in  Third 
street,  Philadelphia,  a  gentleman  ob- 
served a  party  of  newsboys  who  were 
waiting  for  the  afternoon  papers.  A 
well-dressed  lad  walked  up  to  them. 
They  eagerly  saluted  their  former  com- 
panion, and  examined  him  on  every 
side,  and  seemed  to  admire  him  very 
much.  Soon  a  little  fellow,  with  a 
coat  reaching  to  the  ground  and  el- 
bows out,  began  to  question  him  thus  : 

"  Why,  what  are  you  at  now  ?  " 

"  I'm  in  a  store." 

"  What  do  you  do  ?  " 

"I  sweep  out  the  store  and  run  er- 
rands." 

"  Well,  tell  me.  You  don't  feel  as 
good  now  as  when  you  were  in  business 
for  yourself  do  you  ?  " 


**  Done  Brown." 

The  coolness  of  the  person  who, 
after  drinking  a  glass  of  Richardson's 
ale  at  the  bar  room  of  a  hotel,  walked 
off,  saying  he  would  pay  that  gentle- 
man for  it,  is  remarkable ;  but  the  au- 
dacity of  the  individual  who  figures  in 
the  following  is  more  wonderful :  A 
clerk  of  a  large  down-town  house  in 
New  York,  named  Brown,  wa^  one 
evening  approaching  the  box-office  of 
one  of  the  Broadway  theatres  to  pur- 
chase a  ticket  of  admission.  It  was 
somewhat  late,  and  but  one  or  two  per- 
sons entering  at  the  time  he  reached 
the  building.  But  as  he  was  putting 
his  hand  in  his  pocket  for  his  money 
he  was  accosted  by  an  individual  of 
respectable  appearance,  who  politely 
inquired  of  the  clerk  if  he  could 
change  a  bill  for  him.  Mr.  Brown, 
replying  he  thought  so,  brought  forth 
several  silver  coins  from  the  recesses  of 
his  pocket,  the  largest  of  which  was  a 
fifty-cent  piece.  The  stranger  looked  at 
the  cash,  bowed,  thanked  him,  and 
took  the  half  dollar.  Without  another 
word  he  handed  the  coin  to  the  box- 


6»S 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


keeper,  and  the  next  moment  was  in 
the  theatre,  leaving  agape  with  wonder 
the  gentleman  whose  funds  he  had  thus 
appropriated.  After  Mr.  Brown  had 
recovered  from  the  effects  of  this  sin- 
gular proceeding,  he  entered  the  tem- 
ple devoted  to  Thespis.  But  the  un- 
known abstractor,  who  was  now  enjoy- 
ing the  performances  in  some  snug  cor- 
ner of  the  house,  was  never  seen  again. 
Of  course  not.    Clerk  was  done  Brown. 


Correctingr  an  Erroneoiis  Entry. 

In  a  manufacturing  city  of  Kew 
England,  not  many  years  since,  there 
was  a  young  man  from  the  "  Gim  of  the 
Say,"  employed  as  bookkeeper  in  a 
large  machine  shop  and  foundery.  At 
one  time  two  castings  were  made  for  a 
customer,  each  casting  about  three  feet 
square  and  eight  inches  thick ;  one  sol- 
id, the  other  having  a  circular  hole  in 
it  about  twenty  inches  in  diameter.  He 
entered  both  in  his  books  as  solid.  Dis- 
covering his  mistake,  he  computed  the 
weight  of  a  piece  of  cast  iron  twenty 
inches  in  diameter  and  eight  inches 
thick,  when  he  corrected  his  erroneous 
entry  by  giving  the  customer  credit  in 
the  following  manner : 

"  Mk.  Smith,  Cr. 

By  one  Jwle^  weighing  433  pounds." 

Probably  this  is  the  heaviest  hole  on 
record. 


Shipping"  Goods  by  Ticket. 

There  was  in  one  of  the  large  ware- 
houses in  Boston  a  porter — an  "  intelli- 
gent contraband" — who  had  a  great 
propensity  of  laughing  at  other  peoples' 
mistakes,  and  always  took  the  oppor- 
tunity to  tax  the  delinquent  with  his 
shortcomings  before  a  crowd.  The 
system  of  shipping  goods  at  this  estab- 
lishment was  this  :  To  give  a  ticket  to 
the  porter  with  the  number  of  packages 
and  the  name  of  the  party  from  whom 
they  were  purchased,  that  they  might 


be  selected  from  among  other  goods  of 
a  similar  nature,  and  no  mistake  made. 
Now  it  seems  he  had  a  ticket  given 
him  with  only  the  numbers  on;  and 
he,  thinking  he  had  a  good  joke  on 
some  one,  wrote  the  name  on  himself 
and  shipped  the  goods — treasuring  up 
the  ticket,  however,  until  near  the  close 
of  business,  when  he  finds  the  delin- 
quent talking  over  the  transactions  of 
the  day  with  his  fellow  clerks.  He 
immediately  presents  the  ticket  to  one 
of  the  number,  and  asks  him  what  he 
should  think  of  a  man  that  would  give 
him  a  ticket  like  that.  The  party  re- 
plied "that  his  ticket  was  all  right." 
"  Ah !  but,"  says  the  contraband,  point- 
ing to  the  name,  "  dat  little  epitaph 
wern't  on  dar  when  it  first  come  to 
me  I" 


Introducing  a  New  System  of 
Accounts. 

One  of  the  greatest  achievements  in 
the  facilities  for  keeping  accounts — 
the  reduction  of  the  labor  involved  and 
in  the  number  of  those  performing  it — 
in  the  Bank  of  England,  is  due  to  Mr. 
W.  R.  Smee.  The  scheme  was  simple. 
By  the  old  system,  the  numbers, 
amounts,  and  dates  of  the  notes  issued 
were  co^Died  into  books,  in  the  order  in 
which  they  were  received.  The  amounts 
were  then  added,  and  the  notes  posted 
in  a  ledger,  that  they  might  be  referred 
to  for  the  courts  of  the  law  and  the 
public,  in  cases  of  fraud  or  litigation. 
These  postings  were  afterward  exam- 
ined from  a  copy  of  the  cash  books,  in 
which  the  notes  were  entered,  giving 
the  balance  of  each  ledger. 

The  new  system  established  the  entry 
in  the  cash  books,  and  stamped  every 
note  on  its  entrance  with  a  number 
giving  the  full  particulars  of  the  par- 
ties sending  it  in.  The  notes  are  then 
arranged  numerically,  thereby  saving 
the  copying  of  the  date  and  number, 
except  the  last  two  or  three  figures, 
and  altogether  saving  the  entry  of  the 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


699 


amount,  wliile  fhe  posting  was  done  by 
about  one  sixth  the  former  number  of 
clerks.  In  all,  a  saving  of  eighty 
clerks. 

On  the  day  of  the  commencement  of 
this  improved  system,  one  hundred  and 
twenty  clerks  were  employed.  From 
the  novelty  of  the  various  operations, 
the  balance — the  great  proof  of  success 
— was  not  arrived  at  till  near  eight 
o'clock.  On  the  second  day  of  its  trial, 
the  same  result  was  arrived  at  by  five 
o'clock.  On  the  third  it  was  tried  by 
three  o'clock,  but  without  the  same 
success,  being  ^^e  i:)0und8  deficient. 

Every  plan  that  could  be  imagined 
was  now  tried,  in  order  to  discover  the 
supposed  error.  For  seven  hours  were 
the  clerks  of  the  department  employed 
in  examining  and  re-examining  the 
books.  For  seven  hours  were  they  de- 
tained investigating  and  re-investigat- 
ing the  notes,  of  which  the  books  were 
a  copy ;  and  it  was  curious  to  witness 
a  young  man  of  three  and  twenty,  with 
unchangeable  confidence  in  the  sound- 
ness of  his  system,  directing,  or  at- 
tempting all  those  experiments  which 
a  perfect  knowledge  of  the  accounts 
suggested  as  most  likely  to  discover 
the  presumed  error.  At  ten  o'clock  the 
search  was  given  up^  and  the  ruin  of  the 
new  system  seemed  complete.  The  infor- 
mation spread  rapidly  that  the  office 
had  separated  without  a  balance ;  and 
it  could  have  been  no  pleasant  task  to 
Mr.  Smee  to  meet  the  governor  next 
morning  with  the  news.  The  confi- 
dence of  the  latter  was,  however,  com- 
plete ;  the  plan  went  on ;  a  mode  of 
detection  was  adopted;  and  it  is  to  be 
presumed  that  the  dread  of  discovery 
produced  the  note,  as  the  balance,  a 
few  days  afterward,  was  fi'ce  pounds 
over^  and  the  very  note  Vy^hich  had  been 
proved  to  be  missing  was  found  to 
have  been  returned !  The  success  of 
the  new  plan  was  complete,  and  work- 
ed a  vast  change  in  the  management 
of  the  books  and  afiairs  of  the  insti- 
tution. 


Trying  his  Hand  at  the  Accounts. 

Mr.  Mellish,  one  of  the  directors  of 
the  Bank  of  England,  once  undertook 
to  improve  upon  the  mode  of  keeping 
the  books  of  that  institution — aiming 
at  nothing  less  than  a  radical  change. 
Being  desirous  to  ascertain  once  for  all 
the  real  nature  of  the  duty  he  had  in 
contemplation,  he  announced  his  deter- 
mination to  the  principal  of  the  ac- 
countants' office,  to  come  and  attempt 
a  day's  work. 

The  morning  arrived,  and  with  it 
Mr.  Mellish.  The  day  was  indeed  a 
heavy  one ;  the  business  was  new ;  and 
the  books  were  brought  him  with  all 
the  gravity  suitable  to  the  occasion, 
and  perhaps  more  frequently  than  was 
absolutely  necessary.  They  came  too 
fast  for  him.  In  vain  he  exerted  him- 
self with  all  the  energy  of  which  he 
was  master ;  there  was  to  him  a  diffi- 
culty in  finding  the  proper  folios  ;  that 
which  clerks,  accustomed  to  the  opera- 
tion, performed  almost  intuitively,  was 
a  great  exertion  to  a  novice,  and,  long 
before  the  day  had  passed,  Mr.  Mellish 
had  beheld  such  an  accumulation  of 
ponderous  tomes,  both  before  and  be- 
hind him,  that  he  gave  up  the  attempt 
in  despair,  and  from  this  period  an  al- 
teration was  made  in  the  amount  of 
labor,  which  was  perhaps  more  in 
proportion  to  the  clerks'  views  of 
propriety  than  before.  The  same  gen- 
tleman— and  these  things,  trifling  in 
themselves,  show  a  desire  on  the  part 
of  the  directors  to  improve  the  econ- 
omy of  the  establishment — afterward 
saw  the  principal  of  the  office  in  which 
he  had  worked  in  the  area  of  the  Royal 
Exchange.  Immediately  accosting  that 
gentleman,  he  earnestly  addressed  him 
on  the  subject  of  the  proposed  altera- 
tion in  the  mode  of  keeping  the  books, 
and  seizing  the  button  of  his  coat, 
pulled  at  it  with  the  same  energy  with 
which  he  was  talking,  nor  was  it  until 
the  button  was  divorced  from  the  coat 
that  the  accountant  whom  the  director 


100 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


held  captive  was  enabled  to  make  his 
escape.  , 

"Rich.  Enough,  to  Retire :  Abraham  New- 
land,  Cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Eng- 
land. 

The  name  of  Abraham  Newland 
was,  perhaps,  more  generally  known  in 
English  financial  circles,  and  for  a 
longer  time,  than  that  of  any  other  one 
individual.  In  1807,  he  retired  from 
the  office  of  cashier  of  the  Bank  of 
England,  after  a  service  of  more  than 
half  a  century.  His  last  act  was  to  de- 
cline the  pension  which  the  liberality 
of  the  directors  offered— and  this  he 
could  well  afford  to  do.  The  same 
year  he  died ;  and  as  a  specimen  of  the 
fortunes  which  were  occasionally  amass- 
ed in  the  service  of  that  establishment, 
it  is  stated  that  his  property  amounted 
to  two  hundred  thousand  pounds  ster- 
ling, or  one  million  dollars,  besides  the 
sum  of  one  thousand  pounds  a  year 
on  landed  estates.  It  is  not  to  be  sup- 
posed, however,  that  this  was  saved 
from  his  salary.  During  the  whole  of 
Mr.  New  land's  career,  the  loans,  which, 
during  the  war,  were  made  almost 
yearly,  and  occasionally  oftener,  proved 
very  prolific.  A  certain  amount  of 
them  w^as  always  reserved  for  the  cash- 
ier's office — say  one  hundred  thousand 
pounds — and  as  they  generally  came 
out  at  premium,  the  profits  were  great. 
The  family  of  the  Goldsmiths,  then  the 
leaders  of  the  stock  exchange,  con- 
tracted for  many  of  these  loans,  and 
to  each  of  them  he  left  five  hundred 
pounds,  to  purchase  a  mourning  ring. 
From  some  remarks  in  the  papers  it 
may  be  gathered  that  the  large  funds 
of  Mr.  Newland  were  occasionally  lent 
to  these  gentlemen,  to  assist  their  va- 
ried speculations.  It  was  also  the  sub- 
ject of  frequent  allusion  in  the  pamph- 
lets of  the  period ;  and  as  those  who 
know  the  least  are  frequently  the  most 
confident,  there  was  not  much  cere- 
mony observed  in  the  strictures  passed 
upon  Mr.  Abraham  Newland. 


George  Simpson's  High  Reputation  as 
a  Cashier. 

George  Simpson,  of  Philadelphia, 
enjoyed,  through  his  long  career,  the 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most 
competent  and  reliable  cashiers  in 
America.  On  the  establishment  of  the 
Bank  of  North  America,  the  first  bank 
in  the  Union,  and  incorporated  by  the 
Continental  Congress  and  by  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  he  was  appointed  one 
of  its  chief  officers ;  and  of  the  first 
Bank  of  the  United  States,  chartered 
by  the  Government,  he  was  appointed 
the  cashier,  and  continued  to  be  so 
until  its  expiration  in  1811.  "When 
Stephen  Girard  established  his  bank- 
ing house,  he  appointed  George  Simp- 
son his  cashier.  Stephen  w^as  not  mis- 
taken in  his  man,  as  the  following  fact 
illustrates:  Mr.  Simpson  offered  him 
the  same  security  in  amount,  and  the 
same  individual,  he  had  given  the  ori- 
ginal Bank  of  the  United  States,  when 
Mr.  Girard  replied, 

"  No,  Mr.  Simpson ;  I  would  rather 
have  you  as  my  cashier  without  secu- 
rity, than  anybody  else  with  it." 

The  officers  of  the  Bank  of  the  United 
States  were  all  retained  by  Mr.  Simp- 
son, when  he  was  invested  with  ple- 
nary power  over  the  concerns  of  the 
institution.  This  fact  gave  moneyed 
men  confidence  in  transacting  business 
with  the  bank  of  Stephen  Girard  ;  and 
even  European  bankers  sought  an  ac- 
quaintance and  business  with  the  great 
banker  and  his  efficient  cashier.  On 
the  establishment  of  his  bank,  Mr. 
Simpson  remarked  to  him  : 

"Well,  Mr.  Girard,  to  be  a  good 
merchant,  you  see  it  is  necessary  to 
have  a  bank." 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Simpson,"  replied  Girard, 
"  and  to  have  a  good  bank,  it  is  neces- 
sary to  have  a  cashier  like  you." 

This  took  place  when  his  ship,  the 
"Montesquieu,"  was  ransomed  from 
the  British  at  the  Capes  of  the  Dela- 
ware; when  the  sum  of  ninety-three 


BUSINESS  EMPLOYES. 


vol 


thousand  dollars  in  gold  was  sent  from 
Ms  bank  as  the  price  of  her  ransom, 
and  at  a  time  when  specie  payments 
were  suspended  by  all  the  other  banks, 
and  gold  to  that  amount  could  not 
easily  have  been  purchased  in  the  mar- 
ket. His  knowledge  of  banking  was 
acquired  by  nearly  forty,  years'  labor  in 
the  vocation  of  cashier.  The  system 
on  which  he  loaned  money  was  simple, 
being  founded  on  the  combined  prin- 
ciple of  equity  and  interest.  All  the 
small  notes  that  were  considered  good 
were  discounted  in  preference  to  those 
that  were  large.  A  fair  running  ac- 
count was  considered  sufficient  to  en- 
title a  creditable  applicant  to  liberal 
discounts  of  business  paper. 


In  Europe,  too,  as  well  as  in  the 
United  States,  Mr.  Simpson  was  widely 
and  honorably  known ;  and  his  corre- 
spondence with  and  agencies  for  the 
first  and  largest  commercial  and  bank- 
ing houses  in  England,  France,  and 
Germany,  stood  without  a  parallel  in 
his  day.  David  Parrish,  who  was  at 
one  time  connected  with  the  famous 
house  of  Hope  &  Co.,  of  Amsterdam, 
and  also  largely  engaged  with  Baring, 
Brothers  &  Co.,  of  London,  brought 
letters  of  introduction  from  these 
houses  to  him.  Such  was  his  high 
standing  that  a  letter  from  him  to  any 
of  his  correspondents  in  Europe,  in- 
sured for  the  bearer  the  greatest  hos- 
pitality and  attention. 


PAET  FOURTEENTH. 


Anecdotes  of  Some  of  the  Occupations  Auxiliary 
TO  Commerce  and  Merchandise. 


PAET   FOUETEES'TH. 

Anecdotes  of  Some  of  the  Occupations  Auxiliary  to  Commerce 
and  Merchandise. 

EDITORS,  PUBLISHERS,  BOOKSELLERS,  THE  MANUAL  AND  INDUSTRIAL  TRADES,  ETC.  ;  WITH 
RARE  INCIDENTS  OF  BARGAIN  AND  SALE,  LUDICROUS  ADVENTURES,  HAPS  AND  MISHAPS 
— BUSINESS   FREAKS,    GENIUS,    APTITUDE,    NOVELTY  AND   RENOWN,    ETC.,    ETC. 


Of  all  the  bonds  by  which  society  is  united,  those  of  business  connection  are  the  most  numerous 
and  most  extensive.— Roscoe. 

Sweet  is  the  destiny  of  all  trades,  whether  of  the  brow  or  of  the  mind.-  Bishop  Hall. 
Work  for  some  good,  be  it  ever  bo  lowly  ; 
Labor — all  labor  Is  noble  and  holy. — Osgood. 


Music-Seller's  Customers. 

Haydn  used  to  relate,  with  much 
pleasure,  a  dispute  which  he  had  with 
a  music  seller  in  London.  Amusing 
himself,  one  morning,  after  the  Eng- 
lish fashion,  in  shopping,  he  inquired 
of  a  music  seller : 

*'  Have  you  any  select  and  beautiful 
music  ? " 

"  Certainly,"  replied  the  shopman  ; 
"I  have  just  printed  some  sublime 
music  of  Haydn's." 

"Oh,"  returned  Haydn,  "  TH  have 
nothing  to  do  with  that." 

"  How,  sir  ;  you  will  have  nothing  to 
do  with  Haydn's  music !  and  pray 
what  fault  have  you  to  find  with  it  ? " 

"  Oh,  plenty ;  but  it  is  useless  talk- 
ing about  it,  since  it  does  not  suit  me ; 
show  me  some  other." 

The  music  seller,  who  was  a  warm 
friend  of  Haydn,  replied,  "  Ko,  sir ;  I 
have  music,  it  is  true,  but  not  for  such 
as  you,"  and  turned  his  back  upon 
him. 

As  Haydn  was  going  away,  smiling, 
45 


a  gentleman  of  his  acquaintance  en- 
tered and  accosted  him  by  name.  The 
music  seller,  still  out  of  humor,  turned 
round  at  hearing  the  name  pronounced 
which  had  just  been  the  occasion  of 
such  a  flutter,  and  said  to  the  person 
who  had  entered  the  shop  : 

"  Haydn !  ay,  here's  a  fellow  who 
says  he  does  not  like  that  great  man's 
music." 

A  laugh  followed  this  remark;  an 
explanation  took  place,  and  the  music 
seller  was  made  personally  acquainted 
with  the  "  fellow "  who  found  fault 
with  Haydn's  music. 


Books  and  Newspapers  in  China. 

The  best  Chinese  books,  and  chiefly 
historical  ones,  are  printed  at  the  im- 
perial press,  where  the  booksellers  of 
Pekin  and  other  towns  buy  them  at 
prices  fixed  by  the  Government.  This 
press  publishes,  likewise,  eveiy  two 
days,  a  gazette,  containing  the  extraor- 
dinary events  which  occur  in  the  em- 
pire, the  ordinances,  and  especially  a 


706 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


list  of  the  promotions  and  favors  grant- 
ed by  the  emperor,  such  as  yellow  robes 
and  peacock's  feathers,  which  are  equiv- 
alent to  orders  of  knighthood  in  Eu- 
rope ;  it  also  announces  the  punishment 
inflicted  on  mandarins  who  have  been 
guilty  of  misconduct,  etc.  Printers, 
and  even  booksellers  have  copper  and 
wooden  plates  engraved  for  works  of 
minor  interest;  as  many  copies  are 
printed  off  as  required,  and  sold  at  ar- 
bitrary prices.  Very  neat  and  legible 
characters,  printed  on  fine  paper,  en- 
hance the  prices  of  the  work.  Movable 
types  cannot  be  used  for  the  Chinese 
language.  Their  best  paper  is  made 
of  cotton. 


Tonson,  the  Literary  Trader. 

Jacob  Tonson's  portrait  represents 
him  in  his  gown  and  cap,  holding  in 
his  right  hand  a  volume  lettered  Para- 
dise Ljst — such  a  favorite  object  was 
Milton  and  copyright.  His  rise  in  life 
is  curious.  He  was  at  first  unable  to 
pay  twenty  pounds  for  a  play  by  Dry- 
den,  and  joined  with  another  bookseller 
to  advance  that  sum;  the  play  sold, 
and  Tonson  was  afterward  enabled  to 
produce  the  succeeding  ones.  He  and 
his  nephew  died  leaving  the  large  for- 
tune of  two  hundred  thousand  pounds. 

Tonson  owed  much  to  his  industry  ; 
but  he  was  a  mere  literary  trader.  He 
and  Dryden  had  frequent  bickerings; 
he  insisted  on  receiving  ten  thousand 
verses  for  two  hundred  and  sixty-eight 
pounds,  and  poor  Dryden  threw  in  the 
fi-nest  ode  in  the  language  to  make  up 
that  number.  He  would  pay  in  the 
base  coin  which  was  then  current,  and 
which  of  course  was  a  loss  to  the  poet. 

On  one  occasion,  Tonson  complained 
to  Dryden,  that  he  had  only  received 
fourteen  hundred  and  forty-six  lines  of 
his  translations  of  Ovid  for  his  Miscel- 
lany, for  fifty  guineas,  when  he  had 
calculated  at  the  rate  of  fifteen  hundred 
and  eighteen  lines  for  forty,  guineas; 
he  gives  the  poet  a  piece  of  critical  rea- 


soning, that  he  considered  he  had  a 
better  bargain  with  Juvenal^  which  is 
reckoned  not  so  easy  to  translate  as 
Ovid.  Fortunately  for  men  of  letters, 
such  mere  traders  in  literature  have 
about  disappeared.  Tonson,  and  all 
his  family  and  assignees,  rode  in  their 
carriages,  mih.  the  immense  profits  of 
MMtoii'^  five-pound  Epic. 


"Wimprecht,  the  Blind  Eookselles. 

Perhaps  one  of  the  greatest  curiosi- 
ties in  the  city  of  Augsburg,  some  years 
since,  was  a  bookseller  of  the  name  of 
Wimprecht,  who  had  the  misfortune  to 
be  born  blind,  but  whose  enterprising 
spirit  enabled  him  to  struggle  success- 
fully against  the  melancholy  privations 
he  was  doomed  to  sustain,  and  to  pro- 
cure, by  his  industry  and  intelligence, 
a  respectable  support  for  a  large  family 
dependent  upon  him.  His  library  con- 
sisted of  more  than  eight  thousand  vol- 
umes, which  were  of  course  subjected 
to  frequent  change  and  renewal.  But 
as  soon  as  he  acquired  a  new  stock,  the 
particulars  of  each  book  were  read  to 
him  by  his  wife,  and  his  discrimination 
enabled  him  to  fix  its  value.  His  touch, 
to  recognize  it  at  any  period,  however 
distant,  and  his  memory,  never  failed 
him  in  regard  to  its  arrangement  in  his 
shop.  His  readiness  to  oblige,  his  hon- 
esty, and  information  of  books  in  gen- 
eral, procured  him  a  large  custom  ;  and 
under  such  extraordinary  natural  dis- 
advantages, he  became  a  useful,  and 
happily  rendered  himself  a  wealthy 
member  of  the  trade  to  which  he  be- 
longed. 

> 

The  First  Color  Shop. 

It  was  of  advantage  to  the  old  school 
of  Italian  painters,  that  they  were  un- 
der the  necessity  of  making  most  of 
their  colors  themselves,  or  at  least  un- 
der the  inspection  of  such  as  possessed 
chemical  knowledge,  which  excluded 
all  possibility  of  those  adulterations  to 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO  COMMERCE. 


707 


wliicli  the  moderns  are  exposed.  The 
same  also  was  the  case  in  England,  till  the 
time  of  Sir  Godfrey  Kneller,  who,  when 
he  went  to  London,  took  a  servant  with 
him,  whose  sole  employment  was  to  pre- 
pare all  the  colors  and  materials  for  his 
work.  Kneller  afterward  set  him  up 
as  a  color-maker  for  artists ;  and  this 
man's  success  in  his  establishment — the 
first  in  London,  and  perhaps  in  the 
world,  of  its  kind — caused  a  great  in- 
crease of  the  trade,  and  they  are  now 
to  be  found,  some  of  them  too  on  a 
most  extensive  scale,  in  all  civilized 
countries. 


Queer  Phases  of  the  Butcher  Trade. 

Down  in  Frankfort  street,  hard 
by  William  street.  New  York,  lives  a 
Dutch  pork  seller  and  sausage-maker. 
Some  rude  boys  in  his  vicinity  had 
annoyed  him  with  taunting  inqui- 
ries as  to  the  materiel  of  which  his 
"  links "  were  composed,  and  he  had 
trounced  one  or  two  of  them  rather 
roughly  for  their  impertinence.  The 
whirligig  of  time,  however,  soon 
brought  about  their  revenges.  They 
went  down,  one  morning,  into  "the 
Swamp,"  and  collected  a  long  string  of 
the  rats  that  infest  the  stores  of  that 
neighborhood  ;  and  while  tw^o  or  three 
boys,  by  dint  of  joke  and  taunt,  se- 
duced the  butcher  to  pursue  them  down 
the  street,  another  entered  his  shop  and 
hung  up  the  string  of  rats  on  a  nail  in 
his  show-window,  between  the  tempt- 
ing festoons  of  his  savory  sausages  ! 

By-and-by,  people  began  to  stop  be- 
fore his  shop,  and  stare  into  his  win- 
dow— then  roar  out  laughing,  and  pass 
on.  Presently  a  large  crowd  collected, 
and  the  butcher  at  last  came  out  to 
ascertain  what  it  was  that  could  attract 
their  curiosity.  He  was  not  long  in 
finding  out.  "  Is  that  the  kind  of  stuff 
you  make  sausages  of  ? "  asked  one, 
pointing  to  the  string  of  rats :  "  Got 
any  rat  steaks?"  inquired  another: 
"  Send  me  over  a  rat  sparerib  !  "  added 


a  third  :  until  the  man,  livid  with  rage, 
shut  his  door  upon  the  crowd,  removed 
the  "  incumbrance  "  from  his  window, 
and  "  sat  him  down  and  wept,"  like  a 
big  Dutch  baby  ! 


Johnson  and  the  Butcher. 
An  eminent  carcase  butcher,  as  mea- 
gre in  his  person  as  he  was  in  his  un- 
derstanding, being  one  day  in  a  book- 
seller's shop,  took  up  a  volume  of 
Churchill's  poems,  and  by  way  of  show- 
ing his  taste,  rejjeated  the  following 
lino : — 

"  Who  rules  o'er  freemen  should  himself  be 
free." 

Then  turning  to  Dr.  Johnson,  "What 
think  you  of  that,  sir  ?  "  said  he. 

"  Rank  nonsense,"  replied  Dr.  J.    "  It 
is  an  assertion  without  a  proof;  and 
you   might  with  as   much  propriety, 
say: 
Who  slays  fat  oxen,  should  himself  be  fat." 


Copy  of  a  Painter's  Bill. 

A  Scotch  newspaper,  of  1707,  gives 
the  following  copy  of  a  painter's  bill, 
presented  to  the  vestry  of  a  church,  for 
professional  work  done  therein : — 

"  To  filling  up  a  chink  in  the  Red 
Sea,  and  repairing  the  damages 
of  Pharaoh's  host. 

To  a  new  pair  of  hands  for  Daniel  in 
the  lions'  den,  and  a  new  set  of 
teeth  for  the  lioness, 

To  repairing  Nebuchadnezzar's 
beard. 

To  cleaning  the  whale's  belly,  var- 
nishing Jonah's  face,  and  mend- 
ing his  left  arm. 

To  a  new  skirt  for  Joseph's  garment, 

To  a  sheet  anchor,  a  jury  mast,  and  a 
long-boat  for  Noah's  ark. 

To  giving  a  blush  to  the  cheek  of 
Eve,  on  presenting  the  apple  to 
Adam, 

To  painting  a  new  city  in  the  land 
of  Nod, 


108 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


To  clearing  the  garden  of  Eden,  after 

Adam's  expulsion, 
To  making  a  bridle  for  the  Samari- 
tan's horse,  and  mending  one  of 
his  legs, 
To  putting  a  new  handle  to  Moses' 

basket  and  fitting  bulrushes, 
To  adding  more  fuel  to  the  fire  of 
Nebuchadnezzar's  furnace. 

Rec'd  payment, 

D.  Z." 


Napoleon's  Opinion  of  a  Journalist. 

About  the  worst  recommendation 
which  a  man  could  have,  in  Napoleon's 
eyes,  was  to  carry  on  the  business  of  a 
newspaper  writer  or  editor.  Shortly 
after  the  18th  Brumaire,  Fabre  de 
I'Aude,  who  was  always  a  favorite  with 
Napoleon,  solicited,  in  imperial  hear- 
ing, an  appointment  for  one  of  his  ac- 
quaintance. 

"  What  has  he  done  ? "  was  the  la- 
conic inquiry. 

"  He  has  been  a  journalist." 

"  A  journalist !  "  repeated  the  first 
consul ;  "  that  means  a  grumbler,  a  cen- 
surer,  a  giver  of  advice,  a  regent  of  sov- 
ereigns, a  tutor  of  nations.  The  caba- 
710718  of  Bicetre  are  the  fittest  places  for 
people  of  tTiat  stamp." 


English  Peruquiers  "before  the  "King. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1765,  the 
peruke  makers  presented  a  petition  to 
the  king  of  England,  stating  their  dis- 
tressed condition,  occasioned  by  so 
many  people  wearing  their  own  hair, 
and  employing  foreigners  to  cut  and 
dress  it ;  or,  when  they  employ  natives, 
obliging  them  to  work  on  the  Lord's 
day,  to  the  neglect  of  their  religious 
duties. 

They  therefore  humbly  besought  his 
majesty,  that  he  would  be  pleased  to 
grant  them  relief;  submitting  to  his 
majesty's  goodness  and  wisdom,  wheth- 
er Ms  own  example  was  not  the  only 
means  of  rescuing  them  from  their  dis- 


tresses, as  far  as  it  occasioned  so  many 
people  wearing  their  own  hair.  His 
majesty  was  "  graciously  pleased "  to 
receive  the  petition,  and  to  return  for 
answer,  "  That  he  held  nothing  dearer 
to  his  heart  than  the  happiness  of  his 
people,  and  that  they  might  be  assured, 
he  should  at  all  times  use  his  endeavors 
to  promote  their  welfare." 

Several  of  the  adventurous  barbers 
who  attended  on  this  occasion,  gave 
such  oficnce  by  their  inconsistency  in 
wearing  their  own  hair,  that  it  was  cut 
off  by  the  mob  on  their  return.  His 
majesty  was  not  unmindful  of  the 
promise  he  gave  to  the  fraternity — at 
least,  if  we  may  judge  from  some  of  his 
public  exhibitions,  on  which  he  appears 
to  have  sacrificed  everything  like  per- 
sonal vanity,  to  his  reverence  for  wigs. 


Theatrical  Debut  of  a  Barber. 

A  HAIRDRESSER,  in  a  considerable 
town  in  England,  made  an  unsuccessful 
attempt  in  tragedy.  To  silence  an 
abundant  hissing,  he  stepped  forward 
and  delivered  the  following  speech  : 

"  Ladies  and  gentlemen :  yesterday  I 
dressed  you ;  to-night  I  ad -dress  you ; 
and  to-morrow,  if  you  please,  I  will  re- 
dress you.  While  there  is  virtue  in 
powder,  pomatum,  and  horsetails,  I 
find  it  easier  to  make  an  actor  than  to 
be  one.  Vive-  la.  bagatelle  f  I  hope  I 
shall  yet  shine  in  the  capital  part  of  a 
5mw,  though  I  have  not  the  felicity  of 
pleasing  you  in  the  character  of  an  em- 
peror." 

♦ 

Penny  Newspapers  in  America. 

Only  about  thirty  years  ago,  or  less, 
two  journeyman  printers  commenced 
the  publication  of  the  New  York  Sun, 
writing  and  setting  up  their  own  edi- 
torials and  other  matter.  They  issued 
seven  hundred  copies  daily,  which  they 
sold  to  the  newsboys  at  the  price  of 
sixty-tvfo  and  a  half  cents  a  hundred 
copies,  and  the  boys  sold  them  for  a 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO  COMMERCE. 


709 


cent  each.  An  old  Ramage  press  was 
worked  with  their  own  hands.  As  their 
edition  increased— which  it  did— the 
printing  was  done  on  a  Napier  press. 
Afterward  they  employed  a  steam 
press.  One  of  the  parties  sold  his  in- 
terest for  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  be- 
came a  lawyer  and  public  man  at  the 
West.  Now,  some  tens  of  thousands  of 
copies  of  this  paper  are  thrown  off 
daily,  and  it  was  not  long  before  a 
brood  of  penny  papers  sprung  up  in 
different  parts  of  the  country. 


*•  Concerned  in  Trade." 

At  a  political  meeting  in  England,  a 
"  noble  lord  " — par  excellence^  ventured 
to  speak  disrespectfully  of  several  dis- 
tinguished individuals  of  opposite  prin- 
ciples to  his  own,  because  they  or  their 
ancestors  had  been  "  concerned  in 
trade."    Let  us  see : 

Euripides  was  the  son  of  a  fruiterer ; 
Virgil's  father  was  a  potter  or  brick- 
maker;  Plautus  was  a  baker;  Luther 
was  the  son  of  a  poor  miner ;  the  cel- 
ebrated Italian  writer,  Gelli,  when  hold- 
ing the  high  dignity  of  council  of  the 
Florentine  Academy,  still  continued  to 
work  at  his  original  profession  of  a 
tailor. 

The  father  of  John  Opie,  the  great 
English  portrait  painter,  was  a  working 
carpenter  in  Cornwall ;  Opie  was  raised 
from  the  bottom  of  a  sawpit,  where  he 
was  employed  in  cutting  wood,  to  the 
professorship  of  painting,  in  the  Royal 
Academy. 

The  lather  of  Haydn,  the  famous 
musical  composer,  was  a  wheelwright ; 
and  filled  also  the  humble  occupation 
of  a  sexton. 

Boccaccio  was  the  natural  son  of  a 
merchant ;  Columbus  was  the  son  of  a 
weaver,  and  originally  a  weaver  him- 
self; Bunyan  was  the  son  of  a  travel- 
ling tinker ;  the  founder  of  the  house 
of  Baring  Brothers  was  a  weaver; 
Shakspeare  was  the  son  of  a  butcher ; 


Cowley,  of  a  grocer ;  Ben  Jonson,  of  a 
mason  ;  Fletcher,  of  a  chandler  ;  Pope, 
of  a  linen  draper ;  Collins,  of  a  hatter ; 
Gray,  of  a  notary ;  Akenside,  of  a 
butcher ;  Whitehead,  of  a  baker ; 
Henry  Kirke  White  of  a  butcher,  and 
Thomas  Moore,  of  a  grocer. 

Gay  was  apprenticed  to  a  silk  mer- 
cer ;  Sir  Edward  Sugden,  Lord  Tenter- 
den,  and  Jeremy  Taylor,  w^ere  sons  of 
barbers ;  Dr.  Maddox,  Bishop  of  Wor- 
cester, was  the  son  of  a  pastry  cook ; 
Dr.  Milner  was  a  weaver,  and  Sir  Sam- 
uel Romilly  was  the  son  of  a  gold- 
smith ;  Richardson,  the  gifted  writer, 
and  Franklin,  the  philosopher,  were 
printers ;  John  Hunter  was  the  son  of 
a  carpenter;  Defoe  was  a  hosier,  and 
son  of  a  butcher ;  and  Dymond,  author 
of  Principles  of  Morality,  etc.,  was  a 
linen  draper,  and  traded,  or  wrote,  ac- 
cording as  he  had,  or  had  not,  custom- 
ers. Woods,  Curran,  Jeffi'ey,  Brydges, 
Atkins,  and  Lord  EUenborough,  were 
all  the  sons  of  humble  tradesmen  ;  Am- 
yot,  of  France,  was  the  son  of  a  currier ; 
Rabelais,  of  an  apothecary;  Voltaire, 
of  a  tax  gatherer ;  Lamothe,  of  a  hat- 
ter ;  Massillon,  of  a  turner ;  Grienault, 
of  a  baker;  Molibre,  of  a  tapestry 
maker;  Rousseau,  of  a  watchmaker; 
Claude  Lorraine  was  bred  a  pastry 
cook,  and  Quentin  Matsys  was  a  black- 
smith. 


*'  Our  Editor,"  Sixty  Years  Ago. 

"  Our  editor,"  as  one  may  read  in 
Jerdan's  Autobigraphy,  "  was  originally 
intended  for  the  kirk,  and  was  a  well- 
informed  person  ;  but  to  see  him  at  or 
after  midnight  in  his  official  chair,  a 
writing  his  '  leader,'  was  a  treat  for  a 
philosopher.  With  the  slips  of  paper 
before  him,  a  pot  of  porter  close  at 
hand,  and  a  piece  of  tobacco  in  his 
mouth,  or  casually  laid  down,  he  pro- 
ceeded secundem  arteyn.  The  head  hung 
with  the  chin  on  his  collar-bone,  as  in 
deep  thought, — a  whiff— another — a 
tug  at  the  beer — and  a  line  and  a  half 


\ 


710 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


or  two  lines  committed  to  tlie  blotted 
paper." 


Hivalry  in  Business  Beneficial. 

"When  I  was  a  young  man, — says  a 
wealthy  retired  hatter, — I  set  up  in  the 
hat  trade,  and  took  a  store  where  there 
was  not  a  ha^  store  within  a  quarter 
of  a  mile,  thinking  I  should  do  more 
where  there  were  no  others;  but  I 
found  that,  at  the  end  of  a  year,  all 
that  I  had  made  might  have  been  put 
into  my  naturally  small  eye,  and  not 
injured  its  sight. 

I  sat  down  one  day,  and  after  think- 
ing that  my  lot  was  a  mighty  hard  one, 
told  my  boy  that  I  was  going  out 
awhile,  and  that  he  must  keep  a  sharp 
look  out  for  customers.  I  went  down 
town,  and,  looking  around,  found  that 
two  or  three  hatters  were  driving  a  very 
good  trade  quite  near  together,  and, 
passing  into  one  of  these  stores,  I  found 
its  owner  quite  a  talkative  man.  "We 
put  our  heads  together,  and  in  the 
course  of  a  week,  the  store  directly  op- 
posite his  received  my  stock  in  trade, 
and  a  coat  of  blue  paint  on  the  outside, 
while  his  received  a  coat  of  green. 

The  first  day  I  did  nothing  but  stand 
at  the  door,  and  look  pouty  at  the  green 
store,  and  my  friend  Blake  stood  on  his 
steps  looking  ditto  at  me.  As  people 
came  in,  I  commenced  running  down 
the  green  store,  and  Blake  always  run 
the  blue ;  so  between  us  both  we  built 
up  a  trade  that  was  quite  lively.  Peo- 
ple having  "  taken  sides,"  and  new- 
comers always  purchasing  of  one  or  the 
other,  we  gradually  grew  rich,  and  at 
the  end  of  some  dozen  years,  we  settled 
up,  and  I  found  that  opposition,  or 
what  answered  that  name,  had  brought 
custom,  and  had  made  my  fortune. 


Quaker  Hatter  and  His  Journeyman. 

When  I  was  in  the  hatting  business, 
says  Mr.  Hanchett,  I  employed  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Jonas  Pike,  from  Mas- 


sachusetts, who  was  a  skilful  workman 
in  the  manufacture  of  hats.  But  he 
was  one  of  that  kind  of  journeymen 
who  will  have  their  "  trains,"  as  they 
were  familiarly  called  in  former  days. 
Therefore,  as  a  natural  consequence,  he 
was  without  comfortable  clothing  the 
most  of  the  time.  After  he  got  a  shop 
he  would  work  very  industriously  until 
he  had  earned  from  twenty  to  thirty, 
and  sometimes  forty  dollars'  worth  of 
clothing, — for  he  was  always  in  want 
of  clothing  when  he  commenced  work ; 
and  then  he  would  get  on  one  of  his 
trains,  and  dispose  of  every  article  of  his 
clothing  that  would  fetch  six  cents,  ex- 
pending all  for  whiskey.  When  all 
was  gone,  and  he  began  to  cool  off  a 
little,  he  would  be  very  ugly;  some- 
times he  would  fret  and  scold,  and  then 
he  would  coax  and  plead,  to  get  trust- 
ed for  a  hat  or  something  else,  that  he 
might  sell,  and  by  that  means  get  more 
whiskey.  When  I  refused  him,  he 
would  become  very  angry  and  threaten 
to  whip  me,  which  I  told  him  he  might 
do  as  soon  as  he  pleased.  "  But, "  said  he, 
"  I  will  not  do  it  in  your  own  shop — if 
I  had  you  out  of  doors,  I  would  thrash 
you  like  a  sack."  After  hearing  him 
repeat  these  sayings  several  times,  I 
walked  out  at  the  door.  I  then  spoke 
to  him,  saying,  "  I  am  now  out  of  the 
shop,  thou  canst  whip  me  if  thou  w^ish- 
est  to  do  so  very  much  ;  "  at  which  he 
stepped  out  of  the  shop,  came  furiously 
toward  me,  squaring  himself  for  a  box, 
and  struck  me  a  blow  on  my  breast,  at 
which  I  put  my  hand  upon  my  cheek, 
and  presenting  it  to  his  notice,  said: 
"  Now  strike  here,  Jonas."  At  this,  he 
looked  at  me  with  dumb  astonishment, 
saying,  at  the  same  time,  with  an  oath, 
"  If  you  will  not  fight,  I  will  let  you 
alone," — and  went  into  the  shop,  sat 
down,  and  was  quiet.  He  got  sober, 
and  went  to  work ;  and  ever  afterward, 
during  the  long  period  I  employed 
him,  his  peaceable  and  obliging  dispo- 
sition was  most  marked. 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


Yll 


Juvenile  Bookseller's  "Wit. 

A  GENTLEMAN  crossing  one  of  the 
New  York  ferries  was  accosted  by  one 
of  tliose  peripatetic  venders  of  cheap 
literature  and  weekly  newspapers,  who 
are  to  be  found  in  shoals  about  all  our 
public  places,  with  "  Buy  Bulwer's  last 
work,  sir  ?  only  two  shillin'."  The  gen- 
tleman, disposed  to  have  a  laugh  with 
the  urchin,  said  :  "  "Why,  I  am  Bulwer 
myself !  "  Off  went  the  knowing  little 
lad,  and  whispering  to  another,  at  a 
little  distance,  excited  his  wonderment 
at  the  information  he  had  to  impart. 
Eying  the  pretended  author  of  "  Pel- 
ham  "  with  a  kind  of  awe,  he  approach- 
ed him  timidly,  and,  holding  out  a 
pamphlet,  said,  modestly :  "  Buy  the 
Women  of  England,  sir  ?  You're  not 
Mrs.  Ellis.,  he's  you  ?  "  Of  course  the 
proposed  sale  was  effected. 


Almanao  Making— Fortunate  Hit. 

"When  Mr.  Thomas  was  preparing  one 
of  his  first  almanacs,  a  man  who  was 
employed  upon  the  work  with  him, 
asked  what  he  should  say  about  the 
weather  opposite  a  certain  week  in 
July.  Thomas  humorously  or  peevishly 
replied,  "  Thunder,  hail,  and  snoioy  It 
was  so  put  down  and  printed ;  and  it 
so  happened  that  it  did  thunder,  hail, 
and  even  snow,  at  the  very  time.  This 
fortunate  hit  or  prediction  raised  the 
almanac  maker  in  the  estimation  of 
many,  and  made  his  almanac  the  most 
popular  in  America. 


Derivation  of  Names  of  Trades. 

The  names  that  designate  the  va- 
rious orders  of  tradesmen  are  in  some 
cases  very  curiously  derived. 

Tinkers,  for  instance,  or  tinklers,  as 
the  Scotch  call  them,  were  originally  so 
called,  because  the  itinerant  members 
of  that  profession  used  to  give  notice 
of  their  approach  to  villages  and  farm- 


houses by  making  a  tinkling  noise  on 
an  old  brass  kettle. 

Milliner  is  a  word  corrupted,  or  at 
least  altered  from  Milaner,  which  sig- 
nified a  person  from  Milan,  in  Italy. 
Certain  fashions  of  female  dress,  that 
first  prevailed  in  that  city,  were  intro- 
duced, by  notices  of  it,  into  England, 
and  hence  arose  the  word  milliner. 

The  term  cordwainer  was  one  applied 
to  a  numerous  and  flourishing  frater- 
nity, but  is  now  falling  into  disuse.  A 
cordwainer  was  maker  of  a  peculiar 
kind  of  shoes,  much  worn  formerly; 
and  the  appellation  is  a  corruption 
from  cordovaner,  a  worker  of  leather — 
brought  from  the  city  of  Cordova,  in 
Spain.  The  same  kind  of  leather  is 
now  manufactured  in  abundance  else- 
where, from  horsehides,  and  is  still  fa- 
miliarly called  Cordovan. 

The  word  landlord  was  first  applied 
to  the  keeper  of  an  inn.  Formerly, 
wayfaring  guests  were  for  the  most 
part  entertained  by  the  proprietors  of 
the  land,  the  lords  of  the  manor  through 
which  they  journeyed. 


Iron  Merchant  and  the  Blacksmith. 

There  was  in  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia a  blacksmith  who  was  in  the 
habit  of  complaining  to  his  iron  mer- 
chant, that  such  was  the  scarcity  of 
money  that  he  could  not  pay  his  rent. 
The  merchant  then  asked  him  how 
much  rum  he  used  in  his  family,  in  the 
course  of  the  day.  Upon  his  answering 
this  question,  the  merchant  made  a  cal- 
culation, and  showed  him  that  his  rum 
account  amounted  to  more  money  in 
the  year  than  his  house  rent.  The  cal- 
culation so  astonished  the  mechanic, 
that  he  determined  from  that  day  to 
buy  and  drink  no  spirits  of  any  kind. 
In  the  course  of  the  ensuing  year,  he 
paid  his  rent  and  bought  a  new  suit  of 
clothes  out  of  the  savings  of  his  tem- 
perance. He  persisted  in  it  through 
the  course  of  his  life,  and  the  result 
was  competence  and  respectability. 


712 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Hitting  Ms  Trade. 

A  Friend  having  been  cited  as  a 
witness  at  a  quarter  sessions,  one  of  the 
magistrates,  who  had  been  a  black- 
smith, desired  to  know  of  the  Quaker 
why  he  would  not  take  off  his  hat. 
"  It  is  a  privilege,"  said  the  Friend,  "  in 
which  the  laws  and  liberties  of  my 
country  indulge  people  of  our  religious 
mode  of  thinking."  "  If  I  had  it  in  my 
power,"  replied  the  justice,  "  I  would 
have  your  hat  nailed  to  your  head." 
"  I  thought,"  rejoined  the  Quaker,  dryly, 
*'  that  thou  hadst  given  over  the  trade 
of  driving  nails." 


"Honor  and  Fame  from  no  Condition 
Rise." 

An  American  President,  when  asked 
what  was  his  coat-of-arms,  remember- 
ing that  he  had  been  a  hewer  of  wood 
in  his  youth,  replied :  "  A  pair  of  shirt 
sleeves  I  " 

Lord  Tenterden  was  proud  to  point 
out  to  his  son  the  shop  in  which  his 
father  had  shaved  for  a  penny. 

A  French  doctor  once  taunted  Flei- 
chier.  Bishop  of  Nismes,  who  had  been 
a  tallow  chandler  in  his  youth,  with 
the  meanness  of  his  origin,  to  which 
Fleichier  replied :  "  l^you  had  been  bom 
in  the  same  condition  that  I  was,  you 
would  still  have  been  but  a  dipper  of 
candles." 

A  distinguished  man,  once  a  fiddler, 
being  reproached  because  of  his  voca- 
tion, replied  :  "  Did  I  not  fiddle  well  ?  " 

Per  contra:  a  wealthy  but  stupid 
English  dyer,  having  gained  his  money 
by  honest  chimney  sweeping,  and  on 
this  account  feeling  ashamed  of  chim- 
neys, built  his  house  without  one,  send- 
ing all  his  smoke  into  the  shaft  of  his 
dye  works. 


Butch.er's  Blue  Blouse  or  Frock. 

The  custom  is  almost  universal  in 
England— and  the  same  may  be  said  to 


apply  in  a  good  degree  to  America, 
excepting  that  white  is  also  extensively 
worn — for  butchers  to  wear  a  blouse  or 
frock  of  a  blue  color ;  a  color  or  custom 
so  common  as  to  form  a  distinctive 
mark  of  the  trade— a  sort  of  uniform. 
The  explanation  of  this  custom  is,  that 
a  blue  dress  does  not  show  stains  of 
blood,  inasmuch  as  blood,  when  dry, 
becomes  of  a  somewhat  bluish  color. 


Shoemaker  Determined  to  Benefit  the 
World. 

Shoemakers  have  in  all  ages  been  a 
somewhat  remarkable  class  of  men. 
Meditative  and  energetic,  as  it  would 
appear,  fiom  the  nature  of  their  profes- 
sion, they  have  at  various  times  distin- 
guished themselves  as  patriots,  men  of 
letters,  and  other  high  callings.  Nu- 
merous examples  are  related  of  indi- 
viduals who  have  thus  imparted  a  gloss 
to  the  "  gentle  craft " — as  shoemaking 
has  been  called,  since  the  days  of  the 
illustrious  Crispin. 

Timothy  Bennett,  a  shoemaker,  re- 
sided in  the  village  of  Hampton- Wick, 
near  Richmond,  in  Surrey.  The  first 
passage  from  this  village  to  Kingston- 
upon-Thames,  through  Bushy  Park  (a 
royal  demesne),  had  been  for  many 
years  shut  up  from  the  public.  This 
honest  shoemaker,  "  unwilling  " — as  he 
said— "to  leave  the  world  any  worse 
than  he  found  it,"  consulted  a  lawyer 
upon  the  practicability  of  recovering 
this  road,  and  the  probable  expense  of 
a  legal  process :  "  I  have  seven  hun- 
dred pounds,"  said  he,  "  which  I  should 
be  willing  to  bestow  upon  this  attempt. 
It  is  all  I  have,  and  has  been  saved 
through  a  long  course  of  honest  in- 
dustry." 

The  lawyer  informed  him  that  no 
such  sum  would  be  necessary  to  pro- 
duce this  result;  and  Timothy  deter- 
mined accordingly  to  proceed  with 
vigor  in  the  prosecution  of  this  public 
claim.  In  the  meantime.  Lord  Halifax, 
ranger  of  Bushy  Park,  was  made  ac- 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


V13 


quainted  with  his  intentions,  and  sent 
for  him  :  "  Who  are  you,  sir,"  inquired 
his  lordship,  "  that  has  the  assurance 
to  meddle  in  this  affair  ?  " 

"My  name,  my  lord,  is  Timothy 
Bennett,  shoemaker,  of  Hampton- Wick. 
I  remember,  an't  please  your  lordship, 
when  I  was  a  young  man,  of  seeing, 
while  sitting  at  my  work,  the  people 
cheerfully  pass  by  to  Kingston  market ; 
but  now,  my  lord,  they  are  forced  to  go 
round  about,  through  a  hot  sandy  road, 
ready  to  faint  beneath  their  burdens, 
and  I  am  unwilling  (it  was  his  favor- 
ite expression)  to  leave  the  world  any 
worse  than  I  found  it.  This,  my  lord, 
I  humbly  represent,  is  the  reason  of  my 
conduct." 

"Begone;  you  are  an  impertinent 
fellow !  you  are  an  impertinent  fel- 
low ! "  However,  upon  more  mature 
reflection,  being  convinced  of  the  equi- 
ty of  the  claim,  and  anticipating  the 
ignominy  of  defeat — "  Lord  Halifax, 
the  nobleman,  non-suited  by  Timothy 
Bennett,  the  shoemaker  " — he  desisted 
from  his  opposition,  and  opened  the 
road,  which  is  enjoyed,  without  mo- 
lestation, to  this  day. 


Payment  for  News. 

Perhaps  the  origin  of  newspaper 
publishers  paying  for  reliable  news 
from  distant  places  may  be  found  in 
the  advertisement  announcing  the  first 
number  of  the  London  Evening  Post, 
Sep.  6,  1707,  as  follows :—"  There 
must  be  three  or  four  pound  per 
ann.  paid  by  those  gentlemen  who 
are  out  of  town,  for  written  news, 
which  is  so  far,  generally,  from  having 
any  probability  of  matter-of-fact  in  it, 
that  it  is  frequently  stuffed  up  with  a 
We  hear,  &c. ;  or.  An  eminent  Jew  mer- 
chant has  received  a  letter,  &c. ;  being 
nothing  more  than  downright  fiction." 
The  same  advertisement,  speaking  of 
the  published  papers,  says  :  "  We  read 
more  of  our  own  affairs  in  the  Dutch 
papers  than  in  any  of  our  own." 


' '  Letting'-out ' '    Clothes. 

An  Irish  tailor  making  a  gentleman's 
coat  and  vest  too  small,  was  requested 
to  take  them  back  and  let  them  out. 
Some  days  after,  the  gentleman,  on 
calling  at  the  tailor's  establishment, 
was  told  that  his  garments  happened 
to  fit  a  countryman  of  his,  and  he  had 
"  let  them  out "  at  a  shilling  a  week. 


Peculiar  Custom  of  a  Tailor. 

A  TAILOR  of  Samarcand,  living  near 
the  gate  leading  to  the  burying  place, 
had  by  his  shop  board  an  earthen  pot 
hanging  on  a  nail,  into  which  he  threw 
a  little  stone  when  any  corpse  was  car- 
ried by,  and  at  the  end  of  every  day 
he  counted  the  contents  of  his  pot,  in 
order  to  ascertain  the  number  of  the 
dead.  At  length  the  tailor  died  him- 
self; and  some  time  after,  one  that  was 
unacquainted  with  the  fact  of  his  death, 
observing  his  shop  to  be  deserted,  in- 
quired what  had  become  of  him,  when 
one  of  the  deceased's  neighbors  replied, 
"  The  fellow  has  gone  to  pot,  as  well  as 
the  rest." 


Archaeological   Tailor's  Ileasures. 

One  day.  Sir  Robert  Cotton,  being 
at  his  tailor's,  discovered  that  the  man 
was  holding  in  his  hand,  ready  to  cut 
up  for  "  measures,"  an  original  Magna 
Charta,  with  all  its  appendages  of  seals 
and  signatures.  He  bought  the  singu- 
lar curiosity  for  a  trifle,  and  recovered 
in  this  manner  what  had  been  given 
over  for  lost.  This  anecdote  is  told  by 
Colomies,  who  long  resided  and  died 
in  Great  Britain.  The  original  Magna 
Charta  is  preserved  in  the  Cottonian 
library.  It  exhibits  marks  of  dilapida- 
tion ;  but  whether  from  the  invisible 
scythe  of  time,  or  the  humble  scissors 
of  a  tailor,  archaeologists  must  be  left 
to  decide. 


1U 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"ShaU  I  Cut?" 

At  the  first  representation  of  tlie 
Tom  Jones  of  Poinsinet,  two  persons 
were  observed  in  the  pit,  one  of  whom 
was  overheard  saying  to  the  other,  from 
time  to  time,  ''  Shall  I  cut  ?  Shall  I 
cut  ?  "  This  suspicious  phrase  attracted 
attention,  and  the  pair  were  just  on  the 
point  of  being  arrested  as  pickpockets. 
*'What  have  we  done?"  said  one  of 
them ;  "  we  are  only  tailors,  and  have 
the  honor  of  making  clothes  for  M. 
Poinsinet,  the  author  of  the  new  play. 
As  I  have  to  furnish  him  with  a  new 
dress  to  appear  before  the  public,  which 
will  be  sure  to  demand  his  appearance 
at  the  second  representation,  and  as  I 
know  very  little  of  dramatic  works,  I 
have  brought  with  me  my  principal 
journeyman,  a  very  clever  man,  for  he 
makes  out  all  my  accounts ;  and  I  was 
only  asking  him,  from  time  to  time,  if 
he  would  advise  me  to  cut  the  cloth  in 
question,  which  must  be  paid  for  out 
of  the  profits  of  the  play." 


Answering  a  Tailor's  Dun. 

Sheridan, — scholar,  wit,  and  spend- 
thrift— being  dunned  by  a  tailor  to  pay 
at  least  the  interest  on  his  bill,  an- 
swered, that  it  was  not  his  interest  to 
pay  the  principal,  nor  his  principle  to 
pay  the  interest.  The  tailor  thought- 
fully retired. 


Byron's  Genoese  Tailor. 

It  is  said  that  Byron  would  never 
have  gone  to  Greece  but  for  a  tailor 
in  Genoa.  The  noble  bard  was  very 
economical,  as  was  well  known,  in 
small  matters.  He  had  hired  a  villa 
at  Genoa,  and  furnished  it  with  the 
intention  of  making  it  a  permanent 
residence.  Lord  and  Lady  Blessington, 
and  a  large  society  of  English  people, 
of  good  style,  were  residing  there  at 
the  time.  In  the  fullest  enjoyment  of 
his  house  and  his  mode  of  life,  Byron 


wanted  a  new  coat ;  and,  having  some 
English  cloth,  he  left  it,  wuth  his  meas- 
ure, in  the  hands  of  a  Genoese  tailor, 
with  no  particular  instructions  as  to 
the  making. 

The  tailor,  overcome  with  the  honor 
of  making  a  coat  for  an  Eccelenza  Inglese, 
embroidered  it  from  collar  to  tail,  and 
sent  it  home  with  a  bill  as  thickly  em- 
broidered as  the  coat.  Byron  kept  the 
coat,  for  fear  of  its  being  sold  as  Ms  to 
an  actor  of  English  parts  on  the  stage, 
but  resolutely  refused  to  pay  for  more 
than  the  making  of  a  plain  and  plebeian 
garment.  The  tailor  threatened  an  at- 
tachment, and  Byron  assigned  over  his 
furniture  to  his  banker,  and  finally 
quitted  Genoa  in  disgust,  ready,  of 
course,  as  he  would  not  otherwise  have 
been,  for  a  new  project. 

From  indignation  at  an  embroidered 
coat  tail,  the  transition  to  "  Liberty  or 
death  ! "  "  Woe  to  the  Moslem  ! "  or  any 
other  vent  for  his  accumulated  bile,  was 
easy  and  natural.  He  embarked  in  the 
Greek  cause  soon  after,  and  the  em- 
broidered coat  was  not  (as  it  should 
have  been)  "flung  to  the  breeze  at 
Salamis" — the  banner  of  inspired 
heroism. 


"A  Roland  for  an  Oliver." 

"  Will  you  pay  me  this  bill,  sir  ? " 
said  a  tailor  in  Charles  street,  New 
Orleans,  to  a  waggish  debtor. 

"Do  you  owe  anybody  anything?" 
asked  the  wag. 

"  No,  sir,"  replied  the  tailor. 
"  Then  you  can  afford  to  wait  I "  and 
off  he  walked. 

A  day  or  two  afterward  the  tailor 
called  again.  Our  wag  was  not  "at 
his  wit's  end  ;  "  so,  turning  to  his  cred- 
itor, he  said — 

"  Are  you  in  debt  to  anybody  ? " 
•'  Yes,  sir,  I  am  sorry  to  say  I  am." 
"  Well,  w^hy  don't  you  pay  ?  " 
"I  haven't  got  the  money, ^^  replied 
the  tailor,  with  a  woe-begone  counte- 
nance. 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


715 


"  That's  just  my  case,  my  dear  sir ! 
I  am  glad  to  see  that  you  can  appre- 
ciate my  position.  I  always  respected 
your   judgment,    sir — give    me    your 

hand,  sir ! " 

♦ 

Canine  News  Dealer. 

One  of  the  carriers  of  a  New  York 
paper  having  become  indisposed,  his 
son  took  his  place ;  but  not  knowing 
the  subscribers  he  was  to  supply  he 
took  for  his  guide  a  dog  which  had 
usually  attended  his  father.  The 
animal  trotted  on,  ahead  of  the  boy, 
and  stopped  at  every  door  where  the 
paper  used  to  be  left,  w  ithout  making 
a  single  omission  or  mistake. 


Newspaper  Publisher  Described. 

None  but  such  as  have  been  regular- 
ly initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  the 
newspaper  world  know  the  activity, 
the  intense  mental  labor,  or  the  fore- 
sight and  unceasing  energy  that  are 
required  to  insure  the  commercial  pros- 
perity of  a  first-rate  journal.  A  person 
involved  in  the  conducting  of  a  high- 
class  daily  newspaper  lives  in  a  perpetual 
whirl  of  excitement,  his  existence  being 
little  else,  from  the  first  day  of  Janu- 
ary to  the  last  day  of  December,  than 
one  continued  worry.  From  morning 
to  night  he  is  obliged  to  be  in  harness, 
and  at  every  person's  command,  never 
having  one  moment  of  the  day  that  he 
can  call  his  own ;  his  eye  must  be  on 
all,  and  his  active  body  everywhere. 
At  one  moment  he  is  deep  in  a  confabu- 
lation with  the  party  who  is  fitting  up 
his  new  machine;  at  another  he  is 
arranging  terms  of  agreement  with  a 
special  correspondent  who  is  required 
in  some  foreign  country ;  now  he  has 
to  complain  of  the  non-arrival  of  his 
new  types,  or  the  unpunctuality  of  the 
person  who  supplies  him  with  ink; 
now  he  gets  into  a  passion  at  an  im- 
pudent liner  who  has  "done"  the 
paper  with  an  invented,  murder,  or  a 


"  heart-rending  suicide  ;  "  anon,  a  con- 
ference with  the  principal  editor  as  to 
the  line  of  writing  to  be  taken  up  con- 
sequent on  some  great  political  move- 
ment, demands  his  presence.  Or  the 
paper  maker  has  a  woeful  tale  to  harass 
him :  His  machinery  has  become  de- 
ranged, and  he  has  unfortunately  run 
out  of  rags  in  consequence  of  difiiculties 
attending  their  importation — and  so, 
with  melancholy  visage,  he  announces 
that  there  is  only  sufficient  paper  on 
hand  to  last  three  days,  and  that  it  will 
take  four  days  to  get  his  machinery 
put  right,  even  if  the  rags  should  arrive 
in  the  mean  time.  And  so  the  day 
speeds  its  length  along,  till  wearied, 
worried,  and  headached,  the  poor 
manager  hurries  away  home,  to  dinner. 
On  the  morrow,  a  similar  routine  of 
cares  and  anxieties  is  repeated,  vdth 
similar  expenditure  of  bodily  and 
mental  labor.  These  little  annoyances, 
it  may  be  stated,  are  only  a  little  of 
what  the  proprietor  has  to  endure ; 
indeed,  the  efforts  required  to  com- 
pete with  other  journals  are  alone 
sufficient  to  wear  out  his  life  in  a  very 
short  time. 


Commercial  "Value  of  Dramatic 
Literature. 

The  value  of  dramatic  literature 
varies  with  different  managers,  different 
authors,  different  theatres,  in  England. 
Mr.  Webster  is  very  liberal,  and  w^ill, 
perhaps,  pay  from  fifteen  hundred  to 
twenty-five  hundred  dollars  for  a  good 
and  successful  play ;  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars,  two  hundred  dollars,  and 
one  hundred  dollars,  for  a  farce.  Some- 
times, when  the  continued  prosperity 
of  a  piece  is  rather  doubtful,  the  quid 
pro  quo  takes  the  form  of  a  nightly 
payment  up  to  a  certain  sum.  The 
Keeleys  used  to  pay  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  for  a  good  burlesque ;  or 
fifteen  dollars  per  night  up  to  seven 
hundred  and  fifty,  which  the  authors^ 
consider  very  generous.     But  the  r 


716 


COMMERCIAL  AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


muneration  does  not  stop  with  the 
London  pay.  A  good  metropolitan 
reputation  will  insure  a  frequent  pro- 
vincial perl'ormance  and  subsequent 
revivals,  and  if  the  author  preserves 
his  interest  in  the  copyright,  he  may 
derive  a  perpetual  income  from  the 
frequency  of  performance.  Sir  E.  Bul- 
wer  Lytton  is  said  to  receive  fifty  dol- 
lars for  every  performance  of  the  "  Lady 
of  Lyons."  This,  however,  is  a  rare 
exception  to  the  average  rate  of  remu- 
neration. From  ten  dollars  to  two 
dollars  and  a  half  is  the  price  ordinarily 
paid. 


Report  of  a  Lord's  Speech. 

Mr.  Wedderburn,  afterward  Lord 
Loughborough,  was  once  asked  whether 
he  really  delivered  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons a  speech  which  was  reported  in 
the  newspaper  as  having  been  made  by 
him.  "  Why,  to  be  sure,"  said  he, 
"  there  are  many  things  in  that  speech 
which  I  did  say,  and  there  are  more 
which  I  wish  I  had  said."  A  fair 
average  of  reported  speeches  of  public 
men,  not  only  of  that  period,  but  of 
the  present  also 


Pro"by,  the  Reporter. 

John  Proby,  according  to  his  biog- 
rapher, had  never  been  out  of  Lon- 
don, never  in  a  boat,  never  on  the  back 
of  a  horse.  To  the  end  of  bagwigs  he 
wore  a  bag ;  he  was  the  last  man  that 
walked  with  a  cane  as  long  as  himself, 
ultimately  exchanged  for  an  umbrella, 
which  he  was  never  seen  without  in 
wet  weather  or  dry;  yet  he  usually 
reported  the  whole  debates  in  the  Peers 
from  memory,  without  a  note,  for  the 
daily  paper,  and  wrote  two  or  three 
novels,  depicting  the  social  manners 
of  the  times.  He  was  a  strange  feeder, 
and  ruined  himself  in  eating  pastry  at 
the  confectioners'  shops  (for  one  of 
whose  scores  his  friends  had  to  bail 
him)  ;  he  was  always  in  a  perspiration. 


whence  he  acquired  the  sotn^iquet  of 
"  King  Porus ;  "  and  he  was  always  so 
punctual  to  a  minute  that  when  he 
arrived  in  sight  of  the  office  window, 
the  hurry  used  to  be—"  There's  Proby, 
it  is  half-past  two,"  and  yet  he  never 
set  his  watch.  If  ever  it  came  to  right 
time,  no  one  can  tell;  but  if  asked 
what  o'clock  it  was,  he  would  look  at 
it  and  calculate  something  in  this  sort 
— "  I  am  twenty-six  minutes  past  seven 
— four,  twenty- one  from  twelve  forty — 
it  is  just  three  minutes  past  three ! " 
Poor,  strange,  and  simple,  yet  curious- 
ly informed  Proby !  his  last  domicile 
was  the  parish  workhouse,  out  of  which 
he  would  come  in  his  coarse  gray  garb, 
and  call  upon  his  friends  as  freely  and 
unceremoniously  as  before,  to  the  sur- 
prise of  servants,  who  always  entertain 
"  an  'orrid "  jealousy  of  paupers,  and 
who  could  not  comprehend  why  a 
person  so  clad  was  allowed  to  be 
shown  in. 


Rising  in  the  "World. 

SmoN  Eyre,  a  name  familiarly 
known  in  British  annals, — was  origi- 
nally a  humble  shoemaker  in  Leaden- 
hall  street,  in  the  city  of  London,  and 
worked  his  way  up  a  "  peg  "  or  two,  in 
a  manner  bordering  somewhat  on  the 
romantic.  Hearing  that  a  vessel  laden 
with  leather  from  Tripoli,  was  wrecked 
on  the  coast  of  Cornwall,  he  conceived 
he  might  realize  a  handsome  profit  by 
purchasing  it.  He  accordingly  col- 
lected as  much  money  as  his  limited 
means  and  good  name  would  permit, 
and  departed  from  London  on  foot  to 
Penzance,  where  he  bought  the  leather, 
and  returned  to  London.  Here  he  es- 
tablished himself  as  a  dealer  in  that 
article,  and  soon  amassed  an  immense 
fortune,  sufficient  to  erect  Leadenhall, 
obtain  the  royal  honor  of  knighthood, 
and  found  a  splendid  ecclesiastical 
brotherhoood. 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


717 


Pranklin  and  the  London  Printer. 

When  quite  a  youth,  Franklin  went 
to  London,  entered  a  printing  o3ice, 
and  inquired  if  he  could  get  employ- 
ment as  a  printer.  "  Where  are  you 
from  ? "  inquired  the  foreman.  "  Amer- 
ica," was  the  reply.  "Ah,"  said  the 
foreman,  "  from  America  1  a  lad  from 
America  seeking  employment  as  a 
printer!  Well  do  you  really  under- 
stand the  art  of  printing  ?  Can  you  set 
type  ? "  Franklin  stepped  to  one  of 
the  cases,  and  in  a  very  brief  space,  set 
up  the  following  passage  from  the  first 
chapter  of  the  Gospel  of  St.  John: 
"Nathaniel  saith  unto  him.  Can  any 
good  thing  come  out  of  Nazareth  ? 
Philip  saith  unto  him,  Come  and  see." 
This  was  done  so  quickly,  so  accurate- 
ly, and  contained  a  delicate  reproof  so 
appropriate  and  powerful,  that  it  at 
once  gave  him  a  character  and  stand- 
ing with  all  in  the  oflSce. 


Placard  Printing-  in  Vienna. 

There  is  a  printing  ofiice  in  Vienna, 
the  sole  employment  of  which  is  the 
announcement  oi  fetes^  plays,  and  con- 
certs— nothing  else  being  printed  there 
but  placards.  The  proprietor  of  the 
establishment  has  many  persons  in  his 
service,  who  thoroughly  understand  the 
most  striking  way  of  announcing  such 
matters  to  the  street  public,  by  the 
unique  arrangement  of  the  alluring 
words,  "  Bal  Brilliant,"  "  Magic  Illumi- 
nation," "  Rose-tinted  Garments  of 
Pleasure,"  etc. 

The  monster  types  used  are  all  of 
wood;  the  effect  of  the  great  colored 
letters  upon  men's  eyes  and  fancies  is 
always  speculated  upon ;  and  the  pic- 
torial announcements  of  estates  for  sale 
by  lottery,  \a  hen  all  the  letters  are  com- 
posed of  pictures  of  castles  and  rural 
views,  and  where  every  "  million  "  is 
represented  entwined  with  the  elegant 
and  flowery  wreaths  of  hope,  are  really 


masterpieces  in  a  psychological  as  in  a 
xylographic  point  of  view. 

The  unusual  words,  or  those  that  do 
not  frequently  occur,  arc  composed,  as 
occasion  may  require,  from  single  let- 
ters ;  but  the  celebrated  names,  Strauss, 
Lanner,  Sperl,  Elysium,  Prater,  Golden 
Pear,  etc.,  are  cut  out  of  single  blocks. 
It  is  the  same  with  the  standing  phrases, 
such  as  "  Splendid  Illuminations," 
"  Dancing  Sciree^^''  etc. 


Uothiing  like  Lieather. 

At  a  public  sale  of  books  in  a  cer- 
tain city,  the  auctioneer  put  up  a  copy 
of  "  Drew's  Essay  on  Souls."  The  book 
was  finally  knocked  down  to  a  shoe- 
maker, who  very  innocently — but  to 
the  infinite  amusement  of  the  crowded 
room — asked  the  auctioneer  if  he  had 
"any  more  works  on  shoemaking  to 
sell." 


Need  of  Reference  for  a  Tailor. 

In  the  British  Museum  there  is  a 
manuscript  with  a  remarkable  anec- 
dote of  a  tailor  and  his  mysterious  cus- 
tomer. The  tailor  was  met  out  of  doors 
by  a  person  who  requested  to  be  meas- 
ured for  a  suit  of  clothes,  to  be  ready 
on  that  spot  by  that  day  week;  and 
the  stranger  gave  him  a  piece  of  cloth 
to  make  them  with.  From  certain  cir- 
cumstances, the  tailor  suspected  his 
new  customer  to  be  the  devil,  and  com- 
municated his  conjectures  to  a  clergy- 
man, who  advised  him  to  execute  the 
order,  but  carefully  to  save  every  jjiece, 
even  the  minutest  shred,  he  cut  from 
the  cloth,  and  put  the  whole  into  a 
wrapper  with  the  clothes;  he  further 
promised  the  tailor  to  go  with  him  on 
the  appointed  day  to  the  place  where 
they  were  delivered.  When  all  was 
ready,  and  the  day  arrived,  they  both 
went  thither,  and  the  person  waiting 
justified  the  tailor's  suspicions  ;  for  he 
abused  the  tailor  with  unearthly  im- 
precations because  he  brought  a  divine, 


118 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


and  immediately  vanished  in  their  pres- 
ence, leaving  the  clothes  and  pieces  of 
cloth  in  possession  of  the  tailor,  who 
could  not  sell  the  devil's  cloth  to  pay 
himself  for  the  making,  for  fear  of  the 
consequences — from  which  may  he 
drawm,  by  way  of  moral,  that  a  tailor 
ought  not  to  take  an  order  from  a 
stranger  without  a  reference. 


Preaks  of  the  Hair-Dressing  Trade  in 
France. 

Along  toward  the  close  of  the  last 
century,  the  hair-dressing  of  ladies  was 
so  important  and  increasing  a  business 
in  France,  that  it  became  necessary  to 
augment  the  number  of  the  builders  of 
those  "  edifices  of  beauty."  In  conse- 
quence of  this,  the  Government  declared 
that  six  hundred  ladies'  hair-dressers 
should  be  admitted  to  the  company 
of  Maitres  Barbiers-Perruquiers.  The 
price  of  their  admission  was  fixed  at 
six  hundred  livres.  Besides  this  com- 
pany, whose  talents  were  to  be  devoted 
only  to  illustrious  and  brilliant  heads, 
there  were  hair-dressers  for  the  ladies  of 
the  poorer  classes,  and  the  Bourgeoises. 
But  the  affairs  of  these  ladies'  hair- 
dressers became  rather  serious  in  course 
of  time.  Their  order  was  augmenting 
at  every  hour,  and  they  formed  one  of 
the  most  important  bodies  among  the 
business  circles  of  Paris.  Proud  of  the 
daily  favors  they  enjoyed,  and  giddy 
with  their  pride,  they  openly  showed 
the  most  liberal  contempt  for  the  rest 
of  their  honorable  confraternity.  Bar- 
bers and  wig-combers  they  considered 
as  unworthy  peers,  and  attempted  to 
separate  themselves  from  such  ignoble 
associates.  They  even  pretended  that 
they  had  a  just  right  to  be  joined  to 
some  scientific  corps.  This  imperious 
rivalry,  and  the  melancholy  groans  of 
the  barbers,  at  last  caused  government 
interference.  Another  decree  was  is- 
sued from  the  king,  which  fixed  their 
number  at  six  hundred;  prohibited 
their  having  more  than  one  apprentice 


every  three  years ;  to  keep  "  schools  " 
of  hair-dressing ;  and,  above  all,  to 
place  under  their  signs,  the  words — 
Academie  de  Coiffeurs  1 


Partridge's  Almanac  Making-. 

A  PLEASANT  story  is  told  of  Par- 
tridge, the  celebrated  almanac  maker, 
about  one  hundred  years  since.  In 
travelling  on  horseback  in  the  country, 
he  stopped  for  his  dinner  at  an  inn, 
and  afterward  called  for  his  horse,  that 
he  might  reach  the  next  town,  where 
he  intended  to  sleep. 

"  If  you  will  take  my  advice,  sir," 
said  the  hostler,  as  he  was  about  to 
mount  his  horse,  "  you  will  stay  where 
you  are  for  the  night,  as  you  will  sure- 
ly be  overtaken  by  a  pelting  rain." 

"  Nonsense,  nonsense,"  exclaimed  the 
almanac  maker ;  "  there  is  a  sixpence 
for  you,  my  honest  fellow,  and  good 
afternoon  to  you." 

He  proceeded  on  his  journey,  and 
sure  enough  he  was  well  drenched  in  a 
heavy  shower.  Partridge  was  struck 
by  the  man's  prediction,  and  being 
always  intent  on  the  interest  of  his 
almanac,  he  rode  back  on  the.  instant, 
and  was  received  by  the  hostler  with  a 
broad  grin. 

"  Well,  sir,  you  see  I  was  right  after 
all." 

"  Yes,  my  lad,  you  have  been  so,  and 
here  is  a  crown  for  you  ;  but  I  give  it 
to  you  on  condition  that  you  tell  me 
how  you  knew  of  this  rain." 

"  To  be  sure,  sir,"  replied  the  man ; 
"  why,  the  truth  is,  we  have  an  al- 
manac at  our  house  called  Partiidge's 
Almanac^  and  the  fellow  is  such  a  no- 
torious liar,  that  whenever  he  promises 
us  a  fine  day,  we  always  know  that  it 
will  be  the  direct  contrary.  Now,  your 
honor,  this  day,  the  31st  of  June,  is  put 
down  in  our  almanac  indoors  as  '  set- 
tled fine  weather;  no  rain.'  I  looked 
at  that  before  I  brought  your  honor's 
horse  out,  and  so  was  enabled  to  put 
you  on  your  guard." 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


Y19 


Sale  of  Noted  "Works  and  Plays. 

The  ultimate  sale  of  the  copyright 
of  Paradise  Lost,  produced  to  Milton's 
widow  eight  pounds.  The  publisher 
of  Lalla  Roohh  gave  three  thousand 
guineas  for  the  copyright  of  that  poem. 

From  an  old  account  book  of  Ber- 
nard Lintot,  the  bookseller,  the  follow- 
ing information  respecting  the  prices 
paid  heretofore  for  the  copyright  of 
plays  is  obtained  :  Tragedies  were  then 
the  fashionable  drama,  and  obtained 
the  best  price.  Dr.  Young  received  for 
his  Busiris,  eighty-four  pounds  ;  Smith, 
for  his  Phcedra  and  Hippolytug,  fifty 
pounds ;  Rowe,  for  his  Jane  STwre,  fifty 
pounds  and  fifteen  shillings ;  and  for 
Lady  Jane  Gray,  seventy-five  pounds 
and  five  shillings ;  and  Gibber,  for  his 
Nonjuror^  obtained  one  hundred  and 
five  pounds. 

RoUnson  Crusoe,  in  manuscript,  ran 
through  the  whole  trade;  nor  would 
any  one  print  it,  though  the  writer, 
Defoe,  was  in  good  repute  as  an  author. 
One  bookseller,  at  last,  not  remarkable 
for  his  discernment,  but  for  his  specula- 
tive turn,  engaged  in  this  publication. 
This  bookseller  got  above  a  thousand 
guineas  by  it ;  and  the  booksellers  may 
be  said  to  be  accumulating  money  every 
hour  by  editions  of  this  work  in  all 
shapes. 

Goldsmith  was  astonished  when  the 
"bookseller  gave  him  five  shillings  a 
couplet  for  his  delightful  poem  of  the 
Deserted  Village — though  each  line  was 
fairly  worth  as  many  pounds. 


Balance  of  Trade  ;  or,  Beauties  of 
Competition. 

The  owner  of  a  thriving  mutton-pie 
concern,  which,  after  much  difiiculty 
and  on  borrowed  capital,  he  had  suc- 
ceeded in  firmly  establishing,  died  be- 
fore he  had  well  extricated  himself 
from  the  responsibilities  of  a  debt. 
The  widow  carried  on  the  establish- 
ment after  his  decease,  and  throve  so 


well,  that  a  speculating  baker  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  street  made  her 
the  ofler  of  his  hand.  The  lady  re- 
fused, and  the  enraged  suitor,  deter- 
mined on  revenge,  immediately  con- 
verted his  baking  into  an  opposition 
pie  shop ;  and  acting  on  the  principle 
universal  among  bakers  of  doing  busi- 
ness for  the  first  month  or  two  at  a  loss, 
made  his  pies  twice  as  big  as  he  could 
honestly  afford  to  make  them.  The 
consequence  was,  that  the  widow  lost 
her  custom,  and  was  hastening  fast  to 
her  ruin,  when  a  friend  of  her  late  hus- 
band, who  was  also  a  small  creditor, 
paid  her  a  visit.  She  detailed  her 
grievances  to  him,  and  lamented  her 
lost  trade  and  direful  prospects.  "  Ho, 
ho  !  "  said  her  friend,  "  that  'ere's  the 
move,  is  it  ?  Never  you  mind,  my  dear. 
If  I  don't  git  your  trade  ag'in,  there 
ain't  no  snakes,  mark  me — that's  all  I  '* 
So  saying,  he  took  his  leave. 

About  eight  o'clock  the  same  even- 
ing, when  the  baker's  new  pie  shop 
was  crammed  to  ovei'flowing,  and  the 
principal  was  below  superintending  the 
production  of  a  new  batch,  in  walks  the 
widow's  friend  in  the  costume  of  a  ken- 
nel-raker, and  elbowing  his  way  to  the 
counter,  dabs  down  upon  it  a  brace  of 
huge  dead  cats,  vociferating  at  the 
same  time  to  the  astonished  damsel  in 
attendance,  "  Tell  your  master,  my 
dear,  as  how  them  two  makes  six-and- 
thirty  this  week,  and  say  I'll  bring 
t'other  four  to-morrer  arternoon ! " 
With  that  he  swaggered  out  and  went 
his  way. 

Singular  enough,  so  distasteful  was 
mi5~mutton,  or  the  idea  of  it,  among  the 
prejudiced  population  of  that  neighbor- 
hood, that  the  shop  was  cleared  in  an 
instant,  and  the  floor  was  seen  covered 
with  hastily  abandoned  specimens  of 
every  variety  of  segments  of  a  circle. 
The  spirit-shop  at  the  corner  of  the 
street  experienced  an  unusually  large 
influx  of  customers  and  calls  for 
"  goes  "  of  brandy,  while  interjectional 
ejaculations    not    purely   grammatical 


720 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


were  not  only  audible,  but  visible,  too, 
in  the  district.  It  is  averred  that  the 
ingenious  expedient  of  the  widow's 
friend,  founded,  as  it  was,  upon  a  jjro- 
fouud  knowledge  of  human  prejudices, 
had  the  desired  effect  of  restoring  the 
lalance  of  trade.  The  widow  recovered 
her  commerce  ;  the  resentful  baker  was 
done  as  brown  as  if  he  had  been  shut 
up  in  his  own  oven;  and  the  friend 
who  conceived  this  measure  of  justice 
against  her  competitor  received  the 
hand  of  the  lady  as  a  reward  for  his 
commercial  aptness. 


Ijearning  the  Saddler's  Trade. 

A  mcH  saddler,  whose  daughter  was 
afterward  married  to  a  duke,  the  cele- 
brated Earl  of  Halifax,  ordered  in  his 
will,  that  she  should  lose  the  whole  of 
her  fortune,  if  she  did  not  marry  a  sad- 
dler. The  young  Earl  of  Halifax,  see- 
ing how  things  stood,  and  being  anx- 
ious to  win  so  desirable  a  bride — or 
fortune— actually  served  as  an  appren- 
tice, for  the  usual  period  of  seven  years, 
to  a  saddler,  and  afterward  "bound 
himself  "  to  the  rich  saddler's  daughter 
for  life.  He  was  probably  a  firm  be- 
liever that  there's  "  nothing  like 
leather." 


Printers  and  Editors  at  Midnig-ht. 

NigTit  scene  in  the  printing  office  of  a 
metropolitan  daily  journal:  The  clock 
I  has  just  struck  one,  and  the  paper  be- 
gins to  assume  a  definite  shape.  As 
usual,  there  is  too  much  matter  in 
hand ;  the  printer  fidgets  about  the 
sub-editor's  room,  and  looks  nervously 
at  "  new  copy  "  (manuscript  to  be  set 
into  type).  He  is  quite  a  peculiar  in 
his  way — the  master  or  boss  printer  in 
the  newspaper  office  ;  a  high  forehead, 
an  intelligent  eye,  and  a  manner  half 
deferential,  half  conscious  of  his  own 
importance,  giving  serious  and  useful 
advice  in  the  quietest  possible  form  of 
good-natured  complaint — he  is  never 


put  out  of  his  way,  and  never  at  a  loss 
in  cases  of  absolute  necessity. 

"  This  can't  go  in,  sir."  "  It  must  go 
in."  "  Very  well,  sir,"— is  the  regular 
colloquy,  about  this  time  of  the  night, 
between  the  printer  and  the  sub-editor. 
The  printer's  ingenuity  in  finding  space 
is  certainly  wonderful,  and  his  tact  in 
suggesting  what  should  be  preferred 
for  insertion,  is  of  more  value  than 
editors  sometimes  choose  to  acknowl- 
edge. Much  lies  in  the  appearance  and 
first  aspect  of  the  newsjjaper,  and  this 
the  printer  has  fully  before  him ;  and 
even  in  the  discernment  of  mere  liter- 
ary reasons,  long  experience  and  nat- 
ural shrewdness  make  him  a  safe  ad- 
viser. He  seldom  gives  advice  unless 
asked;  but  when  it  does  come,  it  is 
almost  always  worth  having. 

No  one  who  has  not  had  experience 
in  the  newspaper  office,  could  imagine 
how  long  it  takes  to  complete  the  mi- 
nor details  of  arrangement.  Things 
w^hich  look  only  like  the  offshoots  of 
business— correcting  proofs,  cutting 
down  paragraphs,  after  the  great  work 
appears  to  be  entirely  over — all  these, 
and  a  hundred  small  matters,  run  away 
with  one  minute  after  another.  Two 
hours  after  the  last  reporter  has  been 
asleep — three  after  the  critic  has  done 
praising  prima  donnas,  and  torturing 
musical  phrases — the  editor  has  given 
his  last  instructions,  and  the  sub  cor- 
rected his  last  proof.  They  wend  their 
way — the  one  to  his  cottage,  some 
"miles  out,"  the  other  on  foot  to  his 
city  lodgings.  The  printers  are  left 
alone  in  the  deserted  oflBce,  working 
silently,  diligently,  and  coldly.  Hours, 
news,  passions,  opinions— all  come 
alike  to  them.  The  most  horrible  in- 
cident, the  most  magnificent  oration,  is 
to  them  all  so  much  bourgeois  and  bre- 
vier type. 

» 

Patriotic  Hatter. 

During  the  visit  of  General  Lafayette 
to  the  United  States,  when  all  classes 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


121 


of  citizens  were  eager  to  testify  the  re- 
spect and  gratitude  wMch  they  felt  for 
the  last  general  of  the  Revolutionary 
army,  a  hatter  in  New  York  sent  the 
noble  patriot  a  hat  of  the  last  Ameri- 
can manufacture.  The  General's  son, 
George  Washington  Lafayette,  was  so 
much  pleased  with  it,  that  he  at  once 
ordered  a  similar  one  for  himself.  It 
was  most  readily  furnished ;  but  when 
his  servant  offered  money,  "Tell  your 
master,"  said  the  grateful  American, 
"  that  all  the  hats  I  can  furnish  the 
Fayette  family,  were  paid  for  forty 
years  ago." 


Pirst  Newspaper  in  America. 

The  first  newspaper  established  in 
America,  was  issued  at  Boston,  in  1690, 
September  25th.  It  immediately  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  the  colonial 
legislature,  which  declared  that  its 
publication  w^as  contrary  to  law,  and 
that  it  contained  "  reflections  of  a  very 
high  nature."  The  authorities  prob- 
ably prohibited  the  further  publica- 
tion, for  a  second  number  does  not  ap- 
pear to  have  been  issued,  and  only  one 
copy  of  number  one  is  known  to  be  in 
existence,  which  is  in  the  state  paper 
office  at  London,  and  is  a  small  sheet 
of  four  quarto  pages;  one  of  them 
blank.  Its  contents  record  public  oc- 
currences, foreign  and  domestic.  Rich- 
ard Pierce  was  the  printer,  and  Ben- 
jamin Harris  the  publisher. 

The  first  regular  paper  in  this  country 
was  also  issued  at  Boston.  Its  title  was 
the  '"'■  News-Letter,^''  and  its  date  was 
September  24  :h,  1704,  copies  of  it  be- 
ing still  preserved  in  the  Boston  His- 
torical Society's  collections.  An  exam- 
ination of  its  earliest  numbers  is  of 
peculiar  interest.  Thus,  its  latest  news 
from  England  was  dated  one  hundred 
and  twenty  days  previously,  and  con- 
sisted of  a  speech  of  Queen  Anne  to 
Parliament.  There  is  a  notice,  also, 
that  the  mail  between  Boston  and  New 
York  set  out  once  a  fortnight.  In  the 
4G 


succceeding  numbers  of  the  paper,  ne- 
gro men,  women,  and  children  are  ad- 
vertised for  sale  ;  and  an  urgent  appeal 
is  made  in  one,  calling  upon  a  female 
who  had  stolen  a  piece  of  fine  lace,  val- 
ued at  fourteen  shillings  a  yard — and 
upon  another  who  had  conveyed  a  piece 
of  fine  calico  from  its  proper  destina- 
tion under  her  riding-hood,  to  return 
the  same,  or  suffer  exposure  in  the 
newspapers. 

The  first  newspaper  published  in 
Virginia  was  established  in  1780.  The 
subscription  was  fifty  dollars  a  year. 
Price  for  advertising,  ten  dollars  the 
first  week,  and  seven  dollars  for  each 
subsequent  insertion.  The  paper  was 
issued  weekly. 

Oldest  Daily  Newspaper. 

The  "  Penmyhania  Packet  and  Gen- 
eral Advertiser,^''  which  was  commenced 
in  1771  by  John  Dunlap,  was  published 
in  1784,  Tuesdays,  Thursdays,  and  Sat- 
urdays, by  Daniel  C.  Claypole.  Its  last 
issue  as  a  tri-weekly,  was  Saturday, 
September  18th,  1784,  No.  1754.  The 
next  paper.  No.  1755,  was  issued  Sep- 
tember 21st,  by  John  Dunlap  and  Da- 
vid C.  Claypole,  as  the  ^'■Pennsylvania 
Packet  and  Daily  Advertiser,''''  and  from 
that  day  onward  it  was  published  daily. 
In  Isaiah  Thomas's  "  History  of  Print- 
ing," and,  indeed,  in  every  book  con- 
taining any  account  of  American  news- 
papers, this  is  alluded  to  as  the  first 
daily  newspaper  in  the  United  States. 
The  name  was  afterward  changed  to 
"  American  Daily  Advertiser.''''  It  is  now 
the  "  North  American.'''' 

The  first  daily  in  New  York,  was 
commenced  March  1st,  1783,  and  called 
the  ^^  New  York  Daily  Advertiser,  by 
Francis  Child  &  Co.  No.  17  Dutch 
street,  one  door  from  the  corner  of  Old 
Slip  and  Smith  street.  Price  four 
cents."  Attempts  were  made  to  pub- 
lish a  daily  newspaper  in  Boston,  in 
1796,  1798,  and  1809,  but  the  "  Boston 
Daily  Advertiser,''^    commenced    about 


■722 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


1813,  was  the  first  successful  daily  in 
that  city. 

Showing  Up  Tailoi-s. 

Tailors  must  live ;  at  least  they 
think  so,  and  what  here  follows  must 
not  be  considered  any  objection  to 
such  an  idea  being  entertained  by  most 
of  them.  But  the  fact  is — says  a  some- 
what roiled  writer,  who  must  have 
failed  to  have  got  suited  in  his  deal- 
ings with  one  of  the  fi-aternity — the 
"  leaders  "  are  great  tyrants,  and  have  in- 
genious ways  of  torturing  their  victims. 
One  way  is  this  :  They  invent  a  fashion 
which  is  strikingly  peculiar,  and  get  it 
into  vogue  by  acts  best  known  to  them- 
selves ;  for  example,  very  short  overcoats, 
with  long  waists,  which  look  well  on 
men  like  Count  Rossi,  whose  figure  is 
faultless.  Their  next  movement,  after 
everybody  is  overcoated  for  the  winter, 
is  to  bring  out  a  garment  which  differs 
as  mucli  as  'possible  from  the  one  in  fash- 
ion, that  is,  an  overcoat  with  skirts  to 
the  heels,  and  waist  under  the  armpits. 
They  get  half  a  dozen  men  of  high 
fashion,  who  look  well  in  anything,  to 
parade  their  new  invention  in  Broad- 
way, and  this  makes  the  short-coated 
majority  appear  out  of  date.  The 
manoeuvre  succeeds;  all  the  dandies 
are  driven  to  the  extravagance  of  or- 
dering a  superfluous  coat;  the  tailors 
smile,  and  the  dandies  bleed — or  their 
fathers  do.  Some  time  ago  these  tailor 
tyrants  put  everybody  into  long  waist- 
coats, and,  consequently,  into  "  contin- 
uations "  that  just  lapped  over  the  hips. 
Suddenly  the  waistcoats  were  abbrevi- 
ated four  inches.  What  was  the  conse- 
quence ?  Why,  of  course,  the  continua- 
tions "  failed  to  connect,"  and  he  who 
would  not  exhibit  to  mankind  a  broad 
belt  of  white  around  his  waist,  was 
compelled  to  discard  all  his  store  of 
well-saved  unnamables.  And  in  vain 
might  the  oldest  customer  protest  and 
order  garments  of  the  last  fashion. 
"  Consider  my  reputation,    sir,"    says 


the  tailor,  with   the  air  of  off'ended 
majesty. 

Of  course,  no  clever  tailor  will  take 
the  above  to  himself;  and  whoever 
wrote  it,  deserves  to  be  passed  over  to 
the  tender  mercies  of  the  yardstick  and 
shears,  vv'ithout  benefit  of  clergy. 


Ungrateful  Publisher. 

When  Mr.  Holt,  a  printer,  establish- 
ed his  newspaper  in  New  York  in  1766, 
a  person  in  the  vicinity  of  Albany,  who 
was  wealthy,  but  notorious  for  his  nar- 
row, penurious  disposition,  became  one 
of  his  earliest  subscribers.  At  the  end 
of  the  first  year,  the  editor  sent  his  ac- 
count for  the  yearly  subscription,  urg- 
ing a  request  that  it  might  be  settled 
the  first  convenient  opportunity.  No 
answer,  however,  came.  The  bills  were 
sent  regularly  for  eighteen  years,  but 
with  the  same  success ;  till  at  length 
Mr.  Holt,  as  may  well  be  supposed,  got  ^ 
out  of  all  patience  with  his  customer, 
and  had  the  whole  account  made  out 
and  sent  to  him — adding,  at  the  foot 
thereof,  that  if  it  was  not  immediately 
paid,  he  would  put'  it  in  suit,  and  dis- 
continue sending  any  more  newspapers. 
The  subscriber,  having  read  the  ac- 
count and  notice,  exclaimed,  with  a 
disdainful  sneer,  "  What  an  ungrateful 
puppy  !  I  was  one  of  the  first  that  en- 
couraged his  paper  by  subscribing — 
have  continued  it  ever  since — and  this 
is  the  return  he  makes  me  !  " 


Mr.  Gales  Reporting:  Mr.  Webster's 
Speech. 

At  the  time  that  Colonel  Hayne,  of 
South  Carolina,  made  his  memorable 
speech  on  Mr.  Foot's  resolution,  in  the 
United  States  Senate,  Mr.  Joseph  Gales, 
of  the  National  Intelligencer^  happened 
to  be  present;  and  hearing  that  Mr. 
Webster  intended  to  reply,  and  would 
probably  be  quite  brief,  he  resolved  to 
try  his  hand,  for  this  particular  occa- 
sion, of  his  long-neglected  vocation  of 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


'723 


short-hand  reporter.  He  undertook  the 
task,  but  finding  the  "  reply  "  was  like- 
ly to  occupy  a  number  of  hours  instead 
of  some  thirty  minutes,  the  magnitude 
of  the  labor  it  would  be  to  write  out 
his  notes  appeared  so  formidable,  that 
he  shrank  from  it  as  an  impossibility, 
with  the  many  engagements  that  de- 
manded his  attention.  The  friends  of 
Mr.  Webster  urged  upon  Mr.  Gales  the 
imi)erative  necessity  of  writing  out  the 
speech,  but  the  prospect  w^as  gloomy, 
when  suddenly  an  intimation  was  re- 
ceived from  Mrs.  Gales — who  had  in 
former  years  been  in  the  habit  of  as- 
sisting her  husband  in  elaborating  his 
reports— that  she  would  do  all  in  her 
power  to  write  out  the  speech  in  full. 
The  result  was,  that  in  the  course  of  a 
week  a  copy  was  presented  to  Mr. 
Webster  in  the  handwriting  of  Mrs. 
Gales,  and  when  published  in  the  Na- 
tional Intelligencer  had  an  extraordi- 
nary circulation.  The  original  notes, 
adorned  with  a  few  unimportant  alter- 
ations in  the  handwriting  of  Mr.  Web- 
ster himself,  were  subsequently  neatly 
bound  in  a  volume  and  preserved  in 
Mr.  G.^s  library.  It  is  also  well  known 
that  the  faithfulness  of  the  report  not 
only  elicited  the  warmest  commenda- 
tions from  Mr.  Webster,  but  likewise  a 
costly  gift  from  him  to  Mrs.  Gales,  in 
token  of  his  gratitude. 


America's  First  Printed  Book. 

It  seems  to  have  been  pretty  defi- 
nitely ascertained,  that  the  first  printed 
book  on  this  continent,  was  by  Crom- 
berger,  in  Mexico,  in  1544.  The  first 
book  in  our  own  territory  was  the  Bay 
Psalm  Book,  printed  in  1640,  at  Cam- 
bridge, by  Stephen  Daye. 


Scotch  Cabinet  Maker's  Apprentice. 

A  TOTJN&  Highlander  was  appren- 
ticed to  a  cabinet  maker  in  Glasgow, 
and,  as  a  first  job,  had  a  chest  of  ve- 
neered drawers  to  clean  and  polish. 


After  a  sufficient  time  had  elapsed  for 
doing  the  work  assigned  him,  the  fore- 
man inquired  whether  he  was  ready 
with  the  drawers  yet  ?  "  Oich  no  ;  it's 
a  tough  job ;  I've  almost  taken  the 
skin  off  my  ain  two  hands  before  I'll 
get  it  off  the  drawers."  "  What !  "  re- 
plied the  startled  director  of  plane  and 
chisel,  "  you  are  not  taking  the  'deneer- 
ing  off,  you  blockhead  ?  "  "  What  I'll 
do,  then  ?  I  could  not  surely  put  a 
polish  on  before  I'll  take  the  bark 
off!" 


Billingsgate  Market  Dealers. 

There  are  about  fifty  fish-salesmen 
who  have  stalls  in  the  famous  Billings- 
gate market,  London,  for  which  they 
pay  a  comparatively  trifling  rent.  The 
tables  of  the  salesmen,  which  are  ranged 
from  one  side  of  the  covered  area  to 
the  other,  afford  ample  space  for  clus- 
tering throngs  of  buyers  around  each. 
Each  range  appears  to  form  one  table, 
but  the  portion  assigned  to  each  sales- 
man is  nine  feet  by  six. 

Each  seller  sits  with  his  back  to  an- 
other, and  between  tliem  is  a  wooden 
board,  so  that  they  are  apparently  en- 
closed in  a  recess ;  but  by  this  arrange- 
ment their  pockets  escape  the  pick- 
pocket, which  was  not  the  case  when 
they  were  not  separated  from  the 
crowd.  The  market  management  is 
as  follows : 

At  the  lower  end  of  the  market, 
nearest  the  fishing  boats,  porters  stand 
with  baskets  of  fish  on  their  heads. 
Not  one  of  them  is  allowed  to  have  the 
advantage  over  his  fellows  by  an  unfair 
start,  or  to  overstep  a  line  marked  out 
by  the  clerk  of  the  market.  The  in- 
stant the  clock  strikes  the  accustomed 
hour,  the  race  commences,  and  each 
porter  rushes  at  his  utmost  speed  to 
the  respective  salesman  to  whom  his 
budren  is  assigned.  The  baskets  are 
instantly  emptied  on  the  tables,  and 
the  porters  hasten  for  a  fresh  supply 
repeating  this  until  all  is  brought.    It 


724 


COMMERCIAL   AXD   BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


is  the  fishmonger's  interest  to  bring  his 
whole  cargo  into  the  market  as  soon  as 
possible,  for,  if  the  quantity  brought  to 
market  be  large,  prices  will  fall  the 
more  quickly,  and  if  they  are  high, 
buyers  purchase  less  freely,  and  he  may 
miss  the  sale.  Some  of  these  heaps  of 
glistening  fish  would  enchant  a  Dutch 
painter.  The  manners  of  Billingsgate 
— so  proverbial  and  disparaging — have 
improved,  and  yet  the  standard  phrase 
for  abuse,  either  of  the  tongue  or  pen, 
will  probably  never  be  altered. 


Millionnaire  Butcher  of  London. 

M.  Wey,  a  French  writer  of  distinc- 
tion, while  riding  in  a  London  omni- 
bus, formed  a  passing  acquaintance 
with  a  fellow  traveller,  and  addressed 
a  few  words  to  him  concerning  a  car- 
riage which  just  drove  by.  It  was  too 
fine  to  be  elegant,  and  was  drawn  by 
two  magnificent  horses.  On  the  box, 
adorned  with  beautiful  fringe,  sat  a 
black-coated  coachman ;  there  was  not 
a  wrinkle  in  his  white  cravat — his 
snowy  gloves  were  spotless.  In  the 
vehicle,  on  downy  cushions,  carelessly 
lounged  a  man  without  a  coat,  his  arms 
bare,  his  sleeves  turned  up  to  the 
shoulders ;  an  apron,  with  the  corners 
turned  up,  served  him  as  a  girdle — so 
that  the  coachman  looked  like  a  mil- 
Honnaire  driving  a  mechanic  in  his 
working  dress.  Mr.  Wey  asked  his 
neighbor  who  and  what  was  the 
strange-looking  occupant  of  the  dash- 
ing carriage.  "  The  richest  butcher  in 
London,"  was  the  reply;  "he  is  re- 
turning in  his  own  carriage  from  the 
slaughter-house  to  his  residence.  His 
forefathers  were  in  the  same  business ; 
his  father  left  him  a  fortune  of  two 
millions,  and  he,  out  of  modesty,  fol- 
lows his  profession — a  very  honorable 
old  custom.  This  gentleman-butcher 
possesses  four  millions." 


Profits  of  a  Stall. 

A  Polish  woman,  who  has  a  stall  in 
the  Franklin  market,  New  York,  found 
herself,  about  five  years  ago,  a  widow 
with  four  young  children  and  an  estate 
of  just  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  in 
money.  Though  embarrassed  by  a 
very  poor  knowledge  of  our  language, 
she  immediately  invested  her  capital  in 
some  articles  which  she  could  sell,  and 
commenced  operations,  employing  her 
children  as  she  could  for  her  assistance. 
For  a  year  or  two  past  she  has  had  the 
market  stall.  A  few  months  ago  she 
learned  that  the  owner  of  a  good  farm 
of  seventy-five  acres,  in  one  of  the  cen- 
tral counties  of  the  State,  was  desirous 
to  sell  his  farm  for  ready  money.  She 
examined  the  farm,  found  a  good  house, 
barn,  etc.,  and  fifty  acres  under  cultiva- 
tion. Her  small  pittance  had  grown  to 
$1,200.  The  Polish  widow  thus  se- 
cured her  a  country  estate,  though  still 
carrying  on  the  business  of  her  stall. 
Five  years  of  determined  effort,  even 
in  a  small  sphere,  -will  bring  a  large 
amount  to  the  credit  side  of  the  cash 
book. 


Classification  of  Newspaper  Readers. 

Shenstone,  the  poet,  divides  the 
readers  of  a  newsjDaper  into  seven 
classes.  These  are  as  follows :  The  ill- 
natured  look  at  the  list  of  bankrupts ; 
the  poor  to  the  price  of  bread;  the 
stockjobber  to  the  lies  of  the  day ;  the 
old  maid  to  marriages ;  the  prodigal  to 
the  deaths;  the  monopolizers  to  the 
hopes  of  a  wet  and  bad  harvest;  the 
boarding-school  and  all  other  young 
misses,  to  all  matters  relative  to  Gret- 
na Green. 


"Extras,"  etc. 

When  Mr.  Hallock  became  the  part- 
ner of  IVIr.  Hale,  in  the  publication  of 
the  Journal  of  Commerce^  a  new  era  in 
some    respects    was    inaugurated    in 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE 


725 


Americau  journalism.  The  tiiues  were 
troublous  in  Europe.  The  great  revo- 
lution of  1830  was  approaching.  There 
was  intense  anxiety  in  America  for 
news.  The  new  partners  bought  and 
equipped  a  small  schooner,  called  her 
"  The  Journal  of  Commerce,"  and  sent 
her  out  to  cruise  for  packet  ships,  get 
the  European  papers,  and  bring  them 
in,  one,  two,  or  three  days  ahead  of  the 
vessel's  arrival.  This  was  the  jBrst 
American  newsboat  of  any  size.  The 
other  papers  had  row-boats  cruising  in 
the  harbor.  The  new  plan  was  laughed 
at — "  they  are  fools,  and  will  only  ruin 
themselves  the  sooner,"  was  the  com- 
mon remark.  But  the  result  proved 
the  wisdom  of  the  idea.  The  sema- 
phoric  telegraph  would  announce  "  Tlie 
Journal  of  Cmnmerce  in  the  offing,  stand- 
ing in,"  A  few  hours  later,  "  The  Jour- 
nal of  Commerce  passing  the  Hook." 
Then  the  crowd  would  begin  to  collect 
in  the  publishing  office.  No  news 
would  be  delivered  until  an  extra  even- 
ing edition  was  ready,  and  then  Mr. 
Hale  would  sometimes  read  the  news 
aloud  to  hundreds  of  citizens,  while  the 
extras  were  sold  by  thousands.  This 
was  the  commencement  of  New  York 
Extras. 


sir;  I  hope  no  offence,  but  I've  tried 
him  at  my  own  profession,  but  he 
hadn't  the  genius  for  it." 


Lawyers  and  Barbers. 

It  is  a  singular  circumstance  that 
two  of  the  most  eminent  lawyers  of 
the  present  century.  Lord  St.  Leonards 
and  the  late  Chief  Justice  Abbott  (Lord 
Tenterden)  were  the  sons  of  operative 
barbers.  The  late  chief  justice  perhaps 
never  practised  tonsorially — in  tl^e 
shop,  at  least;  but  certainly  the  ex- 
lord  chancellor  spent  part  of  his  boy- 
hood in  the  parental  shaving  shop,  in 
Duke  street,  St.  James.  It  is  also  nar- 
rated that  on  one  occasion,  an  eminent 
counsellor  called  at  the  shop  of  the 
elder  Sugden,  when  the  latter,  in  the 
course  of  some  familiar  small  talk,  of 
which  barbers  are  so  fond,  remarked, 
"I  have  sent  my  son  to  be  a  lawyer. 


Perils  of  Reporting:  the  Parliamentairy 
Debates. 

The  first  attempt  at  a  monthly  pub- 
lication of  the  parliamentary  debates 
was  made  in  the  OentlemarCs  Magazine^ 
for  August,  1735  ;  and  the  practice  was 
continued  in  succeeding  numbers.  The 
reports  were  of  the  most  timid  and 
cautious  description,  the  names  of  the 
speakers  being  given  only  by  the  first 
and  last  letters,  and,  in  many  cases,  no 
speaker's  name  is  mentioned ;  all  that 
appears  is  a  summary  of  the  argument 
and  discussion.  They  got  bolder  by 
degrees,  and  at  last  published  the 
names  at  length.  This  audacity,  cou- 
pled with  the  fact  that  some  of  the 
members  appeared  in  a  light  not  very 
satisfactory  to  themselves,  either  from 
their  own  defects,  or  the  incorrect  ver- 
sion of  their  oratory,  caused  the  atten- 
tion of  the  Commons  to  be  drawn  to 
the  subject.  It  was  brought  under  no- 
tice by  the  speaker,  who  'was  followed 
by  Yonge,  Windham,  and  Sir  Thomas 
Winnington.  The  last  concluded  a  very 
angry  speech  with  these  words :  "  Why, 
sir,  you  will  have  the  speeches  of  this 
house  every  day  printed,  even  during 
your  session;  and  we  shall  be  looked 
upon  as  the  most  contemptible  assem- 
bly on  the  face  of  the  earth."  The  re- 
sult was  a  thundering  resolution,  unan- 
imously agreed  to,  declaring  it  "  a  high 
indignity  to,  and  a  notorious  breach  of, 
the  privileges  of  the  house  to  publish 
the  debates,  either  while  Parliament 
is  sitting,  or  during  the  recess,"  and 
threatening  to  proceed  against  offend- 
ers "with  the  utmost  severity."  The 
OentlemarCs  Magazine  published  them 
under  the  title  of  the  "  Debates  of  the 
Senate  of  Lilliput,"  and  the  London 
Magazine  under  that  of  a  "  Journal  of 
the  Proceedings  and  Debates  in  the 
Political  Club ;  "  giving  Roman  names 


726 


COMMERCIAL   AND   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


to  tlie  speakers,  while  eacli  publication 
printed  an  explanatory  key  at  the  end 
of  the  year. 


Dr.  Johnson  in  the  Capacity  of  a 
Reporter. 

Dr.  Johnson  was  at  one  time  em- 
ployed by  the  editor  of  the  Gentlemari's 
Magazine  in  the  composition  of  the  par- 
liamentary debates,  having  the  assist- 
ance of  Mr.  Guthrie,  somewhat  famous 
in  this  line.  The  latter,  who  had  a 
good  memory,  brought  home  as  much 
as  he  could  recollect  from  the  house, 
mending  his  draught  by  whatever  other 
assistance  he  could  command ;  after 
which,  the  matter  thus  collected  under- 
went the  finishing  touches  of  Johnson. 
At  times,  Johnson  had  no  other  aid 
than  the  names  of  the  speakers,  and 
the  side  they  took,  being  left  to  his 
own  resources  for  the  argument  and 
language.  A  speech — the  celebrated 
speech,  commencing  "  The  atrocious 
crime  of  being  a  young  man,"  which 
he  put  into  the  mouth  of  Pitt,  when 
that  distinguished  orator  replied  to 
the  taunts  of  "Walpole — Johnson  after- 
ward declared,  in  the  cohipany  of 
Francis,  Wedderburn,  Foote,  and  Mur- 
phy, that  he  "  wrote  in  a  garret  in  Exe- 
ter street."  His  reports,  however,  are 
considered  by  the  editors  of  Hansard's 
Parliamentary  History^  the  most  au- 
thentic extant,  faithfully  embodying 
the  argument,  if  not  the  style,  of  the 
speakers.  It  was  once  observed  to  him, 
that  he  dealt  out  reason  and  eloquence 
with  an  equal  hand  to  both  parties. 
"  That  is  not  quite  true,"  said  John- 
son ;  "  I  saved  appearances  pretty  well ; 
but  I  took  caj*e  that  the  Whig  dogs 
should  not  have  the  best  of  it." 


OTataining-  a  Copyrig-lit. 

Mr.  Johnson,  the  bookseller  in  St. 
Paul's  churchyard,  London,  obtained 
the  copyright  of  Cowper's  Poems, 
which  proved  a  source  of  great  profit 


to  him,  in  the  following  manner:  A 
relation  of  Cowper  called  one  evening 
at  dusk  on  Johnson,  with  a  bundle  of 
these  poems,  which  he  offered  to  him 
for  publication,  provided  he  would 
print  them  on  his  own  risk,  and  let  the 
author  have  a  few  copies  to  give  to  his 
friends.  Johnson,  perused  and  approv- 
ed of  them,  and  accordingly  printed 
and  published  them.  Soon  after  they 
had  appeared  before  the  public,  there 
was  not  a  review  which  did  not  load 
them  with  the  most  scurrilous  abuse, 
and  condemn  to  the  butter  shops.  In 
consequence  of  the  public  taste  being 
thus  terrified,  or  misled,  these  charm- 
ing efiusions  lay  in  a  corner  of  the 
bookseller's  shoj)  as  an  unsalable  jjile 
for  a  long  period.  Some  time  after- 
ward, the  same  person  appeared,  with 
another  bundle  of  manuscripts  from 
the  same  author;  which  were  offered 
and  accepted  upon  the  same  terms.  In 
this  fresh  collection  was  the  inimitable 
poem  of  The  Task.  Not  alarmed  at  the 
fate  of  the  former  publication,  and 
thoroughly  assured,  as  he  was,  of 
their  great  merit,  Mr.  Johnson  resolved 
to  publish  them.  Soon  after  they  had 
appeared,  the  tone  of  the  reviewers 
instantly  changed,  and  Cowper  was 
hailed  as  the  first  poet  of  bis  age.  The 
success  of  this  second  publication  set 
the  first  in  motion,  and  Johnson  imme- 
diately reaped  the  fruits  of  his  un- 
daunted judgment. 


Johnson  and  His  Dictionary. 

Mr.  Andrew  Millar,  bookseller  in 
the  Strand,  had  the  principal  charge  in 
conducting  the  publication  of  John- 
son's Dictionary;  and  as  the  patience 
of  the  proprietors  was  repeatedly  tried, 
and  almost  exhausted,  by  their  expect- 
ing that  the  wcrk  would  be  completed 
within  the  time  which  Johnson  had 
sanguinely  supposed,  the  learned  au- 
thor was  often  goaded  to  dispatch, 
more  especially  as  he  had  received  all 
the  copy  money  by  different  drafts,  a 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


m 


considerable  time  before  he  had  finished 
his  task.  When  the  messenger  who 
carried  the  last  sheet  to  Millar  return- 
ed, Johnson  asked  him,  "  Well,  what 
did  he  say  ?  "  "  Sir,"  answered  the 
messenger,  "  he  said,  '  Thank  God  I 
have  done  with  him.'  "  "  I  am  glad," 
replied  Johnson,  with  a  smile,  "  that 
he  thanks  God  for  anything." 


Price  of  "Akenside's  Pleasures  of 
Imagination.'" 

DoDSLEY,  who  published  Akenside's 
Pleasures  of  Imagination,  says,  that 
when  the  copy  was  offered  him,  the 
price  demanded  for  it,  which  was  a 
hundred  and  twenty  pounds,  being 
such  as  he  was  not  inclined  to  give 
precipitately,  he  carried  the  work  to 
Pope,  who,  having  looked  into  it,  ad- 
vised him  not  to  make  a  niggardly 
offer,  for  "this  w^as  no  everyday 
writer." 


Benjamin  Franklin  as  a  Bookseller. 

One  fine  morning  when  Franklin 
was  busy  preparing  his  newspaper  for 
the  press,  a  lounger  stepped  into  the 
store,  and  spent  an  hour  or  more  look- 
ing over  the  books,  etc.,  and  finally, 
taking  one  in  his  hand,  asked  the  shop 
boy  the  price. 

"  One  dollar,"  was  the  answer. 

"  One  dollar !  "  said  the  lounger, 
"  can't  you  take  less  than  that  ?  " 

"  No,  indeed ;  one  dollar  is  the 
price." 

Another  hour  had  nearly  passed, 
when  the  lounger  said, 

"  Is  Mr.  Franklin  at  home  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  he  is  in  the  printing  office." 

"  I  want  to  see  him,"  said  the 
lounger. 

The  shop  boy  immediately  informed 
Mr.  Franklin  that  a  gentleman  was  in 
the  store,  waiting  to  see  him.  Frank- 
lin was  soon  behind  the  counter,  when 
the  lounger,  with  book  in  hand,  ad- 
dressed him  thus : 


"  Mr.  Franklin,  what  is  the  lowest 
you  can  take  for  that  book  ?  " 

"  One  dollar  and  a  quarter,"  was  the 
ready  answer. 

"  One  dollar  and  a  quarter  !  Why, 
your  young  man  asked  me  only  a  dol- 
lar." 

"  True,"  said  Franklin,  "  and  I  could 
better  have  afforded  to  have  taken  a 
dollar  then,  than  to  have  been  taken 
out  of  the  office." 

The  lounger  seemed  surprised,  and 
wishing  to  end  the  parley  of  his  own 
making,  said  : 

"  Come,  Mr.  Franklin,  tell  me  what 
is  the  lowest  you  can  take  for  it  ? " 

"  One  dollar  and  a  half." 

"A  dollar  and  a  half!  Why,  you 
offered  it  yourself  for  a  dollar  and  a, 
quarter." 

"Yes,"  said  Franklin,  "and  I  had 
better  have  taken  that  price  then,  than 
a  dollar  and  a  half  now." 

The  lounger  paid  down  the  price, 
and  went  about  his  business^f  he  had 
any— and  Franklin  returned  into  the 
printing  office. 


Bival  Publishers. 

Both  Tonson  and  Lintot  were  rivals 
for  publishing  a  work  of  Dr.  Young's. 
The  poet  happened  to  answer  both  of 
their  letters  the  same  morning,  and  un- 
fortunately misdirected  them.  In  these 
epistles  he  complained  of  the  rascally 
cupidity  of  each.  In  the  one  he  in- 
tended for  Tonson,  he  said  that  Lintot 
was  so  great  a  scoundrel,  that  printing 
with  him  was  out  of  the  question  ;  and 
writing  to  Lintot,  he  declared  that 
Tonson  was  an  old  rascal,  with  many 
other  epithets  equally  opprobrious. 


Sir  Robert  Peel's  Factory  Operative. 

EvEBY  one  knows  that  old  Sir  Rob- 
ert Peel,  father  of  the  late  prime  minis- 
ter of  England  and  grandfather  of  the 
present  baronet,  made  his  money  by 
the  cotton  spinning.    In  the  early  part 


'28 


COMMERCIAL   AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


of  his  career  Ms  business  was  not  re- 
markably extensive,  but  suddenly  he 
made  a  tremendous  start,  and  soon  dis- 
tanced all  his  rivals.  He  grew  immense- 
ly rich,  as  we  all  know,  but  all  do  not 
know  the  lucky  accident  to  which  he 
was  indebted  for  his  enormous  wealth. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  cotton  spin- 
ning machinery,  a  great  deal  of  trouble 
used  to  be  caused  by  filaments  of  cot- 
ton adhering  to  the  bobbins  or  tapes, 
which  then  formed  portions  of  the 
looms.  These  filaments  accumulating, 
soon  clogged  the  wheels  and  other  parts 
of  the  machinery,  and  rendered  it  ne- 
cessary that  they  should  be  cleared, 
which  involved  frequent  stoppages,  and 
much  loss  of  time. 

The  great  desideratum  was  to  find 
out  some  plan  of  preventing  this  clog- 
ging by  the  cotton,  and  Sir  Robert,  or 
Mr.  Peel,  as  he  was  then,  spent  vast 
sums  in  experiments.  He  employed 
some  of  the  ablest  machinists  in  the 
kingdom — among  them  James  "Watt — 
who  suggested  various  corrections  ;  but 
spite  of  all  they  could  do  the  incon- 
venience remained — the  cotton  would 
adhere  to  the  bobbins,  and  the  evil 
appeared  to  be  insurmountable. 

Of  course,  these  delays  seriously 
affected  the  wages  of  the  operatives, 
who,  on  Saturdays,  generally  came 
short  in  proportion  to  the  stoppages 
during  the  previous  days.  It  was 
noticed,  however,  that  one  man  always 
drew  his  full  pay — his  work  was  al- 
ways accomplished ;  in  fact,  his  loom 
never  had  to  stop,  while  every  other  in 
the  factory  was  idle.  Mr.  Peel  was  in- 
formed of  this,  and  knew  there  must 
be  a  secret  somewhere.  It  was  import- 
ant that  it  should  be  discovered,  if  pos- 
sible. 

The  man  was  watched,  but  all  to  no 
purpose;  his  fellow  workmen  tried  to 
"pump"  him,  but  they  couldn't;  at 
last  Mr.  Peel  sent  for  the  man  into  his 
private  office. 

He  was  a  rough  Lancashire  man — 
unable  to  read  or  write — ^little  better. 


indeed,  than  a  mere  animal.  He  enter- 
ed  the  "  presence  "  pulling  his  forelock, 
and  shuffling  on  the  ground  with  his 
great  clumsy  wooden  shoes. 

"  Dick,"  said  Mr.  Peel,  "  Ferguson, 
the  overlooker,  tells  me  your  bobbins 
are  always  clean,  is  that  so  ?  " 

"  Ee's,  master,  't  be." 

"  Well,  Dick,  how  do  you  manage  it 
— have  you  any  objection  to  let  me 
know  ? " 

"  Why,  master  Pill,  't  be  a  sort  o' 
sacret  loike,  ye  see,  and  if  oi  told, 
t'others  'd  know  's  much  as  oi,"  replied 
Dick,  with  a  cunning  grin. 

"  Of  course,  Dick,  I'll  give  you  some- 
thing if  you'll  tell  me — and  if  you  can 
make  all  the  looms  in  the  factory  work 
as  smoothly  as  yours — " 

"  Ev'ry  one  'n  them,  master  Pill." 

"  Well,  what  shall  I  give  you  ?  Name 
your  price,  Dick,  and  let  me  have  your 
secret." 

Dick  grinned,  scratched  and  shook 
his  great  head,  and  shuffled  for  a  few 
minutes,  while  Mr.  Peel  anxiously 
awaited  his  reply.  The  cotton  lord 
thought  his  servant  would  probably 
ask  a  hundred  pounds  or  so,  which  he 
would  most  willingly  have  given  him. 
Presently  Dick  said, 

"Well,  master  Pill,  Til  tell  'ee  all 
about  it,  if  you'll  give  me — a  quart  o' 
beer  a  day  as  long  as  I'm  in  the  mills 
— you'll  save  that  ten." 

Mr.  Peel  rather  thought  he  should, 
and  quickly  agreed  to  the  terms. 

"  You  shall  have  it,  Dick,  and  half  a 
gallon  every  Sunday  into  the  bargain." 

"  Well,  then,"  said  Dick,  first  look- 
ing cautiously  around  to  see  that  no 
one  was  near — "  this  be  it ;  "  and  put- 
ting his  lips  close  to  Mr.  Peel's  ear,  he 
whispered,  "  Chalh  your  Idbbins!  " 

That  indeed  was  the  great  secret. 
Dick  had  been  in  the  habit  of  furtively 
chalking  his  bobbins,  which  simple 
contrivance  had  effectually  prevented 
the  adherence  of  the  cotton.  As  the 
bobbins  were  white,  the  chalking  had 
escaped  detection. 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY   TO  COMMERCE. 


m 


Mr.  Peel  was  a  sagacious  man,  and 
saw  through  the  affair  at  a  glance.  He 
at  once  patented  the  invention — had 
"  chalking  "  machinery  contrived,  and 
soon  took  the  lead  in  the  cotton  spin- 
ning department.  This  was  the  found- 
ation of  his  princely  fortune.  It  is  but 
right  to  add  that  he  pensioned  off  Dick 

handsomely. 

— » 

Publisher's  Generosity  to  an  Author. 

The  celebrated  work  so  well  known 
as  "Burn's  Justice,"  was  written  by 
Burn,  a  poor  clergyman  in  the  north 
of  England.  He  went  to  London  to 
sell  his  manuscript,  and  inquired  of 
the  landlord  of  the  inn  where  he  lodg- 
ed if  he  was  acquainted  with  any  book- 
seller. The  innkeeper  introduced  him 
to  one,  who,  after  keeping  the  manu- 
scrij)t  for  eight  days,  offered  him  twen- 
ty pounds.  After  a  variety  of  disap- 
pointments of  the  same  kind,  the  author 
waited  on  Mr.  Millar,  who  was  then 
rising  fast  into  fame  and  fortune.  He 
had  sufficient  strength  of  mind  to  see 
that  honesty  is  the  best  policy,  and  by 
treating  every  writer  with  justice,  and 
often  with  generosity,  he  acquired  a 
most  opuLent  fortune.  He  had  in  his 
employment  gentlemen,  in  every  differ- 
ent branch  of  learning,  who  w^ere  to  in- 
form him  of  the  merits  of  the  different 
books  submitted  to  their  inspection. 

The  manuscript  in  question  was  sent 
to  a  Scotch  student  in  the  Temple,  and 
Bum,  in  the  interim,  received  a  general 
invitation  to  Millar's  table.  In  eight 
or  ten  days  the  manuscript  was  return- 
ed to  Mr.  Millar,  with  a  note  that  it 
would  be  an  excellent  bargain  at  two 
hundred  pounds.  Next  clay,  after  din- 
ner, when  the  glass  had  begun  to  circu- 
late, he  asked  Bum  what  was  the  low- 
est sum  that  he  would  be  willing  to 
receive  for  his  work.  The  poor  man 
replied  that  the  highest  offer  which  he 
had  received  was  twenty  pounds — a 
sum  too  small  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  his  journey ! 


"  Will  you  accept  two  hundred  gui- 
neas ?  "  said  Mr.  Millar. 

"  Two  hundred  guineas  !  "  cried  the 
parson,  clapping  his  hands  ;  "  I  am  ex- 
tremely fortunate." 

The  book  went  through  many  im- 
pressions, and  Mr.  Millar,  of  his  own 
good  will,  paid  the  author  one  hun- 
dred pounds  additional  for  each  of 
them.  As  the  author  loved  port,  the 
bookseller  further  gave  him  a  letter  of 
credit  for  the  purchase  of  a  pipe  per 
annum,  during  the  rest  of  his  life,  in 
any  wine  cellar  in  London,  where  he 
thought  proper. 

"  After  all  this,"  added  Mr.  Millar, 
in  telling  the  story,  "  I  have  lived  to 
clear  eleven  thousand  pounds  by  the 
bargain." 

Mr.  Millar  gave  two  hundred  pounds 
for  the  copyright  of  "  Tom  Jones."  Be- 
fore he  died,  he  had  cleared  eighteen 
thousand  jDounds  by  it,  out  of  which 
he  had  the  generosity  to  make  Fielding 
presents,  at  different  times,  of  various 
sums,  till  they  amounted  to  two  thou- 
sand pounds.  He  also  bequeathed  a 
handsome  legacy  to  each  of  Mr.  Field- 
ing's sons. 


Business  Mistakes  of  Publishers. 

Cave  offered  half  the  booksellers  in 
London  the  property  of  the  "  Gentle- 
man's Magazine ;  "  as  they  all  refused  to 
engage  in  it,  he  was  obliged  to  publish 
it  himself,  and  it  became  one  of  the 
most  popular  and  profitable  magazines 
in  the  world. 

Dr.  Buchan  offered  his  "Domestic 
Medicine"  to  every  principal  book- 
seller of  Edinburgh  and  London,  for 
one  hundred  pounds,  without  obtain- 
ing a  purchaser;  and,  after  it  had 
passed  through  twenty-five  editions,  it 
was  sold  in  thirty-two  shares  of  fifty 
pounds  each, 

Beresford  offered  his  copyright  of 
the  "  Miseries  of  Human  Life "  to  a 
bookseller,  for  twenty  pounds.  It  was 
rejected.    It  was  subsequently  publish- 


730 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


ed,  however,  and  over  five  thousand 
pounds  realized  by  its  publication. 


Chinese  Barbers. 

The  barbers,  in  the  towns  of  China, 
go  about  ringing  bells  to  get  customers. 
They  carry  with  them  a  stool,  a  basin, 
a  towel,  and  a  pot  containing  fire. 
When  any  person  calls  them,  they  run 
to  him ;  and,  planting  their  stool  in  a 
convenient  place  in  the  street,  shave  the 
head,  clean  the  ears,  dress  the  eyebrows, 
and  brush  the  shoulders — all  for  the 
value  of  one  cent.  They  then  ring  the 
bell  again,  and  start  in  pursuit  of  an- 
other customer. 


Barbers'   Chairs. 

The  chair  in  a  barber's  shop  was  long 
proverbial,  from  its  capaciousness,  for 
accommodating  all  sizes  of  occupants ; 
whence  arose  the  phrase — "  as  common 
as  a  larler's  chair.'''' 

Plutarch  remarks  that  barbers  are 
naturally  a  loquacious  race  ;  and  gives 
an  anecdote  of  king  Archelaus,  who 
stipulated  with  his  barber  to  shave  him 
in  silence.  Not  so,  however,  have 
thought  most  of  barbers'  customers : 
the  cithara,  or  lute,  was  hung  up  in 
the  shop,  to  be  played  for  their  diver- 
sion ;  and  snapping  his  shears  or  fingers 
was  a  barber's  qualification.  Of  his  art, 
or  trade,  as  practised  of  old,  Lyly  gives 
a  curious  sample  :  "  How,  sir,  will  you 
be  trimmed  ?  will  you  have  your  beard 
like  a  spade  or  a  bodkin  ?  a  penthouse 
on  your  upper  lip,  or  an  ally  on  your 
chin  ?  a  low  curie  on  your  head  like  a 
bull,  or  dangling  locke  like  a  spaniell  ? 
your  moustachios  sharpe  at  the  ends, 
like  shoemakers'  aulas,  or  shaggie  to 
fall  on  your  shoulders  ? " 

Forfeits  in  a  Barber's  Shop. 

Formerly  forfeits  were  enforced  for 
certain  breaches  of  conduct  in  a  barber's 
shop — as,  for  handling  the  razors ;  for 


talking  of  cutting  throats  ;  for  calling 
hair-powder  fiour ;  for  meddling  with 
any  tiling  on  the  shopboard. 

In  1856,  there  was  hanging  in  a  bar- 
ber's shop  at  Stratford,  Eng.,  a  set  of 
rules,  which  the  possessor  mounted  when 
he  was  an  apprentice,  some  fifty  years 
previously;  and  his  employer,  who 
was  in  business  as  a  barber  at  Stratford, 
in  1769,  frequently  alluded  to  this  list 
of  forfeits  as  being  generally  acknowl- 
edged by  all  the  fraternity  to  have  been 
in  use  for  centuries.  The  old  man  well 
remembered  large  v/ooden  bowls  for 
lathering;  which  bowls  were  placed 
under  the  chin,  a  convenient  niche 
having  been  cut  in  the  side  in  which 
the  chin  dropped  and  kept  the  bowl 
suspended  during  the  lathering  opera- 
tion. He  used  to  relate  that  some  of 
the  customers  paid  by  the  quarter,  and 
for  these  an  especial  bowl  was  set  apart, 
to  be  used  only  at  the  time  when  their 
shaving  money  was  due ;  and  inside 
this  particular  bowl,  inscribed  in  per- 
fectly unmistakable  characters,  were 
the  words,  "  Sir,  your  quarter's  up  ! " 


Pushing-  Business. 

A  GENEROUS-HEARTED  but  thorough- 
ly driving  business  man  was  coming 
out  of  a  hair-dresser's  rooms,  when  he 
paused  in  the  shop  and  looked  around : 
"  Oh,  you  sell  brushes,  and  things  of 
this  kind  ? "  "  Yes,  sir."  "  Well,  I  sup- 
pose you  sell  to  about  every  one  that 
comes  ? "  "  No,  indeed,  sir."  "  But  I 
should.  At  all  events  you  try,  I  sup- 
pose, to  sell  to  every  one  that  comes  ? " 
"  Well,  no,  we  do  not,  sir ;  one  doesn't 
always  think  of  it."  "  But  you  ought 
— you  have  your  family  to  provide  for, 
and  you  should  have  tact  and  push  ;  if  I 
were  in  your  place,  I  would  sell  something 
to  every  one  that  comes,  and  you  ought  to 
try."  "  Very  well,  sir,  suppose  we  begin 
with  you,"  making  a  show  of  displaying 
some  wares.  "Yes,  to  be  sure,  why 
not?— let  us  see."  To  work  he  sets, 
and  by  way  of  encouraging  the  hair- 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


Y31 


dresser  in  the  proposed  plan  of  doing 
business,  he  bouglit  brushes,  combs, 
etc.,  to  the  amount  of  nearly  ten  dollars. 


Moses  as  an  Engraver. 

From  the  book  of  Exodus,  it  appears 
that  when  Moses  had  liberated  the  Jews 
from  Egyptian  bondage,  he  was  com- 
manded to  make  a  plate  of  pure  gold, 
and  grave  upon  it,  like  the  engravings 
of  a  signet,  "  holiness  to  the  Lord." 
He  was  also  commanded  to  "  take  two 
onyx  stones,  and  grave  on  them  the 
names  of  the  children  of  Israel,  accord- 
ing to  their  birth,  with  the  work  of  an 
engraver  on  stone,  like  the  engravings 
of  a  signet."  Both  of  these  passages 
distinctly  imply  the  practice  of  gem 
and  seal  engraving,  and  also  of  engrav- 
ing on  metal  plates.  ,    ' 


Wit  of  a  Gravestone  Maker. 

A  GOOD  story  is  told  of  the  facetious 
Dr.  Thornton,  of  Derry,  N.  H.,  who 
undertook  to  quiz  a  neighbor  of  his — 
an  old  Scotch  gravestone  maker.  The 
doctor,  one  day,  in  passing  the  resi- 
dence of  the  Scotchman,  who  was  busi- 
ly at  work,  drew  up  and  accosted  him 
as  follows :  "  Mr.  W.,  don't  you  believe 
it  to  be  your  duty,,  as  a  rational  man 
and  a  Christian,  to  pray  for  your  daily 
bread  ? "  "  Ay,"  quoth  Old  Mortality, 
"I  have  thought  it  to  be  my  duty, 
but  I  dinna  noo  min  muckle  about  it." 
"I  suppose,  then,"  said  the  doctor, 
"  that  you  pray  that  people  may  die, 
in  order  for  you  to  enjoy  the  profit  of 
furnishing  their  gravestones  ? "  "  No, 
fath,"  replied  the  old  man ;  "  there's 
no  need  o'that,  while  one  Matthew 
Thornton  continues  to  practise  physic  ; 
he  kills  off  folks  faster  than  I  can  make 
stones  for  them." 


The  Learned  Blacksmitli. 

Elihu  Buekitt  is  known  the  world 
over  as  "  the  learned  blacksmith."   Mr. 


Burritt  mentions  that,  being  one  of  a 
large  family,  and  his  parents  poor,  he 
apprenticed  himseli,  when  very  young, 
to  a  blacksmith,  but  that  he  had  always 
had  such  a  taste  for  reading,  that  he 
carried  it  with  him  to  his  trade.  He 
commenced  the  study  of  Latin  when 
his  indentures  were  not  half  expired, 
and  completed  reading  Virgil  in  the 
evenings  of  one  winter.  He  next  stud- 
ied Greek,  and  carried  the  Greek  gram- 
mar about  him  in  his  hat,  studying  it 
for  a  few  moments  while  heating  some 
large  iron.  In  the  evenings  he  sat 
down  to  Homer's  Iliad,  and  read  twenty 
books  of  it  during  the  second  winter. 
He  next  turned  to  the  modern  tongues, 
and  w^ent  to  New  Haven,  where  be  re- 
cited to  native  teachers  in  French, 
Spanish,  German  and  Italian,  and  at 
the  end  of  two  years  he  returned  to  his 
forge,  taking  with  him  such  books  as 
he  could  procure.  He  next  commenced 
Hebrew,  and  mastered  it  with  ease, 
reading  two  chapters  in  the  Bible  before 
breakfast,  this,  with  an  hour  at  noon, 
being  all  the  time  he  could  spare  from 
work.  Being  unable  to  procure  such 
works  as  he  desired,  he  determined  to 
hire  himself  to  some  ship  bound  to 
Europe,  thinking  that  he  could  there 
meet  with  books  at  the  different  ports 
he  touched  at.  He  (travelled  more  than 
one  hundred  miles  on  foot,  to  Boston, 
with  this  view,  but  was  not  able  to  find 
what  he  sought ;  and  at  this  period  he 
heard  of  the  American  Antiquarian 
Society  at  Worcester.  Thither  he  bent 
his  steps,  and  arrived  in  the  city  in  the 
most  utter  indigence.  Here  he  found  a 
collection  of  ancient,  modern,  and 
oriental  books,  such  as  he  never  im- 
agined to  be  collected  in  one  place.  He 
was  there  allowed  to  read  whatever 
books  he  liked,  and  reaped  great  benefit 
from  the  privilege.  He  used  to  spend 
three  hours  daily  in  the  hall,  and  he 
made  such  use  of  his  opportunities, 
as  to  be  able  to  read  upward  of 
fifty  languages,  with  greater  or  less 
facility. 


732 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Incorrect  Editions   of  the  Bible. 

The  number  of  typograpliical  inac- 
curacies which  abound  in  the  bibles 
printed  by  the  king's  printers  is  re- 
markable. Dr.  Lee  states,  "I  do  not 
know  any  book  in  which  it  is  so  diffi- 
cult to  find  a  very  correct  edition  as 
the  English  bible."  What  is  in  Eng- 
land called  the  Standard  Bible,  is  that 
printed  at  Oxford,  in  1769,  which  was 
superintended  by  Dr.  Blayney ;  yet  it 
has  been  ascertained  that  there  are  at 
least  one  hundred  and  sixteen  errors 
in  it. 

These  errors  were  discovered  in  print- 
ing an  edition  in  London,  in  1806, 
which  has  been  considered  as  very  cor- 
rect ;  yet  Dr.  Lee  says  that  that  edition 
contains  a  greater  number  of  mistakes. 
Mr.  T.  Curtis  corroborates  Dr.  Lee's  tes- 
timony. He  states  his  general  impres- 
sion to  be,  that  the  text  of  the  common 
English  bible  is  incorrect,  and  he  gives 
a  great  variety  of  instances. 

Dr.  A.  Clarke,  in  his  preface  to  the 
bible,  states  that  he  has  corrected  many 
thousand  errors  in  the  Italics,  which, 
in  general,  are  said  to  be  in  a  very  in- 
correct state.  Between  the  Oxford 
edition  of  1830  and  the  Cambridge 
edition,  there  are  eight  hundred  varia- 
tions in  the  Psalms  alone.  Dr.  Home 
says  :  "  Booksellers'  edition,  1806.  In 
the  course  of  printing,  by  Woodfall, 
this  edition  from  the  Cambiidge  copy, 
a  great  number  of  very  gross  errors 
were  discovered  in  the  latter,  and  the 
errors  of  the  common  Oxford  edition 
were  not  so  few  as  twelve  hundred." 

Mr.  Ofifor,  a  retired  bookseller,  and 
"who  made  a  collection  of  upward  of 
four  hundred  bibles  of  different  edi- 
tions, states  that  he  was  not  aware  of 
any  edition  he  had  examined  which 
was  without  errors ;  but  Pasham's 
bible,  in  1776,  and  another  printed  at 
Edinburgh,  in  1811,  were  the  most  ac- 
curate and  the  most  beautiful  he  had 
found. 


Printed  Books;  or,  the  Devil  and  Dr. 
Faustus. 

The  first  printed  book  on  record  is 
the  Booh  of  Psalms^  by  one  Faust,  of 
Mentz,  and  his  son-in-law,  Schseffer.  It 
appeared  in  1457,  more  than  four  hun- 
dred years  ago.  Several  works  were 
printed  many  years  before,  by  Guttem- 
berg;  but  as  the  inventors  wished  to 
keep  the  secret  to  themselves,  they 
sold  their  first  printed  works  as  manu- 
scripts. 

This  gave  rise  to  an  adventure  that 
brought  calamity  on  Faust.  Having 
in  1450,  begun  an  edition  of  the  bible, 
and  finished  it  in  1460,  he  carried  sev- 
eral printed  copies  of  it  to  Paris,  and 
offered  them  for  sale  as  manuscripts. 
This  made  him  at  once  an  object  of 
suspicion.  It  was  in  those  days  when 
Satan  was  thought  to  be  ready  at  every 
man's  elbow,  to  offer  his  magic  if  called 
upon,  and  as  the  French  could  not  con- 
ceive how  so  many  books  should  per- 
fectly agree  in  every  letter  and  point, 
they  ascribed  it  to  infernal  agency,  and 
poor  Faust  had  the  misfortune  to  be 
thrown  into  prison.  Here  it  was,  that, 
in  order  to  prove  he  had  no  aid  from 
the  devil,  he  was  obliged  to  reveal  the 
secret,  and  show  to  the  proper  officers 
how  the  work  was  ,done. 

Perhaps  it  was  upon  this  adventure 
that  somebody  built  up  the  story  of  the 
league  of  the  devil  and  Dr.  Faustus,  as 
well  as  wrote  those  ludicrous  dialogues, 
which,  in  some  of  the  puppet-shows, 
Faust,  under  the  name  of  Dr.  Faustus, 
is  made  to  hold  with  the  devil. 


Paying-  a  Newspaper  Bill. 

A  LONG- WINDED  subscriber  to  a  news- 
paper— there  are  many  such — after  re- 
peated dunnings,  at  last  promised  that 
the  bill  sJwuld  be  paid  by  a  certain 
day,  if  lie  were  then  alive.  The  day 
passed  over,  and  no  money  reached  the 
office. 

In  the  next  number,  therefore,   of 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO  COMMERCE. 


738 


the  newspaper,  the  publisher  inserted 
among  the  deaths  a  notice  of  his  sub- 
scriber's departure  from  this  life.  Pret- 
ty soon  after  this  announcement,  the 
subject  of  it  appeared  to  the  publisher 
— not  with  the  pale  and  ghastly  coun- 
tenance ascribed  to  apparitions,  nor, 
like  them,  did  he  wait  to  be  spoken  to, 
but  broke  silence  with — "  What,  sir,  did 
you  mean  by  publishing  my  death  ? " 
"  "Why,  sir,  I  mean  what  I  mean  when 
I  publish  the  death  of  any  other  per- 
son, viz.,  to  let  the  world  know  that 
you  are  dead."  "  Well,  but  I  am  not 
dead."  "Not  dead;  then  it  is  your 
own  fault ;  for  you  told  me  you  would 
positively  pay  your  bill  by  such  a  day 
if  you  lived  to  that  time.  The  day 
passed,  the  bill  is  not  paid,  and  you 
positively  must  be  dead — for  I  will  not 
believe  that  you  would  forfeit  your 
word."  ^'  Oh,  ho  !  I  see  that  you  have 
got  round  me,  Mr.  Publisher ;  but  say 
no  more  about  it — here's  the  money. 
And  hearkee,  my  wag,  you'll  contra- 
dict my  death  next  week?"  "Oh, 
certainly,  sir,  just  to  please  you; 
though,  upon  my  word,  I  can't  help 
thinking  you  were  dead  at  the  time 
specified,  and  that  you  have  really 
come  back  to  pay  this  bill,  on  account 
of  your  friendship  to  me." 


Trading  in  News. 

The  desire  of  the  English  for  news 
from  the  capital,  on  the  part  of  the 
wealthier  country  residents,  and  prob- 
ably the  false  information,  as  well  as 
the  impertinence,  of  the  news  writers, 
led,  anciently,  to  the  common  establish- 
ment of  a  very  curious  trade— that  of  a 
news  correspondent,  who,  for  a  sub- 
scription of  three  or  four  pounds  per 
annum,  wrote  a  letter  of  news  every 
post  day  to  his  subscriber  in  the  coun- 
try This  profession  probably  existed 
in  the  reign  of  James  I. ;  for  in  Ben 
Jonson's  play,  the  Staple  of  News, 
written  in  the  first  year  of  Charles  I., 
we  have  a  very  curious  and  amusing 


description  of  an  office  of  news  manu- 
facturers : 
"  This  is  the  outer  room  where  my  clerks  sit, 

And  keep  their  sides,  the  register  i'  the 
midst : 

The  examiner,  he  sits  private  there  within ; 

And  here  I  have  my  several  rolls  and  files 

Of  news  by  the  alphabet,  and  all  put  up 

Under  their  heads." 

The  news  thus  communicated  ap- 
pears to  have  fallen  into  as  much  dis- 
repute as  the  public  news.  In  the  ad- 
vertisement announcing  the  first  num- 
ber of  the  Evening  Post]  September  6th, 
1709,  it  is  said  :  "  There  must  be  three 
or  four  pounds  per  annum  paid  by 
those  gentlemen  who  are  out  of  town, 
for  written  news,  which  is  so  far  gene- 
rally from  having  any  probability  of 
matter  of  fact  in  it,  that  it  is  frequently 
stuffed  up  with  We  hear,  &c.,  or,  An 
eminent  Jew  merchant  has  received  a  let- 
ter, &c. ;  being  nothing  more  than 
downright  fiction."  The  same  adver- 
tisement, speaking  of  the  published  pa- 
pers, says  :  "  We  read  more  of  our  own 
affairs  in  the  Dutch  papers,  than  in 
any  of  our  own."  The  trade  of  a  news- 
paper correspondent  seems  to  have  sug- 
gested a  sort  of  union  of  written  news 
and  published  news ;  for  toward  the 
end  of  the  seventeenth  century,  we 
have  news  letters  printed  in  type  to 
imitate  writing.  The  most  famous 
of  these  was  that  commenced  by  Icha- 
bod  Dawks  in  1696,  the  first  num- 
ber of  which  was  thus  announced: 
"This  letter  will  be  done  upon  good 
writing  paper,  and  blank  space  left, 
that  any  gentleman  may  write  his  own 
private  business.  It  does  undoubtedly 
exceed  the  best  of  the  written  news,  con- 
tains double  the  quantity,  is  read  with 
abundantly  more  ease  and  pleasure,  and 
will  be  useful  to  improve  the  younger 
sort  in  writing  a  curious  hand." 


Tailor  Turned  Prophet. 

A  TAiLOE,  in  Dublin,  near  the  resi- 
dence of  Dean  Swift,  took  into  the 


734 


COMMERCIAL  AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


"  ninth  part  "  of  his  head,  that  he  was 
specially  and  divinely  inspired  to  inter- 
pret the  prophecies,  and  more  especially 
the  Book  of  Revelation.  Quitting  the 
shop-board,  he  turned  out  a  preacher, 
or  rather  a  prophet,  until  his  customers 
had  left  his  shop,  and  his  family  were 
likely  to  famish.  His  monomania  was 
well  known  to  the  dean,  who  benevo- 
lently watched  for  an  opportunity  to 
turn  the  current  of  his  thoughts. 

One  night  the  tailor,  as  he  fancied, 
got  an  especial  revelation  to  go  and 
convert  Dean  Swift,  and  next  morning 
took  up  his  line  of  march  to  the  dean- 
ery. The  dean,  whose  study  was  fur- 
nished with  a  glass  door,  saw  the  tailor 
approach,  and  instantly  surmised  the 
nature  of  his  errand.  Throwing  him- 
self into  an  attitude  of  solemnity  and 
thoughtfulness,  with  the  Bible  opened 
before  him,  and  his  eyes  fixed  on  the 
tenth  chapter  of  Revelation,  he  awaited 
his  approach.  The  door  opened,  and 
the  tailor  announced  in  an  unearthly 
voice,  "  Dean  Swift,  I  am  sent  by  the 
Almighty  to  announce  to  you — " 

"  Come  in,  my  friend,"  said  the 
dean ;  "  I  am  in  great  trouble,  and  no 
doubt  the  Lord  has  sent  you  to  help 
me  out  of  my  difiiculty." 

The  unexpected  welcome  inspired  the 
tailor,  and  strengthened  his  assurance 
in  his  own  prophetic  character,  and 
disposed  him  to  listen  to  the  disclosure. 

"  My  friend,"  said  the  dean,  "  I  have 
just  been  reading  the  tenth  chapter  of 
Revelation,  and  am  greatly  distressed 
at  a  difficulty  I  have  met  with,  and  you 
are  the  very  man  sent  to  help  me  out. 
Here  is  an  account  of  an  angel  that 
came  down  from  heaven,  who  was  so 
large  that  he  placed  one  foot  on  the 
earth  and  lifted  up  his  hands  to  heaven. 
Now,  my  knowledge  of  mathematics," 
continued  the  dean,  "has  enabled  me 
to  calculate  exactly  the  size  and  form 
of  the  angel ;  but  I  am  in  great  diffi- 
culty, for  I  wished  to  ascertain  how 
much  cloth  it  will  take  to  make  a  pair 
of  breeches ;  and,  as  that  is  exactly  in 


you?'  line  of  husiness,  I  have  no  doubt 
the  Lord  has  sent  you  to  show  me." 

This  exposition  came  like  an  electric 
shock  to  the  poor  tailor.  He  rushed 
from  the  house,  hastened  to  his  shop, 
and  a  sudden  revulsion  of  thought  and 
feeling  came  over  him.  Making  breech- 
es was  exactly  in  his  line  of  business. 
He  returned  to  his  occupation,  thor- 
oughly cured  of  prophetical  revelation 
by  the  wit  of  the  dean. 


**  A  Tailor  for  Many  Years." 

It  was  a  good  trait  in  the  character 
of  that  quaint  old  Quaker,  Isaac  T. 
Hopper,  that  he  was  not  ashamed  of 
the  shop.  It  is  related  of  him  by  his 
biographer,  that  one  day,  while  he  was 
visiting  a  wealthy  family  in  Dublin, 
during  his  sojourn  abroad,  a  note  was 
handed  to  him,  inviting  him  to  dine 
the  next  day.  When  he  read  it  aloud, 
his  host  remarked  :  "  Those  people  are 
very  respectable ;  but  they  are  not  of 
the  first  circle.  They  belong  to  our 
church,  but  not  exactly  to  our  '  set.' 
Their  father  was  a  mechanic."  "  Well, 
Pm  a  mechanic  myself,"  said  Isaac; 
"  perhaps  if  thou  hadst  known  that 
fact,  thou  wouldst  not  have  invited 
me  !  "  "  Is  it  possible,"  responded  his 
host,  "  that  a  man  of  your  information 
and  appearance  can  be  a  mechanic  ? " 
"  I  followed  the  business  of  a  tailor  for 
many  years,"  rejoined  his  guest ;  "  look 
at  my  hands.  Dost  thou  not  see  the 
mark  of  the  shears  ?  Some  of  the  may- 
ors of  Philadelphia  have  been  tailors. 
When  I  lived  there,  I  often  walked  the 
street  with  the  chief  justice.  It  nev- 
er occurred  to  me  that  it  was  any  hon- 
or, and  I  don't  think  it  did  to  him." 


"Spanish." 

A  BRiCKMAKER,  being  hired  by  a 
brewer  to  make  some  brick  for  him  at 
his  country  house,  wrote  to  the  brewer 
that  he  could  not  go  forward  unless  he 
had  two  or  three  loads  of  "  Spanish ;  " 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


135 


that  otherwise  his  brick  would  cost 
him  six  or  seven  thousand  chaldrons  of 
coal  extra,  and  the  bricks  would  not  be 
so  good  nor  so  hard,  by  a  great  deal, 
when  they  were  burnt.  The  brewer 
hereupon  sends  down  two  cartloads, 
with  about  twelve  hogsheads  or  casks 
of  molasses,  which  startled  the  brick- 
maker  almost  out  of  his  senses.  The 
case  was  this:  The  brewers  formerly 
mixed  molasses  with  the  ale  to  sweeten 
it,  and  abate  the  quantity  of  malt,  mo- 
lasses being  at  that  time  much  cheaper, 
and  this  they  called  "  Spanish,"  not 
willing  their  customers  should  know  it. 
Again,  the  brickmakers  all  about  Lon- 
don, mix  sea-coal  ashes  with  their  clay, 
and  by  that  shift,  manage  to  save  eight 
chaldrons  of  coal  out  of  eleven,  to  the 
burning  of  one  hundred  thousand 
bricks,  in  proportion  to  what  other 
people  burn  with  them ;  and  these 
ashes  they  call  "  Spanish  ;  "  but  neither 
the  brewer  on  the  one  hand,  nor  the 
brickmaker  on  the  other,  understood 
anything  else  of  the  term  than  as  it 
related  to  his  own  separate  business. 


Country  Bankers. 

Quite  a  ludicrous  case  is  told  of  a 
young  woman  of  shabby  genteel  ap- 
pearance, who  was  taken  before  a  Lon- 
don magistrate  for  vagrancy.  The 
constable  reported  that  he  detected  her 
in  the  act  of  begging.  The  magistrate, 
in  the  usual  authoritative  tone  of  ad- 
dressing beggars,  said,  "  Now,  young 
woman,  you  cannot  be  allowed  to  go 
about  begging.  I  think  you  are  an 
impostor.  What  is  your  name  ?  Where 
did  you  come  from?  What  is  your 
father?" 

These  three  interrogatories  were  all 
put  at  once,  but,  of  course,  required 
separate  replies.  The  young  woman, 
not  having  been  used  to  aj)pear  before 
a  magistrate,  began  to  cry.  She  was 
told  that  that  sort  of  whimpering 
would  not  do  there,  but  the  questions 
must  be  answered.    The  girl  hesitated 


for  some  time,  but,  on  being  threatened 
with  the  treadmill,  she  replied,  "  My 
name  is  Smith ;  I  came  from  Lincoln- 
shire, and  my  father  is  a  banker." 

On  hearing  this,  the  tone  and  tenor 
of  the  worthy  magistrate's  address  un- 
derwent a  change.  "  What !  "  he  said, 
"  my  good  young  woman,  your  father  a 
country  danJcer,  and  allow  his  daughter 
to  be  begging  in  the  streets  of  Lon- 
don !  I  consider  he  disgraces  himself 
by  such  conduct.  But  surely,  my  good 
youifg  creature,  you  must  have  done 
something  to  offend  your  father." 
"  No,  sir ;  my  father  said  he  could  not 
afford  to  keep  me,  so  I  was  obliged  to 
leave  home." 

"  Not  afford  to  keep  you,  and  yet  a 
country  banker.  How  can  that  be  ?  I 
must  inquire  into  this ;  I  shall  write  to 
the  clergyman  of  your  town,  whom  I 
happen  to  know,  and  ascertain  the 
truth  of  your  story,  and,  if  possible, 
prevail  on  your  father  to  take  you 
home  again." 

In  the  mean  time,  the  now  kind  and 
attentive  magistrate  ordered  that  the 
young  woman  should  be  taken  good 
care  of,  and  every  requisite  afforded 
her  until  he  received  a  reply  to  his 
letter. 

A  few  days  brought  the  clergyman's 
answer,  who  stated  that  the  young 
woman  was  not  a  daughter  of  the 
highly  respectable  banker  of  that  name, 
but  was  the  daughter  of  a  mud  lanker 
in  the  fens,  and  that  her  father  had 
been  compelled  to  refuse  to  support  her. 
The  writer  also  added,  that  it  was  pos- 
sible the  mistake  into  which  the  wor- 
thy magistrate  had  fallen  arose  from 
the  circumstance  that  in  his  part  of  the 
country  all  tlie  laborers  engaged  in  drain- 
ing are  called  MnTcers—hQncQ  the  term 
"  country  banker." 


Hutton's  Success  as  a  Bookseller. 

The  well-known  bookseller  William 
Hutton,  struggled  in  early  life  with  in- 


736 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


numerable  difficulties.  His  own  ac- 
count of  his  first  adventure  as  a  book- 
seller is  a  good  specimen  of  tbat  spirit 
of  indomitable  perseverance  vybich  is 
ever  the  forerunner  of  success.  He  de- 
termined to  set  up  that  character  in  the 
town  of  Southwell,  about  fourteen  miles 
from  Nottingham.  Here  he  according- 
ly opened  a  shop,  with,  as  he  expresses 
it,  about  twenty  shillings*  worth  of 
trash  for  all  his  stock. 

"  I  was,"  says  he,  "  my  own  joiner, 
put  up  my  shelves  and  furoiture*  and 
in  one  day  became  the  most  eminent 
bookseller  in  the  place."  Being  em- 
ployed, however,  during  the  other  days 
of  the  week,  in  working  at  Nottingham 
as  a  bookbinder,  he  could  only  give 
his  attendance  at  Southwell  on  Satur- 
days, that  being,  besides,  quite  enough 
for  the  literary  wants  of  the  place. 
"  Throughout  a  very  rainy  summer," 
says  he,  "  I  set  out  at  five  every  Satur- 
day morning,  carried  a  burden  of  from 
three  pounds'  weight  to  thirty,  opened 
shop  at  ten,  starved  in  it  all  day  upon 
bread,  cheese,  and  a  pint  of  ale,  took 
from  one  to  six  shillings,  shut  up  at 
four,  and,  by  trudging  through  the 
solitary  night  and  the  deep  roads  five 
hours  more,  I  arrived  at  Nottingham  at 
nine,  where  I  always  found  a  mess  of 
milk  jDorridge  by  the  fire,  prepared  by 
my  valuable  sister." 

This  humble  attempt,  however,  was 
the  beginning  of  his  great  prosperity. 
Next  year  he  was  ofiered  about  two 
hundred  pounds'  weight  of  old  books, 
on  his  note  of  hand,  for  twenty-seven 
shillings,  by  a  clergyman,  to  whom  he 
was  known;  and  upon  this  he  imme- 
diately determined  to  break  up  liis  es- 
tablishment at  Southwell,  and  to  trans- 
fer himself  to  Birmingham.  He  did  so, 
and  succeeded  so  well,  that  by  never 
sufiering  his  expenses  to  exceed  five 
shillings  a  week,  he  found  that  by  the 
end  of  the  first  year  he  had  saved  about 
twenty  pounds.  This,  of  course,  ena- 
bled him  to  extend  his  business,  which 
he  soon  made  a  very  valuable  one,  and 


by  which  he  in  time  acquired  an  ample 
fortune. 


Bookmaking:  a  Trade. 

La  Bruyeke,  many  years  ago,  ob- 
served, that  "  'tis  as  much  a  trade  to 
make  a  book  as  a  clock ;  c'est  un  me- 
tier que  de  faire  un  livre,  comme  de 
faire  une  pendule."  But  since  his  day 
many  and  vast  improvements  have  been 
made.  Solomon  said,  that  "  of  making 
books  there  is  no  end ; "  and  Seneca 
complained,  that  "  as  the  Romans  had 
more  than  enough  of  other  things,  so 
they  had  also  of  books  and  bookmak- 
ing." But  Solomon  and  Seneca  lived  in 
an  age  when  books  were  considered  as 
a  luxury,  and  not  a  necessary  of  life. 
The  case  is  now  altered ;  and  though, 
perhaps,  as  a  wit  once  observed,  no 
man  gets  a  bellyful  of  knowledge, 
every  one  has  at  least  a  mouthful. 


Lee,  the  Learned  Carpenter  in 
!Eng-land. 

Samuel  Lee,  professor  of  Hebrew  at 
the  University  of  Cambridge,  England, 
was  seventeen  years  of  age  before  he 
conceived  the  idea  of  learning  a  for- 
eign language.  Out  of  the  scanty  pit- 
tance of  his  weekly  earnings  as  a  car- 
penter, he  purchased,  at  a  bookstore,  a 
volume,  which,  when  read,  was  ex- 
changed for  another ;  and  soon,  by  de- 
grees, he  advanced  in  knowledge.  He 
had  not  even  the  privilege  of  balancing 
between  reading  and  relaxation;  he 
was  obliged  to  pass  from  bodily  fatigue 
to  mental  exertion.  During  six  years 
previous  to  his  twenty-fifth  year,  he 
omitted  none  of  the  hours  usually  ap- 
propriated to  manual  labor,  and  he  re- 
tired to  rest  regularly  at  ten  o'clock  in 
the  evening.  And  yet  at  the  age  of 
thirty-one  years  he  had  actually  taught 
seventeen  languages. 


OCCUPATIOXS  AUXILIARY  TO  COMMERCE. 


m 


Apt  Speech,  by  a  Carpenter. 

At  the  time  when  Sir  Eicliard  Steele 
was  preparing  his  great  room  in  York 
Buildings  for  public  orations,  he  hap- 
pened to  be  pretty  much  behindhand 
in  his  payments  to  the  workmen ;  and 
coming  one  day  among  them  to  see 
what  progress  they  made,  he  requested 
the  carpenter  to  get  upon  the  rostrum 
and  make  a  speech,  that  he  might  judge 
how  it  could  be  heard.  The  fellow 
mounted,  and  stretching  his  poll,  told 
Sir  Richard  that  he  knew  not  what  to 
say,  for  he  was  no  orator. 

"  Oh,"  cries  the  knight,  "  no  matter 
for  that;  speak  anything  that  comes 
uppermost." 

"  Why,  then.  Sir  Richard,"  says  the 
carpenter-orator,  "here  have  we  been 
working  for  your  honor  these  six 
months,  and  cannot  get  one  penny  of 
money.  Pray,  sir,  when  do  you  design 
to  pay  us  ? " 

"  Very  well,  very  well,"  said  Sir 
Richard,  "  pray  come  down.  I  have 
heard  quite  enough.  I  cannot  but  own 
you  speak  very  distinctly,  though  I 
don't  much  admire  your  subject." 


Sticking  to  the  Contract. 

A  SEA  captain,  in  the  vicinity  of  Bos- 
ton, was  about  to  start  on  a  long  voy- 
age, and  entered  into  a  contract  with 
a  builder  to  erect  him  a  commodious 
house  during  his  absence.  Everything 
was  to  be  done  according  to  the  con- 
tract— no  more,  no  less — which  the 
captain  caused  to  be  drawn  up  with 
great  care.  A  large  sum  was  to  be  for- 
feited by  the  builder  if  he  should  fail 
to  observe  any  of  the  stipulations,  or  at- 
tempt to  put  in  his  notions  where  the 
contract  made  no  provision  for  them. 

The  captain  sailed,  and  returned. 
His  house  stood  in  ample  and  im- 
posing proportions  before  his  sight, 
and  he  confessed,  himself  delighted 
with  the  exterior.  But  when  he  en- 
tered and  attempted  to  ascend  to  the 
47 


second  floor  of  the  building,  he  found 
no  stairs,  and  no  means  of  ascent  were 
to  be  had  till  ladders  were  sent  for. 
The  captain  felt  that  he  was  trifled 
with,  and  a  bit  of  a  nautical  gale  seem- 
ed brewing.  But  this  was  soon  quieted 
by  the  opening  of  the  written  contract, 
and  there  was  found  not  the  least  pro- 
vision for  stairs  in  any  part  of  the 
house !  "  Give  me  your  hand,  sir," 
said  the  noble  captain  at  once ;  "all 
right !  You've  stuck  to  the  contract, 
and  I  like  it." 

The  stairs  were  subsequently,  at  a 
great  expense,  put  in,  and  the  captain 
often  remarked  that  one  of  the  pleas- 
antest  things  about  his  elegant  resi- 
dence was,  the  remembrance  of  one 
man  who  could  stick  to  the  very  terms 
of  a  contract ! 


Ben  Russell,  the  Printer :  Exciting 
Scene. 

Benjamin  Russell— or  "  Major 
Ben,"  as  he  was  familiarly  called — 
who  for  years  figured  with  such  diver- 
sified conspicuousness,  as  editor  and 
publisher  of  the  Colurribian  Centinel, 
Boston,  was  always  a  model  of  enter- 
prise and  industry.  For  years  after 
the  publication  of  that  paper,  he  not 
only  acted  as  the  sole  editor  and  re- 
porter, but  also  worked  .considerably 
at  the  "  case,"  in  setting  type,  and  per- 
formed a  goodly  share  of  the  press- 
work. 

It  is  related  of  him — among  a  thou- 
sand anecdotes  and  incidents  illustrat- 
ing his  marked  individuality  of  char- 
acter— that  once  having  published  an 
article  which  was  considered  personal 
and  highly  offensive  by  a  certain  gen- 
tleman of  high  standing  in  the  commu- 
nity, the  aggrieved  person  visited  the 
unfortunate  printer,  armed  with  a  san- 
guinary-looking cowskin,  and  fully  de- 
termined to  give  him  a  sound  thrash- 
ing. According  to  the  custom  of  the 
times,  he  was  arrayed  in  white  kersey- 
mere small  clothes,  white  silk  stock- 


128 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


ings,  and  white  vest.  Iilr.  Russell  was 
at  the  time  most  busily  engaged,  with 
his  coat  off  and  shirt  sleeves  rolled  up, 
in  handling  the  press  balls  for  distrib- 
uting ink — rollers  were  not  known  in 
those  days — and  his  astonishment  may 
barely  be  conceived  when  he  saw  a 
well-dressed  gentleman  enter  the  office 
abruptly,  in  a  towering  passion,  and, 
making  toward  him,  "  fall  to  "  with  a 
cowskin. 

The  printer  fronted  his  antagonist, 
and  very  professionally  made  a  pass  at 
him  with  his  press  balls,  which  took 
effect,  one  on  his  visitor's  snowy  vest, 
the  other  on  his  left  cheek  and  fore- 
head. Another  blow  with  the  cowskin 
— another  thrust  with  the  balls — which 
served  admirably  well  the  purposes  of 
both  sword  and  shield. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  advocate  of 
Lynch  law,  who,  when  he  entered  the 
office,  looked  as  neat  and  trim  as  if  he 
had  just  been  taken  from  a  bandbox, 
was  covered  with  ink— printers*  ink, 
black  and  oily — from  head  to  foot ;  his 
hat  was  knocked  off  in  the  melee,  his 
gay  costume  was  transformed  into  a  suit 
of  mourning,  and  his  face  was  as  black 
and  glossy  as  a  native  citizen  of  Tim- 
buctoo.  He  soon  found  he  was  playing 
a  losing  game,  and  beat  a  retreat,  fol- 
lowed by  Major  Ben,  who  had  now  got 
his  hand  conveniently  in,  and  gave  his 
assailant  a  last  furious  push  between 
the  shoulders,  as  he  sprang  into  the 
street,  mentally  resolving  never  again 
to  molest  a  printer,  especially  when  en- 
gaged in  his  calling. 


Wholesale  Joke  upon  Shoemakers. 

Henley,  the  celebrated  mob  orator, 
succeeded  in  collecting  the  greatest 
number  of  shoemakers  ever  known  to 
assemble,  at  one  time,  by  announcing 
that  he  would  teach  them  "  a  new  and 
most  expeditious  mode  of  making 
shoes."  When  they  were  gathered  to- 
gether in  prodigious  numbers,  they 
learned    that    the   "new  art"   to    be 


taught  them  was  no  other  than  that 
of  cutting  off  the  tops  of  boots !  Being 
thus  enlightened  in  respect  to  their 
"  understandings,"  the  innocent  fra- 
ternity dispersed. 

The  writer  of  this  anecdote  displays 
his  penchant  for  punning  by  saying,  "  I 
cannot  think  the  representatives  of 
Prince  Crispin  would  have  pocketed 
this  'bootless'  insult.  I  think  they 
would  have  'bristled'  up,  one  and 
'all,'  and  'waxing'  wroth,  would 
not  have  waited  for  the  '  ends '  of 
justice,  but  would  have  brought  the 
orator  down  from  his  'gilt  tub,'  and, 
persevering  to  the  '  last,'  have  put 
their  '  soles '  upon  his  neck  till  he 
had  discovered,  too  late,  that  the 
'gentle  craft'  might  not  be  insulted 
with  impunity." 


German  Book  Fairs. 

The  long  celebrated  Leipsic  book 
fair  was  established  before  the  end  of 
the  sixteenth  century.  It  prospered  so 
rapidly  that,  in  1600,  the  Easter  cata- 
logue, which  has  been  annually  printed 
ever  since,  was  printed  for  the  first 
time.  It  now  presents  every  year,  in  a 
thick  octavo  volume,  a  collection  of 
new  books  and  new  editions,  to  which 
there  is  no  parallel  in  Europe.  At  the 
fair  all  the  brethren  of  the  trade  flock 
together  in  Leipsic,  not  only  from  every 
part  of  Germany,  but  from  every  Euro- 
pean country  where  German  books  are 
sold,  to  settle  accounts  and  examine  the 
harvest  of  the  year.  The  number  al- 
ways amounts  to  several  hundreds,  and 
they  have  built  an  exchange  for  them- 
selves. It  is  here  that  eveiy  German 
author  wishes  to  produce  the  children 
of  his  brain,  and  that,  too,  only  during 
the  Easter  fair.  He  will  submit  to  any 
degree  of  exertion  that  his  work  may 
be  ready  for  publication  by  that  im- 
portant season,  when  the  whole  broth- 
erhood is  in  labor,  from  the  Ehine  to 
the  Vistula.  If  the  auspicious  moment 
pass  away,  he  willingly  bears  his  bur- 


W1IOT.KSAT.E    JOKK    UPON    SlIOEM.iKEkS 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


739 


den  twelve  montlis  longer,  till  the  next 
bibliopolical  littering. 


Property  in  Books. 

Mr.  Alexander  Donaldson,  book- 
seller, of  Edinburgh,  had  for  some  time 
opened  a  shoj)  in  London,  and  sold  his 
cheap  editions  of  the  most  popular 
English  books,  in  defiance  of  the  sup- 
posed common  law  right  of  literary 
property.  Dr.  Johnson,  though  he  con- 
curred in  the  opinion  which  was  after- 
ward sanctioned  by  a  judgment  of  the 
House  of  Lords,  that  there  was  no  such 
right,  was  at  this  time  very  angry  that 
the  booksellers  of  London,  for  whom 
he  uniformly  professed  much  regard, 
should  suffer  from  an  invasion  of  what 
they  had  ever  considered  to  be  secure, 
and  he  was  loud  and  violent  against 
Mr.  Donaldson.  Johnson :  "He  is  a 
fellow  who  takes  advantage  of  the  law 
to  injure  his  brethren ;  for  notwith- 
standing that  the  statute  secures  only 
fourteen  years  of  exclusive  right,  it  has 
always  been  understood  by  the  trade 
that  he  who  buys  the  copyright  of  a 
book  from  the  author,  obtains  a  per- 
petual property  ;  and,  upon  that  belief, 
numberless  bargains  are  made  to  trans- 
fer that  property  after  the  expiration 
of  the  statutory  term.  Now  Donald- 
son, I  say,  takes  advantage  here  of 
people  who  have  really  an  equitable 
title  from  usage ;  and  if  we  consider 
how  few  of  the  books  of  which  they 
buy  the  property  succeed  so  well  as  to 
bring  profit,  we  should  be  of  opinion 
that  the  term  of  fourteen  years  is  too 
short ;  it  should  be  sixty  years." 

Dempster:  "Donaldson,  sir,  is  anx- 
ious for  the  encouragement  of  litera- 
ture. He  reduces  the  price  of  books, 
so  that  poor  students  may  buy  them." 

Johnson  (laughing)  :  "  Well,  sir,  air 
lowing  that  to  be  his  motive,  he  is  no 
better  than  Robin  Hood,  who  robbed 
the  rich  in  order  to  give  to  the  poor." 


English  Almanacs— First  Issue. 

The  first  almanac  in  England  was 
printed  in  Oxford,  in  1673.  There  were 
near  thirty  thousand  of  them  printed, 
besides  a  sheet  almanac  for  twopence, 
that  was  printed  for  that  year;  and 
because  of  the  novelty  of  said  almanac, 
and  its  title,  they  were  all  vended.  Its 
sale  was  so  great,  that  the  Society  of 
Booksellers  in  London  bought  off  the 
copy  for  the  future,  in  order  to  engross 
the  profits  in  their  own  hands. 


Bather  a  Puzzling  Occupation. 

Of  Stuart — no  mean  name,  certainly 
— the  following  anecdote  is  related: 
He  had  put  up  at  an  inn,  and  his  com- 
panions were  desirous,  by  putting 
roundabout  questions,  to  find  out  his 
calling  or  profession.  Stuart  answered 
with  a  grave  face  and  serious  tone,  that 
he  sometimes  dressed  gentlemen's  and 
ladies'  hair.  At  that  time,  high-cropped 
pomatumed  hair  was  all  the  fashion. 

"  You  are  a  hair-dresser,  then  ?  " 

"  What ! "  said  he,  "  do  I  look  like  a 
barber  ? " 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,  but  I  infer- 
red it  from  what  you  said.  If  I  mis- 
took you,  may  I  take  the  liberty  to  ask 
you  what  you  are  then  ?  " 

"  Why,  I  sometimes  brush  a  gentle- 
man's coat  or  hat,  and  sometimes  adjust 
a  cravat." 

"  Oh,  you  are  a  valet,  then,  to  some 
gentleman  ?  " 

"  A  valet !  Indeed,  sir,  I  am  not.  I 
am  not  a  servant.  To  be  sure,  I  make 
coats  and  waistcoats,  for  gentlemen." 

"  Oh,  you  are  a  tailor." 

"  A  tailor  !  Do  I  look  like  a  tailor  ? 
I  assure  you,  I  never  handled  a  goose, 
other  than  a  roasted  one." 

By  this  time  they  were  all  in  a  roar, 

"  What  are  you  then  ?  "  said  one. 

"  I'll  tell  you,"  said  Stuart.  "  Be  as- 
sured, all  I  have  said  is  literally  true. 
I  dress  hair,  brush  hats  and  coats,  ad- 
just a  cravat,  and  make  coats,  waist- 


740 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


coats,  and  breeches,  and  likewise  boots 
and  shoes,  at  your  service." 

"  Oh,  ho  !  a  boot  and  shoemaker,  af- 
ter all ! " 

"Guess  again,  gentlemen.  I  never 
handled  boot  or  shoe,  but  for  my  own 
feet  and  legs ;  yet  all  I  have  told  you 
is  true." 

"  "We  may  as  well  give  up  guess- 
ing ! " 

""Well,  then,  I  will  tell  you,  upon 
my  honor  as  a  gentleman,  my  lona  fide 
profession.  I  get  my  bread  by  making 
faces." 

He  then  screwed  his  countenance, 
and  twisted  the  lineaments  of  his  vis- 
age, in  a  manner  such  as  Samuel  Foote 
or  Charles  Mathews  might  have  envied. 
His  companions,  after  loud  peals  of 
laughter,  each  took  credit  to  himself 
for  having  suspected  that  the  gentle- 
man, after  all,  belonged  to  the  theatre, 
and  they  all  knew  he  must  be  a  come- 
dian by  profession — when  to  their  in- 
creased astonishment,  he  assured  them 
that  he  was  never  on  the  stage,  and 
very  rarely  saw  the  inside  of  a  play- 
house, or  any  similar  place  of  amuse- 
ment. They  all  now  looked  at  each 
other  in  utter  amazement.  Before 
parting,  Stuart  said  to  his  companions, 

"  Gentlemen,  you  will  find  that  all  I 
have  said  of  my  various  employments 
is  comprised  in  these  few  words,  /  am 
a  p&rtrait  painter!  As  such,  if  you 
will  call  at  John  Palmer's,  York  Build- 
ings, I  shall  be  ready  and  willing  to 
brush  you  a  coat  or  hat,  dress  your 
hair  d  la  mode^  supply  you,  if  in  need, 
with  a  wig  of  any  fashion  or  dimen- 
sions, accommodate  you  with  boots  or 
shoes,  give  you  rufiles  or  cravat,  and 
make  faces  for  you." 


Humors  of  a  Reporter. 

Mauk  Supple  was  a  well-known 
parliamentary  reporter.  He  took  his 
wine  frequently  at  Bellamy's,  and  then 
went  up  into  the  gallery  and  reported 
like  a  gentleman  and  a  man  of  genius. 


The  members  hardly  knew  their  own 
speeches  again;  but  they  admired  his 
free  and  bold  manner  of  dressing  them 
up.  None  of  them  ever  went  to  the 
printing  office  of  the  Morning  Chronicle, 
to  complain  that  the  tall  Irishman  had 
given  a  lame,  sneaking  version  of  their 
sentiments.  They  pocketed  the  afii'ont 
of  their  metamorphosis,  and  fathered 
speeches  they  had  never  made.  His 
way  was  the  hyperbole  ;  a  strong  spice 
of  orientalism,  wdth  a  dash  of  the  l)og- 
trotter.  His  manner  seemed  to  please, 
and  he  presumed  upon  it.  One  eve- 
ning, as  he  sat  at  his  post  in  the  gallery, 
waiting  the  issue  of  things,  and  a  hint 
to  hang  his  own  tropes  and  figures 
upon,  a  dead  silence  happened  to  pre- 
vail in  the  house.  It  was  when  Mr. 
Addington  was  speaker.  The  bold 
leader  of  the  press-gang  was  never  bent 
upon  serious  business  much,  and  at  this 
time  he  was  particularly  full  of  meat 
and  wine. 

Delighted,  therefore,  with  the  pause, 
but  thinking  that  something  might  as 
well  be  going  forward,  he  called  out 
lustily,  "A  song  from  Mr.  Speaker." 
Imagine  Addington's  long,  prim,  ui> 
right  figure,  his  consternation,  and 
utter  want  of  preparation  for,  or  of  a 
clue  to  repel,  such  an  interruption  of 
the  rules  and  orders  of  the  Parliament. 
The  house  was  in  a  roar.  Pitt,  it  ia 
said,  could  hardly  keep  his  seat  for 
laughing.  When  the  bustle  and  the 
confusion  were  abated,  the  sergeant-at- 
arms  went  into  the  gallery  to  take  the 
audacious  culprit  into  custody,  and  in- 
dignantly desired  to  know  who  it  was ; 
but  nobody  would  tell.  Mark  sat  like 
a  tower  on  the  hindermost  bench  of 
the  gallery,  imperturbable  in  his  own 
gravity,  and  safe  in  the  faith  of  the 
brotherhood  of  reporters,  who  alone 
were  in  the  secret.  At  length,  as  the 
mace-bearer  was  making  fruitless  in- 
quiries, and  getting  impatient,  Supple 
pointed  to  a  fat  Quaker,  who  sat  in 
the  middle  of  the  crowd,  and  nodded 
assent  that    he  was  the    man.      The 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY   TO   COMMERCE. 


741 


Quaker  was,  to  his  great  surprise,  taken 
into  immediate  custody ;  but  after  a 
short  altercation  and  some  further  ex- 
planation, he  was  released,  and  the  hero 
of  our  story  put  in  his  place  for  an  hour 
or  two,  but  let  off  on  an  assurance  of 
his  contrition,  and  of  showing  less  wit 
and  more  discretion  in  future. 


Reporting:  from  Memory. 

Mr.  William  Woodfall,  the  son 
of  the  celebrated  printer  of  the  Public 
Advertiser,  in  which  the  Letters  of 
Junius  first  appeared,  undertook,  with- 
out any  assistance,  the  arduous  task  of 
reporting  the  debates  of  both  houses  of 
Parliament,  day  by  day,  in  his  father's 
paper,  and  afterward  in  other  daily 
journals.  This  gentleman  possessed  a 
most  extraordinary  memory,  as  well  as 
wonderful  powers  of  literary  labor. 
It  is  asserted  that  he  has  been  known 
to  sit  through  a  long  debate  of  the 
House  of  Commons,  not  making  a 
single  note  of  the  proceedings,  and 
afterward  to  write  out  a  full  and  faith- 
ful account  of  what  had  taken  place, 
extending  to  sixteen  columns,  without 
allowing  himself  an  interval  of  rest. 
The  remarkable  exertions  of  this  most 
famous  reporter  gave  the  newspaper 
for  which  he  wrote  a  celebrity  which 
compelled  other  newspapers  to  aim  at 
the  same  fulness  and  freshness  in  their 
parliamentary  reports. 


Bare  Editorial  Philosophy. 

Perhaps  it  would  be  difiicult  to  find 
an  instance  of  calmer  or  more  pleasant 
philosophy  uiider  business  trials  than 
that  exhibited  by  Mr.  Greeley,  on  the 
occasion  of  the  burning  of  the  Tribune 
Buildings  in  1845.  In  his  editorial 
article  the  day  after,  he  says  of  the 
catastrophe  : — "We  have  been  called, 
editorially,  to  scissor  out  a  great  many 
fires,  both  small  and  great,  and  have 
done  so  with  cool  philosophy,  not  re- 
flectino:  how  much  to  some  one  man 


the  little  paragraph  would  assuredly 
mean.  The  late  complete  and  sum- 
mary burning  up  of  our  office,  licked 
clean  as  it  was  by  the  red  flames,  in  a 
few  hours,  has  taught  us  a  lesson  on 
this  head.  Aside  from  all  pecuniary- 
loss,  how  great  is  the  sufi'ering  pro- 
duced by  a  fire  !  A-  hundred  little 
articles  of  no  use  to  any  one  save  the 
owner,  things  that  people  would  look 
at  day  after  day  and  see  nothing  in, 
that  we  ourselves  have  contemplated 
with  cool  indifference,  now  that  they 
are  irrevocably  destroyed,  come  up  in 
the  shape  of  reminiscences,  and  seem 
as  if  they  had  been  worth  their  weight 
in  gold.  We  would  not  indulge  in 
unnecessary  sentiment,  but  even  the 
old  desk  at  which  we  sat,  the  ponder- 
ous inkstand,  the  familiar  faces  of  files 
of  Correspondence,  the  choice  collec- 
tion of  pamphlets,  the  unfinished  essay, 
the  charts  by  which  we  steered — can 
they  all  have  vanished,  never  more  to 
be  seen  ?  Truly  your  fire  makes  clean 
work,  and  is,  of  all  executive  officers, 
supereminent.  Perhaps  that  last  choice 
batch  of  letters  may  be  somewhere  on 
file ;  we  are  almost  tempted  to  say, 
"  Devil !  find  it  up  ! "  Poh  !  it  is  a 
mere  cinder  now.  'No  Arabian  tale 
can  cradle  a  wilder  fiction,  or  show 
better  how  altogether  illusory  life  is. 
Those  solid  walls  of  brick,  those  five 
decent  stories,  those  steep  and  difficult 
stairs,  the  swinging  doors,  the  Sanctum, 
scene  of  many  a  deep  political  drama, 
of  many  a  pathetic  tale — utterly  whiffed 
out,  as  one  summarily  snuffs  out  a  sper- 
maceti on  retiring  for  the  night.  And 
all  perfectly  true. 


Editors  in  a  hard  Fix. 

Some  time  since,  an  eminent  English 
jurist.  Lord  Denman,  laid  down  the 
law  of  an  editor's  liability,  to  the  effect 
that  an  editor  has  no  right  to  insert  any 
paragraph  before  he  has  ascertained 
"  that  the  assertion  made  in  it  is  abso- 
lutely true."     So,  then,  in  the  case  of 


742 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSIXESS  ANECDOTES. 


the  recent  discoveries  by  the  Earl  of 
Rosse's  telescope,  an  editor  ought  to 
have  proceeded  to  the  different  planets 
mentioned  and  thoroughly  ferreted  out 
the  whole  matter,  before  he  inserted 
any  statement  respecting  them.  Ac- 
cording to  Lord  Denman's  rather  loose 
phraseology,  the  man  in  the  Moon  and 
Orion  would  both  recover  swinging 
damages  from  almost  every  editor  in 
the  United  Kingdom  for  the  "reflec- 
tions "  cast  by  the  Earl's  telescope  on 
their  character  as  planets. 


Affidavit  by  an  Apothecary. 

A  HIGHWAYMAN,  named  Bolland, 
confined  in  Newgate,  sent  for  a  soli- 
citor, to  know  how  he  could  defer  his 
trial,  and  was  answered,  "  By  getting 
an  apothecary  to  make  an  affidavit  of 
his  illness."  This  was  accordingly 
done  in  the  following  manner:  "The 
deponent  verily  believes,  that  if  the 
said  James  Bolland  is  obliged  to  take 
his  trial  at  the  ensuing  sessions,  he  will 
be  in  imminent  danger  of  his  life  ;  "  to 
which  the  learned  judge  on  the  bench 
answered  that  he  verily  believed  so 
too.  The  trial  was  ordered  to  proceed 
immediately. 


Pun  on  a  Cooper. 

A_  TOUKG  man,  a  cooper  by  trade, 
being  pressed  very  hard  by  some  of  his 
companions  to  sing,  even  after  he  had 
earnestly  assured  them  that  he  could 
not,  observed,  testily,  that  they  merely 
intended  to  make  a  hitt  of  him.  "  No, 
my  good  sir,"  replied  one  of  them,  "  we 
only  want  to  get  a  stave  out  of  you." 


"Hopping"  from  Obscurity. 

There  was  an  Englishman  of  some 
celebrity,  who  used  to  say  that  the  first 
of  his  ancestors,  of  any  note,  was 
a  baker  and  dealer  in  hops,  who, 
on  one  occasion,  to  procure  a  sum  of 
money,  robbed  his  feather  beds  of  their 


contents,  and  supplied  the  deficiency 
with  unsalable  hops.  In  a  few  years  a 
severe  blight  universally  prevailed,  and 
hops  became  very  scarce,  and  enor- 
mously dear ;  the  hoarded  treasure 
was  ripped  out,  and  a  good  sum  pro- 
cured for  hops  which,  in  a  plentiful 
season,  would  not  have  been  salable, — 
and  thus,  said  he,  "  our  family  Jiopped 
from  obscurity." 


Hatter's  Present  to  a  Judg-e. 

Judge  Sew  all,  of  Massachusetts, 
whose  judicial  career,  in  the  last  cen- 
tury, was  an  honor  to  himself  and  his 
profession,  went  one  day  into  a  hatter's 
shop,  in  order  to  purchase  a  pair  of 
second-hand  brushes  for  cleaning  his 
shoes.  The  master  of  the  sbop  pre- 
sented him  with  a  couple.  "  "What  is 
your  price,  sir  ? "  said  the  judge.  "  If 
they  will  answer  your  purpose,"  replied 
the  other,  "  you  may  have  them  and 
welcome."  The  judge,  upon  hearing 
this,  laid  them  down,  and  bowing,  was 
leaving  the  shop ;  upon  which  the 
hatter  said  to  him,  "Pray,  sir,  your 
honor  has  forgotten  the  principal 
object  of  your  visit."  "  By  no  means," 
answered  the  judge ;  "  if  you  please  to 
set  a  price  I  am  ready  to  purchase; 
but  ever  since  it  has  fallen  to  my  lot  to 
occupy  a  seat  on  the  bench,  I  have 
studiously  avoided  receiving  to  the 
value  of  a  single  copper,  lest  at  some 
period  of  my  life,  it  might  have  some 
kind  of  influence  in  determining  my 

judgment." 

— ♦_ — 

Compliment  to  Wharfingers. 

A  BILL  was  once  brought  into  the 
House  of  Assembly  of  Jamaica,  for 
regulating  the  duties  and  fees  of  wharf- 
ingers. During  its  discussion,  Mr. 
Paul  Phipps,  a  distinguished  member, 
said,  "  I  very  much  approve  the  bill. 
The  wharfingers  are  a  set  of  knaves, — I 
teas  one  myself  far  ten  years,  sir  /  " 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


743 


Old  Englisli  Ticker. 

An  account  is  given  of  an  old  Eng- 
lish watch,  which  was  purchased  of 
Joseph  Story,  Clerkenwell  street,  Lon- 
don, in  1676,  by  Benjamin  Andrews, 
then  about  the  first  hardware  merchant 
in  Boston,  Mass.  It  was  given  to  the 
father  of  the  present  owner,  for  good 
behavior  and  attention  to  business,  in 
his  sixteenth  year,  on  condition  that 
he  would  never  dispose  of  it.  He  died 
in  1803,  and  the  present  owner  has  had 
it  in  his  possession  ever  since.  The 
first  time  it  was  cleaned,  there  w^ere 
but  two  watchmakers  in  Boston,  and 
one  of  them  was  unwilling  to  take  it 
in  hand  lest  he  should  injure  the  fine 
work.  The  watch  was  then  sent  to 
London,  where  it  remained  a  year,  and 
was  cleaned  at  a  cost  of  five  pounds. 
The  original  watch  paper  still  remains 
in  the  case  with  the  date  of  its  pur- 
chase. This  venerable  ticker  keeps  as 
good  time  as  ever,  and  seems  likely  to 
hold  good  for  a  hundred  years  more. 


Ship-building-  in  Ancient  Times. 

The  art  of  ship-building  has  been 
attributed  to  the  Egyptians  as  the  first 
inventors,  the  first  ship — probably  a 
galley — having  been  brought  from 
Egypt  to  Greece,  by  Danaus,  1485  B.  C. 
The  first  double-decked  ship  was  built 
by  the  Tyrians,  786  B.  C.  The  first 
double-decked  one  built  in  England  was 
of  one  thousand  tons  burthen,  by  order 
of  Henry  VH.,  1509 ;  it  was  called  the 
Great  Harry,  and  cost  about  sixty 
thousand  dollars.  Ship-building  was 
first  treated  as  a  science  by  Hoste,  1696. 


Too    Awkward  to  be   a  Watchmaker. 

Beaumarchais,  the  author  of  the 
Marriage  of  Figaro,  was  the  son  of  a 
Parisian  watchmaker,  but  raised  him- 
self to  fame,  wealth,  and  rank  by  the 
mere  force  of  his  talents.  A  young 
nobleman,   envious  of  Beaumarchais's 


reputation,  once  undertook  to  wound 
his  vanity  and  pride  by  an  allusion  to 
his  humble  origin — handing  him  his 
watch,  and  saying,  "  Examine  it,  sir ; 
it  does  not  keep  time  well — pray  ascer- 
tain the  cause."  Beaumarchais  ex- 
tended his  hand  awkwardly,  as  if  to 
receive  the  watch,  but  contrived  to  let 
it  fall  on  the  pavement.  "  You  see,  my 
dear  sir,"  replied  he,  "  you  have  applied 
to  the  wrong  person ;  my  father  always 
declared  that  I  was  too  awkward  to  be 
a  watchmaker." 


An  Emperor  Blowing-  a  Blac"k smith's 
Bellows. 

During  the  journey  of  the  Emperor 
Joseph  the  Second,  to  Italy,  one  of  the 
wheels  of  his  coach  broke  down  on 
the  road,  so  that  it  was  with  difficulty 
he  reached  a  small  village  at  a  short 
distance.  On  his  arrival  there,  his 
majesty  got  out  at  the  door  of  the  only 
blacksmith's  shop  the  town  afibrded, 
and  desired  him  to  repair  the  wheel 
without  delay. 

"  That  I  would  do,  very  willingly," 
replied  the  smith,  "  but  it  being  holi- 
day, all  my  men  are  at  church, — the  very 
boy  who  blows  the  bellows  is  not  at 
home." 

"  An  excellent  method  then  presents 
of  warming  one's  self,"  replied  the 
emperor,  preserving  his  incognito  ;  and 
he  immediately  set  about  blowing  the 
bellows,  while  the  blacksmith  forged 
the  iron. 

The  wheel  repaired,  six  sols  were 
demanded  for  the  job ;  but  the  emperor 
gave  six  ducats.  The  blacksmith  re- 
turned them  to  the  traveller,  saying, 
"  Sir,  you  have  made  a  mistake,  and 
instead  of  six  sols  have  given  me  six 
pieces  of  gold,  which  no  one  in  the  vil- 
lage can  change." 

"  Change  them  when  you  can,"  said 
the  emperor,  stepping  into  the  car- 
riage ;  "  an  emperor  should  pay  for 
such  a  pleasure  as  that  of  blowing  the 
bellows." 


744 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Errors  of  the  Press. 

The  original  memoirs  of  Cowper  the 
poet,  were  apparently  printed  from  an 
obscurely  written  manuscript.  Of  this 
there  is  a  whimsical  proof,  where  the 
Persian  Letters  of  Montesquieu  are 
spoken  of,  and  the  compositor,  unable 
to  decipher  the  author's  name,  has  con- 
verted it  into  Mules  Quince  ! 

A  newspaper  heads  an  advertisement, 
"  Infernal  Remedy."  This  may  be 
quite  true,  but  it  is  probable  that  "  in- 
ternal remedy  "  was  intended.  Mis- 
takes, even  of  a  single  letter,  are  sad 
things.  As  another  example,  a  news- 
paper commenced  an  article  on  Pro- 
fanity, with  saying,  "  It  was  a  practice 
with  our  immoral  Washington,  never 
to  allow  profanity  in  his  presence," 
etc. ;  the  word  "  immoral "  should  of 
course  have  been  "  immortal."  So,  in 
publishing  an  obituary  notice  of  a  dis- 
tinguished and  esteemed  man,  the  com- 
positor made  the  waiter  to  say  of  the 
deceased,  "  He  has  truly  left  no  shal- 
low "  fooZprints  on  the  sands  of  time," 
instead  of  "  footprints,"  as  Longfellow's 
immortal  line  has  it. 

The  editor  of  a  religious  newspaper, 
in  reference  to  an  individual,  took  oc- 
casion to  write  that  he  was  rectus  in 
ecclesia,  that  is,  in  good  standing  in  the 
church.  The  type-setter,  to  whom  this 
was  a  dead  language,  converted  it  into 
rectus  in  culina,  which,  although  pretty 
good  Latin,  alters,  in  some  degree,  the 
sense,  as  it  accorded  to  the  reverend 
gentleman  spoken  of,  only  a  good  stand- 
ing in  the  Tcitchen. 

By  a  ridiculous  error  of  the  press, 
the  Eclectic  Review  was  advertised  as 
the  Epileptic  Review^  and,  on  enquiry 
being  made  for  it  at  a  bookseller's  shop 
the  bibliopole  replied:  "He  knew  of 
no  periodical  called  the  Epileptic  Be- 
mew,  though  there  might  be  such  a 
publication  coming  out  by  fits  and 
starts." 


Modem  Newspaper  OfiB.ce. 

To  take  a  peep  at  the  busy  picture  pre- 
sented in  the  office  of  a  largely  circulat- 
ing city  newspaper,  is  an  era  in  one's  life. 
Such  a  picture  is  thus  graphically  drawn 
by  an  English  writer,  and  the  descrip- 
tion will  answer  about  equally  as  well 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  : — See  that 
gigantic  machine,  instinct  with  life, 
throwing  off  the  printed  sheets  as 
quickly — or  more  so — than  the  eye  can 
count  them.  See  the  host  of  men,  re- 
minding one  of  a  body  of  large  ants, 
picking  up  tons  of  metal  by  half  a 
pennyweight  at  a  time.  See  the  great 
intellectual  head,  the  foremost  man  of 
all,  the  mighty  "  we,"  at  whose  fiown 
potentates  tremble  and  ministries  dis- 
solve, surrounded  by  his  aides — the 
busy  reporter  new  from  his  turn  in 
"  the  gallery,"  industriously  extending 
his  notes, — the  sub-editor,  condensing 
verbose  communications,  and  extract- 
ing information  and  readable  matter 
from  a  mountain  of  letters,  blue  books, 
and  country  papers.  See  also  how  the 
post-office,  the  telegraph,  and  the  train 
rain  a  countless  succession  of  commu- 
nications upon  the  editorial  table  from 
all  the  corners  of  the  earth.  Look — 
there  is  a  packet  from  "  our  special 
correspondent,"  who  is  tracking  the 
steps  of  the  British  army  in  India; 
another  from  our  "  own  "  correspond- 
ent, who  has  been  assisting  to  annihi- 
late time  and  distance  between  Britain 
and  America,  by  laying  down  an  elec- 
tric cable  in  the  depths  of  the  Atlan- 
tic ;  a  third  from  a  lively  correspond- 
ent, who  is  dodging  the  footsteps  of 
royalty  at  the  Cherbourg  fetes.  Then, 
again,  observe  that  active  gentleman 
in  the  closely  buttoned  coat,  who  drops 
a  letter  into  the  communication  box 
and  disappears  ;  that  is  a  x)enny-a-liner, 
who  has  just  gleaned  the  particulars 
of  an  exciting  murder,  perpetrated  in 
"the  most  mysterious  manner";  an- 
other liner  has  preceded  him  with 
what  he  calls  a  capital  suicide ;  and  a 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO  COMMERCE. 


145 


third  will  follow,  just  as  tlie  paper  is 
going  to  press,  with  a  terrific  coDfla- 
gration  accompanied  by  loss  of  life. 
The  knowing  sub-editor  has  in  a  few 
minutes  revised,  and — most  necessary 
duty  of  all— abridged  this  "  copy,"  and 
given  it  a  corner  in  the  pajoer. 


Greatest  Reportorial  Feat. 

The  greatest  reportorial  feat  of  ante- 
telegraphic  journalism  is  stated  to  be 
that  which  was  performed  by  Mr. 
Attree,  of  the  New  York  Herald.  Daniel 
Webster  delivered  a  speech  one  after- 
noon, at  Patchogue,  Long  Island,  some 
fifty  or  sixty  miles  from  New  York. 
Mr.  Attree  went  down  t*  Patchogue, 
took  full  notes  of  the  speech,  rode  the 
entire  distance  to  New  York  on  relays 
of  horses,  wrote  out  his  report,  and 
published  it  complete  in  the  next 
morning's  Herald.  For  reportorial  skill 
and  physical  endurance  combined  this 
achievement  is  believed  to  be  unsur- 
passed. 


Reason  why  Pitt's  Great  Speech  was 
not  Reported. 

In  former  times,  the  reporters  of  the 
proceedings  in  the  British  parliament 
were  obliged  to  sit  or  stand  with  the 
rest  of  the  unofficial  spectators,  no  ac- 
commodations whatever  being  provided 
for  the  newspaper  press. 

While  Pitt,  therefore,  was  premier, 
all  the  reporters  consulted  together,  and 
agreed  that,  upon  a  certain  day,  they 
would  omit  to  notice  the  premier's 
speech.  The  day  came ;  Pitt  delivered 
a  great  and  important  oration ;  in  the 
next  morning's  paper  the  triumphant 
gladiator  found  no  record  of  his  mag- 
nificent effort.  Highly  incensed,  the 
premier  sent  for  the  editors,  and  de- 
manded the  reason  for  this  remarkable 
omission.  The  editors  referred  him  to 
the  reporters.  The  reporters  repre- 
sented that  they  were  so  crowded  and 
inconYenienced,  and  at  such  a  distance 


from  the  speakers,  that  it  was  almost 
impossible  to  hear,  much  less  to  report, 
the  speeches. 

The  result  of  this  well-devised  pro- 
test w^as  an  order  from  the  premier  that 
benches  should  be  reserved  for  the  re- 
porters ;  .and  afterward  a  portion  of  the 
gallery  was  railed  in  for  them,  with  a 
lattice-work  in  front,  so  that  they  could 
see  and  hear,  but  be  unseen  by  the 
members.  Thus  the  reporters,  by  a 
thoroughly  British  fiction,  were  present 
in,  but  not  actually  in  the  presence  of, 
parliament,  and  were  therefore  allowed 
to  remain  in  spite  of  the  old  rule 
against  them. 

Verbatim  Reporters. 

For  a  long  while,  American  reporters 
followed  the  example  of  Doctor  John- 
son, and  reported  no  speech  which  they 
did  not  adorn  or  spoil.  Daniel  Web- 
ster complained  bitterly  of  this  habit, 
and  frequently  demanded  that  his 
speeches  should  be  reported  as  deliv- 
ered or  not  at  all.  Of  all  reporters,  Mr. 
Henry  J.  Raymond,  then  connected 
with  the  Courier,  and  now  the  chief 
editor  of  the  New  Y^ork  Hail^  TimeSy 
is  said  to  have  pleased  Mr.  Webster 
most.  The  classical  quotations  in 
which  Webster  indulged  were  always 
remarkably  apropos,  and  he  felt  con- 
siderable pride  in  having  them  re- 
ported correctly.  Mr.  Raymond,  with 
an  equal  pride  in  his  profession,  never 
depended  upon  his  notes  or  his  memory 
for  these  quotations,  but  took  the  trouble 
of  looking  them  out  in  the  books  and 
copying  them  veriatim  et  literatem.  In 
those  days  it  was  a  great  feat  to  report 
and  publish  a  long  speech.  Upon  one 
occasion,  Webster  delivered  an  address 
at  Washington,  and  Mr.  Raymond  was 
among  the  reporters  present.  Web- 
ster concluded  his  remarks  but  a  few 
moments  before  the  mail  closed,  and 
the  reporters  were  therefore  unable  to 
write  out  their  notes  for  transmission 
to  the  New  York  papers  before  the  next 


746 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


day.  Mr.  Raymond,  however,  being  an 
exceeding  rapid  writer,  had  taken  down 
the  speech  in  long  hand,  with  only  a 
few  simple  abbreviations,  and  observing 
the  perplexity  of  the  other  reporters,  he 
determined  to  send  off  his  notes  as  they 
were,  and  trust  to  the  compositors  to 
decipher  them.  This  plan  was  suc- 
cessful. 


Shoes  and  Shoemakers— Facetiee. 

Among  the  works  which  may  be  face- 
tiously classed  under  the  head  of  "  Cob- 
bler Literature,"  are  the  veracious  his- 
tories of  "  Goody  Two  Shoes,"  and  the 
"  Giant  with  his  Seven-League  Boots  " ; 
the  affecting  story  of  "  Cinderella  and 
her  Glass  Slipper,"  and  the  pathetic 
and  touching  poem  of  the  "  Old 
Woman  who  Lived  in  a  Shoe,"  with 
her  interesting  or  at  least  numerous 
progeny. 

It  is  also  most  curious  how  many 
proverbs,  and  sayings,  and  witticisms 
have  had  their  origin  in  the  vocabulary 
of  the  shoemaker.  Thus,  the  young 
are  enjoined  on  all  occasions  to  "  put 
their  best  foot  forward " ;  to  rely  on 
themselves,  and  "  not  to  wait  for  dead 
men's  shoes";  "whatever  the  value 
of  a  body,  it  is  useless  without  a  sole.^^ 
It  was  a  sentimental  shoemaker  who 
invented  the  name  of  the  "  Oxford 
Ties  " — how  appropriate  to  the  friend- 
ships and  associations  formed  at  that 
celebrated  seat  of  learning,  and  which 
had  their  origin  in  that  place  !  When 
one  is  haughty  or  presuming,  he  is  said 
to  be  "  high  in  the  instep  "  ;  when  he 
has  become  poor,  he  is  said  to  be  "  run 
down  in  the  heel."  Formerly,  shoes 
were  made  so  extravagantly  large  in 
France,  that  the  toes  had  to  be  looped 
up,  until  at  length  a  law  was  made  re- 
ducing their  length  "  in  foJo."  There 
can  be  no  more  useful  and  economical 
proverb  than  the  familiar  one,  that  "  a 
stitch  in  time  saves  nine." 

Lord  Byron  was  exceedingly  sensi- 
tive on  account  of  the  deformity  of  his 


feet,  which  was  probably  the  reason  of 
his  avoiding  the  "  clubs."  In  Hood's 
"  Diary  of  a  Joke-Hunter,"  the  uncon- 
scious punster  of  a  coachman  says  :  "  I 
expect  to  draw  the  boot  of  my  vehicle 
on  the  heel  of  Lunnen  Bridge  by  twelve 
o'clock."  A  traveller  in  China  says, 
that  no  Chinese  will  allow  himself  to 
be  visited  until  his  boots  are  on ;  and 
any  one  calling  must  wait  till  he  has 
performed  that  part  of  etiquette.  The 
Roman  Catholics  remove  their  hats  in 
passing  the  door  of  a  cathedral ;  and 
the  Mohammedans  take  off  their  shoes  on 
entering  a  mosque.  An  old  gouty  gen- 
tleman, having  lost  a  pair  of  capacious 
shoes,  said  that  the  worst  wish  he  had 
was,  that  the  shoes  might  j^i  the  thief. 

The  celebrated  radical.  Hunt,  made 
a  fortune  by  the  manufacture  of  shoe- 
blacking.  After  he  obtained  a  seat  in 
parliament,  Sir  Robert  Peel  satirically 
made  an  allusion,  in  a  speech,  to  the 
shining  qualities  of  his  opponent — to 
which  Hunt  replied,  that  whereas  he 
(Hunt)  was  the  first  of  his  family  who 
had  obtained  a  fortune  by  trade,  Sir 
Robert  was  the  first  of  his  who  had 
been  able  to  live  without  trade. 

There  have  been  several  eminent 
shoemakers  who,  having  taken  Pegasus 
for  their  hobby,  have  become  devoted 
followers  of  the  muses.  Foote,  the 
actor,  had  a  wooden  leg.  Coleman 
says  :  "  this  prop  to  his  person,  I  once 
saw  standing  by  his  bedside,  ready 
dressed  in  a  handsome  silk  stocking, 
with  a  polished  shoe  and  a  gold  buckle, 
waiting  the  owner's  getting-up  ;  it  had 
a  kind  of  tragically  comic  appearance, 
and  I  leave  to  inveterate  wags  the  in- 
genuity of  punning  upon  a  Foote  in  bed 
and  a  leg  out  of  it.  Although  rather 
too  serious  a  subject  for  a  pun,  it  seems 
somewhat  of  a  paradox,  how  a  man 
could  be  so  long  a  celebrated  come- 
dian tcith  one  foot  in  tlie  grave  I " 

Mrs.  Partington,— a  dame  of  well- 
known  understanding^ — one  day  took 
up  the  papers,  in  which  she  saw  some- 
thing about  the  "  Shoe  Dealers'  Bank," 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


H7 


and  laying  down  her  spectacles,  she 
exclaimed,  "  Law,  me  !  I  wonder  who 
will  have  a  bank  next  ?  I  don't  want 
any  of  their  '  bills ; '  I  have  had 
enough  of  'em ;  and  Mr.  Partington 
was  always  complaining  of  their  ex- 
travagant charges.''^  It  is  a  custom,  still 
kept  up  among  superstitious  people,  to 
throw  their  old  shoes  over  their  heads 
for  good  luck,  when  vacating  a  house 
in  which  they  have  lived;  to  insure 
success,  the  person  must  not  look  be- 
hind after  the  performance  of  the  oper- 
ation. 

An  old  woman  having  predicted  to 
her  graceless  son,  that  he  would  "  die 
in  his  shoes,"  the  unfilial  vagabond, 
determined  to  disappoint  so  tender  a 
parental  prophecy,  took  the  malicious 
pains  to  kick  them  off,  just  previous  to 
being  hanged ! 


Shooting:  a  Bookseller. 

"Many  a  true  word  is  spoken  in 
jest,"  the  proverb  teaches ;  and  an 
anecdote  told  of  Campbell  may  be 
thought  to  indicate  a  feeling  within  not 
very  favorable  to  those  who  had  given 
his  poem  to  the  world.  Being  in  a 
festive  party  at  a  period  when  the  ac- 
tions of  Bonaparte  were  most  severely 
condemned,  on  being  called  upon  for  a 
toast,  Campbell  gave,  "  The  Health  of 
Kapoleon."  This  caused  great  surprise 
to  all  the  company,  and  an  explanation 
was  called  for. 

"  The  only  reason  I  have  for  propos- 
ing to  honor  Bonaparte,"  said  he,  "  is, 
that  he  had  the  virtue  to  shoot  a  looh- 
sellery  Palm,  a  bookseller,  had  re- 
cently been  executed  in  Grermany,  by 
order  of  the  French  chief. 


Profitable  Book  Job. 

A  Dublin  paper  says,  that  about  the 
year  1837  Longfellow,  being  engaged 
in  making  a  tour  of  Europe,  selected 
Heidelberg  for  a  permanent  winter 
residence.    There  his  wife  was  attacked 


with  an  illness,  which  ultimately  proved 
fatal. 

It  so  happened,  however,  that  some 
time  afterward  there  came  to  the  same 
romantic  place  a  young  lady  of  con- 
siderable personal  attractions.  The 
poet's  heart  was  touched — he  became 
attached  to  her  ;  but  the  beauty  of  six- 
teen did  not  sympathize  with  the  poet 
of  six-and-thirty,  and  Longfellow  re- 
turned to  America,  having  lost  his 
heart  as  well  as  his  wife. 

The  young  lady,  also  an  American,  re- 
turned home  shortly  afterward.  Their 
residences,  it  turned  out,  were  con- 
tiguous, and  the  poet  availed  himself 
of  the  opportunity  of  prosecuting  his 
addresses,  which  he  did  for  a  consider- 
able time  with  no  better  success  than  at 
first.  Thus  foiled,  he  set  himself  reso- 
lutely down,  and  instead,  like  Petrarch, 
of  laying  siege  to  the  heart  of  his  mis- 
tress through  the  medium  of  sonnets, 
he  resolved  to  write  a  whole  book ;  a 
book  which  would  achieve  the  double 
object  of  gaining  her  affections,  and  of 
establishing  his  own  fame.  Hyperion 
was  the  result. 

His  labor  and  his  constancy  were  not 
thrown  away ;  they  met  their  due  re- 
ward. The  lady  gave  him  her  hand, 
her  heart,  and  a  large  fortune,  and  the 
book  also  brought  fame  and  money, — a 
very  profitable  job  all  around  ! 


Attempt  to  Print  a  Perfect  Book. 

The  celebrated  Foulises,  of  Glasgow, 
attempted  to  publish  a  work  which 
should  be  perfect  as  a  specimen  of  typo- 
graphical accuracy.  Every  precaution 
was  taken  to  secure  the  desired  result. 
Six  experienced  proof-readers  were  em- 
ployed, who  devoted  hours  to  the  read- 
ing of  each  page,  and  after  it  was 
thought  to  be  perfect,  it  was  posted  up 
in  the  hall  of  the  university,  with  a 
notification  that  a  reward  of  fifty 
pounds  would  be  paid  to  any  person 
who  could  discover  an  error.  Each 
page  was  suffered  to  remain  two  weeks 


748 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


in  tlie  place  where  it  had  been  posted, 
before  the  work  was  printed,  and  the 
printers  thought  that  they  had  attained 
the  object  for  which  they  had  been 
striving.  When  the  work  was  issued, 
it  was  discovered  that  several  errors  had 
been  committed,  one  of  which  was  in 
the  very  first  line  of  the  first  page.  The 
Foulis  editions  of  classical  works  are 
still  much  prized  by  scholars  and  col- 
lectors. 


Austen,  the  Pamous  Metal  Pounder. 

All  have  heard  of  the  English  "  Tu- 
bal Cain,"  William  Austen,  who  worked 
*'  at  his  peril "  in  the  construction  of 
the  celebrated  tomb  at  Warwick,  in 
St.  Mary's  church,  of  Kichard  de  Beau- 
champ,  Earl  of  Warwick,  who  died  in 
1439. 

In  a  document  given  in  Dugdale's 
Warwickshire, William  Austen  is  orac- 
ularly styled  "  citizen  and  founder  of 
London,"  from  which  and  the  details 
of  the  agreement  it  appears  that  he 
was  not  the  designer  or  modeller  of  the 
figures  which  he  cast  in  brass,  for  it  is 
expressly  stated  that  he  is  to  work  from 
models  made  of  timber.  This  docu- 
ment is  rather  an  amusing  one,  as  will 
be  seen :  Will-  Austen,  citizen  and 
founder,  of  London,  xiv.  Martii,  30  h. 
6,  covenanteth  &c.  to  cast,  work,  and 
perfectly  to  make,  of  the  finest  latten 
(brass)  to  be  gilded,  that  may  be  found, 
xiv.  images  embossed,  of  lords  and 
ladies  in  divers  vestures  called  weepers, 
to  stand  in  housings  made  about  the 
tomb,  those  images  to  be  made  in 
breadth,  length,  and  thickness,  &c.,  to 
xiv.  patterns  made  of  timbers.  Also  he 
shall  make  xviii.  less  images  of  angells, 
to  stand  in  other  housings,  as  shall  be 
appointed  by  patterns,  whereof  ix.  after 
one  side,  and  ix.  after  another.  Also 
he  must  make  an  hearse  to  stand  on 
the  tombe  above  and  about  the  princi- 
pal image  that  shall  lye  in  the  tomb 
according  to  a  pattern ;  the  stufi^  and 
workmanship  to  be  at  the  charge  of 


the  said  Will.  Austen.  The  said  Wil 
liam  Austen,  xi.  Feb.,  28  h.  6,  doth 
covenant  to  cast  and  make  an  image 
of  a  man  armed,  of  fine  latten,  gar- 
nished with  certain  ornaments,  viz., 
with  sword  and  dagger;  with  a  gar- 
ter ;  with  a  helm  and  crest  under  his 
head,  and  at  his  feet  a  tear  musted 
(muzzled),  and  a  grifibn  perfectly  made 
of  the  finest  latten,  according  to  j)at- 
terns;  all  of  which  to  be  brought  to 
Warwick  and  laid  on  the  tombe,  at  the 
peril  (risk)  of  the  said  Austen. 


Miners'  Commandments. 

Thou  shalt  not  go  j^rospecting  before 
thy  claim  gives  out.  Thou  shalt  not 
take  thy  money,  nor  thy  gold  dust,  nor 
thy  good  name,  to  the  gambling-table 
in  vain  ;  for  monte,  twenty-one,  roulette, 
faro,  lansquenet  and  poker,  will  prove 
to  thee  that  the  more  thou  j)uttest 
dovm,  the  less  thou  shalt  take  up. 

Thou  shalt  not  pick  up  specimens 
from  the  company  pan  and  put  them 
in  thy  mouth  or  in  thy  purse.  Neither 
shalt  thou  take  from  thy  cabin  mate 
his  gold  dust  to  add  to  thine,  lest  he 
find  thee  out,  and  straightway  call  his 
fellow  miners  together,  and  they  hang 
thee,  or  give  thee  fifty  lashes  and  two 
hours  to  leave  the  country;  or  brand 
thee  like  a  horse-thief,  with  r  upon  thy 
cheek,  to  be  "  known  and  read  of  all " 
— Californians  in  particular.  And  if 
thou  steal  a  shovel,  or  a  pick  or  a  pan 
from  thy  toiling  fellow  miner,  hanging 
will  be  too  good  for  thee,  and  thou 
wilt  be  kicked  and  cowhided  for  thy 
pains. 

Thou  shalt  not  tell  any  false  tales 
about  "good  diggings  in  the  moun- 
tains "  to  thy  neighbor,  that  thou  may- 
est  benefit  thy  friend  who  hath  mules 
and  provisions  and  tools  and  blankets 
that  he  cannot  sell ;  lest,  in  deceiving 
thy  neighbor,  when  he  returneth 
through  the  snow,  with  naught  save 
his  rifle,  he  presenteth  thee  with  the 
contents  thereof. 


PROFESSIONAL   USE   OF   BOOKS. 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


749 


Son  of  an  Eminent  Turkey  Mercliant. 

HoRNE  TooKE  was  the  son  of  a 
poulterer,  wliicli  fact  he  facetiously 
alluded  to,  when  called  upon  by  the 
proud  striplings  of  Eton  to  describe 
himself:  "I  am,"  said  young  Home, 
"  the  son  of  an  eminent  Turkey  mer- 
chant." 


Dryden  Describing  his  Publisher. 

ToNSON,  the  eminent  publisher  of  his 
time,  having  refused  to  advance  Dryden 
a  sum  of  money  for  a  work  on  which  he 
was  engaged,  the  enraged  bard  sent  a 
message  to  him,  and  the  following  lines, 
adding,  "  Tell  the  dog  that  he  who 
wrote  these  can  write  more : 

With  leering  looks,  bull-faced  and  freckled 

skin, 
With  two  left  legs,  and  Judas-colored  hair. 
And  frowzy,  pores,  that  taint  the  ambient 

air.' " 

The  bookseller  felt  the  force  of  the 
description,  and  to  avoid  the  comple- 
tion of  the  portrait,  lost  no  time  in 
sending  the  money. 


Professional  Use  of  Books. 

Tom  Osborne,  the  bookseller,  was 
one  of  "  that  mercantile,  rugged  race, 
to  which  the  delicacy  of  the  poet  is 
sometimes  exposed,"  as  the  following 
anecdote  will  more  fully  evince  : 

It  appears  that  Johnson  being  en- 
gaged by  him  to  translate  a  work  of 
some  consequence,  he  thought  it  a  re- 
spect which  he  owed  his  own  talents, 
as  well  as  the  credit  of  his  employer,  to 
be  as  circumspect  in  the  performance 
of  it  as  possible,  and  in  consequence  of 
which  the  work  went  on,  according  to 
Osborne's  ideas,  rather  slowly ;  he 
therefore  frequently  spoke  to  Johnson 
of  this  circumstance,  and,  being  a  man 
of  coarse  mind,  sometimes,  by  his  ex- 
pressions, made  him  feel  the  situation 
of    dependence.       Johnson,    however. 


seemed  to  take  no  notice  of  him,  but 
went  on  according  to  the  plan  which 
he  had  prescribed  for  himself. 

Osborne,  irritated  by  what  he  thought 
an  unnecessary  delay,  went  one  day  into 
the  room  where  Johnson  was  sitting, 
and  abused  him  in  the  most  illiberal 
manner :  among  other  things,  he  told 
Johnson  he  had  been  much  mistaken 
in  his  man ;  that  he  was  recommended 
to  him  as  a  good  scholar  and  a  ready 
hand— but  he  doubted  both  ;  for  "  Tom 
Such-a-one  would  have  turned  out  the 
work  much  sooner;  and  that  being 
the  case,  the  probability  was,  that  by 
this  here  time  the  first  edition  would 
have  moved  off." 

Johnson  listened  to  all  this  for  some 
time  unmoved ;  but,  at  last,  losing  all 
patience,  he  seized  a  huge  folio,  which 
he  was  at  that  time  consulting,  and, 
aiming  it  at  the  bookseller's  head,  suc- 
ceeded so  forcibly  as  to  send  him 
sprawling  on  the  floor.  Osborne 
alarmed  the  family  with  his  cries  ;  but 
Johnson,  clapping  his  foot  on  his 
breast,  would  not  let  him  stir,  till  he 
had  exposed  him  in  that  situation  ;  and 
then  left  him,  with  this  triumphant 
expression, — "  Lie  there,  thou  son  of 
dulness,  ignorance,  and  obscurity  ! " 


First  Newspaper  in  the  world. 

The  oldest  news  sheet  appearing  to 
be  of  a  periodical  character,  is  one 
which  was  offered  for  sale  with  the 
Libri  Collection  on  the  25th  of  July, 
1862,  and  of  which  there  is  a  duplicate 
in  the  British  Museum.  Its  title  is, 
'•'•  Newe  Zeitung  aus  Hispanien  uncL 
Italien  (New  Tidings  from  Spain 
and  Italy) ;  black  letter,  4  leaves  4to. 
Mense  Februario,  1534." 

The  description  of  this  in  the  cata- 
logue is  as  follows :  "  A  gazette  of  ex- 
cessive rarity,  which  appears  to  have 
been  printed  at  Nuremberg.  It  con- 
tains the  first  news  of  the  discovery  of 
Peru,  and  has  remained  unknown  to 
all  the  bibliographers  we  have  been 


!r50 


COMMERCIAL   AXD  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


able  to  consult.  It  it  is  announced 
tliat  the  governor  of  Panumya  (Pana- 
ma), in  the  Indies,  has  written  to  his 
Majesty  (the  emperor  Charles  V.)  that 
a  ship  had  arrived  from  Peru  with  a 
letter  from  the  regent  Francisco  Pis- 
cario  (Pizarro),  stating  that  he  had 
disembarked  and  seized  the  country; 
that  with  two  hundred  Spaniards 
(infantry  and  cavalry)  he  had  em- 
barked ;  that  he  had  arrived  at  the 
lands  of  a  great  lord  named  Cassiko, 
who  had  refused  peace  and  attacked 
liim;  that  the  Spaniards  had  been 
victorious,  and  had  seized  five  thousand 
castillons  (pieces  of  gold),  and  had 
twenty  thousand  marks  of  silver ;  that 
they  had  drawn  two  millions  in  gold 
from  the  said  Cassiko,"  etc. 

It  has  generally  been  supposed,  from 
the  various  researches  which  have  been 
made,  that  the  first  newspaper  published 
in  modern  Europe  made  its  appearance 
at  Venice  in  1536 ;  but  the  jealousy 
of  the  government  would  not  allow  of 
its  being  printed,  so  that,  for  many 
years,  it  was  circulated  in  manuscript. 


•   Earliest  Newspaper  in  the  English 
Langruage. 

It  would  seem  that  newspapers  were 
first  issued  in  England  by  authority 
during  the  alarm  occasioned  by  the 
approach  of  the  Armada  to  her  shores 
— in  order,  as  was  stated,  by  giving 
real  information,  to  allay  the  general 
anxiety,  and  to  hinder  the  dissemination 
of  false  and  exaggerated  statements. 
From  this  era,  newspapers,  of  one  sort 
or  other,  have,  with  a  few  intermissions, 
generally  appeared  in  London,  some- 
times at  regular,  and  sometimes  at 
irregular  intervals.  The  'English 
Mercuric  "  has  been  regarded  the  first 
printed  newspaper  in  the  English  lan- 
guage, and  was,  by  authority,  "im- 
printed at  London  by  her  highness's 
printer,  1588 ; "  in  the  days  of  Queen 
Elizabeth.  The  earliest  number  pre- 
served is  dated  July  23,  in  that  year. 


The  following  are  the  names  of  some 
of  the  earliest  publications  which, 
whether  correctly  or  incorrectly  need 
not  now  be  argued,  were  regarded  as 
"  newspapers  "  :—  "  England's  Memor- 
able Accidents,"  "  The  Kingdom's  In- 
telligencer," "  The  Diurnal  of  Certain 
Passages  in  Parliament,"  "  Tlie  Mer- 
curius  Aulicus,"  "The  Parliament's 
Scout,"  "The  Parliament's  Scout 
Discovery,  or  Certain  Information," 
"The  Mercurius  Civicus,"  "The 
Country's  Complaint,"  "  Mercurius 
Britannicus,"  etc. 

The  first  regular  series  of  weekly 
newspapers  hitherto  discovered  was 
entitled  the  "  Weekly  Newes  from 
Italy,  Germanic,"  &c.,  published  in 
London  in  1622.  This  statement  is 
founded  on  the  assertion  made  by  a 
British  historian,  that  the  "English 
Mercuric  of  1588,"  long  regarded  as 
the  first  English  newspaper,  was  a 
myth — a  forgery.  The  first  daily 
morning  newspaper  was  the  "Daily 
Courant,"  1702,  London.  It  consisted 
of  but  one  page  of  two  columns,  and 
containing  five  paragraphs  translated 
from  foreign  journals. 

It  has  been  supposed  by  many  that 
'the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine  "  was  the 
earliest  periodical  of  that  descrip- 
tion, while,  in  fact,  it  was  preceded 
nearly  forty  years  by  the  "  Gentle- 
man's Journal"  of  Matteux,  a  work 
much  more  resembling  our  modem 
magazines. 

Faceti80  for  Shoemakers. 

"  Stick  to  your  last "  is  a  homely 
but  common  proverb,  enjoining  per- 
severance, and  may  have  originated 
with  those  who  made  it  the  means  of 
such  honorable  promotion. 

"  None  but  the  wearer  knows  where 
the  shoe  pinches,"  is  another  as  com- 
mon, and  originated  with  a  noble 
Roman  who  was  asked  why  he  had 
put  away  his  beautiful  wife,  and  gave 
this  for  an  answer. 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY   TO   COMMERCE. 


751 


"  The  shoemaker  must  not  go  beyond 
his  last,"  is  immediately  understood 
to  advise  no  one  to  pass  judgment  on 
things  concerning  which  he  has  no 
knowledge ;  and  is  derived  from  the 
incident  of  a  shoemaker's  criticizing 
a  slipper  which  an  artist  had  painted, 
and,  being  applauded,  he  attempted  to 
extend  his  strictures  to  other  parts  of 
the  picture,  thus  making  himself  ridic- 
ulous. 


Koiuan  Saint  Making*  Shoes. 

By  common  consent,  Crisi^in  is  the 
patron  saint  of  shoemakers,  and  he,  it 
appears,  suffered  martyrdom  about  the 
year  303,  for  his  efforts  to  propagate  the 
doctrines  of  the  Christian  religion, 
travelling  fp om  Rome  to  France  for  this 
purpose,  and  making  shoes  by  the  way 
as  a  means  of  obtaining  nourishment 
for  the  body.  St.  Crispin's  Day  is  the 
twenty-fifth  of  October,  and  Shaks- 
peare  and  many  inferior  poets  have 
immortalized  its  festivals  and  promoted 
its  importance  in  the  list  of  holidays. 


Buying:  Shoes  and  Sermons. 

An  anecdote  is  told  of  the  chaplain 
of  the  Duke  of  Leeds  and  his  shoe- 
maker, which  the  facetious  like  to  relate 
as  an  instance  of  the  wit  of  the  "  gentle 
craft  "of  the  thread  and  last.  A  shoe- 
maker, named  Walkden,  had  made  for 
him  a  pair  of  shoes,  and  on  being  asked 
the  price  replied,  "  Half  a  guinea,  sir." 

"  Half  a  guinea  for  a  pair  of  shoes  I " 
replied  the  astonished  chaplain ;  "  why, 
I  could  go  to  Cranbourne  Alley  and  buy 
a  better  pair  of  shoes  than  these  ever 
were  or  will  be,  for  five  and  sixpence." 
He  then  threw  one  of  the  shoes  to  the 
other  end  of  the  room,  and  Walkden 
threw  the  other  after  it,  saying,  at  the 
same  time,  "  Sir,  I  can  go  to  a  store 
in  Moorfields  and  buy  a  better  ser- 
mon than  my  lord  gives  you  a  guinea 
for." 

The  duke,  being  present,  was  much 


amused  by  this  retort,  and  immediately 
ordered  half  a  dozen  pairs  of  shoes  to 
be  made  directly. 


Dowse,  the  "Literary  Leather 
Dresser." 

Thomas  Dowse  was  a  leather  dresser, 
living  in  Cambridgeport,  Mass.,  and 
who,  to  good  industry  and  success  in 
his  calling,  added  a  most  liberal  taste 
for  books  and  engravings  of  the  rarest 
quality.  He  was  commonly  known  as 
"  the  literary  leather  dresser,"  and  his 
case  is  almost  if  not  wholly  without  a 
parallel.  From  an  early  age,  all  his 
spare  earnings  were  expended  in  the 
purchase  of  books.  After  pursuing  his 
trade  as  an  apprentice  to  his  father 
until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
he  made  the  endeavor  to  visit  Europe, 
but  was  prevented  from  fulfilling  that 
purpose  on  account  of  poverty  and 
other  obstacles.  He  therefore  applied 
himself  to  his  trade,  and  in  this  voca- 
tion he  was  eminently  fortunate.  He 
attended  to  the  duties  of  his  shop 
during  business  hours,  and  to  reading 
in  those  of  the  morning  and  evening, 
devoting  constantly  a  large  part  of  his 
income  to  the  purchase  of  books.  His 
taste  was  not  only  for  good  books,  but 
for  handsome  editions,  and  these  he 
imported  directly  from  London.  About 
the  year  1820,  his  agent  in  London  sent 
him  the  prospectus  of  a  lottery  for  the 
disposal  of  the  sets  of  a  costly  collection 
of  engravings  of  the  most  famous  works 
of  the  old  masters,  and  of  the  water- 
color  copies  made  from  the  originals. 
Mr.  Dowse  bought  three  tickets  in  this 
lottery,  and  drew  two  prizes,  one  prize 
consisting  of  two  sets  of  the  engravings, 
colored  and  uncolored  ;  the  other  prize 
being  one-half  of  the  water-color  copies 
framed,  fifty-two  in  number.  He  thus 
became  possessed  of  a  large  collection 
of  admirable  copies  of  some  of  the  most 
celebrated  paintings  in  England.  The 
paintings  were  advantageously  arranged 
in  rooms  adjoining  Mr.  Dowse's  library, 


V52 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


and  formed  with  it  an  attraction  of 
great  interest  to  persons  of  letters  and 
taste  resident  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
to  strangers. 

Mr.  Dowse  continued  to  work  at  his 
trade  till  after  he  was  seventy  years  of 
age,  and  he  lived  a  life  of  retirement 
as  well  as  celibacy.  He  was  a  great 
admirer  of  Benjamin  Franklin — so 
much  so,  that  he  erected,  at  his  own 
expense,  a  substantial  granite  obelisk 
in  Mount  Auburn,  to  Franklin's  mem- 
ory. A  few  months  before  his  decease, 
Mr.  Dowse  presented  his  library  to 
the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 
It  consisted  of  about  five  thousand 
volumes  of  a  miscellaneous  character, 
many  of  them  in  elegant  bindings,  and 
of  the  best  editions.  It  is  almost  exclu- 
sively an  English  library,  containing 
translations  of  the  principal  authors 
in  the  ancient  languages,  and  the  cul- 
tivated languages  of  modern  Europe. 
It  is  estimated  to  have  cost  Mr.  Dowse 
forty  thousand  dollars,  without  interest. 
He  left  forty  thousand  dollars  to  lit- 
erary, scientific,  and  charitable  pur- 
poses. 

— « — 

Eminent  Shoemakers. 

Abnigio,  an  Italian  poet  of  the  six- 
teenth century,  of  considerable  genius 
and  learning,  followed  his  father's  trade, 
that  of  a  shoemaker,  and  in  the  course 
of  his  life  published  a  very  elaborate 
work  on  the  shoemaking  of  the  an- 
cients. 

Linnaeus,  the  founder  of  the  science 
of  botany,  was  apprenticed  to  a  shoe- 
maker in  Sweden,  but  was  afterward 
taken  notice  of,  in  consequence  of  his 
ability,  and  sent  to  college. 

David  Parens,  the  elder,  who  was 
afterward  a  celebrated  professor  of 
theology  at  Heidelberg,  Germany,  was 
at  one  time  apprentice  to  a  shoe- 
maker. 

Joseph  Pendell,  of  London,  who  was 
a  profound  and  scientific  scholar,  leav- 
ing a  superb  library,  was  bred  to  and 


pursued  through  life  the  trade   of  a 
shoemaker. 

Hans  Sachs,  one  of  the  most  famous 
of  the  early  poets,  was  the  son  of  a 
tailor,  served  an  apprenticeship  to  a 
shoemaker,  and  afterward  became 
and  continued  a  weaver 

Benedict  Badlouth,  one  of  the  most 
learned  men  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
was  a  shoemaker,  as  was  likewise  his 
father.  This  man  wrote  a  treatise  on 
the  shoemaking  of  the  ancients,  which 
he  traced  up  to  the  time  of  Adam  him- 
self. Thus  Adam  was  a  shoemaker, 
and  Eve  a  tailoress.  She  "  sewed  fig 
leaves  together,"  proving  truly  the 
antiquity  of  these  two  branches  of  in- 
dustry and  skill. 

To  these  may  be  added  those  orna- 
ments of  literature,  Holcroft,  the  author 
of  the  Critic  and  other  works  ;  Gifford, 
the  founder,  and  for  many  years  the  edi- 
tor, of  the  London  Quarterly  Review, 
one  of  the  most  profound  writers  and 
elegant  scholars  of  the  age ;  Bloom- 
field,  the  celebrated  author;  Gibbon, 
Lackington,  Dr.  Carey,  and  "Whittier, 
— all  these  were  shoemakers. 

John  Brand,  of  the  London  Anti- 
quarian Society,  and  author  of  several 
learned  works,  was  originally  a  shoe- 
maker, but  fortunately  found  means 
to  complete  his  studies  at  Oxford. 
Winckelmann,  the  learned  German 
antiquary,  was  the  son  of  a  shoemaker, 
and  was  for  some  time  engaged  in  the 
same  employment,  but  finally  burst  from 
his  obscurity,  and  became  a  professor 
of  belles-lettres  :  he  was  the  friend  and 
correspondent  of  the  most  learned  men 
of  his  times. 

Fox,  the  founder  of  the  sect  or  body 
called  Quakers,  was  the  son  of  a  weaver, 
and  apprenticed  to  a  shoemaker. 

Roger  Sherman,  the  distinguished 
Connecticut  statesman,  was  apprenticed 
to  a  shoemaker,  and  found  ample  time, 
during  his  minority,  to  acquire  a  stock 
of  knowledge  that  led  him  cii  to  fame 
and  fortune. 

Long  worth,  the  great  real  estate  mil- 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO  COMMERCE. 


753 


lionnaire,  of  Cincinnati,  was  formerly 
shoemaker. 


Breaking-  and  Waxing  the  **  Thread." 

A  CERTAIN  member  of  the  Irish  Par- 
liament, whose  father  had  followed  the 
honest  occupation  of  a  shoemaker,  hav- 
ing, in  the  course  of  his  speech,  used 
some  language  which  caused  him  to  be 
called  to  order  by  Mr.  Curran,  the  gen- 
tleman complained  that  Mr.  Curran  had 
"  'broken  the  thread  of  Ms  discourse.^'' 

"  Then  icax  it  better,  the  next  time," 
replied  Curran,  disdainfully. 


One  of  the  Largest  Book  Establish- 
ments in  the  World. 

This  well-known  house  was  estab- 
lished by  the  two  senior  partners, 
James  and  John  Harper,  who  opened 
a  small  book  and  job  printing  office  in 
Dover  street.  New  York,  in  1817.  Their 
first  employer  in  book  printing  was  Mr. 
Evert  Duyckinck,  a  leading  publisher 
of  that  day,  to  whose  order,  on  the 
5th  of  August,  they  delivered  two  thou- 
sand copies  of  Seneca's  Morals ;  on  the 
3d  of  December,  twenty-five  hundred 
copies  of  Mair's  Introduction  to  Latin  ; 
and  on  the  7th  of  April,  1818,  five  hun- 
dred copies  of  Locke's  Essay  on  the 
Human  Understanding.  These  were 
the  first  books  they  printed.  In  1823, 
the  third  brother,  John  Wesley  Harper, 
became  a  partner  in  the  establishment, 
and  in  1826  Fletcher  Harper  entered  as 
a  member  of  the  firm.  At  that  time 
their  printing  office  had  become  the 
largest  in  the  city,  though  it  employed 
but  fifty  persons,  and  did  all  its  work 
on  ten  hand-presses.  The  establish- 
ment is  at  present  believed  to  be  the 
largest  of  its  kind  in  the  world.  Thur- 
low  Weed  worked  as  a  journeyman 
printer  at  the  same  time  and  in  the 
same  establishment  with  Mr.  Harper. 
"  James,"  says  he,  "  was  our  partner 
at  the  press.  We  were  at  work  as  soon 
as  the  day  dawned ;  and  though,  on  a 
48 


pleasant  summer  afternoon,  we  used  to 
sigh  occasionally  for  a  walk  upon  the 
Battery  before  sundown,  he  never  would 
allow  the  'balls  to  be  capped'  until 
he  had  broken  the  back  of  the  thir- 
teenth 'token.'"  Thus,  by  habits  of 
industry,  perseverance,  economy  and 
industry,  the  journeyman  printer  be- 
came the  head  of  the  greatest  pub- 
lishing house  in  the  western  world, 
amassed  an  ample  fortune,  and  at 
one  time  filled  the  chair  of  chief 
magistrate  of  the  greatest  metropolis 
in  America. 


Charles  Knight's  Reminiscences  of  the 
London  Book  Trade. 

Paternoster  Row  and  the  imme- 
diate neighborhood  of  St.  Paul's  church- 
yard and  Ave-Maria  Lane,  were  the 
principal  seats  of  the  wholesale  book- 
trade  in  former  days.  At  the  begin- 
ning of  the  present  century,  according 
to  Britton,  "  most  of  the  tradesmen  at- 
tended to  their  respective  shops,  and 
dwelt  in  the  upper  part  of  their  houses." 
He  had  lived  to  see  the  heads  of  many 
of  the  largest  establishments  visit  their 
counting  houses  only  for  a  few  hours  in 
the  day,  and  leave  the  working  part  to 
junior  partners,  clerks,  and  appren- 
tices. The  greater  number  of  city  book- 
sellers did  not  carry  on  the  business  of 
pubUsher  pur  et  simple.  They  were 
factors  of  books  for  the  London  col- 
lectors; they  were  the  agents  of  the 
country  booksellers ;  they  almost  all 
were  shareholders  of  what  were  called 
chapter  books,  from  the  business  con- 
cerning them  being  conducted  at  the 
Chapter  Coflee  House.  If  we  open  a 
book  (says  Mr.  Charles  Knight,  in  his 
interesting  volume,  "Passages  of  a 
Working  Life"),  of  fifty  years  ago, 
which  had  become  a  standard  work  in 
its  frequent  reprints,  we  find  the  names 
of  twelve  or  twenty  or  even  more  book- 
sellers on  the  title  page.  The  cojDyright 
had  probably  long  expired.  But  these 
shareholders,  who  formed  a  Limited 


V54 


COMMERCIAL  AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Liability  Company  (not  registered), 
were  considered  as  the  only  legitimate 
dealers,  and  their  editions  the  only 
legitimate  ones.  It  was  long  before 
their  monopoly  was  broken  up  by  a 
few  daring  adventurers  who  defied  these 
banded  hosts,  and  were  ready  to  pounce 
upon  an  expired  copyright  before  it 
could  be  appropriated  by  the  large  and 
small  potentates  who  had  parcelled  out 
the  realms  of  print,  with  absolute  ex- 
clusiveness,  in  the  good  times  before 
innovation.  Trade  sales,  as  they  were 
called,  were  frequent  and  general  among 
the  primitive  race  of  booksellers;  at 
which  sales  these  share  books  were 
sold,  among  other  wares,  to  the  best 
bidders.  The  company  was  not  at- 
tracted by  elegant  banquets,  such  as 
those  at  which,  in  later  times,  I  have 
assisted  as  a  guest  and  as  a  host. 
There  was  a  plain  dinner  of  substan- 
tial beef  and  mutton,  which  the  book- 
seller ordered  at  an  adjacent  tavern, 
directing  what  dishes  should  be  pro- 
vided to  meet  the  number  of  his  ex- 
pected guests.  I  have  heard  an  illus- 
trative anecdote — I  do  not  vouch  for 
its  truth — of  one  of  the  respectable  firm 
that  lived  under  the  sign  of  the  Bible 
and  Crown.  In  the  midst  of  family 
prayer  he  suddenly  paused,  and  ex- 
claimed, "  John,  go  and  tell  Higgins  to 
make  another  marrow  pudding." 

The  "  legitimate  "  trade  had  its  code 
of  "  protection,"  on  which  it  had  re- 
posed since  the  days  of  the  Tonsons 
and  Lintots.  Its  system  of  associating 
many  shareholders  in  the  production 
and  sale  of  an  established  work  kept 
up  its  price.  The  retailers  were  only 
allowed  to  purchase  of  the  wholesale 
houses  upon  certain  conditions,  which 
had  the  effect  of  making  it  difl5cult,  if 
not  impossible,  for  the  private  pur- 
chaser to  obtain  a  book  under  the  sum 
advertised.  No  publisher  had  discov- 
ered that  it  was  to  his  interest  that  the 
profit  of  the  middle  man  should  be 
small,  so  that  a  book  should  be  vended 
at  the  cheapest  rate.     The  very  notion 


of  cheap  books  stank  in  the  nostrils 
not  only  of  the  ancient  magnates  of  the 
East,  but  of  the  new  potentates  of  the 
West.  For  a  new  work  which  involved 
the  purchase  of  copyright,  it  was  the 
established  rule  that  the  wealthy  few, 
to  whom  price  was  not  a  consideration, 
were  alone  to  be  depended  upon  for 
the  remuneration  of  the  author  and  the 
first  profit  of  the  publisher.  The  proud 
quarto,  with  a  rivulet  of  text  meander- 
ing through  a  wide  plain  of  margin, 
was  the  "  decus  et  tutamen "  of  the 
Row  and  of  Albemarle  street.  Conduit 
street  now  and  then  vied  in  its  grandi- 
osity; but  more  commonly  sent  forth 
legions  of  octavos,  translated  from  the 
French  with  a  rapidity  that  was  not 
very  careful  about  correctness  or  ele- 
gance— qualities  which  were  not  con- 
templated in  the  estimate  of  the  liter- 
ary cost.  These  were  the  books  whose 
cheapness  was  deceptive,  like  the  books 
issued  by  the  number-publishers.  One 
of  these  successful  tradesmen,  who,  al- 
though he  became  lord  mayor,  was  once 
"  Thomas  "  the  porter  in  an  old  con- 
cern for  the  production  of  the  dearest 
books  in  folio — such  as  we  may  still 
find  among  the  heir-looms  of  a  humble 
family  in  some  remote  village — was 
never  solicitous  to  buy  an  author ;  his 
great  object  was  to  buy  a  "  ground." 
"A  ground"  was  like  a  milk-walk — 
there  were  a  body  of  customers  to  be 
transferred  to  the  new  capitalist.  He 
was  once  tempted  into  the  employment 
of  original  authorship.  When  his  press 
one  day  stood  still  for  want  of  a  suffi- 
cient supply  of  the  commodity  for 
which  he  had  indiscreetly  bargained, 
he  exclaimed,  "  Give  me  dead  authors  ! 
— they  never   keep    you  waiting    for 

copy." 

» 

Buying:  a  Saddle. 

Monkeys  are  scarce  in  Michigan.  A 
saddler  in  Detroit  kept  one  for  a  pet, 
who  usually  sat  on  the  counter.  A 
countryman  came  in  one  day,  the  pro- 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY   TO   COMMERCE. 


prietor  being  in  the  back  room.  The 
customer,  seeing  a  saddle  that  suited 
him,  asked  the  price. 

Monkey  said  nothing. 

Customer  said,  "  I'll  give  you  twenty 
dollars  for  it,"  which  monkey  shoved 
into  the  drawer  as  the  man  laid  it 
down.  The  man  then  took  the  saddle, 
but  monkey  mounted  the  man,  tore  his 
hair,  scratched  his  face,  and  the  fright- 
ened customer  screamed  for  dear  life. 
Proprietor  rushes  in,  and  wants  to 
know  what's  the  fuss. 

"  Fuss  ?  "  said  the  customer ;  "  fuss  ? 
I  bought  a  saddle  of  your  son  settin' 
there,  and  when  I  went  to  take  it,  he 
won't  let  me  have  it !  " 

The  saddler  apologized  for  the  mon- 
key, but  assured  him  he  was  no  rela- 
tion. 


Digmity  Conferred  by  the  Blacking: 
Business. 

The  report  of  M.  Dumas,  member  of 
the  French  Institute,  on  the  Great  Ex- 
position of  French  Industry,  has  been 
"  done  into  English  "  for  the  benefit  of 
a  manufacturer  of  blacking,  whose  ar- 
ticle is  highly  spoken  of.  The  follow- 
ing is  an  extract  in  the  translator's 
most  polished  style : 

"  The  service  done  by  Messrs.  Jac- 
quand  is  real.  One  does  perceive  it 
the  better  when  one  does  consider  his 
effects  on  the  less  comfortable  orders 
of  the  population,  on  those  for  which 
there  are  not  little  economies,  and  on 
which  it  is  of  a  great  importance  to 
spread  habits  of  cleanliness,  which  con- 
duct to  the  self-consideration,  and 
which  announce  at  the  man  who  ob- 
serves them,  the  sentiment  of  his  dig- 
nity. The  jury  confers  on  Messrs.  Jac- 
quand  a  medal  of  bronze." 


Breeches  without  a  Body. 

Brooks  is  an  oflBce  boy,  and  is  quite 
a  character.  He  is  about  sixteen  years 
old,  and  five  feet  ten  inches  in  height, 


and  proportionably  narrow.  A  more 
brief  and  very  graphic  description  of 
his  physical  build  is  expressed  by  him 
when  speaking  of  himself.  He  says, 
"  Very  little  Brooks — principally  legs." 
Brooks  needed  a  renewal  of  that  useful 
article  of  raiment  known  to  him  as 
"  trowsis,"  wherewith  to  protect  the  be- 
fore-menj;ioned  legs  from  the  inclemen- 
cy of  the  weather  and  the  vulgar  gaze. 

Brooks  applied  to  a  gentleman  of 
the  Jewish  persuasion,  who  published 
to  the  world  the  fact  that  he  manufac- 
tured raiment  of  every  description.  By 
"particular  request"  the  tailor  meas- 
ured Brooks  for  the  required  article  of 
clothing,  insuring,  at  the  same  time,  a 
"  dead  fit."  Our  friend  of  the  shears, 
being  of  an  inquiring  turn  of  mind — 
though  we  suspect  some  irony  in  his 
remark — thought  to  question  his  cus- 
tomer, as  he  inquired,  addressing 
Brooks : 

"  Does  my  fine  shentleman  vish  any 
pody  to  his  pantaloons  ?  " 

Brooks  answered,  "  Of  course  I  want 
a  body  to  them.  Who  ever  heard  of 
breeches  without  a  body  ?  " 

"  Yel,  den,"  said  the  Jew,  "  if  such 
is  the  case,  den  you  musht  tie  dem 
round  your  neck ;  for,  help  me  Moses, 
I  never  saw  such  long  legs  before  !  " 


Books  and  Music. 

"  Not  very  long  ago,  two  gentlemen 
from  our  town,"  writes  a  rural  reader 
to  Jlarjoer's  Magazine^  "  paid  a  visit  of 
pleasure  and  business  to  New  York 
city.  Not  particularly  well  acquainted 
with  localities,  they  were  upon  one  af- 
ternoon absent  on  an  exploring  expedi- 
tion, and  suddenly  and  unexpectedly 
'  fetched  up '  opposite  your  magnifi- 
cent publishing  house  and  printing  es- 
tablishment in  Franklin  Square.  Hav- 
ing of  course  a  knowledge,  acquired  by 
reading,  of  your  extensive  buildings 
and  grounds,  when  the  large  gilt  let- 
ters which  indicate  to  the  rural  visitor 
the  name  and  nature  of  the  firm  struck 


156 


COMMERCIAL   AND   BUSINESS   ANECDOTES. 


the  eye  of  one  of  the  friends,  he  incon- 
tinently cried  out,  'Hold  on,  Joe  !  I 
want  to  take  a  look  at  the  Harpers  ! ' 
Joe  dropped  his  head,  and  stood  for 
several  minutes  in  musing  mood,  in- 
tently listening,  during  which  time  his 
friend  was  surveying  the  building  and 
its  surroundings.     Presently  Joe  said, 

*' '  Well,  come  along  ;  you  won't  hear 
any  more  music  if  you  stand  here  all 
day!' 

"  '  Music  ?  What  music  ? '  said  his 
friend,  eyeing  Joe  curiously. 

"  '  Why,  "  the  Harpers  "  playing,'  re- 
plied Joe,  very  innocently. 

"  The  strain  on  Andy's  vest  buttons 
was  intense  for  some  minutes;  and  it 
has  never  been  settled  to  this  day 
whether  the  music  was  in  Joe's  head, 
or  whether  he  really  expected  to  hear 
'  the  Harpers '  playing." 


Willingr  to  Swallow  the  Joke. 
Everybody  in  Cincinnati  knows 
that  Jake  Myers  is  a  good  fellow,  and 
considerable  of  a  wag.  He  and  thirty- 
five  other  German  cabinet  makers  put 
their  funds  together  and  fonned  them- 
selves into  an  association  known  as  the 
Cabinet  Makers'  Union.  Jake  was 
made  agent  of  the  concern,  and,  by  his 
good  management  and  the  hard  work 
of  the  others,  they  prospered,  and  ship- 
ped a  large  amount  of  their  wares  to 
the  South.  Some  time  ago,  one  of 
their  customers  living  in  Kentucky, 
and  in  debt  to  the  concern  about 
$1,500,  showed  signs  of  weakness,  and 
they  thought  it  necessary  for  Jake  to 
go  and  look  after  their  interests.  He 
found  the  man  had  just  sold  out,  and 
he  had  to  take  a  house  and  lot  instead 
of  the  money.  Jake  was  a  stanch  friend 
of  the  South,  and  the  balance  of  the 
concern  were  abolitionists,  and  had 
bored  Jake  a  good  deal  about  his  no- 
tions on  the  slavery  question  ;  so  Jake 
found  he  had  a  chance  of  getting  even 
or  a  little  ahead  of  his  partners.  On 
his  return  he  told  them  he  had  to  take 


two  negroes  (a  boy  and  girl),  or  get 
nothing;  but  knowing  his  thirty-five 
partners  to  be  strong  abolitionists,  he 
thought  they  might  wish  to  set  the 
darkeys  free,  and  he  had  declined  tak- 
ing the  money  he  had  been  ofiered  for 
them  until  after  he  had  a  consultation 
with  his  partners.  They  all  bit ;  and, 
after  some  deliberation,  concluded  to 
sell  the  negroes,  as  it  would  be  too 
great  a  loss  ($43  to  each  partner)  for 
them  to  stand.  They  directed  Jake  to 
sell  them  as  soon  as  possible,  for  fear 
they  might  run  away.  A  few  days  af- 
terward they  found  out  that  Jake  had 
sold  them  instead  of  the  negroes,  and 
thereon  they  all  adjourned  over  to  the 
nearest  grocery  store,  and  had  a  good 
time  of  it  the  balance  of  the  day  ;  de- 
claring, by  the  strength  of  the  lager, 
that  they  all  knew  that  Jake  was  only 
joking. 


Paying-  the  Driver. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  ,  of  Boston,  was 

to  supply  the  pulpit  of  the  Rev.  Orville 
Dewey,  whilom  of  New  York.  Taking 
the  Sound  boat  on  Saturday  night,  he 
did  not  arrive  at  the  pier,  in  conse- 
quence of  a  dense  fog,  until  long  after 
the  bells  had  ceased  to  call  the  people 
to  church.  He  immediately  jumped 
into  a  cab  and  drove  with  all  haste  to 
the  church,  jumped  out,  whispered  to 
the  sexton  to  pay  the  driver,  and 
walked  with  ministerial  dignity  up  the 
aisle.  When  about  to  ascend  the  steps 
of  the  pulpit  a  hand  was  laid  on  his 
shoulder,  and— judge  of  his  surprise,  on 
turning,  to  behold  cabby  with  out- 
stretched hand  for  his  fare.  This  must 
be  true,  for  he  told  it  himself. 


Explaining  the  Philosophy  of  Trade. 

The  following  dialogue  between  a 
"  saucy  "-looking  Irishwoman  and  a 
fellow  countryman,  who  had  apparent- 
ly just  come  over  from  the  old  sod,  was 


OCCUPATIONS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


757 


accidentally  overliearcl  by  a  Broadway 
pedestrian : 

"  Well,  Misther  Murphy,  ye  tell  me 
that  ye  think  of  gettin'  into  the  daling 
[trading]  way  here,"  said  the  lady, 
with  that  patronizing  air  ^always  as- 
sumed toward  late  arrivals  by  the  ould 
residenthers. 

"  Yis,  ma'am,  I  was  thinking  some- 
thing about  it ;  and  I'd  like  to  have 
your  advice,  Mrs.  Dimpsey,  upon  it,  if 
y'd  plase,"  humbly  responded  Mr.  Mur- 

pby- 

"  Take  my  advice,  thin,"  said  the  fe- 
male oracle,  "  and  thry  the  provision 
bisiness,  Misther  Murphy ;  it's  always 
lookey,  and  always  safe.  Calicoes  and 
coats  gits  out  of  fashion,  and  lift  on 
your  hands  often ;  but  who  ever  heard 
of  the  cut  of  a  ham,  or  a  shojilder  of 
beef,  or  a  leg  of  mutton  changin'  ?  " 

Mr.  Murphy's  countenance  brightened 
up  at  the  originality  of  the  idea  sug- 
gested to  him  ;  and  by  this  time  he  is 
ready  to  supply  all  consumers  of  ham, 
beef,  and  mutton,  on  reasonable  terms. 


Would  not  Stoop. 

Sir  Robert  Peel  made  George  Ste- 
phenson, the  great  engineer,  the  offer 
of  knighthood  more  than  once,  but  he 
steadily  refused.  He  was  not  the  crea- 
ture of  patronage,  and  had  no  desire  to 
shine  with  borrowed  lustre.  He  gave 
a  characteristic  reply  to  a  request  that 
he  would  state  what  were  his  ornament- 
al or  honorary  initials,  in  order  that 
they  might  be  added  to  his  name  in  the 
title  of  a  work  proposed  to  be  dedicated 
to  him  :  "  I  have  to  state,  that  I  have 
no  flourishes  to  my  name,  either  before 
or  after ;  and  I  think  it  will  be  as  well 
if  you  merely  say  '  George  Stephenson.' 
It  is  true  that  I  am  a  Belgian  knight ; 
but  I  do  not  wish  to  have  any  use 
made  of  it.  I  have  had  the  offer  of 
knighthood  of  my  own  country  made 
to  me  several  times,  but  would  not 
have  it.  I  have  been  invited  to  become 
a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society,  and  also 


of  the  Civil  Engineers'  Society,  but  ob- 
jected to  the  empty  addition  to  my 
name.  I  am  a  member  of  the  Geologi- 
cal Society,  and  I  have  consented  to 
become  president  of,  I  believe,  a  highly 
respectable  mechanics'  institution  at 
Birmingham."  He  wished  to  join  the 
Civil  Engineers'  Institute ;  but  the 
council  Avould  not  waive  the  condition 
that  he  should  compose  a  probationary 
essay  in  proof  of  his  capacity  as  an  en- 
gineer !  Mr.  Stephenson  would  not 
stoop  to  enter,  and  turned  his  back 
upon  the  institute. 


Lord  Eardley's  *'  Gentleman" 
Applicant. 

During  breakfast,  one  d^y,  Lord 
Eardley  was  informed  that  a  person 
had  applied  for  a  footman's  place,  then 
vacant.  He  was  ordered  into  the  room ; 
and  a  double-refined  specimen  of  a  ge- 
nus greatly  detested  by  his  lordship, 
made  his  appearance.  The  manner  of 
the  man  was  extremely  affected  and 
consequential,  and  it  was  evident  that 
he  determined  to  lower  him  a  little. 

"  Well,  my  good  fellow,"  said  he, 
"  what,  you  want  a  lackey's  place,  do 
you  ? " 

"  I  came  about  an  upper  footman's 
situation,  my  lord,"  said  the  gentleman, 
bridling  up  his  head. 

"  Oh  !  do  ye,  do  ye  ? "  replied  Lord 
Eardley ;  "  I  keep  no  '  upper  servants ; ' 
all  alike,  all  alike,  here." 

"  Indeed,  my  lord,"  exclaimed  this 
upper  footman,  with  an  air  of  shocked 
dignity ;  "  what  department^  then,  am 
I  to  consider  myself  expected  to  fill  ? " 

"  Department,  department,"  quoth 
my  lord,  in  a  tone  of  inquiry. 

"  In  what  capacity,  my  lord  ?  " 

My  lord  repeated  the  word  "  capaci- 
ty "  as  if  not  understanding  its  applica- 
tion to  the  present  subject. 

"  I  mean,  my  lord,"  exclaimed  the 
man,  "  what  shall  I  be  expected  to  do, 
if  I  take  the  situation  ?  " 

"  Oh !    you  mean  if  you  take  the 


758 


COMMERCIAL   AND  BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


place.  I  understand  you  now,"  rejoin- 
ed my  lord ;  "  why,  you're  to  do  every- 
thing but  sweep  the  chimneys  and  clean 
the  pig-sties,  and  those  I  do  myself!  " 

The  "gentleman"  stared,  scarcely 
knowing  what  to  make  of  this,  and 
seemed  to  wish  himself  out  of  the 
room ;  he,  however,  grinned  a  ghastly 
smile,  and  after  a  short  pause,  inquir- 
ed, "What  salary  does  your  lordship 
give  ? " 

"  Salary,  salary  !  "  reiterated  his  in- 
corrigible lordship;  "don't  know  the 
word,  my  good  man." 

Again  the  "  gentleman  "  explained — 
' "  I  mean,  what  wages  ?  " 

"  Oh  !  what  wages,"  echoed  my  lord ; 
"  what  d'ye  ask,  what  d'ye  ask  ?  " 

Trip  regained  his  self-possession  at 
this  question,  which  looked  like  busi- 
ness ;  and,  considering  for  a  few  min- 
utes, answered — first  stipulating  to  be 
found  in  hair  powder,  and  (on  state 
occasions)  silk  stockings,  gloves  and 
bouquets — that  he  should  expect  thirty 
pounds  a  year. 

"  How  much  !— how  much  !  "  de- 
manded my  lord,  rapidly. 

"  Thirty  pounds,  my  lord." 

"Thirty  pounds!"  exclaimed  Lord 
Ear^ley,  in  affected  amazement,  "  make 
it  guineas,  and  I'll  come  and  live  with 
YOtJ ; "  then  ringing  the  bell,  said  to 
the  servant  who  answered  it :  "  Let 
out  this  ^gentleman!'' — he's  too  good 
for  me ; "  and  then  turning  to  a  vis- 
itor, who  was  much  amused,  said,  as 
the  man  made  his  exit,  "  Conceited, 
impudent  puppy ! — soon  sent  him  off — 
soon  sent  him  off !  " 


Prize  "Won  by  Stephenson  for  his 
Famous  Lioconiotive. 

"While  the  Liverpool  and  Manches- 
ter railroad  was  in  process  of  construc- 
tion (in  the  early  days  of  railroads), 
many  consultations  were  held  by  the 
directors  as  to  the  kind  of  power  which 
was  to  be  employed  in  the  working  of 
the  line  when  opened  for  traffic. 


Two  eminent  practical  engineers  re- 
ported against  the  employment  of  the 
locomotive.  The  whole  profession  stood 
opposed  to  George  Stephenson,  but  he 
still  held  to  his  purpose.  Urged  by 
his  solicitations  to  test  the  powers  of 
the  locomotive,  the  directors  at  last  de- 
termined to  offer  a  prize  of  £500  for  the 
best  locomotive  engine  which,  on  a  cer- 
tain daj',  should  be  produced  on  the 
railway  and  fulfil  certain  conditions  in 
the  most  satisfactory  manner.  A  speed 
of  ten  miles  an  hour  was  all  that  was 
required  to  be  maintained. 

Mr.  Stephenson,  assisted  by  his  son, 
immediately  set  about  the  construction 
of  his  famous  "  Rocket."  An  impor- 
tant principle  introduced  in  the  con- 
struction of  this  engine,  was  the  mul- 
titubular boiler,  by  which  the  power 
of  generating  steani  was  greatly  in- 
creased. 

On  the  day  appointed  for  the  com- 
petition at  Rainhill,  four  engines  were 
entered  for  the  prize :  first,  Messrs. 
Braithwaite  &  Ericsson's  "  Novelty  "  ; 
second,  Mr.  Timothy  Hackworth's 
"  Sanspareil  "  ;  third,  Mr.  Robert  Ste- 
phenson's "  Rocket  "  ;  fourth,  Mr.  Bur- 
stall's  "  Perseverance."  Mr.  Stephen- 
son's engine  was  first  ready,  and  enter- 
ed upon  the  contest.  It  drew  after  it 
thirteen  tons'  weight,  in  wagons,  and 
the  maximum  velocity  attained  during 
the  trial  tiip  was  twenty-nine  miles  an 
hour — three  times  the  speed  that  one 
of  the  judges  had  declared  to  be  the 
limit  of  possibility.  The  average  speed 
was  fifteen  miles  an  hour.  The  specta- 
tors were  filled  with  astonishment; 
and  one  of  the  directors  lifted  up  his 
hands  and  exclaimed,  "  Now  is  George 
Stephenson  at  last  delivered  1 "  The 
"  Sanspareil "  weighed  five  hundred- 
weights beyond  the  weight  specified, 
and  was  therefore  excluded  from  com- 
petition. The  steam-generator  of  the 
"Novelty"  burst,  and  ended  its  per- 
formance. The  "  Perseverance  "  did 
not  fulfil  the  advertised  conditions; 
and  the  prize  of  £500  w^as  accordingly 


OCCUPATIOXS  AUXILIARY  TO   COMMERCE. 


759 


awarded  to  the  "  Rocket,"  as  the  suc- 
cessful engine. 


Samuel  Wheeler,  the  Iron-Smith,  and 
General  Washing-ton. 

Samuel  "Wheeler  was  the  most 
eminent  iron-smith  of  his  time  in  the 
United  States,  and  probably  equal  to 
any  in  the  world.  During  the  Revo- 
Jiutionary  War,  Mr.  Wheeler  made  a 
chain,  to  be  put  across  the  North  River, 
to  stop  the  British  troops  in  ships. 
General  Washington  had  thought  that 
the  river  could  not  be  defended  except 
by  two  armies,  one  on  each  side.  He 
happened  to  say,  in  the  hearing  of  Gen- 
eral Mifflin,  "  I  wish  I  could  get  a  chain 
made ;  but  that  is  impossible."  Said 
General  Mifflin,  "  I  know  a  man  that 
can  make  such  a  chain."  "Who  is 
he  ?  "  "  Mr.  Samuel  Wheeler,  a  friend 
and  a  townsman  of  mine."  "  I  should 
like  to  see  that  man."  Mifflin  said, 
"  He  is  here,  now,  in  the  army."  Mr. 
Wheeler  was  forthcoming.  General 
Washington  then  said,  "  I  wish  a  chain 
made,  to  put  across  the  North  River,  to 
stop  the  British  ships.  Can  you  make 
it  ?  "  "I  can."  "  Then  I  wish  you  to 
make  it."  "I  cannot  do  it  here." 
"  Then,"  said  General  Washington,  "  I 
will  cheerfully  give  you  dismission 
from  the  army.  Badly  as  we  want 
men,  we  cannot  afford  to  keep  such  a 
man  as  you."  Mr.  Wheeler  made  the 
chain.  It  was  hauled  in  links  across 
New  Jersey.  It  was  hung,  and  did 
good  service.  It  was  ultimately  cut, 
by  building  a  fire  about  a  link,  and 
then  using  a  chisel  and  sledge-hammer. 


Ludwick,  the  Baker-General  in  the 
Revolutionary  War. 

Christopher  Ludwick  was  by  birth 
a  German,  who,  after  various  experien- 
ces, went  to  Philadelphia,  in  1753,  with 
an  adventure  of  £25  worth  of  clothing, 
on  which  he  made  a  profit  of  three 
hundred  dollars,  and  again  returned  to 


Europe.  He  had  taken  the  idea  of  be- 
coming a  gingerbread  baker  in  Phila- 
delphia ;  and  in  1754  he  came  out  with 
the  necessary  prints — seemingly  a  new 
idea  among  the  simple  cake  eaters 
then !  He  commenced  his  career  in 
Letitia  Court,  and  began  to  make 
money  fast  by  his  new  employment. 
He  proved  himself  an  industrious, 
honest,  and  good  neighbor,  which  led 
to  a  deserved  influence  among  the  peo- 
ple, and  to  the  sobriquet  of  the  "  Gov- 
ernor of  Letitia  Court." 

At  the  commencing  period  of  the 
Revolution,  in  1774,  he  had  become 
rich,  and  gave  his  influence  and  his 
money  freely  to  help  on  the  resistance 
of  the  Colonies.  He  was  elected  read- 
ily on  all  the  committees  and  conven- 
tions of  the  time  for  that  object.  On 
one  occasion,  when  it  was  proposed  by 
General  Mifflin  to  procure  firearms  by 
private  subscription,  and  while  several 
demurred  to  it  as  not  feasible,  he  put 
down  the  opposition  by  saying  aloud, 
"  Let  the  poor  gingerbread  baker  be  put 
down  for  £200  !  "  He  became  a  soldier, 
and  was  active  and  influential  as  such. 

In  the  year  1777,  he  was  cordially  ap- 
pointed by  Congress  as  baker-general 
of  the  American  army,  and  to  choose 
freely  his  own  assistants  and  necessa- 
ries. In  their  instructions  to  him,  they 
expected  to  require  from  him  one  pound 
of  bread  for  every  pound  of  flour,  but 
Christopher  readily  replied,  "Not  so; 
I  must  not  be  enriched  by  the  war  [are 
there  no  Lud wicks  in  1864  ?].  I  shall 
return  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
pounds  of  bread  for  every  one  hundred 
pounds  of  flour." 

As  a  proof  that  he  was  respected  and 
valued  in  his  sphere,  he  was  often  in- 
vited to  dine  with  Washington  in  large 
companies,  besides  having  many  oppor- 
tunities of  long  conferences  alone  with 
him,  as  commander  of  the  army,  ia  re- 
lation to  the  bread  supplies.  The  gen- 
eral appreciated  his  worth,  and  usually 
addressed  him  in  company  as  his  "  hon- 
est friend." 


lA- 


'760 


COMMERCIAL  AXD   BUSINESS  ANECDOTES. 


Trades  and  Genealogies. 

The  connection  between  trades  and 
surnames — the  derivation  of  the  latter 
from  tlie  former — affords  some  curious 
material,  and  is  by  no  means  destitute 
of  practical  information.  The  fact 
that  a  particular  vocation  was,  in  for- 
mer times  much  more  than  in  modern 
days,  pursued  hereditarily,  throws  a 
good  deal  of  light  upon  the  subject, 
and  is  indeed  the  key  to  its  solution. 
Of  the  surnames  thus  derived,  the 
following  list  will  be  found  quite 
ample : — 

Barber,  Bottler,  Mason,  and  Builder, 
Carrier,  Carter,  Carver,  and  Gilder ; 
Dancer,  Drover,  Dresser,  and  Dyer, 
Cartwright,  Clothier,  Caner,  and  Crier ;    / 
Arrqwsmith,  Arkwright,  Ageht,  and  But- 
ler, 
Carpenter,  Chandler,  Cooper,  and  Cutler ; 
Bdthmaker,  Butcher,  Brewer,  and  Broker, 
Cardmaker,  Carman,  Corder,  and  Coker ; 
Bellringer,  Bellman,  Bowman,  and  Black- 
er, 
~  Pavior,  Peddler,  Painter,  and  Packer ; 
Currier,  Collier,  Chanter,  and  Cropper^ 
Huntsman,  Hosier,  Hacker,  and  Hopper ; 
Boatwright,  Baker,  Binder,  and  Brazier, 
Grocer,  Gouger,  Grinder,  and  Glazier; 
Merriman,  Mercer,  Merchant,  and  Miller, 
Banker,  Chapman,  Cutter,  and  Killer ; 


Fiddler,  Farmer,  Joiner,  and  Stringer,    , 
Gardener,  Goldsmith,  Tapper,  and  Ring- 
er; 
Horseman,  Hooker,  Barker,  and  Peeler, 
Fryman,  Fowler,  Draper,  and  Dealer ; 
Ploughright,  Packman,  Puller,  and  piater, 
Traveller,  Tapster,  Thatclier,  and  Slater ; 
Plater,    Pitman,   Pinch^r,  and  Potter,, 
Turner,  Trimi^er,  Tanner,  and  Trotter ; 
Shoveller,  Swindler,  Stainer,  and  Smoker, 
Saddler,  Shearer,  Salter,  and  Stoker ; 
Fleshman,  Foreman,  Fuller,  and  Fjler,   ^  ' 
Taverner,  Taylor,  Tasker,  and  Tyler ; 
Dairyman,  Doctor,  Drawer,  and  Dredger, 
Herdsman,  Hawker,  Hewer,  and  Hed^er; 
Quarrier,  Quitter,  Rhymer,  and  Reader, 
Bowmaker,  Scrivener,  Presser,  and  Plead- 
er;    / 
Pressman,  Plainer,  Poet,  and  Pinner, 
Staymaker,  Sheppard,   Glover,  and  Skin- 
ner ; 
Tuner,  Threader,  Bridgcr,  and  Ar^er, 
Tirer,  Thro\N'er,  Loader,  and  Marcher ; 
Girdler,  Stamper,  Keeper,  and  Nailer, 
Rasper,  Trainer,  Baster,  and  Sailer; 
Warrener,  "Workman,  Webber,  and  "Whit; 

er,  y-  ,4- 

"Wheelwright,     "W^atchman,    Roper,     and 
"Writer. 

This  list  of  names  we  might  extend, 
And  fifty  more  at  least  append ; 
Nay — if  inclined,  we  could  recite  'em 
Thus,  one  by  one,  ad  injinitum. 


p.t 


XkA 


INDEX 


TO   THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


HDEX  TO  THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES,  ETC. 


A  Banker's  Love  of  Birds— Girard's  little 
Songsters,  510 

A  Bankrupt  on  his  Legs  Again,  401 

A  Deep  Design,  36S 

A  Good  Beginning  -Old  Moses  Rothschild,  184 

"  A  Little  More,"  198 

A  Millionnaire  on  Giving  Away  Money ;  Pe- 
ter C.  Brooks,  489 

"A  Roland  for  an  Oliver,"  714 

A  Rustic  bargaining  for  a  Hat,  262 

A  Tailor  for  many  Years,  734 

A  Trade  and  a  Wager  Won,  555 

A.  T.  Stewart's  Success,  145 

"Accommodation  "  offered  at  the  Bank,  119 

Accomplished  Canine  Shoplifter,  200 

Adam  and  Eve  Leading  on  in  Trade,  601 

Addison's  Loan  of  Five  Hundred  Pounds  to 
Stanyan,  428 

Addison's  Opinion  of  the  Royal  Exchange  and 
its  Frequenters,  112 

Adapts  in  Commercial  Puffing,  305 

Auj  Listing  an  Insurance  Loss,  648 

Advantage  of  being  a  Large  Debtor,  399 

Advantage  of  Prison  Life  to  a  French  Debtor, 
410 

Advantage  of  Skilful  Book-keeping,  695 

Affidavit  by  an  Apothecary,  742 

Afraid  of  the  SherifiTs  Hat,  451 

Aged  Merchant  Saved  from  Robbery  by  the 
Weather,  176 

Agreement  for  a  Loan,  142 

Aid  in  the  Nick  of  Time:  Jacob  Barker  and 
John  Wells,  436 

Albert  Gallatin  declining  Mr.  Baring's  offer 
of  a  Fortune,  115 

Allaying  a  Panic,  537 

Alliteration  in  Advertising,  335 

Almanac  making  ;  Fortunate  Wit,  711 

Alrnonastre  Signora,  and  John  McDonogh,  493 

Amending  the  Charter,  384 

American  Customers  at  a  Turkish  Bazaar,  598 
*'  Merchants  of  the  Olden  Time — Jo- 
seph Peabody,  174 


American  Shipnology,  356 

America's  First  Printed  Book,  723 

Amos  Lawrence  when  a  Clerk,  6(51 

Amos  Lawrence's  Opinion  of  Marriage,  484 

Amusing  Perplexities    at  the  Custom  House, 

2U8 
An  Emperor  Blowing  the  Blacksmith's  Bel- 
lows, 743 
"  Error  in  Shipping  the  Goods,  170 
"  Excited  Specie  Hunter,  97 
"  Insolent  Tradesman  in  the  Clutches  of  Old 

Audley,  406 
"  Interesting  Consignment,  370 
"   Old  Merchant's  Style  and  Equipage,  486 
"   Unsettled  Commercial  Question,  405 
"   Untried  Method,  309 
Angerstein,   the  Great  English  Underwriter, 

632 
Animated  Scenes  at  the  French  Exchange,  293 
Another  Bank  Project,  72 
Anselm  Rothschild's  Will,  472 
Answering  a  Tailor's  Dun,  714 
Appleton,    Daniel,   English   Booksellers  and 

American  Customers,  454 
Appleton,  Nathan,  Merchant  of  Boston,  32 
"         Samuel,  "        "        "        48 

"         William,        "        '*        "  5 

Application  for  a  Discount  by  Astor,  102 
Apprehended  Embezzlements,  676 
Apt  Illustration  of  a  Principle,  638 

"    Speech  by  a  Carpenter,  737 
Aptness    and    Nicety  in    Business  illustrat- 
ed, 170 
Arab  Honesty  in  Business  Transactions,  140 
Archaeological  Tailor's  Measures,  713 
Arms  and  Seal  of  the  Bank  of  Ireland,  314 
Arrival  of  the  Steamer,  353 
Artful  Dodge,  206 
Artifice  to  Escape  Bankruptcy,  458 
"  Ask  any  Committee  Man,"  347  ': 

Assessments  in  Old  Times,  645 
Assuming  the  Responsibility,  373 
Astor's  Appearance  and  Manners,  465  t 

"      Early  Prediction,  144 
"      Secret  Pain,  88 


764 


IXDEX  TO  THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


Atchafalaya  Currency  by  the  Cord,  75 
Atkinson,  the  Eccentric  Speculator,  542 
Attempt  to  overthrow  Rothschild's  Power  in 

the  Money  Market,  250 
Attempt  to  Print  a  Perfect  Book,  74T 
Attention  to  Trivial  Things  by  Girard,  243 
Auction  Sale  of  Old  Furniture,  etc.,  Extra- 
ordinary, 570 
Auctioneering  in  England  and  America,  537 
Audubon,  John  J.,  and  John  J.  Astor,  454 
Austen,  the  Famous  Metal  Founder,  748 
Avarice  of  Osterwald,  the  French  Banker,  244 
Avoiding  Specie  Suspension,  74 
Aztec  Merchants,  181 


Backing  up  his  Recommendation,  438 
Bacon  by  the  Shilling's  Worth,  560 
Bad  Bank  Bill,  277 
"    Business,  223 
"    Operation  in  Leather,  586 
Baking  and  Banking,  320 
Balance  of  Trade ;    or,  Beauties  of  Compe- 
tition, 719 
Bank  Clerks  and  their  Friends,  684 
"     Notes  at  Ten  Cents  a  Yard,  531 
"      Parlor  in  the  Winter,  74 
•*      Teller  Filing  his  Gold  Coin,  260 
"      Tellers'  "Varieties,"  92 
Banker  vs.  Musician,  505 
Bankers  of  the  Old  School,  76 

"        Snubbing  Napoleon,  87 
Banking  Habits  of  Girard,  66 
*'  Bankrupt,"  407 
Bankruptcy  and  Barbarism  in  Court,  396 

"  of     a     Dealer     in     "Women's 

Blacks,"  425 
Bankrupts  in  Batavia,  397 
Banks  Failing,  84 
"      of  Ease,  108 
Barbers'  Chairs,  730 
Barclay,  Robert,  becoming  a  Banker  instead 

of  a  Courtier,  502 
Bargain  Hnnters   at  Pawnbrokers'  and  Auc- 
tions, 567 
Bargaining  by  Pantomime— Trade  in  Camels, 

603 
Bargaining  for  a  Jar,  234 
Bargains  in  Cochin  Chinas,  219 
Baring,  Francis,  at  the  Virginia  Inn,  467 
Baring's  Daughter  and  M.  Labouchere,  4^3 
Barings  (The),  Bankers,  of  London,  27 
Barker,  Jacob,  merchant,  of  New  Orleans,  43 
"  "      under  Medical  Treatment,  482 

Barnard,  the  Proud  Broker,  114 
Barnum,P  T.,  "  the  Prince  of  Showmen,"  of 

New  York,  29 
Barnum  Buying  the  American  Museum  with 
Brass,  589 


Baron  Rothschild  Defending  himself  with  a 
Big  Ledger,  466 

Batavian  Trade  in  Bird's  Nests,  627 

Bates,  Joshua,  of  the  House  of  Barings,  Lon- 
don, 21 

Beatty,  James,  merchant,  of  Baltimore,  23 

Before  and  Behind  the  Counter,  585 

Ben.  Lippincott,  Girard's  Clerk,  GS9 

Ben.  Russell,  the  Printer :  Exciting  Scene,  737 

Benefitof  aDoubt,  419 

Benevolence    of   Goldschmid,   the    Old   Jew 
Broker,  126 

Benevolence  of   Shai-king-qua,  the    Chinese 
Merchant,  172 

Benjamin  Franklin  as  a  Bookseller,  727 

Betty  Starkey  and  Coutts's  Clerk,  694 

Bewitching  a  Bank  Teller,  114 

Bidding  on  Girard's  Old  Chaise,  536 

Biddle,     Nicholas,     financier,    of    Philadel- 
phia, 26 

Billingsgate  Market  Dealers,  723 

Bit  of  Yankee  Financiering  in  Wall  St.,  266 

Bleeding  a  Banker  by  the  Job,  479 

Blinders  for  Stockholders,  216 

Bold  but   Calamitous    Speculation    of  John 
Guest,  580 

Bone  and  Offal  Millionnaire,  101 

Bonfire  of  a  Debtor's  Papers,  424 

Bookkeeping  in  Former  Times,  685 

Bookmaking  a  Trade,  736 

Books  and  Music,  755 

"        Newspapers  in  China,  705 

"Borrow  Money  !  Borrow  Money  !"  90 

Borrowing  and  Lending — a  Melange,  435 

"        Money,    or    Doing    Business    on 
Credit :  Peter  C.  Brooks's  Idea,  416 

Borrowing  Money  of  Rich  Relations,  428 

Boston  Merchant's  Reason  for  Not   Marry- 
ing, 470 

Boston  Merchant's  Opinion  of  Business  Men's 
Honesty,  157 

Boston  Merchants'    Business  ^Marks    or   To- 
kens, 307 

Bound  not  to  Break,  86 

Boy  Traders  in  Morocco,  590 

Boyhood  Struggles  of  a  Merchant,  12o 

Breach  of  the  Bond,  445 

Breaking  and  Waxing  the  Thread,  753 

Breeches  without  a  Body,  755 

Brief   Biographical    Sketch    of    a   Banker's 
Clerk, 662 

Brief  Explanation  of  Banking,  83 

Broadway    Clerks,    Japonicas,    and    Sweet- 
hearts, 658 

Broadway  Signs,  337 

Brooks,  Peter  C,  millionnaire,  of  Boston,  49 
"  "  "  in  Court,  404 

Bruck,  M.,  Austria's  great  merchant  banker,  7 

Bruised,    but    not    Crushed :    the    Messrs. 
Brown,  of  Liverpool,  167 


INDEX  TO  THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


765 


Bubble-Bookkeeping    Taugbt    in    Six    Les- 
sons, QQo 
Bubble  Prospectuses,  281 
Burlesque  on  Modern  Business  Utopias,  528 
Burning  a  Banker's  Notes,  76 
Burns  and  the  Drowning  Merchant,  272 
Business  and  Beauty,  511 

"  "   Something  Else,  486 

"        Aspect  and  Conduct  of  the  Richest 

Banker  in  the  World,  71 
Business,  Bankruptcy,  and  Literature :   John 

Pierpont  and  John  Neal,  443 
Business  Habits  of  A.  T.  Stewart,  165 

'*        Haggling  in  Scotland,  194 

"        in  London  at  Four  o'Clock,  295 

"        Mistakes  of  Publishers,  729 
Business  PuflSng  Two  Hundred  Years  Ago, 

329 
Business  Signboards  in  Different  Nations,  832 

"        "Suckers,"  212 

"        "Value  of  a  Name,  446 

"        versus  Disease,  141 
Bussey,  Benjamin,  merchant,  of  Boston,  15 
Butchers'  Blue  Blouse  or  Frock,  712 
Buying  a  Claim,  336 

"        Pianoforte  Establishment,  450 

"        Saddle,  754 

"    Cheap,  211 

"    His  Own  Goods  at  Auction,  530 

"    Shoes  and  Sermons,  751 

"    Wine  by  Sample,  231 
Byron's  Genoese  Tailor,  714 


Cabalistic  Sign  for  an  Ale  House,  817 
Cabinet  of  Debtors'  Autographs,  452 
Caledonian  Adroitness,  659 
California  Gold  Seventy  Years  Ago,  73 
Callaghan,     Daniel,     the     Irish     Mercantile 

Celebrity,  9 
"  Candle"  Auctions,  552 
Canine  News  Dealer,  715 
Capital  of  European  Bankers,  81 
Captain  Macalester  and  his  Fast  Ship  "  Fanny," 

387 
Caricature  of  Commercial  Speculations,  551 
Carmeline,  the  Dentist's  Sign,  316 
Cashier  Inviting  a  Run  upon  his  Bank,  77 
Celebrated  Law  Suits  among  Rival  Crafts,  433 

"         Question    in    Commerce    put   by 

Cicero,  140 
Certificates  of  Solvency,  456 
Change  of  "  Packet  Day,"  885 
'Change  Alley  as  a  Business  Resort,  297 
Changes  in  Mercantile  Standing,  442 
Character  Displayed  in  Auction  Dealings,  557 
Characteristic      Smuggling,      Ingenuity     of 


Parisians,  226 


Charging  for  Advertisements,  SSI 

Charles  Lamb  as  a  Clerk,  6'Jl 

Charming  Customer  in  a  Bank — Perils  of  a 

Cashier,  680 
Chartier,  the  Leech  Merchant,  592 
Chatham  Street  Clo'  Dealers,  618 
"  Cheap  and  Dear,"  596 
Cheating  the  Oculist,  212 
Chickering  and  his  Employes  on  "  Blue  Day," 

681 
Chiffoniers,  or  "  Rag  Merchants  "  of  Paris,  589 
Child,  Francis,  Founder  of  English  Banking 

Houses,  14 
Chinese  Barbers,  730 

"        Merchant's  Gratitude,  169 
"        Shopkeepers,  610 
•'        Trade  Puffing,  310 
Chronicles  of  the  "  Black  Day,"  in  London, 

541 
Church  and  State  vs.  Railways,  851 
Cigars  at  public  sale,  577 
City  Merchant  Securing  a  Customer,  241 
Class  Advertisements  in  City  Papers,  321 
Classical  Shop  Language,  310 
Classification  of  Newspaper  Readers,  724 
Coal   Dealer's  Prediction  Fulfilled — Perhaps, 

265 
Cceur  Jacques :  French  Merchant  in  the  Mid- 
dle Ages,  36 
Coin  used  by  Judas,  100 
Coleridge  and  the  "  Ogh  Clo'  "  Man,  590 
Collecting  a  Draft,  431 
Colloquies  inside  the  Bank,  106 
Colloquy  between    a    Shopkeeper   and    his 

Customer,  243 
"        in  a  Dry  Goods  Jobbing  Store,  416 
Colston,  the    Benevolent    Millionnaire    Mer- 
chant, 499 
Comfort  for  Scotch  Debtors,  405 
Commencing  in  the  Sub  cellar,  135 
Commercial  Advantage  of  a  Blind  Eye,  505 
"  Croakers,  248 

"  Dignity  at  the  Apple-stand,  619 

Commercial  Drummers,  or  Travelling  Clerks, 

678 
Commercial  Envelopes,  Wrappers,  Labels,  &c., 

311 
Commercial  Fortune  of  a  Peer,  173 

"  Importance  of  the  Cat,  346 

"  Milk,  223 

"  Value  of  Dramatic  Literature,  715 

"  <'      "  Insects,  593 

Companies    for    Insuring   Female    Chastity, 

Childrens'  Fortunes,  Ac,  633 
Compliment  to  Wharfingers,  742 
"  Concerned  in  Trade,"  709 
Conducting  Business  on  the  Paris  Bourse,  95 
Confidence  in  a  Debtor's  Promise,  455 

"  *'  Hard  Times,  62 

"  **  Mercantile  Success,  144 


766 


INDEX  TO  THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


Connection  between  small  Bank   Notes   and 
Crime,  214 

Consequence  of  a  Simple  Mercantile  Specula- 
tion, 241 

"  Considering  "  a  Ship  Builder,  344 

Controversy  among  Wine  Dealers,  137 

Convenient  Substitute  for  Money,  407 

Cool  Assurance  of  a  Doomed  Financier,  249 
"     "Operation,"  425 

Cooper,  Peter,  Merchant,  of  New  York,  16 

Cope,  the  Quaker  Merchant,  mistaken  for 
a  Major-General,  473 

Cope,  Thomas  P.,  Merchant  of  Philadelphia,  53 

Cope's,  Thomas  P.,  Integrity,  155 

Copy  of  a  Painter's  Bill,  707 

"  Cornering"  among  Brokers,  247 

Corning,  Erastus,  Merchant,  of  New  York,  51 

Correct  Appreciation  of  Mercantile  Character 
by  Mr.  Astor,  186 

Correcting  an  Erroneous  Entry,  698 

Cost  of  a  Nap  on  the  Ledger,  687 

Costly  Banquet  by  a  Merchant  to  Charles  the 
First,  504 

"  Cotton  is  Quiet,"  318 

Counting-House  Dinners  of  Girard,  69 

"  Country  Bankers,"  735 

Countryman  and  Clerk,  668 

Coutts,  the  English  Banker,  3 

"        "        "  "        Choosing  a  Part- 

ner, 464 

"  Crack  Horses  "  at  Auction,  572 

Crinkles  in  the  Credit  System,  454 

Criticism  of  a  Hatter's  Sign,  316 

Croesus  and  his  Avaricious  Guest,  221 
"      Wealth  of,  91 

"Credit,"  449 

Curious  Division  of  Ships  into  Ounces,  350 
"        Financiering,  394 
"        Inconsistencies  in  Insuring  Life,  633 
"        Reason  for  Borrowing  Money,  74 
"        Suit  against  a  Bank  Agent,  418 

Custom-House  OflBcial  dealing  with  a  Princess, 
285 

Custom-House  Swearing,  249 

Custom-Houses  and  Star  Chambers,  289 

Customs  of  the  Store  in  Church,  253 


Dadabhoy  Jeejeebhoy,  Parsee  Banker  and  Mer- 
chant, 41 
Dangers  of  Legitimate  Business  Transactions, 

224 
Daniel  Webster's  Insurance  Anecdote,  646 
Day  and  Martin — New  and  Old,  448 
"  "         The  Millionnaires,  of  High 

Holbom,  147 
Day  and  Martin's  Precursors,  591 
Deaconing  Both  Ends  of  the  Barrel,.  206 


Deadhead  Customer — a  Clincher,  195 
Dealing  in  "  Orrd  Things,"  601 

"        With  a  Bankrupt  in  Hamburg:  Ex- 
ecution on  the  Bourse,  397 
Dean  Swift  and  the  Barber's  Sign,  306 
Death  of  an  Old  Business  Favorite,  450 
Death-bed  Surroundings  of  the  New  Orleans 

Croesus,  492 
Debt  and  the  Contribution  Box,  426 
Debtor's  Complaint  in  Court,  423 
Debts  of  Honor,  401 
Debts  Owing  and  Balances  Due,  391 
De  Buirette,  the  Illustrious  German  Merchant, 

28 
Deciding  a  Case  in  Botany  before  a  Dutch 

Magistrate,  457 
Decoration  of  Railroad  Depots,  363 
De    Medici,     "  the    Magnificent   Merchant," 

when  a  Child,  466 
"  Denison,  Old  Mr  ",  of  St.  Mary  Axe,  46 
Derivation  of  Names  of  Trades,  711 
Derivation      of     "  The    Commercial     Term 

"  Bourse,"  294 
Deserved  Reward  of  Blasphemy,  265 
Detecting  Bad  Bills,  96 
Determined  not  to  be  Overreached,  200 
Determining  the  Character  of  an  Article  by  its 

Age,  196 
Determining  the  Genuineness  of  a  Check,  96 
Dexter,   Lord   Timothy,  Eccentric  Merchant, 

of  Newburyport,  20 
Dialect  of  Different  Trades,  322 
"  Died  of  a  Street  Debt !  "  417 
Dignity    Conferred    by  the    Blacking   Busi- 
ness, 755 
Disadvantage  of  being  a  Bank  Director,  107 
Discounting  a  Legacy,  237 

"  an  Hibernian's  Note,  111 

Dishonest  Grocer  Punished"  by  his  Son,  412 
Disinterested  Brokers,  68 

"  Feat   of  a  Merchant,  and   its 

Reward,  508 
Disinterested  Railroad  Contractor,  376 
Dismissing  a  Shipmaster,  346 
Disposing  of  an  Old  Stock,  233 

"  one's  Surplus  Income,  494 

Disreputable  for  a  Biokerto  be  Honest  toward 

his  Creditors,  410 
"  Ditto,"  328 

Doctrine  of  Benevolence  held  by  Girard,  499 
Doing  Things  on  Shares,  271 
Domestic    Advantages    of  Commercial    De- 
cay, 517 
Domestic  Trouble  of  Rothschild,  463 
"  Done  Brown,"  697 
"Done  For"  Twice,  238 
Down  on  the  Doctors,  518 
"  Down  with  Your  Dust,"  525 
Dowse,  the  "  Literary  Leather  Dresser,"  751 
Dr  Johnson  in  the  Capacity  of  a  Reporter,  726 


INDEX  TO  THE   LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


767 


Drawing  an  Inference,  401 
"        the  Specie,  59 

Dress   and    Personal  Peculiarities  of  Long- 
worth,  477 

Drinking  Success  to  the  First  Railway,  385 
"        the  Health   of  Custom-House  Offi- 
cers, 287 

Dry  Goods  Drummer  "  Sold,"  204 

Dryden  Describing  his  Publisher,  749 

Dudley  North's  Opposition  to  Brokerage,  and 
How  he  was  Caught,  81 

Dummies,  or  Counterfeit  Show  Windows,  2G9 

"Dun,"  407 

Dunning  as  a  Profession,  393 

Dunup's  Distressing  Failure,  434 

Duplicity  of  French  Speculators,  227 

"        Practised  by  Furnese,  the  King's 
Banker,  210 

Dutch  Tulip  Mania  of  the  Seventeenth  Cen- 
tury, 567 

Dutchman    Illustrating    a   Mercantile   Prin- 
ciple, 195 

Dutchman's  Gold  in  a  Safe  Place  at  Last,  551 

Duty  on  Pictures,  298 


Earliest  American  Sale  of  Books  by  Cata- 
logue at  Auction,  552 
Earliest  American  Whaleship  in  England,  181 

"       Newspaper    in    the     English     lan- 
guage, 750 
Earliest  Printed  Advertisements,  307 
Early  Stock-jobbing  and  Lotteries,  553 
East-India    Company  and  the  Missing  Wit- 
ness, 225 
Eastern  Trade    in  Ostrich  and  Bird-of-Par- 

adise  Feathers,  588    ' 
Easy  Creditors,  411 

Ebenezer  Francis  and  the  Students'  Table,  485 
Economical  Hardware  Merchant,  242 
Edinburgh  Merchant  Finding  a  Purse,  497 
Editors  in  a  Hard  Fix,  741 
Egyptian  Mummy  Trade,  592 
Eminent  Shoemakers,  752 
Endorsers'  Qualifications,  110 
English  Almanacs — First  Issue,  739 

"       Bank  Clerks'  Finesse,  658 

"       Booksellers  and  American  Customers : 
Daniel  Appleton,  454 
English  Business  Matters,  308 

"       Hares  by  Express,  350 

"       Idol  Manufacturers,  587 

"       Merchant  and  Spanish  Beggar,  176 

"       Merchant's    Wife    priced  by  a  Man- 
darin, 507 
English  Peruquiers  before  the  King,  708 

"       Railway  Mania  of  1845,  562 

"       Stockbrokers'  Blackboard,  420 


Enterprise  of  Yankees  and  Russians  'Cutely 

Illustrated,  161 
Erastus  B.  Bigelow's  Boyhood  Bargain,  144 
Errors  of  the  Press,  744 

Erskine  Sifting  an  Auctioneer's  Character,  421 
Espionage  Practised  by  Girard,  197 
Establishment    of    the    Bank    of   England-^ 

Curious  Facts,  85 
Estimate  of  his  Own  Life  by  a  Miser,  244 
European    and    American    Mode    of   Doing 

Business,  171 
Evasions  of  Trade  Marks,  313 
Everything  by  Turns— Girard's  Example,  136 
Examining  an  Applicant,  643 
Example  of  Spanish  Mercantile  Credit,  423 
Exchanging  a  Cheese  for  a  Pinch  of  Snuff,  261 
Exciting  Life  of  an  Underwriter,  641 
Executorship  of  Mr.    Astor's    Will:    James 

G.King,  518 
Expectations  against  Results,138 
Expedient  of  a  Russian  Miser,  272 
Experience  of  a  Levantine  Merchant,  474 
Explaining  his  Business,  181 

"  the  Philosophy  of  Trade,  756 

Exportation  of  Scotch  Periwinkles,  602 
Extension  and  Profits   of  Mr.  Astor's   Fur 

Business,  186 
"  Extras,"  &c.,  724 
Extravagance  of  French  Bankers  in  Private 

Life,  478 
Extravagant  Business  Rhetoric,  252 


Facetiae  for  Shoemakers,  750 
Failure  of  the  Governor  of  the  Bank  of  Eng- 
land, 459 
Failures  in  Business,  426 
Fancy  Costume  among  the  Ledgers,  662 
"     Hen  Fever,  564 

"     Stoves  and  Imaginative  Customers,  626 
Fate  of  a  Clerical  Dealer  in  '*  Fancies,"  233 
Father    Taylor  and    the    Banker's   Exhorta- 
tion, 169 
Fauntleroy,  the  Executed  Banker,  255 
Female  Members  of  the  Rothschild  Family,  516 
"      Ship-master  from  Cape  Horn  to  San 
Francisco,  360 
Female  Strategy  to  Obtain  Bubble  Stock,  527 
Fillibustering  among  Parisian  Jewellers,  203 
Filling  a  Grocer's  Order,  677 
Final  Argument  at  a  Bank  Counter,  80 
Financial  Physic,  82 

"        Use  of  Saints,  528 
Financiering  in  Alabama,  192 
First  Advertisement  in  America,  322 
"    Book  Auction  in  England,  521 
"    East  India  House,  299 
"    Forged  Note  on  a  Bank,  255 


768 


INDEX  TO  THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


First  Greek  Adventure  to  America,  153 
"    Jewish  Bill  of  Exchange,  80 
"    Newspaper  in  America,  721 

"         "  the  World,  749 
"    Penny  gained  by  a  Millionnaire,  126 
"    Railroad  in  Europe  or  America,  353 
"    Run  upon  Bankers,  116 
"    Set  of  Double-Entry  Books  opened  in 

Boston,  663 
"    Ship  at  St.  Petersburgh,  371 
"    Trade  Advertisement,  315 
"    Vessel  in  the  World,  350 
Fish,  Preserved,  Merchant  of  New  York,  10 
Fitz-Greene  Halleck's   Clerkship  with  Jacob 

Barker,  657 
"Five  Per  Cent,"  330 

Five  Years  of  Privation  and  a  Fortune,  161 
Floating  Railways,  345 
Florentine  Brokers  and  Money  Loaners,  94 

"  Flower  Girls,  626 

Flutes  vs.  Pistols,  618 
Foot's,  Lundy,  **  Blackguard  Snuff,"  135 
♦' For  Her  Majesty,"  312 
Forbes,  William,  Scotch  Banker,  6 
Fordyce,   Alexander,  the  Shark  of  the  Ex- 
change, 44 
Forfeits  in  a  Barber's  Shop,  730 
Forgiving  a  Debt  and  Giving  a  Wife,  298 
Fortunate  Debtor ;    Washington  as  a  Cred- 
itor, 429 
Fortune  of  a  Commercial  Peer,  173 
Fortune-making  in  Havana,  212 
Fortunes  at  a  Single  Blow,  130 
Forwarding  by  Telegraph,  358 
Found  Goods,  430 
Foundation  of  the  Friendship  between  Coates 

and  Girard,  582 
"  Four-and-twenty  Self-sealing  Envelopes,  Fo- 

oo-ur  Cents,"  608 
Francis  Baring  at  the  Virginia  Inn,  467 
Francis,    Ebenezer,    and    the    Students'  Ta- 
ble, 481 
Franklin  and  the  London  Printer,  717 

"       Benjamin,  as  a  Bookseller,  727 
Franklin's  Multitude  of  Capitalists,  98 
Freaks     of    the    Hair-Dressing     Trade     in 

France,  718 
Freaks  of  Wealthy  Merchants,  513 
Free  Shave  and  a  Drink,  334 

"    Trade,  293 
French  Female  Plot  against  a  Clerk,  682 
"       Ideas  of  Advertising,  334 
«       Mode  of  Paying  Bills,  399 
•*       Nicety  in  Trade  Frauds,  233 
"       Toads  an  Article  of  Commerce,  600 
"       Usurers  and  Pigeons,  275 
Fresh  Gems  from  English  Advertising  Col- 
umns, 809 
"  Fresh  Sea  Water,"  314 
Friend  Coates's  Management  of  Girard,  483 


Friend  Hopper  and  the  Due  Bill,  266 

Friuli,  the  Florentine  Merchant  and  his  Lost 
Purse,  451 

Frodsham's  Watch-Cheat,  430 

From  Honolulu  to  Kaui,  382 

Fugger,  Johannes,  and  the  Great  Commer- 
cial Family  of  Fuggers,  15 

Full-size  Headings  to  Advertisements,  338 

Funny  Commercial  Transaction  All  'Round, 
604 

Furor  for  Chartered  Companies,  541 


Gallatin,  Albert,     Declining     Mr.    Baring's 

Offer  of  a  Fortune,  115 
Game  of  the  Money  Packages,  209 
Garden  of  a  French  Stock-Broker,  508 
Garrison,    C.    K.,    Merchant,   of  San  Fran- 
cisco, 40 
Gastronomic  Feats  of  a  Merchant,  472 
Gave  his  Note,  430 
General  Jackson's  Indorsement  among  Boston 

Capitalists,  427 
General  Jackson's    Interview    with    Samuel 

Slater,  145 
Generosity  of  Chickering,   the    Piano-Forte 

Maker,  159 
"Genuine"  Wines,  196 
George  Hudson,  the  Railway  King,  378 

"      Peabody's  Colossal  Fortune,  72 

"      Simpson's    High    Reputation    as    a 
Cashier,  700 
German  Book  Fairs,  738 

"        Delicacy  in  Paying  and  Receiving 
Money,  414 
German  Financial  Operation,  437 

"        Idea  of  the'Thing,  649 

"        Merchant  of  One  Hundred  Houses,  475 
Getting  an  Injunction  Dissolved,  432 

"        Rich  by  Bookkeeping,  672 

"        Rid  of  his  Neighbor's  Customers,  337 

"        The     Hang    of    Mercantile    Trans- 
actions, 138 
Gideon,  Sampson,  the  Rival  of  Rothschild,  18 
Gideon,    the    Jew   Banker,   Catechizing   his 

Child,  511 
Gideon  Lee  and  his  Library,  480 

"        "    Carrying  the  Lapstone,  171 
Girard,  Stephen,  Merchant  and   Banker,  of 

Philadelphia,  29 
Girard  and  the  Beggar,  4S9 

"        Trying  to  raise  Five  Dollars,  142 
Girard's  Great  Government  Loan,  100 

"        Reception  of  Mr.  Baring,  474 

«        Will— the  Item  about  Ministers,  515 
Giving  Credit  "  To-morrow,"  430 
Glances  Behind  the  Shop  Counter,  61 
"  Glass-pteen !"  619 


INDEX  TO  THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


769 


Globe  Permits,  570 

Glut  in  the  Market,  471 

«'  Going— Going— Gone  !  "  589 

Going  to  Get  Acquainted  with  his  Family,  474 

Gold-Making  &  Silver-Mining  Companies,  564 

Goldschmid,    Abraham    and   Benjamin,    Old 

English  Bankers,  38 
Goldschmid  and   Baring's   Unfortunate  Con- 
tract—Suicide of  the  Former,  Gl 
Goldschmid's  Comforting  Sort  of  Hoax,  506 
Good  Land  for  Railroad,  375 
"     Speculation  Lost  in  Chicago  Lands,  550 
"     Supply  in  Prospect,  667 
"     Word  for  Girard,  176 
Goodhue,     Jonathan,     Merchant,     of    New- 
York,  50 
Goodhue,  Jonathan,   Noble  Mercantile  Trait 

of,  162 
Goods  for  a  "  Private  Venture,"  615 
Government  Contractors  in  Russia,  259 
Governor  of  the  Bank  of  England  taken  by 

Surprise,  113 
Gracie,  Archibald,  Merchant  of  New  York,  52 
Grand     Scheme     disclosed    in    McDonogh's 

Will,  506 
Grand    United     Gold    and    Diamond    Dust 

Company,  560 
Grandest  Instance  of  Debt,  427 
Grant  Thorburn's  Bankuptcy,  438 
Granting  an  Extension,  445 
"  Gray,  Old  Billy,"  Merchant  of  Boston,  85 
Great  Deeds  of  European  Merchants,  134 
*'      Failures  in  Hamburg,  in  1799, 408 
"      North  Pole  Rail  way,  373 
"      **  Shaving "   Operation   in   a  Brokei-'s 
Office,  612 
"  Great  Spec  "  on  the  Tapis,  524 
Greatest  Lending  House  in  Europe,  105 

"         Reportorial  Feat,  745 
Gresham,     Thomas,     Royal    Merchant    and 

Financier,  of  London,  26 
Gresham's  Fortunate  Letter^  174 

"  Scheme  of  Exchanges,  115 

Grindstones  by  the  Fraction,  625 
Grinnell's,  Mr.,  Liberality,  183 
Groceries  and  Literature,  511 
Grocers  and  Bank  Presidents,  624 
Grocer's    Raisin-Boxes    and    Nibbling    Cus- 
tomers, 206 
Guarding  the  Track— Erastus  Corning   and 
the  Irishman,  367 


Haase,  Henry  Engelbert,  Banker,  of  Bremen,  9 
Half   a   Million    Profit  by   one    of  Girard's 

Operations,  173 
Half  an  Hour's  Experience  with  London  Bro- 
kers, 207 
49 


Halifax,   the   English  Banker:     Opinion    of 
"  Lending  to  the  Lord,"  with  a  Personal 
Application,  516 
Hall  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Exchange,  300 
Halleck's,  Fitz-Greene,  Clerkship  with  Jacob 

Barker,  657 
Hancock,  the  Patriotic  Merchant,  483 
Handful  of  Wool  and  a  Bank  of  Money,  164 
Hanging  a  Broker,  One  Hundred  Years  Ago, 

240 
Happy  End  to  a  Debt,  391 
Hard  Old  Creditor,  411 

"    Philosophy  of  an  Annuity  Monger,  274 
Hardening  Tendency  of  Business,  224 
Harlow's  Sign  Painting  Extraordinary,  833 
Hatter's  Present  to  a  Judge,  742 
Helping  Girard  to  Collect  a  Debt,  453 
Herodotus,  a  Merchant,  41 
*'  He's  a  Country  Merchant — Stick  Him  !"  230 
Hide    Dealer's    Sign — Rare    Bit  of  Philoso- 
phy, 325 
Hiding  the  Dollar  with  a  Dime,  158 
High  'Change  Hours,  298 
"      Compliment  to  W.   R.  Jones,    as    an 
Underwriter,  652 
High-heeled  Boots  with  Watches  in  them,  232 
Hinges  upon  which  Trade  Swings,  138 
His  Ruling  Passion,  209 
Historical  and  Poetical  Signs,  330 
History  of  the  Old  Red  Cent,  101 
Hitting  his  Trade,  712 

"      the  Nail  on  the  Head,  677 
Hoarding  and  Amassing  :  Noted  Instances,  253 
Hogarth's    Plan    of    Selling     Pictures     by 

Auction,  531 
Hogg,  William,  Pennsylvania  Millionnaire,  41 
Home  Luxuries  of  Ancient  Merchants,  507 
Honest  Quaker  Bankrupt,  452 
"  Honor    and     Fame    from     no    Condition 

Rise,"  712 
Honorable    Distinction     attained     by     Mr. 

Perit,  188 
Hope,  Henry,  Banker  of  Amsterdam,  13 
Hope  &  Co.,  Peremptory  Refusal  of,  to  do 

Business  with  Girard,  134 
"Hopping"  from  Obscurity,  742 
Hospitality  of  Stephen  Girard,  502 
Hotel  Keeper's  Advice  to  his  Son,  405 
Household    Magnificence  of    Portinqua,    the 

Great  Chinese  Merchant,  498 
Household  Peculiarities  of  Girard,  510 
How  a  Dry  Goods  Clerk  Lost  his  Place,  670 
Howqua,  Senior  Hong  Merchant,  2 
Human  Hair  as  an  Article  of  Merchandise,  620 
Humors  of  a  Reporter,  740 

"        "  Partnership      in      Reference     to 
Names,  695 
Hunt's,  Jonathan,  Land  Speculations,  534 
Hutton's  Success  as  a  Bookseller,  735 
Hypothecating  One's  Person  for  a  Loan,  442 


770 


INDEX  TO  THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


Identifying  a  Clerk,  696 

Imaginative  Expressman — Artificial  Corpse, 
344 

Imitating  Signatures,  276 

"  Immediate  Relief,"  421 

Immense  Consignment  of  Gold  to  a  New  York 
House,  119 

Imperial  Affection  lor  a  Banker,  444 

Important  to  Dunners  and  Debtors,  412 

Improving  a  Banker's  Broth,  676 

In  Business  for  themselves,  697 
"  Pursuit  of  an  Agreeable  Business,  661 

Incidents    of  William   Bingham's  Domestic 
Life,  519 

Incorrect  Editions  of  the  Bible,  732 

Indian's  Idea  of  Imprisonment  for  Debt,  429 
"        Mode  of  Judging  a  Trader,  132 

Ingenious  Plot  against  a  Banker,  260 

"         Swindling  of  Pawnbrokers,  199 

Inscriptions  on  Trade  Coins,  307 

Insurance  for  Husbands,  635 

Insuring  Dr.  Lieb's  Life,  631 

Introducing  a  New  System  of  Accounts,  698 

Intruding  into  the  Bullion  Room,  99 

Irish  Advertisement,  316 
"    Banker  Redeeming  his  Notes,  93 
"    Pun  on  a  Sign,  306 

Irishman  at  the  Bank,  108 

Iron  Merchant  and  the  Blacksmith,  711 

Irving,  Washington,  and  the  English  Sales- 
man, 697 

Is  it  Lawful  to  Dun  a  Debtor?  415 

Italian  Banker's  Free  Table,  481 
"   "      Knavery  in  Picture  Selling,  279 
"      Marriage  Brokers,  591 
"     Picture    Dealer    Trapping    an    Expe- 
rienced Connoisseur,  193 

Itinerant  Traders  in  Rio  Janeiro,  615 


Jack  and  the  Dutch  Tulip  Speculator,  523 

Jack's  Bargain  for  Rope,  199 

Jacob   Barker  on    **  Thewdness "    in    Stock 

Dealing,  214 
Jacob  Barker's  Clerks  at  Dinner,  663 

"  FortyKegs  of  Specie,  79 

"  Insurance  Case,  Redivivus,'  636 

"  Success  when  a  Youth,  147 

Jacob  Keen,  of  Wall  Street,  565 
Jacob  Little  and  the  Missing  Bank  Bill,  83 
Jacob  Lorillard's  Note  of  Accommodation,  110 
James    BoUand's    Infamous    Financial    Ca- 
reer, 193 
James  G.  King,  the  Banker,  and  liOrd  Ash- 
burton  :  Cause  of  Merchants  Failing,  453 


James    G.    King's    Treatment    of    Resent- 
ments, 162 
Jeejeebhoy   Jamsetjee,    Great    Parsee   Mer- 
chant, 19 
Jemmy  Taylor,  the  Miser  Broker,  and  the  Earl 

of  Northumberland,  200 
Jemmy  Wright's  Modesty,  331 
Jew  Losing  a  Bargain,  243 

"    Traders  in  Holywell  Street,  611 
Jewish  Banker's  Free  Table,  481 
"       Money  Lenders,  111 
"  '*       Makers  in  the  Holy  City,  253 

"       Opinion  of  Rothschild,  243 
"       Perseverance  and  Shrewdness,  88 
"       Traders  and  Straw  Bait,  444 
Jobbing  in  Debtors'  Shop  Leases,  452 
John  Jacob  Astor's  Board  and  Clothes,  483 
"  "  "  Highway  to  Fortune," 

171 
John  Law's  Notorious  Bubble,  555 
John  McDonogh's  Personal  Appearance,  491 
Johnson  and  his  Dictionary,  726 

"  the  Butcher,  707 

Johnson's  Prejudice  against  Merchants,  165 
Joke  upon  a  Boston  Sign,  318 
Jolly  Sign-Painters :  Rich  Professional  Trage- 
dy, 605 
Jonathan  Hunt's  Land  Speculations,  534 
Judah  Touro  and  Dr.  Ciupp,  4'JO 
Jumel,  the  Merchant,  and  the  Carman,  358 
Jury  Deliberations  on  a  Railroad  Case,  455 
Juvenile  Contempt  of  the  Bank,  108 

"       Evidence  in  an  Insurance  Case,  652 


Keen  Auction  Dodge  by  Rembrandt,  557 
"     Ruse  by  a  Yankee  Peddler,  263 

Keeping  Accounts  in  Guineas,  683 
"         Score  by  Double  Entry,  679 

Keese,  the  Book  Auctioneer,  Pleasantries  of, 
572 

Kentucky   Banker    who    Kept     Resuming, 
408 

Kentucky  Hams  and  Yankee  Nutmegs,  217 

Khan,    the    Celebrated    Persian    Merchant, 
18 

Killbury  and  Maimsworth  Railway  Advertise- 
ment, 306 

Kindness  to  Debtors:    Chickering,  Peabody, 
Lorillard,  443 

King  Charles  in  the  Pawners'  Clutches,  210 

King,  James  G.,  and  Lord  Ashburton,  453 

Knavery  of  British  and  Chinese  Traders  Com- 
pared, 246 

Knight's,  Charles,  Reminiscences  of  the  Book 
Trade,  753 

Knowing  his  Customers,  236 


INDEX  TO  THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


m 


Labouchere,  P.  C,  the  Youthful  Prince  Mer- 
chant, 2. 

Labouchere  and  Vincent  Nolte,  151 

Ladder  of  Commercial  Success,  157 

Lady  Shipmaster,  3G3 

Lady's  Portrait  of  a  Dry  Goods'  Clerk,  690 

Lafayette's  Loan  to  Mathew  Carey,  459 

Lafitte,  Jacques,  French  Banker  5 
«  "         in  a  Tight  Place,  G5 

Lafitte's  Wasteful  Clerk,  681 

Language  and  Business  Letters  of  Rothschild, 
609 

Largest  Book  Establishment  in  the  World,  753 
**       Dealer  in  Commercial  Paper  in  the 
United  States,  90 

Largest  Private  Check  ever  Drawn,  105 
'*      Ship-owner  in  England,  355 

Last  Days  of  Business  and  Financial  Celebri- 
ties, 495 

Last  Resort  of  Petroleum  Companies,  576 
"    Word  at  an  Auction  :  a  Lady  in  the  Case, 
535 

Late  at  a  Dinnner  Party :  George  Hudson,  the 
Railway  King,  142 

Latest  *'  Sell "  of  the  Day,  219 

Latin  on  Business  Signs,  326 

Laughable  Opposition  to  Steam  Trains,  862 

Law  Suits  of  Girard,  438 

Lawrence,  Abbott,  Merchant,  of  Boston,  42 
"  "        not  disposed  to  Lie,  164 

"  "        Amos,  Merchant,  of  Bos- 

ton, 11 

Lawrence,  Cornelius  W.,  Merchant,  of  New 
York,  12 

Lawrence's,  Amos,  Opinion  of  Marriage,  484 

Lawyers  and  Barbers,  725 

Learning  the  Currency  in  a  Small  Way,  66 
«         "    Saddler's  Trade,  720 

Leather  Money,  60 

Leaving  a  Case  Out,  642 

Leavitt,  David,  Merchant,  of  New  York,  11 

Lee,  the  Learned  Carpenter  in  England,  736 

Lee  and  his  Travelling  Companion,  125 

Legal  Damages  and  Interest  in  Africa,  439 
"     Eccentricities  of  Commerce,  427 

Lending  a  Helping  Hand :  Abbott  Lawrence, 
141 

Lenox,  James,  Merchant,  of  New  York,  8 

Lessons  of  an  Auctioneer's  Hammer,  561 

"Letting  out"  Clothes,  713 

Liberality  of  Yakooleff,  the    Russian    Mer- 
chant, 127 

Life  and  Death  Brokers,  and  their  "Humble 
Servant,"  637 

Life  Insurance  Obituary  Announcements,  644 

Literature  of  the  Cabin,  355 
"         and  Groceries,  312 

Little,  Jacob,  "  of  Wall  Street,"  22 


Little  Too  Candid,  137 

"  Lively  "  Operations,  650 

Lives  of  Bank  Notes,  73 

Lloyd,  James,  Banker,  of  London,  8 

Lloyd's  Establishment,  London,  296 

"       Nautical  Book,  3»1 
Locking- up  Foreign  Merchants  in  England,  128 
Locomotion  and  Amalgamation,  364 
Lodging  a  Banker  in  tlie  Gutter,  267 
Logan,  the  Fan  Painter,  605 
Logic  of  Specie  Payments,  68 
Loudon  Bankers  and  Banking  Houses,  78 

"       Trade  Report,  675 
Longworth,  Nicholas,  Millionnaire  of  Cincin- 
nati, 45 
Longvvorth's  Celebrated  Fee,  396 
Looking-Glass  for  Wall  Street,  239 
Looks  and  Manners  of  Rothschild,  492 
Lopez,  Judah  M.,  Speculator  in  Annuities,  88 
Lord  Castlereagh  and  the  Ruined  Broker,  558 
**    Eardley's  "  Gentleman  "  Applicant,  757 
"    Mansfield's  Mercantile  Cases  in  Court,  418 
Lorillard,  the  New  York  Tobacconist,  46 
Lorillard  and  the  Load  of  Wood,  499 

"       Paying  a  Bequest  in  Bank  Stock,  105 
Losing  a  Bank  Customer,  110 
"      "Good         "         621 
Loss  of  Bank  Notes,  64 
Losses  among  Russian  Merchants,  420 
Lost  Bank  Note  of  Thirty  Thousand  Pounds,103 
Lotteries  Vindicated  by  Scripture,  566 
Lottery  Vagaries  in  the  Sixteenth  Century,  559 
Louis  d'Ors   and  Razors;    or.  Bankers  and 

Barbers,  479 
Louis  the  Fifteenth's  Opinion  of  his  own  Pa- 
per, 240 
Louis  the  Sixteenth  and  the  Saddler's  Bill,  426 
Lowell,  Francis  C,  Merchant  of  Boston,  14 
Lucky    and   Unlucky  Names  of    Ships  and 

Sailing  Days,  364 
Lucrative  Deed  of  Trust,  893 
Ludicrous  Custom  House  Examination,  294 
Ludwick  the  Baker-General  in  the  Revolution- 
ary War,  759 
Luxuries  in  the  Car,  359 


M 


M.  Beautte  and  the  Official  Smuggler,  237 
M.  Rothschild  at  Home,  503 
"  "         on  the  Secret  of  his  Success,  101 

Magnificent    Residence    of     Rothschild    in 

Paris,  479 
Making  a  Good  Job  of  It,  275 

"      "  Will— Samuel  Appleton,  471 
"      Conditions ;  King  James  and  the  Corn 
Merchants,  123 
Making  the  Best  of  a  Bad  Article,  624 
I  Manchester  Cotton  Merchants,  292 


772 


INDEX  TO  THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


Manifolding  Bank  Notes,  98 

Manners  at  the  English  Stock  Exchange,  238 

Mansion  of  Morris,  the  Philadelphia  Financier, 
488 

Marking  a  Lottery  Ticket,  533 

Marriage  and  Baptism  Insurance,  644: 

"        Suit  by  Colston,  the  Millionnaire,  480 

Matrimonial  and  Financial  "Bonds,"  in  John 
Law's  Time,  517 

Matrimonial  Export,  599 

McDonogh,  John,  Millionnaire,  of  New  Or- 
leans, 17 

McDonogh's,  John,  Greatest  Victory,  162 

Meaning  of  "  Stock  "  and  "  Fund,"  328 

Medici,  Lorenzo  de,  "  the  Magnificent   Mer- 
chant," of  Florence,  12 

Memorable  Auction — Sale  in  New  Orleans,  556 

Men  Mantua-Makers,  611 
"    of  Letters  frequenting  the  Share  Mart., 
301 

Mengin,  the  French  Pencil  Seller,  586 

Mercantile  Agency  Management  Illustrated, 
603 

Mercantile  Character    Comparatively    Esti- 
mated, 131 

Mercantile  Defalcation  made  Good  after  Sixty 
Years,  158 

Merchant-like,  423 

Merchant  of  Venice ;    Shylock's  Commercial 
Character  Vindicated,  222 

Merchant  Patrons  of  Literature,  130 

Merchant's  Wit  on  the  Stand,  421 

Merchants  and  Business  Resorts  in  Moscow,295 
"  "   Legislators,  133 

"         Getting  to  be  Gentlemen,  133 
"         of  the  Golden  Fleece,  128 

Merchants'  Notes  as  Currency,  103 

"       ,     Religious  Formulae  or  Phrases,  328 

"  Merely  a  Family  Dinner,"  468 

Merino-Sheep  Bubble,  568 

Messrs.  Moan  and  Groan,  of  Cypress  Row,  220 

"  Mighty  Monarch,  Let  me  Send  a  Shop  ! "  623 

Mike  Schnapps,  the  Fiddle  Dealer,  600 

Millionnaire  Butcher  of  London,  724 

Minding  One's  Own  Business,  171 

Miners'  Commandments,  748 

Misfortune  Tending  to  Liberality,  684 

Missing  a  Good  Chance,  581 

Mock  Auction  "  Capitalists,"  550 

Mode  of  Conducting  Operations  by  Roths- 
child, 92 

Mode  of  Getting  Money  Transmitted,  354 

Model  English  Bankers,  90 

Modern  Bank  Director's  Parlor,  96 
"       Newspaper  Office,  744 

Mahommedan  Mercantile  Morality,  135 

Mahommedan's  Reason  for  not  Storing  Goods, 
131 

Money  Changers  in  China,  76 
"     Enough  to  Break  on,  131 


Money  Getting  Tact  of  Jews,  173 
"      Street  of  New  York,  112 

"  Monsieur  Smith,"  Girard's  Man,  154 

More  Cunning  than  Rothschild,  111 

Morgan,  Edwin  D.,  Merchant,  of  New  York,  31 

Morocco  Pocket  Book  Men,  225 

Morris,  Robert,  Financier,  of  Philadelphia,  1 

Morrison,  James,  "  of  Twenty  Millions,"  21 

Moses,  as  an  Engraver,  731 

Mottoes,  Business  in  Ancient  Times,  303 

Mr.  Barker's  Auction    Watch,  and  what  it 
Brought  Him,  543 

Mr.  Biddle's  Wit,  87 
"  Everett  and  the  Hindoo  Merchant,  180 
"  Gales  Reporting  Mr.  Webster,  722 
"   Girard  and  the  Baptist  Clergyman,  489 
"  Grigg's  Mode  of  Overcoming  Obstacles,  380 
"  Grinnell's  Liberality,  183 
"  Hume's  Anxiety  to  Avoid  a  Pecuniary 

Loss,  533 
"  Jones's  Experience  with  Peter  Funk,  213 
"   Vanderbilt's  Holiday^  503 

Muller,  the  Rich  Merchant  of  Nuremberg: 
Fictitious  Theft,  259 

Murdered  Merchant  Watched  by  his  Dog,  176 

Music-Seller's  Customers,  705 

Mustaches  in  the  Bank,  667 

Mutations  of  a  Merchant's  Life;  the  New  Or- 
leans Stock  Seller,  129 

Mysteries  of  Tea  Smuggling,  229 

Mysterious  Benefactor— Incident  of  the  South 
Sea  Bubble,  158 


N 


Names  of  Vessels  and  Trade  in  New  York  in 
1680,  350 

Napoleon  and  Byron  on  Trading,  131 

Napoleon's  Opinion  of  a  Journalist,  708 

Narrow  Escape  from  Bankruptcy,  430 

National  Characteristics  of  Money  Getters- 
French,  Irish,  Scotch,  German,  595 

Native  Traders  in  Guinea,  622 

Natural  Advertising,  321 

Neapolitan   Cambiamoneta,    or  Money-Chan- 
ger,  104 

Need  of  a  Reference  for  a  Tailor— The  Devil  for 
a  Customer,  717 

New  Material  for  Sausage  Stuffing :  the  Sau- 
ciesse  d'Or,  612 

New    Orleans    Broker    Renouncing    a    For- 
tune, 484 

New  Rules  for  Railways,  364 
"    York    Bankers     and     Western     Court 
Houses,  83 

New  York  Business  Tokens,  307 
K        «     Pawnbroker's  Customer,  526 
"        "     to  Boston  in  Four  Days,  375 

"Newscloth,"272 


INDEX  TO  THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


773 


Newspaper  Publisher  Described,  715 
Nice  Lesson  for  Retail  Salesmen,  665 
"    Snare  for  a  French  Creditor,  395 
Nicholas  BidoTe  and  the  Mississippi  Loan,  61 
Nicholas  Longvvorth's  Bread,  514 
Nine  Days  in  the  Life  of  a  Merchant,  422 
"  No  Great  Judge  of  de  Hemp :"  Girard  and 
the  Negro  in  a  Quarrel,  201 
I  "  No  Swearing  among  the  Crew,"  355 

No  Trust  for  Merchants  in  Small  Clothes,  429 

"  Use  for  Pistols,  449 
Noble  Mercantile    Trait  of  Jonathan  Good- 
hue, 162 
Nolte,  Vincent,  the  Wandering  Merchant,  19 
Not  Ashamed  of  Work  :  Astor's  Diligence,  133 
"  Disposed  to  Lie :  Abbott  Lawrence,  164 
"  Down  on  the  Bill,  422 
"   Posted  in  Geography,  383 
Note  Buyers,  1()9 

Notes  with  and  without  Security,  433 
Nothing  like  Leather,  717 
"  "    Sarsaparilla,  612 

"        lost  in  a  Good  Market,  617 
Novel  Securities  for  Loans,  70 

'*     Trade  Case  before  a  Prussian  Magis- 
trate, 419 


Obtaining  a  Certificate  of  Bankruptcy,  447 

"  Clerkship  in  a  Banking  House,  687 

"  Copyright,  726 

"      Security  to  be  a  Broker:   George 
Hudson's  Treatment  of  his  Enemies,  78 
Odd  Comminglings,  324 

"    Purchase  at  a  Grocer's,  617 
Oddities  of  a  Former  Period,  638 
Oiling  the  Joints  of  Business,  671 
Old  Ben.  Russell-Boston  Celebrity,  488 
"    Billy  Gray,  Merchant,  of  Boston,  35 
"    Digby  at  an  Auction  Sale,  548 
"    English  Ticker,  743 
"    fashioned  Shopkeepers,  128 
"    Guy  putting  out  the  Light :  or,  Misers 

Rating  Each  Other's  Frugality,  236 
"    Martin,  the  Scotch  Auctioneer,  among  the 

Languages,  571 
"    Salles,  the  Silk  Buyer,  and  Mr.  Bayard's 

Clerks,  693 
"    School     Merchant's     Offering     to     his 
Country:  John  Langdon,  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, 512 
"    School  Moneyjobbers,  274 
"    Scores  Wiped  Out,  414 
"    Vinter's  Bank  Bills,  219 
"    Women's  Trades  in  London,  593 
Oldest  Bill  of  Exchange  in  the  World,  106 
"     Daily  Newspaper,  721 
"     Vessel  in  America,  349 


On  the  Forgiven  List,  440 
One  among  Ten  Thousand,  487 
*'   Cent  with  Girard,  273 
"    of  his  "  Little  Specs,"  668 
"    "  the  Branches  of  the  Tea  Trade,  623 
"    "    •'  Causes  of  Bankruptcy,  419 
"    "    "   "  Companies,"  634 
"    "     '*  Operations  in  'Change  Alley,  208 
"     "    "  Sufferers,  563 
"    Price  but  not  the  Same  Article,  204 
"    Thing  Needful  in  a  Clerk,  664 
"    Thousand  Million  Pounds  Business  An- 
nually at  the  London  Clearing  House,  297 
Opulent  New  York  Merchants,  133 
Origin  of  Auctions,  560 

"        Boards  of  Trade,  289 
"        Fire  Insurance  Companies,  640 
"        Paper  Money,  101 
"        the  Express  Business  :   Harnden's 
First  Trip,  356 
Orthography  behind  the  Counter,  626 
Our  American  Land  Fever,  542 
"   Editor  Sixty  Years  Ago,  709 
"   Lady  of  Hope,  534 
Out  of  Fashion,  515 

"      Style,  321  r 

Ouvrard,  G.  J.,  "  the  Napoleon  of  Finance,"  25 

"       the  Banker,  and  Napoleon,  65 
Ouvrard's  Profitable  Imprisonment,  392 
Overend,  John,  Pioneer  Bill  Broker,  of  Lon- 
don, 46 
Overpaying  a  Check,  664 


"P.  D.",  222 

Palace  of  Lafitte,  the  French  Banker,  467 
Palmerston  and  the  Station  Master,  386 
Panic    Blunders — Wrong    Certificate    at  the 

Bank,  524 
Paris  "  Gratteurs,"  G07 
Parisian  Auctions — How  Conducted,  557 

"        Female  Smugglers,  271 
Parlor  Talk  between  James  Rothschild,  the 

Banker,  and  the  Poet  Heine,  504 
Parrot  and  Monkey  Market,  616 
*'  Parsons  on  Promissory  Notes,  400 
Partridge's  Almanac-Making,  718 
Patent  Medicine    Makers— Morrison,    Bran- 

dreth,  Townsend,  &c.,  609 
Paterson  and  his  Darien  Expedition,  547 
Pathos  and  Puffing  Extraordinary,  335 
Patriotic  Hatter,  720 

"       Merchants  of  the  Revolution,  127 
Patriotism  and  Prowess  of  French  Merchants, 

150 
Pat's  Definition  of  Railroad  "  Stock,"  S37 
Pawnbrokers'  Three  Balls,  325 
Pawning  Money  in  Ireland,  70 


774 


INDEX  TO  THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


Pay  or  Charge,  445 
Paying  a  "  Balance,"  392 
"      A  Newspaper  Bill,  732 
«      An  Old  Debt,  400 
«      At  "  Maturity,"  327 
"      By  the  Clock  instead  of  the  Thing,  598 
"      Government  Fishing  Bounties,  2S6 
"      Notes  in  Specie,  79 
"      Oflf Jack,  355 
"      The  Driver,  756 
Payment  for  News,  713 
Peabody,  George,  Merchant  and  Banker,  of 

London,  16 
Peculiar  Custom  of  a  Tailor,  713 

"        Feature    in     Rothschild's    Business 

Character,  173 
"        Management  of  the  Bank  of  Amster- 
dam, 102 
Peculiarities  of  the  North-west  Fur  Traders,599 
Pecuniary  Anxiety  of  the  Greatest  Merchant 

in  the  World,  439 
Pedlar  Matching  a  Sheriff,  413 
Peep  at  the  Treasure  in  Tbreadneedle  Street,  91 
Peeresses  Conducting  Banking  Operations,  89 
Pennsylvania  Bonds,  120 
ffenny  Newspapers  in  America,  708 
Pen  Portrait  by  an  Old  Master,  659 
Peremptory  Refusal  of  Hoj»e  and  Co.  to  do 

Business  with  Girard,  134 
Perils  of  Reporting  the  Parliamentary  Debates, 

725 
"     "  Stock  Gambling :  William  Abbott,  537 
Perit,'  Pelatiah,  Merchant,  of  New  York,  37 
Perkins,  Thomas  H.,  Merchant,  of  Boston,  50 

"  "         "    Deliberate  Habits  of,  150 

Perplexities  of  Mercantile  Correspondence,  693 
Perseverance  Badly  Rewarded,  185 
Persevering  Traders,  170 
Personal  Appearance  of  Stephen  Girard,  464 
Peter  C.  Brooks,  the  Boston  Millionnaire,  in 

Court,  404 
Peruvian  Loan  Infatuation,  546 
Phenomena  Extraordinary,  319 
Philadelphia  Clerk   and  his  Bible — Mr.  In- 

glis's  Proposal,  670 
Philadelphia  Young  Merchant  who  was  not 

Afraid  of  Girard  :  the  Sequel,  158 
Philanthropic  Courage  of  Girard,  512 

"  Debtor,  444 

Philanthropy  and  Forty  Per  Cent.,  232 
Photograph  of  Wall  Street,  286 
Picayunes  and  Coppers,  113 
Pictorial  Bookkeeping,  671 
Pitt,  the  Insolvent  Premier,  Insured  by  his 

Coach  makers,  637 
Placard  Printing  in  Vienna,  717 
Placing  the  Pen  behind  the  Ear,  6"^6 
Plan  to  Ruin  the  Ancient  Firm  of  Child  &  Co. 

by  the  Bank  of  England;  its  Defeat,  280 
Playing  a  Bold  Game,  649 


Playing  Even,  666 

Pleasant  History  of  a  Familiar  Word,  317 
"         Parlor  Voyages— Cupe  Wine  and  Ma- 
deira, 481 
Pleasantries  of  Keese,  the  Book  Auctioneer,  572 
"  Pleasure  Excursions,"  377 
Policies  and  Tragedies,  642 
Politeness  in  Dunning,  415 
Polly  Kenton  and  Girard's  Doctors,  476 
Polly  Kenton's  Lard  Speculation,  164 
Poor  Kind  of  Ice,  593 
"  Poor  Tim  Rooney,"  643 
Porcelain  Jars  and  Low  Premiums,  631 
Portuguese  Diamond  Merchant's  Bargain  with 

Philip  the  Second,  587 
Portuguese  Pilgrim  in  the  Streets  of  Venice 

Proclaiming  its  Commercial  Doom,  175 
Practical  Eloquence  of  a  Boston  Merchant,  512 
Prayers  Requested  for  a  New  Undertaking,  230 
Praying  and  Trading  Simultaneously,  621 
Precision  in  Keeping  Accounts,  6')7 
Prejudice  against  Yankee  Clock  Pedlars,  and 

How  It  was  Overcome,  277 
Present  Prosperity  of  the  Rothschilds,  180 
Presenting  a  Frivolous  Bill  to  Girard,  411 
Presents  to  Bank  Officers ;  Cuiious  Cases,  254 
Price  of  Akenside's  "Pleasures  of  the  Imagi- 
nation," 727 
Price  of  Extortion  and  Revenge,  235 
Printed  Books ;  or,  the  Devil  and  Dr.  Faus- 

tus,  732 
Printers  and  Editors  at  Midnight,  720 
Private  Mercantile  Finances  and  Royal  Fleets, 

174 
Privateering  Exploit  of  a  Salem  Merchant,  149 
Prize  Won  by  Stephenson  for  his  Famous  Lo- 
comotive, 758 
Probable  Origin  of  Schooners,  360 
Proby,  the  Celebrated  Reporter,  716 
Professional  Use  of  Books,  749 
Profitable  and  Unprofitable  Bankruptcy,  423 

Book  Job,  747 
Profits  of  a  Stall,  724 
Property  in  Books,  739 
Proposed  Ice  Speculation,  564 

"        Line  from  England  to  China,  372 
Protective  Costume  for  Travellers,  374 

*'  Tariffs  and  the  "  Genesee  Mutual," 

653 
Proud  Broker  Barnard,  The,  114 
Prussian  Ship  Navigated  by  a  Lady,  360 
Publisher's  Generosity  to  an  Author,  729 
Pun  on  a  Cooper,  742 

"  Punch"  on  Commercial  Phraseology,  322 
Punch's  Money  Vagaries,  66 

"        Own  Railway,  369 
Purchase  of  Jacob  Barker's  Ship    "United 

States  "  by  the  Emperor  Nicholas,  343 
Purloining  Speculator  in  the  French  Funds, 
245 


INDEX  TO  THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


775 


Pursuit  of  Specie  under  Difficulties,  63 
Pushing  Business,  730 
Puzzliug  an  Apotiaecary,  624 


Q 


Quack  Advertisement :  Two  Centuries  Ago,  319 
Quaker  Banker  and  the  Stolen  Doubloons,  240 
"      Hatter  and  his  Journeyman,  710 
"      Investigation  of  George  Hudson's  Ac- 
counts, 6'J2 

"      Merchant's  Idea  of  Pnvateering,  132 
"  "          Thousand    Dollar  Fee  to 

Mr.  Webster,  409 
Quaker  Ship-owner  Economizing  the  Time  of 

his  Men,  198 
Quaker's  Reply  to  Fordyce,    the    Bankrupt 

Banker,  427 
Queen  Anne  Saving  the    Government  Bank 
from  Pillage,  116 
**      Jane's  Opinion  of  Merchants,  125 
Queer  Bartering  in  Northern  Africa,  601 
"    Phases  of  the  Butcher  Trade,  707 
Questionable  Sign  for  a  New  York  Clothier,  320 
Quite  Professional,  567 
Quotations  of  the  New  Exchange,  290 


R 

Rail-car  Privileges,  353 

Railroad  Damages — the  Tables  Turned,  365 

Railway  ClearingHouse,  296 

"        Clerks— a  Burlesque,  666 

"        Politeness,  Scale  of,  376 
Raising  his  Customer,  245 

"        Money  on  Manuscript,  93 

"        The  Price  of  Bread,  201 
Rare  Editorial  Philosophy,  741 
"    Magnanimity  of  a  French  Creditor,  434 
"     Passenger  in  an  Omnibus,  371 
Rather  a  Puzzling  Occupation,  739 

"      Dry,  375 

"      Ominous,  348 
Reading  the  Annual  Report,  347 
Ready  for  a  Trade,  696 
Realizing  a  Profit,  598 
Reason  for  Trusting  a  Clerk,  683 

•*      Why  Pitt's  Great  Speech  was  not  Re- 
ported, 745 
Reasons  given  by  Thomas  H.  Perkins  for  de- 
clining a  Proposed  Coflfee  Speculation,  578 
Recovering  a  Wasted  Fortune,  130 
Red  Herrings  and  Dutch  Onions,  578 
Redeeming  Lost  Time,  163 
Reduction  of  French  Custom  House  Duties — 

"Death  to  the  Beet  Root,"  294 
Reforming  instead  of  Destroying,  672 
Refusal   to  become  Girard's  Clerk:   Telling 
him  the  Reason  Why,  683 


Rekindling  of  the  Old  Spark ;   Curious  Ex- 
perience of  John  McDonogh,  497 

Religious  Bearing  of  Judaism  on  Stock  Oper- 
ations :  the  Perieres,  515 

Religious  Opinions  of  Girard,  490 

Remarkable  Case  of  Conscience  in  a  Business 
Man,  182 

Remarkable  Customs  of  Oriental  Shopkeepers, 
597 

Remarkable  Discernment  of  Mercantile  Char- 
acter, 692 

Remarkable  Sacrifice  for  Principle,  658 

Reminiscences  of  Mr.   Astor's  Library    Be- 
quest, 516 

Rencontre  between  Rothschild  and  Rose,  the 
Broker,  on  'Change,  285 

Rendering  Bank  Notes  Serviceable,  116 

Renewing  a  Note,  98 

Reply  to  a  Dunning  Epistle,  417 

Report  of  a  Lord's  Speech,  716 

Reporting  from  Memory,  741 

Resolving  to  be  Rich,  273 

Responding  to  an  Advertisement,  329 

Response  to  a  Tax  Commissioner's  Dun,  414 

Restitution  by  a  Shopkeeper,  163 
"          ofBank  Notes,  257 

Results  of  a  Career  of  Overreaching,  262 

Retiring  from  Business — Engaging  to  Blow 
the  Bellows,  141 

Retiring  from  Business— "Melting"  Day,  615 

Returning  a  Favor,  500 

Reverses  of  Mercantile  Fortune,  168 

Reward  of  Business  Fidelity,  691 

"       "  Promptness  in  a  Merchant's  Clerk, 
671 

Reynolds,  the  Charitable  Quaker  Merchant,  127 

Ricardo,  David,  English  Financier,  33 

Ricardo's  Three  Golden  Rules  in  Business,  101 

Rich  Enough  to  Retire :   Abraham  Newland, 
Cashier  of  the  Bank  of  England,  700 

Rich  Reward  of  Integrity,  667 

Richardson,  the  Eccentric  Showman,  620 

Ridgway,  Jacob,  merchant,  of  Philadelphia,  37 

Rigid  Obedience  of  Shipmasters  exacted  by 
Girard,  376 

Rise  and  Reminiscences  of  the  Trade  Sales,  579 

Rising  in  the  World,  716 

Risks  and  Accidents  Assured  Against,  845 
"     of  the  Currency,  278 

Rival  Blacking  Companies,  563 
"     Publishers,  727 
"     Steamboat  Lines,  352 

Rivalry  in  Business  Beneficial,  710 

Robert  Barclay  becoming  a  Banker  instead  of 
a  Courtier,  502 

Roman  Idea  of  Merchants,  154 
**      Money  Lenders,  68 
"      Saint  making  Shoes,  751 

Romance  and  Reality  of  Insurance,  635 
"  Trade,  299 


776 


INDEX  TO  THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


Romance  of  Trade  :  "  Blackguard  Snuff,"  135 
Roscoe,  William,  the  Poet  Banker,  16U 
Rothschilds,  The,  Wealthiest  Bankers  in  the 

World,  23 
Rothschild  and  Astor  Compared,  151 

"  "     Lucas :   Astonishing  Strategy 

to  Learn  the  Former's  Secrets,  lyi 
Rothschild  trying  to  Raise  a  Small  Loan,  100 
Rothschild's  Omnibus  Fare,  S73 

"  Purchase  of  a  Painting,  481 

Rough  Treatment  of  Insolvents,  444 
Royal  Pawners  and  Brokers,  107 

"      Prize  for  Raising  Money:  Raid  upon 
the  Bankers,  I'JS 
Royal  Promissory  Notes,  406 

"      Schemes  in  Railways,  361 
Ruin  Produced  by  Bad  Reckoning,  677 
Running  a  Bank,  99 
Rush's  Celebrated  Figureheads,  339 
Russian  iloney  Brokers,  109 
"       Shop  Customs,  606 


s 


Sabbath  Experiences  of  a  Shipmaster,  139 

Saint  Shops,  607 

Sale  of  Noted  Works  and  Plays,  719 

Salting  an  Invoice,  409 

Sample  Clerk  Wanted  in  a  Drug  Store,  689 

Samuel  Appleton  disposing  of  his  Income,  489 

Samuel  Slater  on  Extravagance  in  Living,  513 

Samuel  Wheeler,  the  Iron  Smith,  and  General 

Washington,  759 
Satire  on  Speculation,  546 
Saving  the  Credit  of  a  City :  Theodore  Payne, 

450 
Saving  the  Fleece  :  Girard  and  his  Brother,  222 
Saying  of  an  Old  Merchant,  690 
Scale  of  Prices  for  London  Civilities,  597 

"     "  Railway  Politeness,  376 
Scene  at  a  Banker's  Dejeuner :  Robert  Morris 

and  his  Father,  469 
Scene  in  a  Merchant's  Counting  Room  after 

the  Peace  of  181 5,  152 
Scene  at  an  Express  Office,  359 
Scenes  after  Discount  Day,  104 
"     At  a  Turkish  Auction,  548 
"     In  a  Turkish  Custom  House,  291 
Scissors  vs.  Shears,  687 
Scotch  Cabinetmaker's  Apprentice,  723 

"      Tobacconist's  Motto,  308 
Scraps  of  Auction  Wit,  574 
Search  for  a  New  Route  to  China,  186 
Second  Thought  on  a  Trade,  155 
Secrecy  in  Business  Transactions  Practised 

by  Rothschild,  156 
Securing  Trustworthy  Bank  Officers  and  the 

Safety  of  Capital,  69 
Security  for  a  Discount,  79 


Selling  a  Bad  Article,  277 

"      a  Brig:  the  Ruling  Passion,  357 
*'      a  Dying  Horse  under  the  Hammer,  538 
"      One's  Body  to   a  Creditor:   Marshal 
Radetzky,  420 
Selling  Salt  by  a  Chalk  Line,  191 

"      The  Gem  of  the  Collection,  544 
Serious  Bargain  for  a  Cleikship,  682 
Settling  a  Knotty  Account— Quaker  Philoso- 
phy, 500 
Settling  a  Question  of  Taste  and  Trade,  272 
"       "        "         "  Trade,  603 
"       An  Account,  437 
Seventy-five  Thousand  Dollars  at  One  Draught, 

484 
Shaking  One's  Business  Credit,  123 
"Shall  I  Cut?"  714 
Share-Sellers  and  Rope  Dancers,  577 
Sharing  in  a  good  Operation,  156 

"        "  Rothschild's  Fortune,  252 
Sharp  at  a  Trade — Sharper  in  Getting  out  of 

It,  264 
Sharp  Hit  at  Repudiation,  446 
Sheridan's  Treatment  of  a  Creditor,  448 
Shipbuilding  in  Ancient  Times,  743 
Shipments  of  Butcher-Birds,  596 
Shipping  Goods  by  Ticket,  698 
Shocking  Ignorance  of  City  Clerks  Illustrated, 

684 
Shoemaker  Determined  to  Benefit  the  World, 

712 
Shoes  and  Shoemakers— Facetiae,  746 
Shooting  a  Book-seller,  747 
Shop  and  Business  Signs :  Ancient  Examples, 

314 
Shop  Architecture,  Old  and  New,  616 
Shopkeepers  and  Warriors,  175 
"  Going  to  Law,  395 

"  Nomenclature  of  Goods,  326 

"  of  Bagdat,  610  ^ 

Showing  Up  Tailors,  722 
Signboard  Punctuation,  312 
Signora  Almonastre  and  John  McDonogb,  493 
Silkdyer's  Poetical  Sign,  338 
Simple  Entries  and  Calculation— Jacob  Bar- 
ker's Method,  660 
Singular  Mode  of  Keeping  Accounts  in  a  Pair 

of  Boots,  692 
Singular  Suit  against  Mr.  Appleton,  of  Boston, 

395 
Sir  Robert  Peel's  Factory  Operative,  727 

«  "       Opinion  of  his    Son   as    a 

Financier,  89 
Sir  Thomas  F.  Buxton's  Conversations  with 

Rothschild,  501 
Six  Days  for  Business  and  One  for  Rest,  157 
Skinflint  Philosophy,  245 
Slavers  Raising  a  Capital,  248 
Slightly  Personal,  466 
Small  Debts,  405 


INDEX  TO  THE   LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


777 


Smuggled  Needles  and  the  American  Eagle,  209 
Smuggler's  Honor,  226 
Smuggling  by  the  Chinese,  271 

"         on  a  Lace  Merchant's  Dog,  231 
Snow  Trade  of  Sicily,  599 
Snug  Place  for  Bank  Notes,  270 
"  Soaking"  the  Old  Coach,  384 
Sole  Qualification  of  a  Bill  Broker,  173 
Soliloquy  of  a  Debtor,  410 
Solomon,  the  Merchant  Sovereign,  7 
"Something    or    Nothing,     and     that    very 

Quick!"  418 
Son  of  an  Eminent  Turkey  Merchant,  749 
Song-bird  Shops  in  New  York,  623 
Sources  of  Wealth  of  the  Medici  Family  of 

Merchants,  182 
South  Sea  Schemers,  545 
Southern  Accommodation  Trains,  381 
Spaniard  and  Chinaman  at  a  Trade,  231 
"  Spanish,"  734 
Spanish  Contraband  Trade,  229 

"       Mercantile  Dealings,  163 

"       Reals  versus  Spanish  Bonds,  84 
Specie  in  the  Broker's  Window,  04 
Speculative  Frenzy  of  the  Fi'ench  in  John 

Law's  Time,  524 
"Spencer,  Rich."  merchant  and  banker,  of 

London,  35 
Sportive  Death  of  the    French    Banker,  M. 

Dange,  514 
Sprot,  the  Banker,  and  the  Patrician  Debtor, 

415 
Squaring  Accounts  among  the  Celestials,  669 
Squelching  a  Director's  Impertinence,  371 
St.  Petersburg  Trade  in  Frozen  Articles,  622 
Stagecoach  Experience  of  Two  Merchants,  369 
Staying  his  Own  Debt,  455 
Stealing  Goods  at  the  Retail  Price,  456 
Steiglitz,  Richest  of  Russian  Merchants,  7 
Stephen    Girard's  Treatment    of   "Splendid 

Church  "  Projects,  494 
Stephen  Whitney's  Charities,  244 
Stephenson,    the    Pioneer  in  Railroad  Con- 
struction, 380 
Stewart,  Alexander  T.,    Merchant,    of  New 

York,  30 
Stewart's,  A.  T.,  Success,  162 
"  Stick  to  Your  Last,"  137 
Sticking  to  the  Contract,  737 
Stock  Broker  and  his  Family  in  the8tudio  of 

Hoppner,  475 
Stock  Exchange  Conspiracy,  214 
"     Jobbing  Bubbles — Commercial  Lunacy, 

545 
"      Terms  in  the  Sick  Room,  319 
"      "  Wasting,"  247 
Strange  Terminus  to  a  Railroad,  384 
Stratagem  to  Collect  a  Debt,  394 
Stray  Leaf  from  a  Speculator's  History,  553 
Street  Merchants,  694 


Streets  and  Shop  Signs  in  Canton,  317 

Striking  a  Bargain,  330 

Strong  Point  in  Mercantile  Success :  Girard's 
Silence,  153 

Strongest  Bank  in  the  World,  82 

Sturgis,  William,  in  the  Legislature,  473 

Subduing  a  Creditor's  Fury,  407 

Subscriptions  for  the  Government  by  Phila- 
delphia Merchants,  459 

Suit  against  a  Railroad  Company,  457 

Superseding  Steam,  345 

Supposititious  Will  of  the  Bank  of  England 
Directors,  117 

Suspected  Religious  Fidelity  of  Rothschild: 
Remarkable  Scene,  4'JO 

Swan,  the  Millionnaire,  Voluntarily  in  Prison 
more  than  Twenty  Years,  for  Debt,  392 

Syrian  Auctioneers — "Harage!  Harage! 
Harage!"  554 


Tailor  turned  Prophet,  733 
Tailors'  Bills,  405 
"  Take  down  that  Old  Sign,"  331 
Taking  Care  of  his  Umbrella,  492 
"      Him  at  his  Word,  267 
"      His  Own  Risk  ;^  Mr.    Cope  of  Phila- 
delphia, 651 
Talleyrand  and  the  Stock  Jobber,  211 
Talleyrand's  Promise  to  Pay,  432 
Tattersall,  the  London  Auctioneer,  4 
"  Tattersall's,"  534 
Tavern-waiter  and  his  Banker,  487 
Taxing  Bills  and  Receipts,  432 
Tea  Shops  in  China,  602 
Telegraph  vs.  Express,  351 
Telegraphic  Capers,  307 
Telegraphing  against  Time,  366 
Tempting  Business  Paragraph,  161 
Tender  in  Payment,  400 
Terrible  Career  of  Sadler  the  Speculator,  227 
"        Mode    of  Rendering   an    Insurance 
Policy  Void,  638 
Terrible  Revenge  on  a  Bank  by  Rothschild,  95 
"        Sequel  to  Parsimony :   M.   Foscue's 
Case,  250 
That  Bottle  of  Wine  among  "  Old  Fuller's  " 

Clerks,  694 
That  Little  Child  in  the  Counting  Room,  514 
The  Bank  Detectors  Foiled,  264 
"   Banker's  Seven-Shilling  Piece,  177 
"  First  Color  Shop,  706 
"      "    Steamboat  Passage-Money  ever  Paid, 
377 
The  Great  Bankers  of  the  World  together  in 

Rothschild's  Parlor,  60 
The  Ladder  of  Gold,  349 
"   Lady's  Broker,  77 


778 


INDEX  TO  THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


The  Learned  Blacksmith,  731 
**   Merchant  and   his  Distinguished  Valet, 

John  Philpot  Curran,  476 
"  Merchant  Family  of  Medici,  Besurgam^AdS 
"   Miller  and  his  Portrait,  605 
"    "  Model  Debtor  "  Described,  402 
"   Napoleon  of  Advertising,  S32 
"    Origin  of  the  Clearing  House,  294 
"   Prince  Regent's  Wine  and  the  Confiden- 
tial Dealer,  268 
"   Prose  of  Sbopkeeping  Set  to  Poetry,  687 
"   Stone  that  was  Rejected:  Judah  Touro's 

Benefactions,  482 
"   United  Glass  and    Crockery    Insurance 

Company,  635 
**  United  Job  and  Lazarus  Bank,  81 
"   "Waterloo  of  Auction  Battles,  525 
Theatrical  Debut  of  a  Barber,  TOS 
Thirty  Thousand  Dollars'  Worth  of  Sheep  by 

a  Boston  Merchant,  470 
Thomas  Gray,  the  Originator  of  Railways,  354 
"       Gresham's  Curious  Armorial  or  Crest, 
508 
Thomas  U.  Perkins's  Deliberate  Habits,  150 

"        P.  Cope's  Integrity,  155 
Thompson's  Travels  in  California,  881 
Thorbum's  Flowery  Path  to  Fortune,  166 

",         Grant,  Bankruptcy,  438 
Three  Merchant  Voyages  and  their  Results, 

155 
Three  Millionnaires  Quarrelling    about  One 

Farthing,  235 
Throwing  out  Jacob  Barker's  Notes,  84 

"         Sawdust  in   the  Eyes   of  Custom 
House  Officers,  270 
"Tick,"  401 
Tight  Times,  315 
Timely  Hard-money  Loan,  67 
Titles  of  Business  Firms,  314 
"  To  what  Base  Uses  have  we  Come  at  Last!" 

280 
Tobacco  in  Loaves,  249 
Tompkins'  Horse  Trade,  218 
Tong-Chow  Traders  in  Dogs  and  Cats,  618 
Tonson,  the  Literary  Trader,  706 
Tonti's  Money  raising  Projects,  558 
Too  Awkward  to  be  a  Watchmaker,  743 
"   Close  Application  to  Business,  141 
"   Conscientious  an  Accountant,  683 
"    Much  Money,  473 
Tough  Experience  of  a  Business  Drummer,  257 
Touro,  Judah,  Merchant,  of  New  Orleans,  84 
Touro's  Great  Gift  to  a  Beggar,  159 
Trade  between  Flywheel  and  Singecat,  549 

"      Placards  and  Shop  Bills,  323 
Trades  and  Genealogies,  760 
Tradesmen's  Ticketing  System,  242 
Trading  for  Ready  Money,  416 

"       in  Imaginary  Candlesticks,  263 
"        "  News,  733 


Traffic  in  Beautiful  Circassian  Girls,  588 
Traffickers  in  Insurance  Run  Mad — Astound- 
ing  Policies    on    the    Chevalier  d'Eon's 
Sex !  645 
Tragical  Result  of  Using  Bank  Notes,  224 
Traits  of  the  Shop  in  Havana,  586 
Transactions  in  the  Cab  Market,  330 

"  "    Worsteds,  219 

Treatment  of  Chinese  Bankrupts,  446 

"       "  Insolvents  by  the  Bank  of  Eng- 
land, 434 
Trials  of  Egg  Merchants,  617 
Trick  for  the  "  Spashy,"  209 
Trickery  in  the  Clothing  Trade,  202 
Trying  his  Hand  at  the  Accounts,  699 
Tudor,  the  Original  Ice  Merchant,  153 
Turkish  Fez  Shops  :  Stationers,  Tailors,  Jew- 
elers, 602 
Turtles  and  Gold  Snuff  Boxes,  248 
Two  Aspects  of  Trade,  413 
**    Clerks  in  a  Quarrel,  674 
"    Playing  at  the  Same  Game,  228 


U 


Under  Medical  Treatment— Jacob  Barker  as  a 

Patient,  482 
Underwriters  Jobbing  with  Napoleon's  Life, 

637 
Unexampled  Enterprise ;   the  Chinese  Wall 

for  Advertisements,  315 
Unexpected  Balance  at  Coutts's  Bank,  106 

"  Judgment  against    Bank   Direc- 

tors, 457 
Unexpected  Promotion,  696 
Unfortunate  Polly  Lum,  the  W^ife  of  Girard, 

469 
Ungrateful  Publisher,  722 
Universal  Bed  and  Bolster  Mart,  570 

*'         Salvage  Company,  346 

"         Stores,  335 
Unparalleled  Parsimony  and  Benevolence  of 

a  Millionnaire,  242 
Unparalleled  Railway  Damages,  347 

"  Will  of  Thelluson,  the  London 

Banker,  485 
Unsociable  Travelling  Companion,  368 
"  Up  to  Snuff,"  305 
Up  Trains  and  Down  Trains,  848 
Usefulness  of   Steamboats  in  Reducing  the 

Population,  356 
Usurious  Interest  on  Money ;  Peter  C.  Brooks's 

Rule,  172 


Value  of  a  Good  Credit,  132 
Vast  Wealth  of  Croesus,  91 
Vaults  of  the  Bank  of  France, 


INDEX  TO  THE  LEADING  ANECDOTES. 


779 


Verbatim  Reporters,  745 
Very  Express-ive,  324 
**    Hopeful  lavestment,  540 
"    Racy,  837 
Viper  Merchants,  588 
Virginia  Usurer  Foiled,  217 
Virtue  of  One- Pound   Notes  in  Stopping  a 

Bank  Run,  575 
Virtuous  and  Touching  Appeal  of  an  Auc- 
tioneer, 532 
Vocation  Peculiar  to  China:  Gossip  at  Fifty 

Cents  per  Hour,  607 
Voltaire's  Dealings  in  Government  Stocks,  111 


W 


Wager  between  a  Stock  Broker  and  a  Capital- 
ist, 536 
"Waghorn's  Great  Scheme,  374 
"  Walter  Barrett's  "  Cotton  Mission,  148 
Wanting  to  Pay  the  Cash,  262 
Warranty  of  Perfect  Soundness,  562 
Washington  as  a  Business  Man,  179 

"  Irving's  Commercial  Bankrupt- 

cy, 444 
Waste  Book  and  Ledger— their  Meaning,  686 
Wealthy  Men  Imagining  Themselves  Poor, 

402 
Wealthy  Men  of  Cincinnati,  168 
Weathering  the  Storm  of  1828,  573 
Wedding-Gift  of  Rothschild  to  his  Niece,  509 
Weighing  Short,  279 

Weight  of  Miss  Burdett  Coutts's  Fortune,  87 
Western  Method  of  Collecting  a  Debt,  397 
Whale  Fishery  Enterprise  of  Americans,  160 
What  is  a  "  Flemish  "  Account?  662 
"  What  is  Sauce  for  the  Goose  is,"  Ac,  449 


What  it  means  to  be  "  Selling  Off,''  197 
"     John  McDonogh  said  to  a  Lawyer,  146 
"      The  Word  "  Pay  "  Signifies,  407 
Where  "Tariff"  came  from,  328 
Whitney,  Stephen,  Merchant,  of  New  York,  14 
Who  were  the  first  Whalemen  ?  129 
Wholesale  Joke  upon  Shoemakers,  738 
Why  Guy,  the  Milliounaire,  never  Married, 

501 
Wife  of  a  Merchant's  Clerk,  688 
Wigs  by  the  Cargo,  597 
Will  of  Guyot,  the  French  Millionnaire,  472 
William  Roscoe,  the  Poet  Banker,  169 
William  Sturgis  in  the  Legislature,  473 
Willing  to  Swallow  the  Joke,  756 
Wimprecht,  the  Blind  Bookseller,  706 
Window    "  Gazers"    employed   by    London 

Shopkeepers,  203 
Wine  Merchant  at  his  Debtor's  Table,  451 
Winking  and  Bidding  at  Auctions,  552 
Winners  and  Losers  in  Grant's  Bubble,  534 
Wiping  out  an  Old  Score,  453 
Wit  of  a  Gravestone  Maker,  731 
"  Won't  Look  at  Him,"  448 
Wood,  James,  the  Gloucester  Millionnaire,  3 
"  Words  have  their  Meaning,"  334 
Working  a  Hand  car,  383 
Would  not  Stoop,  757 
Would'nt  Steal  Indiana  Money  at  Par,  452 


Yankee  Calculation  of  Railroad  Speed,  365 

**        Hoarding  Specie,  72 

"        Shrewdness  Handsomely  Illustrated, 
124 
"  Your  Ticket,  Sir !  "  381 


ft4it 


THE     END, 


LIST  OF  WOEKS 
PUBLISHED  BY  D.  APPLETOJi  &  COMPANY, 

lS"os.  443  &  4=4=5  Broadway,  I^ev^r  York. 


A  Descriptive  Catalogue,  with  full  titles  and  prices,  may  he  had 
gratuitously  on  application. 


Aboufs  Eoman  Question. 

Adams'  Bi)y3  at  Home. 

■  b](igar  Clifton. 

Addison's  Spectator.    6  vols. 

Adler's  G.'i-man  and  English  Dictionary. 

- —  Abi-id^'ed  do.        do.  do. 

German  Reader. 

"        Literature. 

Ollendorff  for  Learning  German. 

Key  to  the  Exercises. 

Iphigenia  In  Tauris. 

After  Icebergs  with  a  Painter. 

Agnel's  Book  of  Chess. 

Aguilar's  Home  Intluonce. 

— ^ —  Mother's  Recompense. 

Days  of  Bruce.    2  vols. 

Home  Scenns. 

Woman's  Friendship. 

Women  of  Israel.    2  vols. 

Vale  of  Cedars. 

Ahn's  French  Method. 

Spanish  Grammar. 

A  Key  to  same. 

German  Method.    1  vol. 

Or,  separately— First  Course.    1  vol. 
Second    "         1  vol. 

Aids  to  Faith.    A  series  of  Essays,  by  Vari- 
ous Writers. 

Aikin's  British  Poets.    From  Chaucer  to  the 
Present  Time.    3  vols. 

Album  for  Postage  Stamps. 

Albums  of  Foreign  Galleries;  in  7  folios. 

Alden's  Elements  of  Intellectual  Philosophy. 

Alison's  Miscellaneous  Essays. 

Allen's  M'^chanics  of  Nature. 

Alsop's  Charms  of  Fancy. 

Amelia's  Poems. 

American  Poets  (Gems  from  the). 

American     Eloquence.       A    Collection    of 
Speeches  and  Addresses.    2  vols. 

American  System  of  Education : 

1.  Hand-Book    of  Anglo-Saxon    Eoot- 
Words. 

2.  Hand-Book  of  Anglo-Saxon  Deriva- 
tives. 

3.  Hand-Book  of  Engrafted  Words. 
Anderson's  Mercantile  Correspondence. 
Andrews'  New  French  Instructor. 
A  Key  to  the  above. 

Annals  of  San  Francisco. 
Antisell  on  Coal  Oils. 
Anthon's  Law  Student. 
Appletons'  New  American    Cyclopaedia  of 
Useful  Knowledge.    16  vols. 

Annual  Cycloi)fedia,  and  Register  of 

Important  Events  for  1861,  '62,'  63,  '64,  '65. 

Cyclopiedia  of  Biography,  Foreign  and 

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Coe's  Drawing  Cards.     10  parts, 

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Collins'  (T.  W.)  Humanics. 

Collet's  Dramatic  French  Reader. 

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Companion  to  Physiology. 

Comment  on  Parle  a  Paris. 

Congreve's  Comedy. 

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Cooke's  Life  of  Stonewall  Jackson. 

Cookery,  by  an  American  Lady. 

Cooley's  Cyclopji^dia  of  Receipts. 

Cooper's  \Ionnt  Vernon. 

Copley's  Early  Friendship. 

Poplar  Grove. 

Cornell's  First  Steps  in  Geography. 

Primary  Geoirraphy. 

Intermediate  Geography. 

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.         "         •'        Atlas. 

Map  Drawing.     12  maps  in  case. 

Outliiio  Maps,  with  Key.    la  maps  in 

portfolio. 

Or,  the  Ivey,  separately. 

Cora>vall  on  Music. 

Correlation  anl  Conservation  of  Forces. 

Cortez'  Life  an  1  Adventures. 

Cotter  on  the  Mass  and  iiubrics. 

Cottin's  Elizabc'th;  or,  the  Exiles  of  Siberia. 

Cousin  Alice's  Juveniles. 

Cousin  Carrie's  Sun  liays. 

Keep  a  Good  IL-art. 

Cousi  I's  Mo  Icrn  I*hilosophy.    2  vols. 

,)n  the  True  and  Beautiful. 

O.aly  llonance. 

Colu.in's  i^'reiich  I'oetry. 
Covell'd  English  Grammar. 
Cowles'  Exchani^v'  Tables. 
Cowpjr's  lloin^-r's  Iliad. 

Poems. 

Cox's  lii  jjht  Years  in  Congress,  from '57  to  '65. 
Coxe's  Christian  Billads. 
Creasy  on  the  English  Constitution. 
Crisis  (The). 
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Crosby's  (W.  II.)  Quintiis  Curtius  Eufus. 
Crowe's  Linny  Locltwood. 
Cu  ry's  Volunteer  Book. 
Cust's  Invalid's  Boole. 

Cyciopx'dia  of  Commercial  and  Business 
Anjcilotes.    2  vols. 

D'Abrantes'  M^moires  of  Napoleon.    2  vols. 

D.i1rymxrs.iTh..')  Duischter. 

Dan  I's  Hous.'hold  Poetry. 

Darwin's  Origin  of  Species. 

Dante's  Poems. 

Dasent's  Popular  Tales  from  the  Norse. 

Divenport's  /hrist.  Unity  and  its  Itecovery. 

Dawson's  Archaia. 

De  Belem's  Spanish  Phrase-Book. 

De  Fivas'  Elementary  French  Eeader. 

Classic  French  Reader. 

De  Fo.>'s  Robinson  Crusoe. 

De  Gir.'ft'din's  Marguerite. 

Stories  of  an  Old  Maid. 

De  Hart  on  Courts  Martial. 

De  L'Ardech«!'s  History  of  Napoleon. 

De  Peyrae's  Comment  on  Parle. 

De  StaC'l's  Corinno,  o;i  L'ltalie. 

De  Veitelle's  Mercantile  Dictionary. 

yDe  Vere's  Spanisli  Grammar. 

Dew's  Historical  Digest. 

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Dix's  (John  A.)  Winter  in  Madeira. 

Speeches  an  1  Ad^lresses.     2  vols. 

Dix's  (Rev.  M.)  Lost  Unity  of  the  Christian 
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Downii^r's  Rural  Architecture. 

Drydjn's  Poems. 

D'jnhiD's  S'>1rU,  History  of  IMan. 

Dassel  lorf  Gallery,  Gems  from  the. 

Dwis'it  on  th-^  Study  of  Art. 

Ebon 7  Idol  (The). 

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Edith  Vaughan's  Victory. 


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lloiues  of  American  Authors. 

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Huntington's  Lady  Alice. 
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Iconographic  Encyclop.tdia,    C  vols. — 4  Test 
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The  Navigation  of  all  Ages.    2  vols. 
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Modern  Times.    2  vols. 
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Times.    2  vols. 
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Jacobs"  Learning  to  Spell. 

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Johnson's  (Samuel)  Easselas. 

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Keats'  Poems. 

Keep  a  Good  Heart. 

Kei<rhtlev's  Mythology.  « 

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